I'll Take You to Neverland

Chapter 12: Losers of the Game

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"You've lost Tiger Lily." Pan exclaims.

"And?" I shuffle around, a few boys surrounding me while the others, the ones I presume were victorious in their battles, stand by Pan.

"Just go along with the rest of those who failed, we'll be right behind you, making sure you go the right way." He pushes me forward, and the boys around me begin to walk down a beaten path, their heads hung but each of them peering at me from the corner of their eye to see my reaction.

Of course, I don't react, knowing that any emotion I show will only give each boy an upper hand later. So I keep my head held high as I hike throughout the forest.

The hike lasts for at least a mile, and just like the last time I was outside of the camp, there is foliage on all sides, almost completely blocking out the evening sun.

Bugs like mosquitos and horse flies fly by our heads, none of the other boys seem to mind, but I spend my time waving my hands around my face to shoo them away. It only seems to attract them though, and before long all of the boys behind me are in a fit of giggles, except for Pan of course.

My legs begin to hurt from the walk, I haven't exactly had time to lay around lazily with my lifestyle- but this is more physical activity then ive done in, well... a very long time. I don't complain, because I know by now that all that that will get me is a lot of teasing and a glare from Pan himself, not that those are too rare.

I keep my head low, then bring my hands to the back of my neck to hold up my hair. I can already feel the sweat on it, but no one here would understand.

I've seen the boys cut their hair with knives and other strange tools, but I never had too much money to spend on a haircut, so I'm used to it long.

Plus, although I may not have been the wealthiest- not even close actually- my hair is one thing that I'm proud of. It usually stays tied back with a piece of ripped cloth, but I haven't been able to find anything here on the island yet. Other than a vine that always seems to slip out due to my lack of experience with knotting anything other than a noose, I have nothing else. So my long, black hair lays in tangles around my shoulder, I don't even bother to try brushing it out.

I don't notice that we've made it to a clearing until the boys chattering picks up in volume.

"Here we are!" Pan booms over the crowd. "Hook's peak."

"Are you serious?" I ask in disbelief, automatically regretting my decision to speak up.

"Serious? About what exactly?" He squares me up, staring down the bronge of his nose at me and setting his jaw.

"Hook? As in Captian Hook?" I laugh, finding none of this funny. This all continues to be so bizzare to me. I don't know what to expect from this pirate, so far they've gotten the names here right, but the rest is all off. Peter Pan for example- he isn't a savior. Wendy, or in this case, Andy- isn't even a girl, but is a triplet to John and Michael.

"You've heard of the man?" Pan chuckles. "He really is more well known for his cowardliness than we thought!" The boys all roar in laughter, but Pan only allows a small- almost imaginary- smile to play on his lips before it hardens to it's normal state.

"The pirate is known for that, so the rest must be correct. Because you, Pan, are well known for you cockiness and vulnerability for girls and love." I spit back. The whole area goes silent, everyone staring at me and Pan, wondering who will make the first move. Will Pan lash out? Or does Tiger Lily have a point?

"Well then, maybe the stories aren't as accurate on some parts as others, Hook is not a pirate, Cameron." His eyes are filled with anger as he speaks. "He once was- lost his ship to a battle with us Lost Boys- now he spends his days sneaking around, hoping to catch one of my boys as to get an upper hand on me."

"Where is he now?" I question, my confidence fading.

"He's somewhere at this peak you idoit!" Pan throws his head back in laughter and the other boys join him. "Why else would we call it this?"

"I... I don't know." I stutter, by now Pan has completely shot me down. I keep my eyes trained on a leaf laying on the ground in order to avoid his gaze.

"Don't think that this is over yet dear Tiger Lily." He chuckles, pointing towards a cliff off in the distance. I can hear the waves rushing against it from here and know that it must be dangerous.

"What do you mean?" I ask, although I'm fairly certain that I know exactly what I'm supposed to do at this point.

"Why don't you take a look for yourself?" Pan smirks, the boys surrounding me seperate to make a path. I walk through, almost to the cliff's edge, to see a board sticking out. I look over the side carefully- just as suspected- large waves crash against the walls of rock, splashing almost half way up the side.

"A board, ripped from the Captian's ship itself before we burned it to ashes." Pan informs me as I look back to the piece of wood. "Games like these, with obvious winners and losers are my favorite. And this reminder of Hook's failure serves as the perfect punishment for the losers."

"What do I do then?" I gulp, already expecting the answer before it comes out of his mouth.

"You walk the plank." Pan grins from ear to ear. "And ladies go first."

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Picture: Cliff edge

Cast list:

Olivia Hussey as Cameron (Tiger) Lily

Robbie Kay as Peter Pan