Neverland

Chapter Two

"Who are you people?" I ask. I have never spoken so boldly, but I need some answers.

"We're the Lost," one boy says defiantly. The other jabs his elbow into boy's side, hissing, "Don't tell him anything!" The first boy mutters an apology. We continue in silence.

So these are the Lost. Clever name, really. And this leader, Tinkerbell, she seems like a friendly type. I've come to suspect that this land, this magic land, is not all what it seems. Some- thing big is happening, possibly something that I'm a part of, and I intend to find out what.

How to get home. That question stumps me. I have nothing but my brother back there, but it's more than if I stay here. Here and anywhere I am threatened with my life, but in the real world I can have the chance of a less painful death than this Tinkerbell can give me.

We stop in front of an old, withered tree. The bark is gray and clumpy, the leaves long gone, and some roots poking out.

"In," one boys says. I raise my eyebrows.

"In?" I ask. "Am I supposed to be chained in it or... oh." I peer inside the the hollowed out tree and discover a tunnel, most likely leading to some sort of catacomb. I hesitate, and the boys draw out spears. I raise my hands defensively.

"Okay, okay," I say. "I'm going in." I step in with my hands still raised. Just before I lower myself into the tree, I see a trail of blue dust, just for a moment, before it disappears. The sight makes me grin and slide down the tunnel.

Knots of roots are studded in the otherwise smooth tunnel. I hit most of these knots, which will no doubt leave bruises. The tunnel ends, and there is about seven feet of wall between the end of the tunnel and the floor. I land on the floor hard, bruising my lower back.

Water drips steadily on the grimy floor creating puddles in deeper parts. It is almost pitch black except for the little sunlight coming through the tunnel. My eyes adjust to the darkness. I spot a dark shape moving stealthily along this pit's wall, but not stealthily enough. The figure, apparently, is trying to not be seen, but why?

"Who's there?" I call out. The figure stops.

"I'm not going," the person calls out. By the voice I can tell it is a boy.

"I'm not with the Lost," I say, hoping to set this boy at ease. I will need all the help I can get. The boy steps out into the light with a suspicious look on his face.

"You're not?" he says. I shake my head.

"Well, you definitely don't look like one. Then who are you?" he asks. I pause, unsure if telling this boy my name is the best option.

"I'll go first," he says hesitantly. He seems to be thinking the same thing, since it takes a him a few moments to speak.

"I'm Lyam. Lyam Johnson," he says. Deciding to trust Lyam, I hold out my hand. He shakes it.

"Peter," I say. "Peter Pan."

"You know that once you come back up, you will immediately be killed," Lyam says. I didn't, but it confirms my thought for no hope.

"So what did you do to be thrown in this wasting pit?" he asks. I shrug.

"I don't believe in magic," I say. "Er, well, I didn't." Lyam has a puzzled expression on his face.

"Tinkerbell doesn't throw just anyone down here because they don't believe in magic," Lyam says. "If she did, hundreds of people would be down here." He says this sadly. Lyam stands and begins to pace around the catacomb. There are a few skeletons in the corners. He stops, crouching down beside me.

"No," he says, pointing a finger at me. "There is something more about you. Something that Tinkerbell must be afraid of."

"I have no idea what that could be," I say honestly. I am nothing. I am worthless. "What are you in here for, Lyam?" He sighs and leans on the rocky surface.

"Something stupid, really," he answers. When he doesn't continue, I say, "Come on, what was so bad?" Lyam shifts over to look at me.

"I stole some magic," Lyam whispers. I stare at him in disbelief.

"Were you successful?" I ask. He shakes his head.

"I lost it," he moans. "I don't know how powerful it was, but Tinkerbell went to an awful lot of trouble to stop me."

"You were one of the Lost," I decide to play along. "And then you decided to leave this place."

"I don't know what I was thinking. I just knew, I know, that something terrible is taking place."

"How were you brought to this land?" I ask. Lyam looks at me very seriously.

"We all hear stories of magic," Lyam says. "And some of us wish for it more than others. But magic comes with a price. A price of never leaving this land. If given pixie dust, we fly to this land, just by finding the second star to the right. The travel is long and dangerous. The ones who come here are the ones who are in some of the most depressing situations, the ones who yearn for freedom, for a second chance."

"I wish I were that lucky," I mutter. Lyam looks down in sadness. How confused I am. What is this place? Why am I here? Why me? If what Lyam says is true, and that Tinkerbell must think I'm someone special, someone powerful, well, then how wrong she is. I come from a poor, broken family. I have no hope, no faith, no belief in magic whatsoever. This is just a bad dream, and soon I will be back home in facing my same problems. Nothing really matters.

"Why did that boy die?" I ask aloud. Lyam looks at me, startled. He grabs my shoulders tightly, looking at me straight in the eyes.

"Tell me exactly what happened," Lyam demands. I tell him the story of when I told Tinkerbell I didn't believe in magic. Lyam stands and begins to pace again.

"This is bad, this is very bad," he says to himself.

"What so bad with me saying I don't believe in-" Lyam covers my mouth.

"No," he hisses. "Don't ever say those words again."

"And why not?" I ask.

"This land is dying." Lyam says this like he's talking to himself. "Everyone, this land, me, we're dying."