Shadow

Night On The Island

Peter and John finally arrive to Neverland, where the lost boys are waiting anxiously by the campfire to meet the newest lost boy. "Hello their boys," Peter says from behind them, and they all excitedly turn. "This is John," Peter tells them.

In unison they all say "hi John," and one of the younger ones makes room on one of the logs for John to sit. There is a system that they all follow every time there's a new lost boy, so Peter informs John to just roll with it.

John sits by the little boy who looks like he is five or six years old and has blond hair. He kind of resembles his little brother Michael, who is three. The little boy is sitting and anxiously holding a stick from one of the trees. "S'more time!" Peter yells as him and an older boy who looks his age are passing everything out.

Once all the s'mores are passed out and the boys are roasting there marshmallows, Peter asks, "who wants to go first?"

The little boy next to John excitedly raises his hand, and Peter nods towards him, approving that he can go first. "Hi,
my name is Jack and I'm six. Peter saved me three months ago. I got lost when my papa got into a fight with my mummy and she left. She didn't want to take me." Jacks face had a pinch of sadness on it after recalling what happened three months ago.

"Well that's okay," Peter said, "we want you and your much better and happier here, right?"

The little boy looked up and smiled while nodding his head, and taking his marshmallow out of the fire. The boys began to rotate in a circle of who went next. The boy next to Jack was a ten year old names Bobby who got lost from the kids at hi bullying him in school. After Bobby it was another ten year old named Aiden whose parents died in a car accident, and then a thirteen year old named Austin whose mom committed suicide.

There were about thirteen more boys after that besides Peter who said he was seventeen but went into no further expansion. One boy who stood out was Scott, the boy who helped Peter hand out the marshmallows. He had a haunting look in his eyes and said his brother died, but looked like he was holding back.

When it was finally Johns turn, he said he was seventeen and just felt alone and unloved. Peter looked at him and smiled and said, "that's all going to change now John, you'll see."

The boys on the island ranged from five to seventeen. There were only three really young ones, just proving its hard to get lost at that age but not impossible. Somehow more sad even though some of the older ones went through worse.
The boys ate about three more, and Jack yawned and leaned against John, and then closed his eyes. Peter then stood up and said he was going to bed. "Come on John," he said, "I'll show you where you sleep." As Peter got up, so did the rest of the boys. It seemed they all wanted to follow Peters lead.

John followed Peter to a small hut that was made of trees and seemed to be well tied together. Inside the hut, there were three beds and a hammock. Besides that, but there were others identical to it, each having a hammock on both the outside and inside, with beds. "We try to keep the ages of the boys in the same huts, so you'll be with Liam and Harold."

John thought back to the campfire but couldn't remember who was who. Both boys walked in together and then John. Liam is sixteen, short dark blond hair and dark blue eyes. His father left months before he was born and his mother was a drug addict and chose that life over taking care of her son. Harold had longer dark brown hair, and dark brown eyes, and he was seventeen. Harold was kicked out of his house once he told his parents he was gay. He's been on the island for four years, and Liam has been on for two.

"Who does Peter share a hut with?" John asked.

"No one, he and Scott get their own huts. Perks of running the place." Harold said.

Once the boys settled into their beds which were surprisingly comfortable and warm, Peter came in. "Do you like it so
far John?" He asked.

"I mean its only been a few hours, but yeah, I kinda do. I was wondering, are you actually going to keep going to visit my sister Wendy?"

"Yes, I plan on it. I think I'll go tomorrow night just so she knows you're safe." After Peter said that he turned and left.

"How old is your sister?" Liam asked curiously.

"16, why?"

"It's been so long since I've spoken to a girl. That's really the only downside to this island. What does she look like?"

"Goodnight," John said, rolling his eyes and turning over.

"Common, can't a guy dream a little?"

John just didn't respond so Liam sighed, turned over and fell asleep.