Peter's Lily (Sequel to Pan's Tiger)

Chapter 33: Caged like an animal... caged like a tiger

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Everything hurt; my head, my back, my ears, everything. My head was pounding, like someone was drumming an unholy beat into my skull. My back ached as it begged to be straightened. My ears rang, a white hot pain pulling at the drums.

My fingers twitched from nerves, brushing against something hard as I felt my eyes slowly pry themselves open. A white, hot light flooded my eyes as I winced, sucking in a breath before closing my eyes tightly again.

I swallowed nervously, scared to death about where I was and why I had no memory of how I ended up here. I turned my head to the side, keeping my eyes closed as I focused on getting my breathing levelled. I took in short breaths, waiting for them to even out, before I slowly opened my eyes again. I had to blink a few times, as everything was foggy and unclear, like I was looking from underwater.

I could see a figure seated on a rock about ten metres away, shadowed by the trees, but definitely dressed in green. As my vision became clearer, I could make out their elbows resting on his lanky legs as the figure straightened out, bracing a hand against its knee as it watched me slowly waking up.

Instantly, I panicked, blinking rapidly so I could see more clearly. It was for another moment before I realised why I couldn't see his face. It wasn't because he was far away, it was because of the bars.

Shuffling awkwardly, I brought myself into a seated position, my head dipped from the smallness of the cage, keeping my eyes closed from the painful light. My hair swayed in front of my face, as I tilted it to and fro, clicking my neck from the torturous night. Slowly, I lifted my head upwards.

'Open your eyes, Tig,' A voice said. I jumped, unprepared for the voice, especially as I instantly recognised that it belonged to Peter Pan.

I obeyed and tucked my floppy hair behind my ear and gazed straight into the dark, forest green eyes. I jumped again, having not realised how close he was. He must have flown there, or used magic to disappear and reappear by my cage.

'You shouldn't have done it, should you Tiger Lily? You know you can't mess with me, I'm Peter Pan! You can't play with the devil and not expect fire.' He smirked as he watched me carefully, waiting for my reaction.

Agreeing with him would be a sign of weakness, I would appear meek and pathetic. Pan would be able to see straight through any pretence of feeling guilty. But disagreeing could lengthen my time in the cage, which I most certainly did not want to do.

'Where's your voice gone? Where's the spirit that gave you your name?' He chuckled to himself but there was a hint of annoyance in his tone, like he was infuriated by my silence. I couldn't imagine why. Wasn't this his dream, to have me locked up, tied up, unable to betray him, only able to be his puppet, just existing for him?

I didn't humour him with a reply, but stubbornly sat as still as I possibly could manage, my face of steel or iron, perfecting my poker face.

'You're covered in dirt, Tiger, you look awful and disgusting,' Pan scolded, shaking his head with disapproval, like he was talking to a small child, like he was talking to Rumplestiltskin after he went straight from the garden and onto the settee.

'And who's fault is that?' I snapped back, unable to control my anger as I surveyed him with repulsion and distaste.

'There's that stubbornness,' Pan smiled, satisfied. His eyes were filled with lustful desire as he took in every inch of my body, fully aware that I couldn't object to his looks. 'Don't worry, I still fancy you, still want you, still crave you. If it weren't for these bars, I'd already have you.'