↠ The Love of the Darkness ↠ {Peter Pan}

1

Pan sent a whisper to Tink and called me to the camp for the first time in years.

I run quickly through the branches in my long, dark cloak, jumping from tree to tree. The only thing stopping me in my tracks was a collection of cages hanging just outside of the camp. I stop fully, watching them carefully.

I told Peter to stop bringing people to Neverland...

I jump a few more branches to where the cages are and squat down, adjusting my cloak to cover myself up. I watch the cages and look into them to see a group of boys and a girl.

Another girl, huh? What is Peter up to?

I leap to the cages and begin to untie the ropes. When the ropes release, one cage begins to fall. I catch it with extended hands and grunt as I pull it to a stop on the ground.

"What the hell was that?" I hear the first boy say.

I run to the next one and drop it, then continue to until I get to the last one.

"Who the hell are you?" A british accent, much different than Pan's, sounds from the cage. 

"Your savior." I snap sarcastically. I release the cage and catch it quickly before climbing down to the ground. I stalk slowly towards the cage openings. My cloak covers my face and body, but I gently tug my sleeves under it to cover up my skin. My boots crunch against the leaves as I stop in between the five cages.

"Who are you?" I look at them just below the top of my hood, making sure it casts a shadow to cover my face. Masks are too uncomfortable and everyone on the island knows who I am. There was no need to hide my face until now. 

"Where did you come from?"

"We're not tellin' you nothin' until you let us out of here!" The first boy yells. His features tell me he's not from the Enchanted Forest. I lower my head and think to myself before looking up fully and pulling back my hood. My thick brown hair lays tamed on my shoulders as I glare with my green eyes.

"You're a girl..." The Brit mutters. I turn to him to finally see his striking appearance. I turn up my nose and look through the group again.

"Where did you come from?" I ask again. They all remain quiet. But then my thoughts turn to Pan.

Why did he lie to me?

I shoot my hand into the air before throwing it towards the ground. An imaginary force slices through the locks all at once and the group walks out slowly. As they walk among each other and whisper their questions, I walk back and watch curiously. Four boys and a girl. Several different types and all seem to be some sort of dysfunctional family. One of the boys walks forward and crosses his arms over his chest.

"We'll answer your questions if you answer ours." He says. I roll my eyes before complying.

"What do you want to know?"

"Who are you? As you seem to have magic like Pan, you also seem to know as much as him."

I walk forward and cross my arms under my cloak. My eyes look over the group before walking back and forth.

"My name will mean nothing to you." I answer, but continue to explain. "I am the first Lost Girl who chose to stay in Neverland. I don't know why you are here. I don't know why Pan wants you. I'm just as oblivious as you all are, and I am the only one who will be able to get information out of him."

They all stay quiet while looking among each other.

"Now, my turn." I clear my throat before pointing my finger a the girl. "What's your name?"

She looks at the boys before clearing her throat.

"Why do you need to know?" the tall Brit asks.

"Don't I have a right?" I snap. He gulps nervously before stepping back into place. My blood begins to boil as I think of what Pan would want with these people. I could care less about the boys. I could care less about where they came from. They strike no interest in me—except for the girl. I feel my heart pound madly in my chest as scenarios run through my mind. Suddenly, I'm dragging her towards the camp. The boys follow in protest as she's yelling in confusion and pain. When I make it into camp, I see Peter pinned to the ground by another girl. What the-

"LET ME GO, YOU SHANK!" Teresa screams.

The girl whipped her head up to me. I saw the fire burning in her eyes. Her head move to the side to see her friend being dragged behind me. She kicked Peter to the ground. As quickly as she could, she threw a knife at me, which I dodged as it whips past my ear. I drop her friend on the ground, which causes everyone in the new group to rush to the girl's side.

"Who the hell do you think you are?!" the feisty one screams at me.

"Someone who wants some damn answers!" I scream back. Then I push past her and walk swiftly towards Peter.

"Emily!" He exclaims before seeing the glare on my face. He doesn't falter out of fear until he speaks. "H-how are you? Haven't seen you in— what?"

I grab his ear. Pinching it as hard as I can. Then I drag him into the brush and push him further up into it. I finally let him go. Fumes practically steaming out of my ears.

"I told you! I told you not to bring people here anymore! And what did you do?! What you always do: You lied! You lied straight to my face and it's going to get someone killed!"

Peter fixes his posture and lands his hands on his hips.

"I didn't bring them here! My shadow did!" He protests.

"I don't give a damn about your shadow!" Tears prick my eyes. As one falls down my cheek, I wipe it away quickly before glaring at Peter. "I told you, Peter! And—and you lied!" 

Peter pauses. Instead of defending himself, he walks towards me and pulls me into him. I let his arms wrap around me as I pound a fist into his chest. His fingers stroke away my tears and push my hair out of my face. After a few moments of silence, I take a breath.

"Where did they come from?" I ask while looking through the leaves at the group as they sat by the fire.

"Some place." He sighs. "They were in a Maze, being experimented on. My shadow took them from their misery and brought them here." He says while playing with my hair.

No. We aren't together. He's like my older brother. Always has been, always will be.

"As long as they're happy here..." I sigh. "I missed you Peter."

"I missed you, too, Em."

I push away from him, wiping my face with my cloak.

"You still have it?" Peter asks. I look up to him before playing with the silver pendant that clasps my cloak together in the front.

"Of course I do. I am a Lost Girl. I'm one of the lost." I say as I look to the leaf pendant and smile quickly before it flashes off my face.

"Why did you call me here anyway?"