Wonder [R.K.]

Chapter 24

I wake up, trapped in a cage of bamboo. My head is throbbing in pain and my entire body is sore from the bottom of the very uncomfortable cage.

I snake my head to see exactly where the cage is placed. All I can see is a deep dark pit. My cage is placed on a single small island surrounded by the pit. A small opening leads to the outside with a small ledge into this cave.

Cave.

I must be in the echo cave. I've only heard the boys talk about it, I've never actually been here. The boys and even Pan seem to be nervous by the cave.

I wonder, what's so wrong with it?

I don't know how long I'm going to be stuck in this damn cage, so I try as hard as I possibly can to get comfortable while my mind wonders.

Who put me here?

It must've been whoever I heard in the forest behind me. But who would do this? I don't believe I have disputes with anyone.

My mind slowly begins to shut down and my eyes flutter shut. I lean my head on the side of the cage and slowly fall asleep.

"Aria!"

I shift in my unconscious state against the hard bamboo.

"Aria!"

This time I open my eyes and snap my head up, realizing it wasn't in my head.

Has someone finally come for me?

"Aria!" I recognize the loud, British voice of none other than Pan.

"Pan!" I begin shouting to him. "Pan!"

Finally, at the head of the cave, appears Pan, Felix, and John, all completely out of breath. They seem surprised to see me, besides Felix. He looks more happy to see me trapped in a cage.

Pan looks almost hurt to see me. He face holds a small from and his eyes scream pain.

"How do I get out of here?" I yell across to them, my voice echoing all around me. The boys seem to all look away or down when thinking of this.

Is there no way to get me out?

Felix finally speaks up, his voice full of evil. "I know a way to get her out, and I sure you know it too. We must all share a secret." Felix ends with a cruel looking smirk.

I roll my eyes. "That's stupid. How will secrets, get me out of this cage?"

"The island works in mysterious ways, Aria. " Pan states sadly and I'm quickly confused.

"I'll start," says Pan, and I'm already aware of what he's going to say. "Aria and I are..." He pauses, unsure of how to categorize us. "Together. " He finishes. He looks at me with a confused look since we haven't really discussed our exact position.

I notice both boys look astonished at me, but I have to look away in shame.

"I told you something was going on. " Felix spits cockily. Pan glares at him menacingly, but it seems to have no effect on Felix.

Suddenly, a pathway begins to sprout from the island that my cage is resting on, towards the boys. It stops about half way. My cage and entire body shakes.

"I'll go next." Says John. "Aria, I know that I've been telling you that you're going to get through this, with your clock and what not, but I've been lying. After seeing what happened to Alex, I don't believe you're going to get through this. I don't think you're going to be able to withstand the pain and torture this island is going to put on you. I'm so sorry but I think you're going to-."

"That's enough. " Pan stops him. John looks away, as do I, as I try to fight back tears. Though, it's no use. Small tears begin to drop down my face as I think of the pain that is soon to come to me from my clock and this horrifying island.

The pathway connects to the other side and I'm relieved to think I'm going to get out of this.

"Felix, it's your turn. " Pan states and waits for Felix to spill. Felix looks a bit nervous as he avoids speaking.

"I don't want to." Felix spits with venom and Pan looks livid. I watch as Pan pulls his knife from his belt and shoves it against Felix's throat.

"What was that?" Pan yells in his face.

"I'm not saying my secret. " Felix states like it's obvious and Pan looks like he's about to lose his shit.

"You're going to fucking say your secret, or I'm going to slit your throat." Horror now adorns Felix's face as the knife in Pan's hand is shoved harder on his neck.

"I put Aria in the cage." Felix breathes out. I gasp in shock. I knew Felix hated me, but this much?

Suddenly, the gate in front of me disappears and I quickly make my way out. I run across the path to Pan where's he's still standing with a knife to Felix's neck.

I grab onto to Pan's arm in hopes to calm him down.

"Pan, it's okay. I'm okay." Pan looks to me from the side and slowly backs away from Felix, not removing his eyes from him.

Pan finally turns to hug me and for a moment I feel great.

But that was only a moment.

And Neverland always has its twists and turns.

Tick.

And my body goes completely ice cold.