Pandora's Box

Chapter 14

Operation Henry

He kept his promise as the days went on. As long as Melody called him Peter, she stayed out of the cage.

Although, Melody was a little peeved to find that Pan didn't give Mel her own tent; she had to stay in his.

It was irritating.

His reasons were valid, she supposed. He didn't want Melody planning a murder by herself in an isolated tent. Despite having to share a tent, Pan barely bothered Melody. He left her on her own and only spoke to her when he needed something.

As the slow, painful days went by, the pirate still refrained to the tent. She wasn't allowed to leave. And whenever she needed food or water, one of the lost boys assisted her.

Melody's days were clouded by her thoughts. She couldn't help but think of the time when she first met Pan.

At the end of the day, she had no one to blame but herself for her disastrous life.

"Watcha thinking of?" Zack asked as he stepped into her tent with his twin following him close. Melody grunted as Cody handed her the meal of the day. She looked at her food and sighed. Without a word, she began to eat. Melody didn't say anything as she finished and gave her plate back.

"Melody... Are you okay?"

She only grunted again before laying back down and covering her head with the rough blanket.

And she slept for the rest of the day.

~

Neal's plan was something Melody had only heard myths of. Plenty of her father's crew spoke of thousands of treasures they wished to find and sought out on the open waters; but to come across something like Squid Ink was as rare as it came.

Melody watched carefully as Neal stood at the edge of the shore. He clutched into a conch and gently blew into it, making a soothing call to the ocean.

"They say the giant squid only appears to those of pure heart," Melody stated. Neal chuckled as he watched a creature suddenly approach them.

"Then it makes sense why your father could never call for them."

With a spear and a clear aim, Neal and struck the squid.

"So this is your plan?" Mr. Gold said as he and Neal dragged the squid onto the banks of the island. Neal nodded his head while Melody poked the squid in amazement.

"Squid Ink can immobilize even the most magical of creatures. At least for a little while... Even Pan."

Melody looked away from the squid and huffed.

"Even with the squid ink, we're going to need to get close to him. I'm no expert, but I have a feeling he'll see us coming," she commented.

"I don't need to get close. All I need is one clean shot to get Henry back," Neal grunted as he continued to fight against the sea creature. Rumple let out a sigh and cracked his hands.
 
"Leave that to me then."

While Neal worked on extracting the ink from the sea creature, the Dark One pulled his daughter aside.

"Remember Melody, try not to be seen by Pan. No matter what."

"Yes, father."

...

A commotion erupted from the campsite Peter and his boys called home. The lost boys danced around the fire, without a care in the world, as Pan played his flute that only certain people could hear.