Second Star to the Right (Robbie Kay)

The Girl

My eyes flickered open, someone was below my hammock. It was still very dark out and the Lost Boys would be asleep by the tree while my hammock hung nearby Peters.

I unhooked my bow and grabbed an arrow, pulling it back in one quick motion I leaned over the edge and shot.

I looked down just in time to see Peter grab the arrow. "Nice aim." He smiled dropping the arrow.

"I learned from the best," I laughed, "Why are you up so late?" I asked feeling sleepy.

"Just some business, nothing to worry about." He said gently as he flew up to his hammock next to mine.

The hammocks were high up in the trees, a precaution in case of any dangers.

"Those pirates again?" I asked darkly. Throughout the past 4 months, pirates have been invading Neverland. To many for us to drive out.

Peter sighed and laid down, "Don't worry about them, just go back to sleep." He said closing his eyes.

Of coarse, now I couldn't go back to sleep. Peter had though, his stomach rising and falling steadily. I looked over at him then at the rope ladder that would bring me down to the forest floor.

I crawled toward the tree which held my hammock, grabbing hold of the rope ladder I began to climb out of my hammock and down the ladder.

One foot after another I descended the rope ladder hoping Peter wouldn't wake anytime soon.

Jumping down I planted my feet on the ground quietly. The noises of the night seemed to gather around me. I quickly started down the path that would lead me to the beach, from there the pirates camp wouldn't be far.

The forest is even more dangerous and creepy at night. I pulled out my knife as I headed down the trail, being careful not to break any leaves. I felt like the night was flowing through my veins, I felt at home here under the stars that were helplessly stuck in the darkness.

Soon I reached the beach, footprints dotted the usually peaceful sand. A ways off I spotted the pirates large ship, lights danced off it and onto the ocean.

I stuck to the trees and made my way toward where the pirates would be drinking.

Slowly I stepped over sticks and leaves that would crush easily under my pressure. I neared the camp, I could tell by the loud shouts that came from ahead.

Crack. I stepped on a stick, crap! I ducked and sure enough I saw someone. These were one of those times I wish Peter would swoop in to save me, but I knew he was fast asleep.

The man pushed through a Dreamshade bush and scratched himself. "Bastard!" He grumbled sucking on his finger, he turned around and headed back toward the pirate camp.

I breathed heavily, not realizing that I had been holding my breath.

"Captain! The girls gone!" I heard a pirate yell and I tensed, were they talking about me in my hammock? No, impossible. Our hammocks were basically invisible thanks to a spell Peter cast upon them.

"Find her before those Lost Boys do!" I'm guessing the Captain yelled since I couldn't spot who it was who yelled.

I stood up and began racing back through the woods, making no noise whats so ever. The wind blew through my hair, I felt as though I was flying. The forest was dark during through the the night but a special tree which produced "Ceve Leaves" glowed during the nighttime.

While I was admiring the darkness, I ran straight into someone else who was running. The wind was blown out of me as I hit my stomach on a large rock but finally landed on my back. I hit my nose on the persons shoe and blood dripped down onto my shirt. My vision blurred for a second but soon I could see who I ran into, a girl.

She was about my age, curly brown hair, and green eyes. She looked about my age, and her hair was pulled back into a tight pony tail.

She had fallen too, she was struggling to stand up, a large gash on her side was bleeding through her clothes. I moaned and held my nose, blood still oozed from it. I coughed and spit out some blood, it was darker than the night sky so it was easy to distinguish.

I slowly stood up and pulled out a whistle from my pocket, I blew on it but only a faint noise came out. The Lost Boy on guard would be here soon.

"Watch out next time," the girl spat at me, holding her side.

Anger burned inside me, who the hell is she to intrude on my island and tell ME to watch out.

Of coarse I would've replied bit I was still coughing up blood. I heard another faint whistle and turned around, I coughed up a bit more blood before I could reply.

"Mason! Over here!" I managed to yell before blood poured out of my nose.

The bushes parted before Mason and Jordan pushed their way out into the open.

The girl pulled out a knife from her boot and was pointing it at Mason who went over to check on her.

"Slow your roll tiger," I said weakly, "Their here to help. Unless you'd like to go back to those pirates," I hissed as Jordan wrapped his arm around my waist to help me walk. I started walking down the trail toward camp.

The girl reluctantly followed with Mason eyeing her blood soaked clothes. Soon we reached camp where Lost Boys were gathered, some pacing frantically.

Our medicine boy, who we called Merman because of his connection with the mermaids, came out into the clearing and ran over to me with ice, he had me hold it against my nose before he walked cautiously over to the girl.

She was now panting and her clothes were now stained red, Merman took her away into his tent. I collapsed to the forest floor out of exhaustion just as Peter landed a few feet away.

"I see your awake," I joked, the tang of blood still hung in my mouth.

"What happened?" He asked sternly and I sighed in response, "Autumn I'm serious."

"Well. I was investigating the pirates when someone said something about a girl," I said breathing heavily, "I was on my way back to my hammock when I accidentally ran into that bit- girl, now I'm being interrogated." I smiled at him sarcastically before sitting up, coughing up more blood.

Peter walked over and picked me up princess style, I admit, I regretted nothing at this point. He turned to the rest of the boys, "I'll be back in the morning to see the girl, make sure she doesn't escape," he said before we started flying.

I lay back in his arms, obviously tired, it wasn't long before we landed in his hammock.

"I thought I told you not to worry about the pirates," he said, a hint of pleading in his voice.

"I'm sorry, at least we have something the pirates want," my eyes teared up a bit but I refused to show weakness.

"That's what I'm afraid of," he blurted laying next to me, "She's the reason their here, her fathers the captain and while I was talking terms, she was begging for me to take her." He sighed and I was too weak to talk anymore.

We stared up at the night sky, the second star to the right shone brightly. Soon I closed my eyes and drifted into a steady sleep.