A/N: If you've read before and are re-reading, a thousand and one thank yous! If you're a new reader, welcome to the family! I've gone through and realized how incredibly… well, for lack of a more fitting term, sucky the earlier chapters are. I'll be editing a good majority of the chapters for quality/punctuation/etc. I'm keeping the bones of the story, so there's no need to fret! I swear on pain of death nothing major will be altered. Onto Chapter One!
As my consciousness slowly returned I shivered in my now cold room. Perhaps having left the window open wasn't the smartest of decisions.
I sighed, rolled out of bed, and walked to my old, heavy oak dresser to grab my glass that sat atop the structure. The water had frosted the outside of the cup, pricking my palm with how uncomfortably cold it was. My brown, form-fitting tank-top I wore under my thin, long sleeved, cotton, navy peasant blouse was riding up slightly on my back. I grabbed the hem (as I'd done a thousand times) and tugged it back down over the top of my tan, form-fitting cargo pants.
A sharp breeze made me turn around to the window, intending to close the infernal contraption. I had left my back to it for a good three minutes, and it had been open for a few hours. Sleepily, I crept across my chilled wood flooring to the large bay window, my better instincts telling me that it was exceedingly foolish to leave a possible entrance open when I wasn't awake to defend myself. I reached up to grab the bottom of the frame when a strong arm wrapped around my waist from behind, their calloused hand slamming down over my mouth as they pulled me off the bench. I jerked my elbow back into their stomach, earning a slightly uncomfortable growl from their throat. I tried to twist free, but the intruder held me against themself till I stopped struggling.
Soft lips brushed the back of my ear, making goosebumps rise all over my body. "You, are mine." A smoothly accented male voice whispered in my ear. I could feel from my back pressed against their stomach that they had a well toned abdomen. The way they caged me in allowed me to test the strength of their arms. I lifted heavy boxes all day and hacked at metal, and most people stronger than me were also adults. My attacker was a little taller, and he had leather cuffs on his wrists. I kept my head up, so I couldn't see his feet, but I was tensing for a fight. "Alright, Bree, scream and daddy finds a body in the morning..." They slowly removed their hand from my mouth, almost teasingly.
"What do you want with me?" I responded, anger seeping into my voice. They were trying to scare me; I'd scare them first. I wasn't going to dissolve into tears and beg them to leave like a damsel in distress. I would throw them out the window myself if need be. Almost as if he sensed what I was thinking, the boy's grip tightened just enough to be uncomfortable on my waist -a warning. I knew he could feel the hard muscles through my shirt; he could probably see the strength in my shoulders. Whoever this was knew I was dangerous, so it was probable he was too if he had the nerve to infiltrate my home like this.
Stay calm, Bree. Just keep them distracted while you think up a way out. I told myself, taking a deep breath. He chuckled as if his intentions should be obvious.
"Off to Neverland, Bree." He cooed, and I swore I could feel him grinning. With a shove, I was tossed out my window, tumbling down three stories. A shriek ripped from my throat in surprise more than fear, and I squeezed my eyes shut.
Seconds passed and I hadn't hit the ground. I felt that the flow of air around me had shifted. Curious, I opened my eyes instantly. I was being towed into the sky like a doll by a floating, spectral shadow. It looked like a person, but was see through and all black with glowing blue eyes. The shadow had locked its- fingers? - around my wrist in a bruising hold. We were moving impossibly fast, yet I held still. If I fought back this thing might decide to drop me, then I'd be dead for sure. The rational part of my brain began screaming that shadows couldn't grab and people shouldn't be able to fly.
This night was a lot to handle. Magically appearing boys, voices in my head talking to me, and a shadow dragging me towards a star. Was I dead? Had I hit the pavement, and this was some angel dragging me to the afterlife? My mind reeled with questions as the atmosphere tightened, thinning till I had no oxygen. Panicking, I gasped for breath, my vision going dark.
Suddenly, air was shoved into my lungs like I had been slammed into an ocean of it. I took deep, greedy lungfuls. My breath rasped in my throat (probably from the screech I had emitted as I fell). As we began to fly over crystal-clear, blue ocean waters with crashing waves and sparkling seafoam, I thought about my situation. Kidnapped by a spirit didn't seem too bad, considering all I had at home was a drunk father and a broken home. Perhaps wherever I was being towed would hold more prosperous fortunes than my rinky dink town on the edge of two kingdoms. The specter swooped just low enough so I wouldn't break anything if I fell and threw me roughly to the sand and grit. "Why are you doing this?" I shouted, wincing as I landed on a stick against my back. I stood, a little unbalanced by the change of scenery and suddenly being on land again. The blood rushed to my head, making my vision go spotted for a few seconds.
"My master has called for you. He has ordered you come." The unnatural thing answered, its voice sliding over me like another ghost. I clenched my fists.
