Chapter 1
Emily browsed the shelves halfheartedly, her index finger trailing across the many dusty spines with little enthusiasm; surely there would be nothing of interest in this dank little shop. Giving up, she moved to the window and gazed longingly at the Seamstress's across the street. She would much rather be trying on pretty lace gloves and shining hair ribbons than being stifled amonst all these grubby old books. There weren't even any new publications to view; it seemed that there wasn't a tome in the entire place that was younger than herself... perhaps not even younger that Aunt Lilith.
Lilith Chase had been quite the beauty in her day, Emily had been told... but the girl now looked upon a rather bumbling and drab spinster, who spent far too much time reading and not enough time on her own appearence. Emily sighed in defeat as she looked down to see her Aunt was wearing brown boots under her navy skirts... and they hadn't even been shined. She could hardly bear to be seen with her Aunt sometimes. Most of the time, in fact.
"Emily, dear..." The woman was suddenly before her, holding three dusty volumes in her hands, "Have you found anything of interest, child?"
"I fear not, Aunt. I had been hoping to read the new L. M. Montgomery... but there is an apparent lack of modern publications in this establishment."
"Oh dear..." Emily couldn't help her nose turning up a little with disdain as she glanced about to reafirm her point... but Aunt Lilith looked rather crestfallen, and the girl felt a pang of shame for her own pompousity.
"Never mind, Aunt," she continued brightly, "I'm sure I will find something."
She cast her eyes about hurriedly, not wanting to seem ungrateful of her Aunts kind offer of a 'new' book. Suddenly her eyes were drawn to a rather solid tome with a fine (although somewhat worn), russet cover and golden lettering, just visible among the jumble of other books.
Grabbing it up, Emily mused over it a moment before deciding on it.
"I'll have this one. If I may?"
Aunt Lilith gently took it from her and looked upon it herself. "Well... If you are sure, my dear."
"I am."
Emily took the book back and again pondered over the volume's strange title;
'Neverland'