The Return (Once Upon a Time sequel)

Chapter 35

'JADE'

The stick moved slowly as my fingertips rolled it in between them. A blade touched it and worked it's way to the tip of the wood, cutting thin streaks from it. The streaks fell to the dark grass, leaving a smooth surface behind on the tip of the stick.
All my focus had been upon it for the passed thirty minutes as I slowly but surely, created a small spear from a stick that I had found in the woods. It was quite entertaining to tell you the truth, better than just staring at my surroundings that never changed. You could get bored easily on this part of the island that I can tell you for sure. Yes, there were monsters lurking round every corner but on the bright side of Neverland, you could play on the beach with the mermaids and dolphins or you could help out at the fairy camp. Here you just sat on the ground, bored to death because none of the foul creatures that lived here dared to come out and fight.

Not with Zen around at least.

I glanced in his direction to see him sit in the grass not that far away from me. He looked like he was sleeping upright since he had his eyes closed and you could see him breathe calmly as his chest slowly lifted and dropped. But his features showed me that he was doing something else though since they were sharp and focused on something, even though he couldn't see. He looked serious, an expression that I had come used to seeing ever since he brought me on this part of the island.

"Zen?" I spoke up, my voice soft.

His eyes opened slowly and looked straight at me. I mentally cursed.

"Yes?" He replied.

I shook my head and focused back on my spear.

"Nothing. I thought you were asleep." I said.

"Not sleeping, just meditating." Zen answered.

I looked back up to him, confused.

"Meditating? Why?" I asked.

"I've been doing it for as long as I can remember, even when I was in the real world. It helps me calm down, find peace and relax." He answered.

"The real world. What was it like when you were there? It surely must've been much more different than it is now."

"That I am certain of, though I don't know how you define different. I haven't been there for some centuries now so I can't quite imagine how different it has come out to be. But I was never interested in the world anyway. My life didn't allow me to." Zen lowered his head slightly, seeming as if he was thinking back on those times.

"Both my mother and my father were high ranking in the king's court so our family was pretty wealthy as you can imagine. I only wish I could say that I was happy though..." He said.

I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Why weren't you?" I questioned.

"If I may ask." I quickly added.

Always be polite. My mother used to say.

Mom...

"I wasn't really interested in other people. Other than Peter, who I knew ever since I was little, I never spoke to anyone else. As for my parents...They were really harsh and unforgiving. With every little mistake they made me sleep outside and did not feed me. With every tiny argument they kicked me out of the house. These hypocrites only cared about themselves and their status. That's why I left as soon as Pan told me about this place." Zen explained.

"Oh well, that's a lifetime ago. I don't really care about it any longer." He sighed.

"That seems horrible but...if your parents cared so much about their status, why would they make their only son sleep outside? Didn't the people find that weird? Wouldn't that ruin their reputation?"