Neverland's Darkest Shadow

Chapter 2- Second Star to the Right

I still had no clue on where we were going. I felt as though I was about to throw up spontaneously all over the deep, blue ocean as the shadow pulled me higher and higher towards the sky. I was never good with heights...

We approached the sky and became very close to the stars that were shining in the night. Their sparkle seemed to dance around from one area of stars to another, almost as if they were communicating with each other. I looked up to face the shadow and met his gaze as he caught me staring.

"What?" He asked his tone low and aggressive. I flinched at his words before clearing my throat to reply.

"Where are we going," I asked, nervously, "Because I have no idea where we are or why I am needed." A grimace creeped onto the creatures face as he shook his head.

"Humans are so idiotically stupid. We are going to Neverland." I was taken aback by his response. My mouth dropped, and then I started to laugh.

"Neverland? That's not a real place, for your information." The shadow just chuckled and shook his head again. It was very hard to see him now due to the darkness in which we were flying through.

"Neverland is very much a real place. Only certain children are able to witness it." I raised my left eyebrow and sighed.

"It's not real. My mother used to tell me stories of Neverland and its adventures. Pirates and mermaids seem a little bit far-fetched in my opinion." I smiled to myself. Of course pirates and mermaids weren't real. How could they be?

A sudden rush of freezing air brushed all around me as I heard a sound, almost like twinkling if that makes sense. I popped out of my thoughts and looked ahead to see two stars. The one on the left was lower than the right and not a brightly shining, but the other one was the most majestic star I had ever seen in my life. It shined so bright I thought I was going to go blind!

"Hang on tight; we're entering Neverland!" The shadow said, a hint of cockiness in his voice as if he was about to prove me wrong. At first, I seriously thought he was joking. I thought my mind was playing tricks on me; because none of this can be real! A shadow that can touch and talk, see, and fly, me flying through the air just to reach the stars and actually enter one to a magical new world unknown.

Suddenly, a thought entered my mind as I remembered something from the stories that mother told me...

*Flashback*

"Mother," I asked, my little hands tugging at the sleeve of mothers new velvet dress, "where is Neverland?" Mother looked down and smiled as she put me on her warm lap.

"You can always find it in your dreams dear; but the exact location is: The second star to the right and straight on till morning." Her words seemed so real and so true that it would be impossible not to believe in what she told me.

"Will I ever go to Neverland, mother?" I asked, playing with my red hair. She sighed and smiled down at me, running a soft hand through my wavy hair.

"Perhaps, child. Maybe one day, you too shall visit Neverland just as I did."

My little jaw fell, "YOU went to NEVERLAND?" Mother laughed and nodded.

"Indeed, I did. Though I am never to return again." Mother said, a hint of sadness in her voice.

"Why?" I asked, my little mouth full of questions that I desperately needed answered.

"Once you leave Neverland and grow up to be a mother or father, you can never return. Now, off to bed with you!" She brought me to my bed in the nursery and kissed my forehead.

"Sleep tight, dear. Go to that second star to the right and straight on till morning."

*End of flashback*

I looked ahead before we entered the brilliant, shining star ahead of us and almost fainted. Second star to the right, and straight on till morning. Could mother's story be true? I didn't have enough time to answer my own question before we blasted through the stars opening.

Screaming at the top of my lungs, the shadow and I travelled through various colours and sounds of the world we were about to enter.

I was hoping to find vibrant blues, pinks, yellows, greens, and even purple just like in mother's tales...but all that came through were dark colours like black, blue, and a deep green. There was no colour, no light, and no sense of happiness. Even the sounds were of the night.

The moment we passed through the star, we were surrounded by cool, moist clouds. It wasn't morning like I expected; it was nighttime. There seemed to be no sign of life anywhere as we broke through the clouds. Below, there was a humongous island that seemed to hide in the ocean that enclosed it.

I tried to listen to sounds as the shadow brought me to a small area of thick, thick trees. In the distance, I heard birds chirping; and nearby I could hear the sound of an instrument. It was something like I had never heard before...

A flute? No... a pipe! Where could it be coming from? I thought to myself as we dodged tall trees nearing the land. Overhead a full moon shone, surrounded by twinkling stars. The land seemed safe; but only for that moment. I was suddenly dropped into a hidden, but open area in the middle of the island.

I landed and rolled down a hill that was covered with leaves and rocks. When I finally stopped rolling, I took a moment to catch my breath. Everything went silent. There was no pipe music anymore, no birds, and no sign of the shadow. I sat up rubbing my aching forehead and looked into the darkness that lay before me.

Where did the shadow go? Where am I?

I stood up and looked down at the state of my outfit. My poor nightgown was now covered in dirt and leaves. I sighed and attempted to brush off the debris that clung onto me.

*Crack* I heard a twig snap in two ahead of me. Was it the shadow? I backed up and stumbled over a tree root that was hidden in the darkness. It wasn't the shadow at all... it was a hooded figure in a long, black, robe-like outfit. The figure stopped walking just steps away from me.

"Crystal?" A deep, boy's voice asked. I nodded my head slowly, my red hair flowing gently in the wind. Underneath the shadow from his hood I could see a Cheshire like smile creep onto his face. Blonde hair stuck out from the top.

"You need to come with me. He's waiting for you."

"Who is this guy that needs me?" I asked, hopefully about to achieve an answer.

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