Chapter One: Welcome To Neverland
Blood spurted out of my mouth as the hammer grazed my cheek. I was far enough away for it not to crush my skull, but close enough to have lost a tooth, or two, apparently.
I dropped down and spit out my recently lost molars and looked at my enemy. He was an ogre warrior of sorts, carrying a medallion that was capable of turning whole oceans into ice. He needed it to conquer the world. I needed it to cool my Coca-cola...well, that was what I told him. And he took it a little too personally for my taste.
I stood up and unsheathed my sword that was strapped onto my belt. I staggered back. Blinked. Then I regained my composure.
The ogre warrior roared. "Die! You filth!"
"Says the one that smells like a seven-year-old gutter fish in a barrel..." I should really stop insulting my enemies...just maybe.
He charged towards me in full force. Normal eighteen-year-old girls would squeal and run at the sight of him. I just found it plain hilarious. I ran and slid through his enormously wide legs with my sword pointed straight up. Not a pretty picture, but he fell down dead instantly. I sheathed my sword back and after five minutes of grunting and groaning, managed to turn him on his back so that I could retrieve the medallion. Next time, I should make sure to let large monsters fall on their backs.
I held out medallion towards the sun. It had a golden, bluish hue to it. It had a little bit of blood on the rims, but it was very beautiful. I felt it vibrate, and soon realized it was my whole body doing so. I was getting ready to go home...
"You defeated that orc as if it was nothing!" Gus, my superior, but more like my admirer said as he ran and hugged me. "It's good to see you alive yet again!"
I was back in headquarters, of the world-warpers, which mostly looked like a spotless hotel room. With many doors and windows looking out to space. That, I had to admit, was always pretty neat. Gus had warped me into an empty white space, with three large windows and a small red door. I always found it a little creepy.
"Technically it was an ogre," I corrected and smiled at Gus. He wore an oversized blue coat with a green furry belt. His hair had changed...again, within a week that I was gone. Ever since that wizard, Gip...accidentally gave him the hairy-man spell, he would have a fully grown beard by nightfall, and his hair would be officially Rapunzel's length in a month. I told him to compete in the Guineas World Book of Records, but he just felt insulted.
My wardrobe was a little different, consisting mostly of black tank tops and sneakers. I didn't care whether I fit into the medieval worlds we often had to travel into...I liked these modern day tank tops...very handy for heat and hiding at night, where I do most of my work. And besides, dresses were beyond impractical.
"Well, you're officially through, you've qualified for the toughest quests!" Gus squealed...delighted. He loved the fact that I was thrashing the other workers. He took pride in the fact that he chose me, a prison rat, skinny and scrawny, and managed to change me into the best world warpers the world has ever seen. Little did he know, I did most of the work...and the changing or my neck was on the line. Literally.
Two hours later, with a large nap and a good meal, I went to Gus's supposed office.
I sat down in the designated blacked out room, on a chair near a supremely polished table. There was a flat screen TV ahead of me, and that's all I've had to deal with in the headquarters...no politics of hundreds of people questioning my every move. I liked it...they have taken so much from the modern era world...where the magic is literally the science. I found the old-fashioned magic to be cooler, however.
Gus handed me a file and I raised my eyebrow in suspicion. "Neverland?"
"Yes, it's been labeled as the fifth hardest world to do quests in..."
I frown and sit back. "What's the first?"
"I can't quite recall...but I think it's either Panem or the literal underworld, where all the horrific creatures take solace in..."
"And Neverland is only four levels away from the Underworld?" I laugh and shake my head. "Is this some kind of a joke?"
"Not really," Gus tapped his finger impatiently at me, and I sighed.
"Fine, what's the quest?"
"Read the file,"
"You know I never do..." I say. "Just spare me the details, maybe I could even get Peter Pan to help me...or...Captain Hook...or maybe that dummy Smee..."
"Well, that's precisely the problem," Gus leaned towards me. "No one has ever met Peter Pan...and lived to tell the tale"
"How many people have gone on this quest?" I asked and sat straight up. Now I was curious.
"You'll be the twentieth person to venture into this world," Gus said. "And I'm counting on you to come back."
"Sure thing," I said and rubbed my neck.
"I doubt they'll even need to use that," Gus said. "The island is extremely dangerous...we'll assume if you don't return within a month...you're dead."
"Great," I mumbled. I glanced at the one picture. "You want me to return with pixie dust?"
"It's the only world where it is reported to grow or be produced, we've tried in the enchanted forest, but those fairies are insanely protective over that dust..."
"Should be easy," I muttered. "Going alone?"
"Nope, you're going in with five of the best...consider us desperate," Gus said, but he gave me a wink.
I strapped the belt on where I had my favorite weapons, including three combat knives, two throwing stars, some magic pearls I collected on another world, my sword and obviously a small Ruger LCR 38, concealed handgun, used in emergencies only. The best of both worlds. I also took a bag of resources, with water meat, and bread that could last one for months. When I walked into the teleportation room, I studied the five other candidates. Three were grown men, and the other two were grown, women. I was the youngest, and many of them stared at me like I was a baby. I swallowed and kept my chin up. I wasn't going to act like one.
The youngest man approached me, he was built big but had somewhat of a friendly face. He also had black hair which was neatly slicked back, and chocolate brown eyes. "I'm Quinton, don't mind them, busybodies, they just think they're the best," he winked at me and I saw the other two's disproved looks at him.
I shook his hand, "Finley, good to see a friendly chap and warper...most of them are ugly as hell and die within the hour." Quinton laughed.
"Well, from what it sounds like, we're walking into one," Quinton shrugged. 'Who knew the place that I looked up to as a child will now be the place I will be trying not to die."
"Well, I'll try and keep you safe," I smiled and winked at him.
"Good to know you have my back,"
"Always," I stared at the others. They did not even bother to introduce themselves so I had to look at their name labels.
The oldest man was Zeke, who had black messy hair and a serious face. The second was Maddox, I had to stop myself from laughing at that one. He was strapped left and right with guns, and had short brown hair with a fancy moustache. The two women were called Nova and Penelope, but they didn't seem interested in even talking to me. So I made a mental note to avoid them.
We all sat down in the small circular room, facing each other and waiting. Warping to another world was a difficult procedure, and I didn't mind the wait. Rather than, than arriving in Neverland with a missing limb.
"So what were you before you became a world warper?" I asked Quinton in order to pass the time. Quinton, who was next to me smiled.
"I was a soldier, served in the military from 18 and now, three years later," Quinton motioned with his hands to himself.
"Wow," I said. "Impressive."
"Yeah, the military has taught me something that I will never forget..."
"Yeah...and what's that?"
"You never leave a man behind,"
I nodded. I liked Quinton...a lot, and judging by his demeanor, he didn't mind my company either.
The machine finally started up and whirred, and I felt a familiar vibration...
The first thing I saw were leaves then bushes, and finally the forest. I stumbled back, nearly into a bush with thorns and dark leaves, dripping some black gooey stuff. It did not look pleasant.
We were greeted with a choir of birds and frogs, and a heavy rustling from trees and the wind.
"Careful now," Quinton said. "I read in the file those bushes are extremely poisonous."
"Oh, did you now," I said and blushed slightly. "How convenient."
"It helps that I have a photographic memory," Quinton smiled back. I followed him through to where the rest of the group has gathered. I was right behind Quinton when I froze. Something was watching us. I looked up just to glimpse something black...something black with white glowing eyes...