Neverland

Chapter Three

"Explain." I fold my arms and stare Lyam down. He glares at me.

"I think Tinkerbell already told you!" Lyam is shouting now. "You know what is going on!"

"What, that people are dying?" I ask. "I don't have any control over that."

"You have all the control!" Lyam says. He faces me. "Our existence is based on dreams, on hopes, on beliefs. When a powerful person refuses to believe, oh, we're doomed." Lyam worrying me. All of this is stressing me. There is no way I could think up this kind of dream. I am not powerful. I didn't have any control when my parents died, and I don't have control now.

"I have to escape." Lyam begins clawing on the walls. He staggers back, clutching his arm. His face twists in pain.

"It's already begun," Lyam whispers. "If we're running out of time, that means we've already failed." There is something that does not add up.

"How come you haven't escaped yet, Lyam?" I ask.

"This is an execution center." Lyam doesn't bother looking at me. "Tinkerbell wants us dead, and this pit is shielded by magic. You can't leave without magic. So no one can get out, only in." Someone can get in, or something can get it. This brings it all together.

"What kind of magic does Tinkerbell use?" I say.

"Same old, same old," Lyam says. "Her color is green. That's the only kind of magic I've ever seen." If I believed in magic, then I would tell Lyam about the blue dust I'd seen, but I don't believe.

I rest my head on the gritty surface and darkness over- comes my thoughts.

Water. That is my first sensation. My clothes are damp. I sit up and realize that I am lying in a puddle of water. There is a significant greater amount of moisture than there was when I first arrived. Lyam doesn't seem bothered by this, in fact, he seems resigned.

"It appears they won't be taking us out of here after all." Lyam stares at the dirt wall. "We are sentenced to die here."

"What do you mean?" I say slowly.

"You don't know?" he asks. I shake my head. "Of course not. When you got here, the tree was practically dead, yes?" I nod to confirm. Lyam continues, "Every year, in this land's time, the cavern and tunnels fill with water, engulfing the tree. After the process is finished, the tree is full with life. But it kills anyone down in the catacomb." The bones make me shudder. The smell of death hangs in the pit.

"How much time to we have?" I whisper.

"Hardly any," Lyam answers. "A day at the most." All those years protecting my brother, wasted. My life will end down in this unreal land, with no one knowing what happened to me. I expected none less in the real world, but my brother would know. He would care.

"Can we escape?" I ask. Lyam looks up hopefully.

"There is one way," he says, looking up at the tunnel opening. "The magic encases us is frail when the water rises up. It can push us through!" Then his face falls. "But there is a catch."

"What is it?" I say.

"The tunnel is big enough for only one person at a time," Lyam explains. "And only one person has enough time to escape before they... they..."

"Drown?" I finish. Lyam nods sickly. To me, the decision is easy. Lyam can save everyone from Tinkerbell if he escapes. What on earth could I do?

"It should be you," I tell Lyam. He lifts his head. "You will take the spared time to escape."

"No," Lyam argues. "I can't do that. It will give Tinkerbell the satisfaction of your death."

"I can't help anyone," I insist. "Not even myself. No, you know the island. When you escape, you can hide, find allies, and win this... battle, that will happen. I can't do that." I am too afraid. But at least I will die with a moment of gallance.

"Let's prepare," Lyam says.

It turns out there's really not much to prepare. By not much, I mean nothing. Lyam and I were thrown into the cavern with only the things we had on hand, and Lyam was disarmed before he was imprisoned.

Then Lyam surprises me. From his tattered boots he slides out a small, sharp blade made from stone, already sharpened.

"I almost forgot about this," he says. "And it's been here all this time." Preparation is complete.

I am fairly sure that my eyes are ruined for good. Being kept in the dark for so long cannot be good. Of course, my eyes have adjusted to the lighting, but what will occur in real sunlight, I have no idea.

The water flowing in is up to my knees now. I am not afraid of dying anymore, I am ready to embrace it. Lived cowardly, died somewhat bravely. The liquid is rushing in at a faster pace. All I can hear is the roar of water.

Quickly, Lyam and I are lifted several meters in the water. I tread away, trying to make sure Lyam makes it out alive. My back is pressed against the muddy wall and I watch Lyam turn to me.

"Thank-" he never gets to finish his sentence. The water pushes him up and out. I suck in an enormous breath at the same moment, and relax.

The temperature is cool and pleasant, which is unfortunate at these circumstances. I accidentally breathe in some water, losing precious oxygen.

My chest hurts now. Drowning is certainly painful. For some reason, I think of how Lyam did not really fight me to be the one to taste freedom. So many things I will never know. I close my eyes, which before I have kept them open, not that it mattered. Everything is dark.

I can feel my heart slowing. I can't believe this is the end for me. I've told myself this plan over and over, but I still can't believe this is the reality. I admit that I don't believe in a lot of things, but I do believe that this isn't the end, no matter what I promised myself. I believe in that, and I am holding that as I die. A broken promise, like so many others.

The pain begins to lessen. I am almost dead. I inhale, and it feels as natural as breathing. I am breathing. I pinch myself to be sure. I am not dead. I swim up the tunnel before this miracle comes to an end.

I reach the top, and immediately shut my eyes. I am used to the dimness of the cavern, so the sunlight hurts. When I can quit rubbing my eyes, I take a look at our surroundings. The island looks different than it does at night. Though darkness seems to hover on this side, I can tell that this side of the island is like a jungle.

I reach a full circle and notice a boy for the first time. So does he. His reaction is different than mine. He gasps and looks frightened.

"What's wrong?" I ask. He keeps shaking his head and blinking a lot.

"I've... I've seen you before," he says.

"Of course, we've been down in that pit for days," I say, rolling my eyes.

"No," the boy says. "I've seen you before you ever came here, in a drawing." How could that be possible?

"And," the boy continues. "It's the reason why Tinkerbell put you in the pit."

"Really?" I ask. "Well, I would love to know why."

"You are the one who is destined to destroy the leader of the Lost," the boy says solemnly.