The Lost Realm (Once Upon a Time/Peter Pan)

Chapter 14

I run along the beach, desperately trying to see through the pouring rain, forcing my boots through the difficult sand. My eyes are fixed on the shadow in front of me, the one trying to escape my quick footsteps.

In my hand is a lantern, although it holds very little use. Yet the shadow I chase isn't created by light, not does it need it to be seen. It itself appears to be darker than the dark night surrounding it.

Yet I am not afraid of the shadow, something about it makes me feel okay.

Suddenly lightning strikes, and the lantern in my hand fades away.

I panic, noticing the shadow is no longer in front of me.

I hear booms of thunder, echoed by a woman's laughter.

The wind picks up, whipping sand onto my skin.

"Arabella!" The wind shrieks

"Arabella! Arabella!"

My eyes flash open to see Ana in front of me screaming my name.

"C'mon we gotta be upstairs in twenty minutes." She says before heading toward the bathroom.

"Wow only twenty minutes," I tease getting up from my bed. Normally I'd snooze for another five minutes, but the idea of reliving that dream made me shiver.

"C'mon you know it takes us girls long to get ready, plus you gotta look good for Peter," She winks at me.

"Please I don't have to look good for any guy, besides there isn't much competition here," I reply laughing.

Not that I even thought of Peter in that way. Of course he was attractive, but I was me. Back on Earth my sisters were always the ones playing the whole "boyfriend game." It actually worked out well, since Ana could sense if a guy's intentions were sincere, and I could back it up. Thus leading to a zero heartbreaks for my sisters. I was a different story. My abilities made things complicated. Upon thought reading, I didn't want to talk to most people at school, let alone get into a relationship. Every time I'd think a guy was cute or "dateable" he'd think something so idiotic any idea of a possible romance was thrown out the window.

My sisters always said I was just being too picky, but if they'd known some of the stuff I'd heard from their boyfriends, they'd stay in the single party.

But Peter was different, he wasn't like the guys back on Earth. I know they say perfect guys only exist in books, but I don't think this is what they meant.

"Wait," I said suddenly reminded of something,"doesn't Peter have Wendy?"

Ana pokes her head out of the sink area of the bathroom, "hmm probably not, a lot of stuff from that story hasn't been true so far. Besides you're far better than Wendy. However, if Tinker Bell exists you may be in trouble, she's fabulous."

I laugh and get ready for the day. I dress in what resembled a T-shirt and comfortably fitting skinny jeans, all in the same rugged fabric all the lost boys and Peter wore.

I put on some black combat boots and pull my hair back. All kinds of makeup are available, but I settle with some simple mascara.

"Ready?" Ana asks, starting for the door. I follow after her and we head up.

Once up the ladder I notice all the lost boys are in partners sparring each other with spears and knives.

In another corner Peter stands directly across from a target, a bow and arrow in his hand. He's wearing the same green rugged fabric as us, in a shirt and pants, along with dark boots. I can't lie, he looks good.

I watch as he puts an arrow into place and carefully draws it back. With one swift motion the arrow springs to life, landing in the perfect center of the target.

Sylvia and Sam appear, causing Peter's attention to move toward us. He sets down his weapon and starts our way.

"Welcome to training day one," he announces, "in training you will learn how to fight and defend yourself. This place may have been created from dreams, but an imagination can also create nightmares. You can all break up, the first half is choose your weapon. Select any station and go with it." With that he walked back toward his archery.

There are about four different stations set up, an area for knife throwing practice, a sparring area, an archery area, and a spear throwing station.

I choose the knife throwing station, not really paying attention to where my sisters decided.

For some reason I'd always wanted to take up knife throwing, ever since a video I watched in fifth grade about a man who could throw a knife 700 feet and have it slice an apple above a woman's head.

One of the lost boys gave me instructions on how to throw and soon I was landing knives close to the center of the target.

I go to pick up a knife when I see something out of the corner of my eye, Peter is helping Sylvia out at the archery station. I watch as he wraps his arms around her, guiding her hands to where they should be on the bow. He rests his hand on the small of her back and guides her aim. She releases the arrow and it lands perfectly in the center.

"That was so great!" Peter says, wrapping her in a hug, a flirtatious sparkle in his eye.

A wave of envy rushed through me, making me cringe and my blood heat up.

"Wow guess you should have gone for archery," Sam says appearing next to me, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Don't worry I'll talk to Sylvia later, c'mon you don't need to dibs him, that look in your eyes is enough." I glare at her and she laughs, before heading toward the sparring area.

I refocus on my throwing and try to block out my feelings. My whole life I'd rejected any chances of "love" but this world is different. Maybe a new home brings new feelings, or maybe I've just been spending too much time with my sisters.