Peter Pan The Killer

Chapter 2: Peter Pan is The Enemy

Gregory Skul was an ex-scientist from the Neverland Bioengineering Foundation. The shady research foundation was home to Peter Pan throughout his childhood, where he along with other children were subject to inhumane experiments to test the foundation's anti-aging drugs. However, from discussions with Dr. Louis Young, another ex-scientist from the foundation, the anti-aging research went further than just bringing youth to the aged.

Peter, along with other subjects, were on the road to immortality. Dr. Young even mentioned heightened abilities such as speed and agility. Just what were they trying to create? A superhuman? As science-fiction as is sounded, it was true.

Gwen rested her pen on her desk, leaning back against her chair.

Peter had heightened abilities. She had seen him run faster than ordinary, leap from tree to tree, building to building, like it was nothing. His brain worked in strange ways, calculating scenarios before they played out, then there was the hypnosis. Although Dr. Young affirmed hypnosis had not been part of the plan, she believed it was connected too.

It all burned down to Skul.

When the foundation got exposed, they eliminated all subjects, papers destroyed or transported. However, Peter survived and escaped. She remembered him telling her how he was a stowaway for a time, before Skul found him and took him in. He said it was too good to be true.

What if it was?

Skul had taught Peter hypnosis and skills to survive as a criminal, making the young boy do his dirty work. But there was more, Dr. Young had specified, Peter should have been dead a long time ago as without proper monitoring and drugs, the effects of their experimentation would have been grave. Now his survival made more sense, Skul was one of the scientists in the foundation; he must have stabilised Peter all this while.

What was Skul's goal in the first place? Keeping Peter alive, then putting his crimes on the boy's head and leaving him to rot? But then if her theories are true, it was Skul who gave James the solid proof to capture Peter. Gwen groaned in frustration. Just what did he want?

Peter had once seen Skul as a father figure. As messed up as that sounded, she could imagine it. No one had given him the protection he needed up till Skul. Hence, Peter's trust issues after Skul betrayed him had only gotten worse. He was a lone wolf for so long, till Gwen came in the picture. Or so she hoped.

Again, the ache in her chest welled up. It just hurt to think of him forgetting her. Even after all these months, she still yearned to see him again. Did he feel the same? Gwen knew she was being ridiculous. An evil psychopath literally kidnapped her best friend, Peter could wait. But her heart said otherwise. She did not want to give it a name. This feeling. It was not necessary.

She closed the file before her. Her desk lamp illuminated the front of the pale blue binder. James Hardwing was written on the front. Stealing a file from a detective, was easier than expected, although she suspected he would call her tomorrow to ask her for it. Gwen needed the file, as it contained James's findings. He had gone to Lambeth where Detective Rogers and himself had tracked down Skul's lair. They did not tell her as they had already suspected her switch of sides.

James's Lambeth trip had been fruitful. He documented detailed descriptions of Skul's trap-riddled lair and suspicious laboratory. He had even collected old samples for lab analysis. The reports pointed to particular drugs acting as pain-killers and other suppressants. Gwen put two and two together. She was the only one who knew both sides of the story. Peter was unstable after his escape from the lab, Skul has already possessed the stabilising drugs for him. The laboratory in his lair proved that experimentation on Peter was far from over.

All this information in the file had answered quite a number of questions. Unfortunately, James's attention was shifted to Peter Pan rather than Skul, all thanks to Skul dropping that bombshell of evidence. Yet again Skul used Peter as his scapegoat.

But Gwen would not be fooled.

Believe it or not, James was currently doing his Master's in Forensic Sciences in the MMU. Gwen had bumped into him countless times. He still regarded her as a friend, blaming Peter Pan for her unnatural behavior months ago. However he kept his secrets safe from her reach. His investigation was still underway, but as his internship was over, things had gotten to a stagnant phase..

Gwen's investigation however, was as active as ever, Pauline's disappearance a fuel to her engine. Find Skul, find her.

So, it was only natural for Gwen to work her ways to get her hands on James's files. She stalked James for a bit and determined his lecture timings, waited for him, and made it seem coincidental that she bumped into him and then invited him for lunch. James carried his files everywhere. Extremely protective over them if she thought so herself. A couple of distractions here and there and Voilà  the file was in her hands. It was only a matter of time before he found out, so she photocopied the entire file and did not hesitate to study it through the night.

Early the next day just as she got out of her car, James was already waiting for her. He glared at her expectantly.

"My file, Gwen," he asked or rather stated. Gwen just stared back at him silently.

"I know you took it, don't lie your way out of this," he said. She rolled her eyes and with a sigh slung her backpack off one shoulder and pulled out the binder. James snatched it from her hand. He narrowed his eyes at her.

"Gwen... I told you, don't get involved," he said sternly.

Unexpectedly, he made her back up till she hit her car. He hooked a finger under her chin forcing her to look up. His eyes weren't the same when they first met. Before, it held kindness, curiosity and sympathy. Now it was secretive and dangerous.

"Pauline is still missing," Gwen said through gritted teeth.

"And I told you I will find her. So let me take the reins, Gwen. Trust me," he replied, his thumb stroking her jawline. When she did not respond he paused. He leaned towards her, his lips a breath away from her ears.

"Peter Pan is the enemy. He is the reason Pauline is gone.... The reason... Anna is dead."

Gwen sucked her breath at the mention of Anna. Her body trembled ever so slightly. As if satisfied with her response, he pulled away.

"See you later, Gwen. Remember my warning," he said with a smile that hid more than it shown.

Gwen glared at his retreating figure, burning holes into his back.

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A/N: Hey, Lost Boys! Leave a comment, vote and share!