Wonder [R.K.]

Chapter 7

The next few days seem to a be the same; wake up, have breakfast, do some activity or training, come back to camp starving, eat dinner, dance, and then sleep.

I still have yet to get the answers to the questions I so desire to know about like...

Why am I here?

Why did Pan kiss me?

How did I get here?

Why is Pan so wicked?

Do the boys really enjoy it here?

And why do things keep showing up like magic?

But I'm still left answerless.

The past few days, Pan seems to be getting more evil. He has given us some brutal training activities and doesn't eat any meals with us.

He's such a confusing character.

Right now, we just finished eating breakfast and are walking to our training activity for the day.

I talk to John as we walk.

At one point he asks, "how's your arm by the way?"

"It's fine, doesn't really bother me anymore." I reply.

"That's good. It's kind of funny, Hunter's the worst hunter on this island, but his name's Hunter." We both laugh.

"What about Felix? He never seems to do any of the training activities and he doesn't talk to anyone, like does he have a problem?"

John looks down for a minute before replying, "he's actually Pan's right hand man. He's definitely Pan's favorite, but Pan doesn't show it much because of what happened to Alex."

I furrow my brow in confusion, "who's Alex?"

John clears his throat, "I really can't talk about his, but I will tell you that he was Pan's best friend. They built this island together."

"What happened to him?" I ask quietly.

"Some people's time just runs out on Neverland."

I have so many more things I want to ask about this mysterious Alex, but I leave it to a simple nod.

"So," I start, changing the subject. "How did you get here?"

"Well, it all started at my school. It was like Bloody Mary; everyone tried it, but it didn't work. Except, no one really knew how to do it. So I thought, why not, let's try it. I did it a little different than everyone else." John had me very interested in his story as he continued. "I sat on my window sill in the middle of the night. I had a candle next to me as I said, 'I believe'. And then I fell, and just as I thought I was going to die, I landed in Neverland."

"Wow," is all I could say.

When do I get to find out how I got here?

We finally arrived at our training spot of the day.

"A cliff?" I questioned. What crazy stunt was he going to make us do now.

I walked to the edge and looked down. The water was only about 5 feet from the top of the cliff.

Pan looked at me annoyed, then to the boys, "Today, you will all be racing to that rock," he stops and turns his body to point to a rock in the middle of the water. It's a large rock with 8 flags sitting on it. "You will all swim there, grab a flag, and race back. First one back wins."

I roll my eyes. "Wins what?" I say with attitude.

Pan cocks his head to the side. "Continuing to live."

I instantly deflate. Of course Pan would be a killer too.

We all separate along the cliff. I getting into diving formation, ready to swim for my life, literally.

"Go!" Screams Pan behind me and instantly I'm off, the cold water hitting my skin.

It seems like a lifetime before I finally reach the rock and grab a flag. I take a second to look at the other boys, only to find out they're all far behind me.

I chuckle to myself and swim back fast and with confidence.

I climb up to the top of the cliff, handing Pan my flag.

"Impressive." He states quietly before looking to the others. Some of the boys have just grabbed their flags. Minutes behind me, second place, Brayden. Then it's John, Hunter, Eli, Travis, and in last, Nolan. I look at him with a cocky smirk as he walks away. I realize Felix didn't participate in this training exercise. Whatever.

"All right, everyone can hang out here till dinner." And Pan leaves, again.

"How the hell did you do that so fast?" Travis asks me and the boys gather around, seeming interested.

"Uh, I grew up on the coast of Florida, I practically lived in the water." I smile.

The all seem to smile too. "You have to teach me a few things." Hunter says and the rest agree.

"Alright." I smile.

We spend the rest of the day splashing in the cool water. We talk about seemingly random things, but everyone always listens, besides Nolan.

He sits on the top of the rock, away from everyone else. He wears a very sour face and his arms are crossed.

I wonder why he's so bitter.

I used to be like that. All cooped up and never talking to anyone. That was right after my mom died. It took me a while to get over it and open back up to others.

I excuse myself from the group of boys and make my way to Nolan. I sit beside him, my feet dangling off the cliff.

He looks at me with that classic sour expression, "what do you want?"

"To talk," I say simply. He gives me the most confused expression and I continue, "why do you hate me?"

"You're a girl, and this island is made for boys."

"I can tell it's much more than that." I say calmly.

He inhales deeply and whispers, "you remind me of my sister." He automatically closes his mouth like he didn't mean to say that.

I nod, understanding where he's coming from. "Do you miss her?"

He nods slowly, refraining from any eye contact.

"It's okay Nolan. Some of our weaknesses help us become stronger, you just need to see that." I sit for a moment longer before walking away.

After a while, we all tire and make our way back to camp, prepared to eat dinner. The night goes by quickly and soon I'm in bed looking at the ceiling of my hut.

Another day in Neverland completed.