Finding A Way Back To Her - Book 2 of Finding A Way Back

6. Mermaids and Deals

Joey's P.O.V

Peter climbs out of the bed and stretches. I get up, too.

"Well, it's time to go back home." I said, signaling him to take me back.

"No way! I haven't shown you anything yet, c'mon."

"I have to get back..."

"Says who? That little voice in your head? Live a little, Joey!"

"Fine..just one more day."

"Alright!" He smiles wide and takes my hand, making me feel all weird inside.

We walk outside of the tent and it seems no one else is awake yet.

"First, I have to tell my lost boys. Then we can go." Peter says to me. I nod.

"Boys!" He yells.

I hear yawns followed by running. Lost boys come into the camp one by one, stretching and barely awake.

"C'mon! Let's go!" Pan yells again.

Once it seems like all of them are here, Peter explains that he's leaving again, but not going off the island. He also explains how they are under Felix's command.

When he's done explaining he has them all go back to their tents.

"I know where we should go first." He looks at me with excitement in his eyes. Like a little kid.

"Where?"

"Mermaid's lagoon!" I remember this place from the storybook. When Peter took Wendy here all the mermaids got jealous. I don't know why I remember this, but I just do.

"Alright."

Peter starts flying, leaving me on the ground.

"How do I do that?"

"Just like you did before, think happy thoughts!"

I think of something different this time. I think of Peter. I think of how much he cares for me. What he does for me.

I smile until I feel no ground under my feet.

"There you go! Now, follow me!"

Nolan's P.O.V

"Wh-who are you?"

"I'm the one you summoned!"

"The..the dark one?"

"Oh...don't be so scared! I only carry a little magic is all."

"Magic?"

"Magic!"

"Why are you here?"

"I'm here to get your sister back! Isn't that what you wanted?"

"How do you know about that?"

"I know lots of things about you, Nolan! Like, how your parents abandoned you, your friend got kidnapped by a shadow, your sister ran, and then she left you, and, well, now we're here!"

All I can do is look this man up and down. If you can even call him a man. He looks like he hadn't taken a shower in a century. His eyes are like a bottomless pit. He wears some kind of reptile skin, maybe crocodile. Yet, he acts so friendly.

"Staring isn't polite!" He says, snickering at me.

"S-sorry."

"Now, let's cut right to the chase. You want your sister back, and I can do that for you. Do you want me to help you, or not? Let's shake on it!"

"What are you going to do?"

"That's for me to know, and for you to wonder about."

"Alright... Well, I barely know you. How am I supposed to trust you can do this for me?"

"Well, I am the Dark One. You may not know, but I hold the greatest power you have ever seen," he waves his hand and a giant cupcake appears, "all you have to do is ask!"

He reaches out his hand, wanting to shake on it. I reach out my hand, but pause.

"What's in it for you?"

"That, I can cover."

He takes my hand and shakes it.

Joey's P.O.V

We fly over hills and trees and streams and oceans. Finally, I see a small lake. More of a pond, actually. I see fish-like beings coming in and out of the water. Peter starts flying downwards. I follow his lead and do the same.

When we finally get on land, I can see the mermaids moving about, excited Peter is here. I also see them looking at me and laughing, while whispering some words. Peter sits on a rock in the middle of the lagoon. All the mermaids come up to him, giggling and laughing and twirling their hair. Peter just smiles and laughs with them.

"Hey, come here Joey!" Peter yells to me from his rock. I'm standing on land.

"Yeah, come here!" Some of the mermaids say in a high pitch tone, while they giggle and look at each other.

One takes my hand and starts pulling me towards the water.

"No..I, I'd really rather not." I say, pulling back.

"You'll be fine, just come here!" Peter yells at me again.

There's more than one mermaid now and I feel my toes get wet.

"Please, I..I really wouldn't.."

"Oh, it'll be fun! Just come in the water with us!" The mermaids say, laughing their annoying giggles.

I feel the water up to my waist now. The mermaids are just laughing and enjoying their time. I'm not sure, but I swear I see envy and revenge in all of their eyes.

"I-"

I get cut off when one of the mermaids takes my head and holds me under the water. The other mermaids help keep me down. I feel the water chilling all parts of my body. I open my eyes to see a scaly face looking back at me. It was one of them.

I struggle to make my way back up, but there are too many of them. I'm losing my breath and my lungs feel strained to the point of breaking. My vision goes blurry and I've lost all breath. The last thing I see is a bunch of laughing, scaly, beasts. Then, I black out.