Free(PanxOC)

Chapter 16 Gossip King

"Mitchell!" I called as I reached the bottom of the ladder coming from Pan and I's tree house. The blonde haired boy was crouched down in front of someone I couldn't yet see. He glanced over his muddy shoulder at me and gave me a weak smile, motioning for me to join them.

I gasped as I realized the other boy was Brandon, whimpering lightly as he attempted to touch the cut on his forehead. Blood puckered along the cut, threatening to break through at any second, a few drops finally  escaping the wound and sliding down the side of his face along with sweat and dirt. His dirty white tee-shirt was blotched with dried blood on his chest and left shoulder, and sweat stained the entirety of the back of his shirt.

"What happened?" I asked, kneeling in front of him and reaching out to touch his hand, only to be swatted at.His shaggy brown hair stuck to his forehead as he shook his head. 

"He doesnt really know." Mitchell interrupted. "I found him in the woods with that nasty thing on his head and a few other scraps and bruises." 

"You sure you can't remember anything?" I tired, smiling at him as his large brown eyes finally met mine. 

"Its not gonna' work Anna." Mitchell placed a hand on my shoulder, pulling me back slightly. 

"I can at least ask."

"Hey, Kent." Mitchell waved over the dark skinned boy I had quickly become very fond of, patting his shoulder as he arrived. 

"What happened to you? Get caught in a landslide?" Kent crossed his arms over his chest, smiling lightly down at the injured boy.

"He took a tumble. Take him to his tent okay?"

Kent nodded, grasping the boys arm and pulling him up, laughing a bit as he stumbled upon standing. I watched as they made their way in the opposite direction slowly, but steadily, for a while before turning back to Mitchell.

"Anna, something you should know about Brandon." I nodded for him to continue. "He doesn't talk."

"He's mute?" I exclaimed in surprise.

"Not exactly. He talks, just rarely. Apparently hes been in some really bad homes and has just gotten use to being told to be quiet. Pan ordered me to follow him around for a bit, help him out, see if I can get him talking."

"Really?" I frowned. "Whats the real reason?"

"Thats all he said. I was actually hoping you'd know."

I shrugged lightly. "I have no idea."

We stood in silence for a few minutes just watching a couple of birds chase one another in between a few trees, squawking and cawing. "Maybe Pans trying to avoid killing him."

"Why would he kill him? He hasn't done anything wrong, he hasn't done anything at all."

"But thats the point isnt it? He hasn't done anything at all, hes not a useful part of the island, and Pan won't keep boys if they turn out to be useless. You either hold your own or you die."

"Why would he suddenly care about killing someone though? From what i've heard he does that like a past time activity." I rolled my eyes.

"Are you serious?" I pulled a confused face, scowling as he laughed. "You! I don't think he wants you to think badly of him."

"Please." I shook my head, gazing down at my shoes as he cheeks grew hot of their own accord. "He could care less. How do you know all of this by the way? You got here the same day I did."

"Tate." He replied. "He's been here for ages. He tries to be everyone's friend, but he loves gossip. If you need to know anything he's your man."

My ears perked up at the sound of those words. "Anything?" A smirk spread out across my face as he nodded, completely oblivious to my excitement. "Hey, I have to go, but that was really cool of you, what you did for Brandon."

"It was nothing." He shrugged. "I'd hope one of the boys wouldn't leave me in the woods if I was unconscious."

I laughed, bidding him one last goodbye before hurrying through camp in search of someone I desperately needed to have a conversation with.