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

Chapter 15

After about an hour of working the stations, Peter calls out for our attention.

"Alright, next part of today will be hiking. Gotta build endurance. I'll break us into and we'll head out. Boys I'll tell you what paths to take."

He starts breaking us into groups. The first four groups are all lost boys, then Sylvia and Sam get put with four lost boys, and Ana gets put into a group with five. Once Peter finishes Sam speaks up.

"Arabella didn't get put into a group"

She says.

"That's because she will be taking the waterfall path with me. It's very steep so only two people can go at a time," He replies with a straight face.

"Water fall path? More like falling for him path, am I right?" Ana whispers to me, laying out her hand for a low high five. I glare at her and turn my attention back towards Peter.

He gives the command to head out and everyone exits in different directions.

I walk up to him, and wait for a command on what to do.

"C'mon this way, try and keep up," He says smirking and running toward the pathway behind him.

I chase after him, easily keeping up with his pace. Thankfully I ran along the beach back home, staying in a reasonable physical condition.

Keeping up with Peter becomes harder and harder as the pathway starts to steepen. Slowly the trail begins to narrow, until we reach a cliff, to which the path barely clung to. We both stop to take a breath.

I look down. A river flows beneath us, about seven stories below. Ahead of us, the path curves. Hiding what, from the sound of crashing water, I assume to be the waterfall.

"You aren't afraid of heights are you?" Peter asks, turning around to face me.

"Nah that's Ana, I'm normal." I reply.

He continues forward and I shadow his steps, carefully placing my feet along the dirt path, gripping onto the rock to my left for dear life.

We reach the curve and I hug the corner of the cliff and shift my feet. Suddenly a piece of the path gives out, causing me to stumble. Peter reaches out, grabbing my hand and holding my back. I panic for a second thinking he has no hands on the rock, but as I turn my head I notice his feet aren't even on the path. He is flying.

"Wow someone's cheating," I tease, stabilizing myself on the path.

"Wow someone almost died," He teases back, joining me once again on the cliff.

I look over him to see what is around the corner.

The waterfall is beautiful. The crystal clear water dives through the air in a perfect free falling formation. The cascade hits the light just right, causing a vibrant rainbow to break through the mist. It's a sight out of book, then again so is this entire place.

We continue along the path. As we near the waterfall I noticed the trail goes directly behind it.

"Careful it gets a little slippery," Peter says as we approach the waterfall. The water left the dirt mostly dry, but the spray of the water caused it to become slick.

We walk behind the falling water, then Peter makes a quick turn into a hidden hole in the wall. I follow behind into a small cave. The cave has a high ceiling, and is covered in shimmering blue sapphires.

"It's beautiful," I say, staring up.

"Isn't it?" Peter replies, going to sit down on one of the large rocks. I pull myself up and sit next to him.

We sit in silence. I push down the butterflies that had been collecting in my stomach. I'd never been alone with a boy before, let alone one I actually liked. After a minute he breaks the silence.

"You're the first person I've taken here."

My heart skips. Only to be set straight again by the memory of him and Sylvia. I was probably just a friend to him, after all I couldn't compete with Sylv. She was older and had boyfriend experience. Plus she wasn't stubborn like me. Much better girlfriend material.

"Cool," I reply.

We sit in silence for another minute.

"Why me?" I ask, cutting the awkwardness, "there isn't anyone else you'd want to see this?"

He raises one of his spectacular eye brows at me.

"Hmm if I'm not mistaken there was a bit of envy in your tone? Who would you have in mind? Don't tell me it's one of the lost boys." He laughs.

"I didn't have anyone in mind," I say with a shrug.

"Its Sylvia isn't it," he retorts.

I freeze.

"Don't think I didn't see you glaring at us. This island is kinda mine ya know."

"I'm not jealous of Sylvia," I argue. Fighting any color from getting to my cheeks.

"Oh I'll bet. Just to remind you I don't want to come between you two. Sisters before misters. Or if you prefer the colorful version, chicks before-"

"I get it!" I interrupt him, glaring up at the ceiling.

We sit in silence again for what feels like forever. Finally he speaks.

"For the record, I'd much rather be here with you than her," He smiles at me, a slight flirtatious glint in his eyes.

The walls protecting my cheeks break, and heat spreads across them. I smile back at him, then turn my attention back toward the gems.

A few seconds later I feel his hand land on top of mine.

We sit like this before I turn to him.

"Is Wendy here?" I ask.

His face turns solemn.

"No," he quickly replies.

"What happened?"

"Let's just say she isn't as sweet as the storybook makes her out to be."

I laugh and continue to speak, "so I take it you don't have a girlfriend on this island?"

"No," A cute smirk appears on his lips, "But I'm hoping that might change soon."