Erica gasped for breath as she stumbled on the sandy beach. She couldn't remember what her home was, who she was. She did remember running through some woods, angry beyond belief. Erica was seventeen, she did know that. But suddenly, she had appeared on the beach, tired and lost beyond belief. Erica looked down at her ripped white sweater and tight black leggings. Erica knew of one definite thing: This was not home. Erica eyed the forest before heading in to its dark interior. Rustling leaves startled her, but she knew that she was tough and could handle whatever monsters or animals lurked beneath the trees.
"Haven't been here before, have you?" A slightly deep voice called out. Erica spun on her heel and faced the source of the noise. A tall boy about her age or older stood before her. He wore tight black leggings and a dark green hoodie. His lips twisted up into a sneer.
"I don't know how I got here," Erica said loudly. The boy jumped down from the tall rock and towered above her.
"What is your name?" He asked. Erica looked him square in the eyes.
"What's it to you?" Erica growls. This boy would not make her do anything.
"Oh, you have fire. Too bad I have to put it out, sweet," He said through a laugh. Erica narrowed her eyes.
"What is your name?" He ordered her, grabbing her arm.
"Erica," She said with venom. The boy glared at her.
"I'm Peter- Peter Pan. And you belong to me," He chuckled. Erica ripped her arm away.
"I do not," She said angrily. Peter flourished a piece of old-looking paper.
"Whoever steps onto Neverland ground may never leave without permission from Peter Pan," Peter read. Erica reached for the dagger in her belt that she knew would be there and brandished it.
"You do not own me," She hissed. Peter reached for her, but Erica swiped his arm with her knife and left a thin trail of red. He lunged for her, snatching her knife away and pinning her to a tree.
"No? I have magic. I own you, because I own everything on this island. And, my love, you are coming with me" He said quietly into her ear. Erica shuddered.
"Never. And don't give me pet names," Erica insisted. Peter pressed the cold edge of the knife against her throat and pressed down. He drew no blood, but it was a warning.
"Never disobey me, sweet," He whispered before taking her wrist and dragging her until they reached a clearing. There stood three large huts, one medium sized hut and a small hut. Twelve boys ranging from ages nineteen to oh, say, ten stood to attention.
"We go by age. James, twin number one Alex, twin number two Justin, Ace, Sam, Tom, John , Nathan, Tootles, Nibs, Slightly and Curly," Peter informed Erica. She glared at him and the boys. The older eight glared back, the youngest four looked down at their feet. The boys were muscular, wearing dark brown hooded shirts and lighter brown pants. Erica turned on her heels and started to walk out before she gasped for breath. The air was knocked out of her, but she tried to pull through. She made it several feet before collapsing and flying backwards. Some of the boys gasped.
"How did she keep walking?" Was one of many whispers that she heard. Peter grabbed her arm and yanked her up.
"Go to the smallest cabin and change. Come out here as soon as you are done. Oh, and Erica? See that cabin beyond the other cabins? The smallest of all? Never go in there. You will face grave punishment if you do," Peter warned. Erica smiled widely. Finally! A rule that she could break. Erica trudged into her cabin to find black leggings and a green hooded shirt. She quickly changed and flung open her door. The boys stared at her, so she frowned and looked around, searching for Peter. He was nowhere to be seen, so she started toward the exit.
"Trying to leave, sweet?" He taunted, before she felt a tug in her middle. She kept walking and the tug grew stronger until she flew back and hit the floor before Peter. He gritted his teeth and kicked at her, but she stood up and aside.
"I wouldn't recommend, love. Slightly can tell you what becomes of that," He said into her ear. He snapped his fingers at Slightly, who came before them.
"The cage, the torture, and the others," He mumbled, before stepping back in line. Peter smiled at Erica.
"James. Tell her the rules. Take her to the chamber, do not let her step out of line," He ordered James, before giving James a small vial. James had jet-black hair and dark blue eyes. He grabbed Erica's arm and dragged her into the forest. They soon reached another clearing and he continued with the dragging until they were in the nearest building. Erica was flung inside and sent sprawling to the floor. She stood up and glared up at the tall boy.
"Do not manhandle me!" She warned. James growled and went to slap her, but Erica snatched his hand and twisted it back. He reached for the vial and opened it, pouring its contents into his mouth.
"Magic for ten minutes," He said with a smile. Erica felt herself grow drowsy, but she stood her ground. James frowned and concentrated. After a few moments, Erica collapsed, panting heavily.
"The rules of Neverland. The most important rule is that everything- actions, words- even magic. It all comes with a price. Rule number two, Peter is in charge. He says, you do. Rule number three, you do what he says. Rule number four, you do what he says. Get it?" He finished. Erica laughed.
"I won't follow his rules. He's just a little boy playing pretend," She exclaimed. James smiled. He walked over to her, reached his hand back and smacked her. Erica turned her head to the side with the force and snapped it back to him. She hadn't been able to stop him because she was still tired. James motioned for her to stand up. She forced herself to stand against the will and followed him back to camp. Peter came out of the shadows and pulled her aside.
"Do you understand?" He whispered, toying with a lock of her hair. She snatched his hand and shoved it down.
"Crystal clear. But that doesn't mean that I want to do what you say," She said with a smirk. Peter frowned for a moment before shouting to the boys.
"Boys! We're going to give Erica a...proper welcome," He shouted with laughter. The boys cheered, except for the youngest three. They stared at her with sympathy. Suddenly, she was in the forest, out of the clearing. Peter's voice rang clear.
"You will try to evade my Lost Boys. If they catch you, you're mine. If they catch you, they get to take their good old time before returning you to camp," Peter finished, his voice ringing in her ears. She took off running. Faint footsteps sounded behind her. When they started to come closer, she shimmied up a tree and started jumping from branch to branch. She landed by a small river that she ran in to cover up her scent and tracks. Then she just started running in the woods. She stopped to catch her breath after a mile or so.
"Yeah, she definitely went this way!" Someone shouted. Footsteps came dangerously close, but they were all around her. She hid underneath a bush and prayed. Footsteps came right next to the bush. Suddenly, she was yanked up.
"We got her, boys."