Trapped forever: The never-ending captivity of a lost girl.

chapter 19

The return

Three years had passed since I left Neverland. Now, at twenty-one, it felt like time had slipped through my fingers. Not a day went by without me thinking about him—about Pan

I stretch my arms as I finally walk through the door after work. A deep sigh escapes me, followed by a yawn as I sink into the couch. The soft ticking of the clock fills the silence of my apartment, each second a reminder of how alone I am.

It's been over a year since I left home, and in that time, everything feels... emptier. Sometimes, I catch myself wondering how Pan is doing. How is he?

I quickly shake my head. "Stop, Divine," I mutter to myself. "You made your choice. You wanted to leave."

I glance down at my hands, fingers trembling ever so slightly. He probably doesn't even remember me anymore. And yet, I can't help but ask... Why did I leave?...  

I wish I could see him again. A tear slips down my cheek before I can stop it. Shit. I wipe it away, cursing under my breath. "Stop crying, dammit. This is your fault." My stomach growls loudly, breaking the moment.

I groan, rubbing my face. "Ugh, I'll just order food again... Pathetic."

An hour passes, the emptiness settling around me again. Then, there's a soft knock at the door. I blink, confused. Walking over, I open it without thinking, only to freeze.

That... face.

It couldn't be.

No, it can't be him... could it?

A voice pulls me out of my trance. He's gone? I thought... I'm losing it. Shaking off the fog in my head, I grab the food. "Thanks," I mumble, retreating into my apartment. I eat mindlessly, trying to shake the feeling creeping up on me. I need to stop hallucinating.

By the time I finish, it's dark. The quiet of the night wraps around me, but then—there it is again. A sound. A loud sound. I freeze. My eyes flick to the window.

The curtains. They're flapping, wild and frantic like they did that night. The night I went to Neverland. My heart starts to race.

I scramble to the window, my breath catching as I push it open. "Please... please, please, let it be Pan," I whisper into the night, eyes wide, desperately scanning the shadows. I lean out, begging silently for a glimpse of him. Something. Anything.

But there's nothing. The shadows are still, unchanged. The cold wind rushes past me, but it carries no answers. Only silence. 

I rub my face, exhaustion pulling at me as I slowly step away from the window. But just as I turn, a flash—bright and deafening—erupts in front of me. A portal, swirling with colors too vivid to comprehend, tears into the air.

My heart skips a beat. What the fuck.

Before I can react, the ground shifts beneath me, and I stumble, falling hard onto the floor. The light from the portal spills into the room, casting wild shadows across the walls. I shield my eyes, blinking through the disorienting glow.

"What... is that?" I whisper, barely able to get the words out. My throat tightens as I stare at the glowing portal.

"H-Hello?" I call out, my voice trembling. My mind races, trying to make sense of the situation.

Then I see it—a tall figure emerging from the light, shadowed but unmistakable. My heart stops, drops into my stomach as the figure steps closer. The air in the room seems to freeze.

And then, I hear it—that soft, familiar tone.

"Hey, divine."

A shiver runs down my spine. My breath catches, eyes wide as I process the words. It's him. It has to be him.