"You can't do this! I had a family, a job!" Family was questionable. My job though, I had often looked forward to completing. Making armor for the royals wasn't exactly entertaining, but it was rewarding. "I can't be summoned like some mutt!" I snarled, my nails biting my palms with half-moon marks. The wind and sea spray tossed my raven waves away from my face. I narrowed my eyes to keep any sand out of them.
"Master said bring the girl. Shadow brought the girl." He responded, as if I was the one not making any sense. Without another word 'Shadow' flew away, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Growling in anger, I kicked the stick I had landed on, sending it flying across the beach into the nearby jungle. Deciding it was best to find shelter in case something else wanted to drag me off again, I headed in the same direction I had kicked the drift wood. I was mindful that I still had my mother's dagger in my boot in case anything jumped out at me.
Determination lit my storm blue eyes as I set my hand against one of the gnarled trunks to climb over a fallen tree. I quickly saw that they were two completely different types. One belonged in the rain forest, the other in an arid wood. A sense of mounting unease rose in me, and I slowly slid off the tree. The back of my neck prickled hotly, signaling that I wasn't alone.
"I know you're there. Come out." I demanded, keeping my voice surprisingly even despite the jolt of fear I was experiencing. Almost like magic, a six foot tall boy with thin, pale, sandy hair braided with feathers emerged. A long scar coming from the bridge of his nose and going diagonally right to below his eye made him look sinister. His grin was visible even from fifteen feet away. I shrank back, eyeing the large club he had balanced on his shoulder.
"Greetings, Bree. Pan welcomes you to Neverland." He spoke. His voice wasn't smooth, but it was less nerve wracking than the boy's in my room. I sensed this boy had power, but not as much as my attacker. He was menacing, but it was more of a projection. My original attacker exuded confidence, power, and barely contained rage. This boy was most definitely more relaxed, almost lazy, as if I posed no threat whatsoever to him.
"Who are you, and how do you know me?" I growled, my hands shaking slightly. I clenched my fists again to hide it.
The boy laughed, "I'm Felix, one of Pan's Lost Boys. Everyone here will know you soon enough. Pan sent me to retrieve you from Shadow."
"You didn't answer both of my questions." I shook my head, planting my feet firmly. No matter whoever this 'Felix' was, I wasn't particularly inclined to be compliant after being stolen away so abruptly.
"I don't have to." He growled, the joking demeanor vanishing along with my confidence. "You can make this hard or easy -your choice, of course."
I took a step back. "I'm not going anywhere with you. I'm going home." I snapped, narrowing my eyes. Stubbornness had always been a defining trait to my personality, but so was recklessness.
Felix sighed like he had expected as much. "You better start running, Bree. Pan likes fighters."
He didn't have to tell me twice. I didn't care if I was running into a trap, but I had to get away. I darted through the forest, weaving past trees, thorns, bushes, broken branches and scattered boulders. It was disorienting to say the least. I heard a chorus of war cries filled with excitement coming from where I had left Felix. Great, there were loads of them! I pushed myself to go faster once I heard them bursting through the underbrush after me.
I needed to hide, or they'd catch me. There was more of them, and they knew this island better than I did, which didn't exactly sway the odds of survival in my favor. They probably had food, lanterns and weapons. I couldn't outrun them forever. Fear reared its ugly head again, and a spear flew by my head, lodging itself into a nearby tree. With a yelp, I turned abruptly to the right, heading deeper into the woods. My lungs began to tense, and I fought for a full breath of air but kept going. If I could run from the king's guards I could run from these strangers.
Once their shouts had died down a little I leaned against a tree. Strained, I set my hands on my knees, panting. I stabbed my fingers through my hair, pushing it out of my eyes impatiently.
"Well, well. Look what we have here..." I froze, recognizing the person instantly without even looking up. It was the boy from my room. "Bree, look at me when I'm talking to you." He growled forcefully, his fingers slipping under my chin and driving my head up.
My defiant gaze was met with calculating, breath-taking emerald eyes. I felt my heart stumble as the familiarity set in. Quickly, I straightened to my full height. He was at least three inches taller than me, but I didn't care. He had soft looking brown hair and a smirk on his lips as he assessed me. I squirmed under his scrutiny. "I chose well." He tilted my face gently, but his fingers had enough pressure to warn me he wouldn't tolerate me not doing what he wanted. This almost-stranger radiated authority, dominance practically engraved into every movement he made.
I narrowed my eyes, pulling my chin out of his grasp. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" I snapped, running my palm over my skin as if I could wipe off his touch. He chuckled, sending a chill down my spine.
"Did I forget to introduce myself?" He arched one eyebrow. Anxious, I glared at him, crossing my arms over my chest. The boy closed his eyes for a second, wetting his lips like what he was about to say was the most important thing I'd ever hear. "I'm Peter, Peter Pan, and you're on my island, Trinket."
A/N: Still not entirely happy with how this is, but it's better than it used to be... I hope. Bluemoon, over and out~
