The story takes place in 1916- our leading lady is 16 years old and everything is historically accurate, I promise! This takes place about 25 years after the story with the Darlings/Bae. Enjoy!

The trees were thick above my head, the ground cold and hard. I groaned and sat up, pulling my knees to my chest. My head throbbed and my back ached. I sniffed- trying to avoid the tears from falling again. I sniffed again and coughed out a sob, loud and disturbing in the quiet under the trees. Quiet….so quiet…too quiet actually. It was night, but Kensington Gardens should not have been so silent. I sighed.

Kensington Gardens was the only place I could seek refuge. The Peter Pan statue that had been my companion since I was a little girl, the trees, the swans in the water, the murmur of people and the gentle padding of feet. This time though…

I heard a twig snap- loud as a gunshot in the eerie silence. I froze- could be a rapist, a murderer…No, no. I was letting my imagination get the best of me. Likely, it was a bird or a rabbit…Then there were footsteps. Frightened, I slunk away from my resting spot to hide behind a tree. The footsteps were closer and then…

"Oh, dear. Ran away from home, did you?"

The police! Damn! I peered through the trees from my hiding spot, looking for a way out. So many trees…endless trees…

"Not that I blame you. If you can call that cage of your stepmother's a home."

What?

"Come out, girl. Don't worry, if you cooperate, I'll have no reason to hurt you."

I let out a frustrated breath of resignation, as I revealed myself from behind the tree. I took three steps back, completely shocked.

It wasn't the police. It wasn't even a man.

It was a boy.

He wasn't much taller than me, or older than me, I suspected. His clothes were odd…he looked like he just walked off a stage at the theater….he wore a smug grin and….

He was looking at me a bit like a cat that has a nightingale within his grasp. I stood, paralyzed.

"What are you doing in Kensington Gardens…dressed like that?"

The boy chuckled and grinned.

"Well?"

"Haven't you noticed?" he said, his eyebrow raising in amusement, "you wanted to run away from home, and…well you have."

"What do you mean by that?" I asked warily.

"You're a long way from home, Priya. Funny, that your name means beloved, and yet you are loved by no one," he said, pacing in front of me.

"How do you know my-"

"Shhh. Listen. What do you hear?"

I was shocked into obedience- this boy, so unfamiliar, so threatening. I closed my eyes and listened.

"Nothing. I don't hear anything at all," I murmured.

"Of course not. The creatures here, human, animals…they know when it's wise to be silent. Does this sound like Kensington Gardens to you?"

I shook my head, more afraid now than ever.

"You…you kidnapped me," I stammered, taking a few more steps back.

"Oh come now, Priya, do I look like the kind of boy who kidnaps orphans? You ran away from home, remember?"

"I'm not an orphan. My father-"

"Yes, yes. He's all locked up because he tried to sell you for money to buy rum. Your mother is dead. And your stepmother, who truly is a kind and gentle lady, is a bit too kind and gentle for you. And well, trying to ship you off to a finishing school was the last straw. No, you're not quite a prim young lady are you? You yearn for more," he grinned, sauntering closer to me. I backed into a tree, feeling again like a bird caught in the sights of a cat.

"How…how do you know so much about me?"

"I know everything about you, Priya."

I pushed further and further against the tree, trying to find an escape. There was no way out….I set my jaw and stared him in the eye. I would not be a nightingale to be devoured. He'd meet a hawk instead.

"And what about you? You know so much about me, and I don't know a thing about you. Stop dodging my questions and give me a straight answer."

"Oh, how rude of me," he swept into a bow, false, and dripping with sarcasm, "I'm Peter. Peter Pan."

I stared at him. He was insane.

"Oh, please. Don't toy with me. You've watched me, and you've seen me around the statue, and now you've kidnapped me and you're trying to-"

"Put your fist down, girl. You won't be able to hurt me."

I hadn't even realized I'd been about to punch him. I lowered my arm and glared at him.

"You think because I'm a girl, I can't hurt you?"

"Oh, I know you could hurt me. If you knew how to use your magic-"

"My…my MAGIC?! You are mad."

"Oh, no. But I could be. I could become very, very angry," he said, his eyes blazing.

I looked at the boy again. Could he truly be my childhood hero? He was so threatening…intimidating…frightening. Hardly the boyish imp of my stories. But there was something else there…perhaps…perhaps he could be….

"So, you will accompany me to my home," he murmured, staring straight at me, the threat in his voice.

"I'd um. I'd be honored….Mr. Pan," I said, trying to keep sarcasm from my voice.

He laughed, something I did not expect. The threat did not leave his eyes, but his laugh put me slightly more at ease.

"You may call me Peter," he said, gesturing towards the unending forest, "so, shall we?"

I hesitated for a moment. I had no idea what lay in those trees…but what choice did I have? I weighed my chances- I had nothing but the clothes on my back, and he wore a knife. No, I didn't have much choice at all. I followed him into the shadows.

Please feel free to review! More chapters coming up very soon.