Once A Lost Girl | Once Upon A Time Story | Peter Pan

03x08 - Information - Past

        I woke up the next day in an oddly good mood. It was early, the sun was still low in the sky casting a mix of orange and peach tones over the horizon. I took a minute to get dressed and brush through my hair, then exited my tent. Felix was already up. He didn't seem much interested in me today, thankfully.

        Breakfast passed by seamlessly, and right about now is usually when Pan--Peter would come back from whatever he does in the mornings. He hadn't yet, and it made me nervous. I couldn't tell if that was because I was worried about him or about Baelfire. It was strange that Bae was on the island and Peter has left him alone. Maybe he ultimately doesn't care?

        Maybe it's all part of his plan, Elyssa. Shut up, brain.

        I slung my bag over my shoulder and stood, Felix glanced at me but said nothing. Connor almost moved to follow until another boy pulled him back down. I furrowed my brow and turned to leave camp, not a soul trying to stop me. Were they afraid? And of what? Me? Peter? I didn't dwell on it, just taking my opportunity.

        Turns out, Pan wasn't too far--no, Peter wasn't too far from camp. I found him maybe thirty paces outside of camp, staring off into the woods. I approached, standing to his left, wondering what he was looking at. He spoke first.

        "Amazing how such a dark forest can still look so beautiful. I never tire of Neverland's seemingly endless maze."

        I glanced in the direction of his sightline, seeing nothing but trees. "I guess so. That the only reason you're out here?"

        "Not quite." He turned to me, staring directly into my soul, his eyes nearly emerald at the moment. They were soft and inviting. "Where do you really run off to? When You leave?"

        "Peter," I trailed, heart tightening. He didn't say anything. I swallowed. "Baelfire. I check on him." For a second I could swear that his eyes flared with rage, but in the same amount of time he was looking at me gently like he had last night. "I worry--he doesn't have magic like we do."

        "You're too kind, Elyssa," he sighed. I've heard people describe hearing someone they care about... more than usual say their name. It was always a moment of them falling harder, as though that was the moment they actually appreciated their own name for the first time. For some reason, this was the opposite. It felt wrong. It felt accusatory. Somehow Pan managed to make my name--a name I liked--sound like a curse. As soft as he said it, I can't help but feel like I'm missing a meaning. It's probably my own guilt.

        "Is there a such thing?" I chuckled a little, trying to lift the tension. His face held no expression.

        "It'll get you in trouble one day. Be careful." Peter turned, walking away without so much as a hug, "you never know what's lurking within the island, and what they'll learn."

        I didn't say anything, just watched him wordlessly. Does he know? I slid a hand into my bag, feeling the bag of dust still where I left it. Screw Bae's plan. Something in me was screaming; it made me sick. We needed to leave, and it needed to happen now. I took off, headed for Bae's cave.

        Somehow the forest felt darker, the route to Baelfire much longer. I was positive I was going the correct way, so why did it feel like the island was suffocating me? It was like Neverland's entire attitude toward me changed. Instead of welcomed, I felt hunted. I adjusted my bag strap, now extremely uncomfortable. I felt like I was being watched.

        "Careful. Harder to see the dreamshade thorns in this part of the brush." I turned to the voice, finding Tiger Lily walking towards me from the adjoining path.

        "Tiger Lily," I greeted, "thanks." I offered, though fully aware I wasn't about to walk into any thorns.

        "Don't. We never spoke." She crossed me, brushing my shoulder as she passed.

        "Pan really scares you that much? That you can't even talk to me?" The girl didn't say anything. "I don't get it. Everyone I've met says these awful things--"

        "I feel so sorry for you," Tiger Lily said, "you're so blind. The moment you step out of line you will end up like the rest of us, and then work for him anyway."

        "I can't believe that."

        "Fine. In the center of the Dark Jungle is a place called Dark Hollow. It's where all the shadows live."

        "Including Peter's."

        She nodded. "You didn't hear it from me--and again, we never spoke. Good luck." Tiger Lily walked away. It felt suspicious, but I decided I didn't have time to question it. Clearly Baelfire had already told her the plan.

        Speaking of, he wasn't there when I got to his cave. He must've gone out hunting. I could only hope he'd be back soon. I was on edge after that conversation with Pan. Hopefully he wasn't harassing him or anything. This is part of the reason I didn't wanna say, but he asked and I don't feel good lying. He's been nothing but kind to me this whole time. Well, that and what happened last night.

        Nope. Not the time.

        I couldn't find the rope to open the door, so instead I tried my hand at teleportation. I pictured how the cave looked, imagining myself there. I've done it before, I can do it again. My body got warm, and I opened my eyes. The familiar surroundings of the cave were around me. Another successful spell.

        Here's to hoping Dark Hollow goes well--that way the plan can go how it's supposed to. We grab the shadow, get off the island. I get to keep the dust so I can finish helping Snow, and then leave the Enchanted Forest behind for good.

        The coconut was sitting by Bae's cot. I picked it up, and the twine that was next to it. Good. Now just teleport out, go to the middle of the dark jungle, and do something very dangerous to avoid the inevitable danger waiting for me back at Pan's camp. Sounds nerve-wrecking enough. This will really test my magic, but if it gets even just Baelfire off the island I'm willing to try.

To Dark Hollow I go.

An update! I found motivation (thank you, you know who you are. mwah.) 

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