Chapter 1

I've always heard stories of Neverland. The wonder, the beauty, the magic...the danger. The stories tell of a beautiful island with beautiful mermaids and wondrous waterfalls. They also tell of the lost boys and their leader named Peter Pan. The boys were taken away by Peters shadow in the night and got to stay on the island of no rules and anarchy for eternity. This is the story of how I became the first lost girl.

It was January 17th. The day that marked 10 years my mom had been gone. My mom died when I was only 8 so I don't remember much about her. I only remember bits and pieces, here and there. The only reason I knew what she looked like, was because of the pictures of her around our house. Well, that was until my dad got remarried and the pictures were gone forever along with my precious memories.

It was a cold night, but not unusually cold for January in Wisconsin. I was sitting alone in my room, like I do every night. My dad, sister and step-mom were out celebrating… whatever. Probably my sister, considering, in my dad's eyes, she's the "perfect child". Only I see her for who she really is.

If she fails a class, my dad blames the teachers and has my sister transferred to another school. My step-mom doesn't help either. She spoils my sister almost every weekend by taking her shopping. My dad got remarried to my step-mom 5 years ago. Ever since then I have been ignored by the family and treated like a baby. Even though I'm the oldest. At first I loved my step-mom, but then my dad started ignoring me and my step-mom became more and more important and was the new "favorite".

I was sitting at my window, staring at the night sky. Looking at the naked trees that had nothing on them but snow. Everything had snow. The ground, the tops of the houses, the sidewalk, the cars, even the people walking outside had snow slowly growing on their heads and backs. There were not many people walking outside; the fact that it's 10 degrees and almost 11 o'clock at night probably explains why.

I was getting tired and almost fell asleep when I started to hear music. I thought it was just my tired brain playing tricks on me. But then the music grew louder. It sounded like a flute was being played. The song was slow and peaceful yet made me feel excited and intrigued. I threw on my over-sized sweatshirt and slippers and went downstairs. When I got down stairs I looked around and realized my family wasn't home yet. The music was still playing at an even louder sound. It wasn't coming from inside my house so I put on my hat and gloves and went out side.

It was then that I was drawn around the corner to the local park as in a trance-like state. Then I saw them. A bunch of boys dancing around a fire. They were all dancing crazily like a bunch of wild animals. All of them, all except one. That one was playing a pan flute.

I went right up to him and angrily yelled to him,"What the hell are you doing? It's eleven o'clock at night and people are trying to sleep!" I turned and addressed the boys who we're dancing.

"And all of you boys should be in bed." The boy playing the flute stopped playing and just stared at me.

He stood there in confusion like I was speaking another language. "Hello?!", I said after no response, "Do you understand English?!"

He then cleared his throat stood up and said, "You can hear the music?" He had a British accent and I had to admit was very good looking. I wondered what he was doing in Wisconsin. He was definitely not from around here. I nodded, suddenly scared.

The boy looked at the others than at me. "What's your name?" he asked sharply.

"E-Emily", I stuttered.

"Well, Emily. You see this flute here is special. Only people that feel forgotten or unloved can hear this. And, till now only boys. So tell me, why can you hear it?" I looked around confused myself. The boys were starting to circle in on me.

"Who are you any way? And how am I supposed to believe that, that stupid flute is really 'special' "? How do I know your not some lunatic?"

He chuckled, "I am Peter Pan. And these are my lost boys."

I laughed, but then I looked around. I realized then what was happening. I did the first thing that came to mind. I ran. But knowing me I didn't get very far;I slipped on ice and Peter rushed over to me.

"Now Emily there's no point in running. Why don't you just come over here and tell me", he corrected himself,"us, about yourself."

I didn't say a word. I was still trying to process the last few minutes in my head. I can't admit I wasn't scared. I was terrified. The whole time I was lost in thought, Peter was staring at me. It felt like his eyes were looking into my head and seeing what I have had to endure for the last 10 years of my life. He got up from where he was sitting, reached out a hand and spoke,"Come with us to Neverland."

I looked back at my home. I thought about my life, About how my "family" may never love me. "Okay." I said. "Why not?"