Things were never meant to be this way. Families weren't supposed to be like this. Parents were meant to love their children unconditionally; they weren't supposed to use children as things to take their anger out on; they weren't supposed to resent or hate their children. Children were supposed to be cherished - they were made to be loved. Most children were loved. Persephone wasn't so lucky though.
She was curled on her bed trying to block out the yells of her angry father and the screams of her scared mother. It was always like this. Fights were a regular occurrence in the Greene household; fights with anger, venom and violence. Ever since she was naught but thirteen, this was how it was. She flinched when she heard glass shatter and heard her mother scream. Tonight was worse than anything Persephone had ever witnessed before.
She squeezed her eyes shut, praying for something better; wishing that someone would save her. She couldn't save herself; she was too afraid. She was afraid of what her father would do to her if he caught her and he always would catch her. She fell into an uneasy sleep with screams and her father's yells clouding her dreams.
The nightmares faded and soon, she opened her eyes to a whole new sensation. She felt like she was flying. Her eyes shot open as she came to her senses. Wind rushed through her hair so forcefully that it caused her eyes to fill with tears. Her heart almost stopped as her head whipped around, staring at her view; she was flying. Her wrist was being held tightly by something. She looked up and screamed. It was black but almost see through; like a shadow. It carried her higher and higher and Persephone felt like her heart was going to burst from her chest. It carried her to unnatural heights where they burst through clouds and the large city of London became nothing more and a cluster of lights.
Panic set in when she could only see clouds and stars. She struggled against the Shadow, yelling at it, but it never reacted. It continued to soar through the air, still at unimaginable height, and its grip on her wrist was always just as tight. Sleep. The thought entered her mind with deep voice but she never even questioned it and instead, fell asleep in the grip of the Shadow.
"Is that her?"
"Yes, it is. It's the girl. She's our girl."
"She doesn't look like much."
"It's the quiet ones that do the most damage."
"So, this girl's the key to what exactly, Pan?"
"Everything." The darker haired boy paused to look down at the unconscious girl, "She's the key to everything."
The island was calm. The sun shone down and the birds tweeted in the trees. The atmosphere would've been quite pleasant to wake up to had it not been such a shock. Persephone woke up slowly, expecting her flight across London to be a mere dream, but when her hands grasped dirt instead of bedsheets - she shot upwards.
"Ah, you're awake," A very English voice spoke from behind her, "I was beginning to wonder if you'd ever wake up."
She scrambled backwards, fear once again encasing her, "W-Who are you?!" She demanded, staring up at the voice who seemed to be no older than she - maybe eighteen or nineteen.
He smiled, "How rude of me, I'm Peter. Peter Pan."
Persephone stared at him blankly, "What?"
"You asked for my name and I gave you it; Peter Pan. Did the Shadow drop you on your way here or are you usually forgetful?" He never missed a beat. He was always teasing; always taunting.
"I heard you," Persephone's eyes narrowed, "but you're joking. I want to know your real name."
Peter cocked his head to the side, "That is my real name."
"Peter Pan's a fairytale character. He's fictional."
He rolled his eyes, "That's rude considering I'm standing right in front of you."
"You're... You're Peter Pan?"
He grinned, "The one and only."
"But- How?"
"You really don't get this, do you? Let me explain; I'm Peter Pan. I live here on this island with my Lost Boys."
"I-Island? Lost Boys?"
He ignored her, "I brought you here, Persephone."
"How do you know my na-"
"Doesn't matter. What matters is you and this island with all of its occupants."
"What's the name of this island?"
Peter smiled down at her, "I have a feeling that you already know."
Persephone released a breath she didn't know that she was holding, "Neverland."
He grinned, "Correct. Now, shall I give you the grand tour?"
She stared at his outstretched hand before jumping to her feet and running. She had to get off whatever the hell this place was. She was not in a fairytale. She was not on Neverland with Peter Pan and his Lost Boys. She was not... Peter had seemed to anticipate her fleeing so he smirked and mumbled, "I do love the chase."
The forest was thick, dense and she found herself getting so lost; only running deeper and deeper into it. She wanted to get out. She needed to find someone; anyone. She ran for what seemed like miles, passing only trees. When her legs ached and lungs burned, she stopped.
"You're not very good at hiding."
She spun around, gulping in air, "You." She hissed, "Where am I?! Why am I here?"
Peter walked towards her, tossing an apple into the air before taking a bite, "You're in Neverland. You're here because you were made to be here." She gawked at him as he continued, "Now, would you like a tour of the island?"
"I want to go home." She glared at him, "I don't want to be here."
He rolled his eyes, becoming increasingly annoyed with the stubborn girl, "You want to go home to a family that doesn't care about you?"
Her strong composure dropped, "How did you-"
"I know all about you, Persephone." He taunted as he glided closer to her, "But I'll play your game; I'll give you twenty four hours - so until tomorrow morning - to hide. Hide anywhere you like on this island. As soon as tomorrow morning comes, I'll look for you. If I haven't found you in one hour then you get to go home."
"What happens if you find me?" Her voice was timid, making Pan's smirk grow.
"Then you get to stay on the island."
She eyed him wearily, "Why do I get twenty four hours to hide and you get an hour to find me?"
He grinned at her, the grin chilling her to the very core and making every hair stand on end, "I'm quite a good seeker." He replied, "I'll see you tomorrow morning, Persephone." He turned and walked away and Persephone didn't know how someone eating an apple could look so threatening, "You better hide!" He called, never once turning back to look at her.
Fighting the fear, Persephone began to run again ignoring her sore muscles. She wanted off of this island. Peter - or whatever his real name was - was right though, she didn't want to go back home but she didn't want to be here either. She spent hours running, trying to find a good hiding spot. There were lots of hiding spots but she knew that Peter would find her - he would always find her. She weaved in and out of trees, ducking in ditches and even tried to climb a few trees - each attempt ended with her falling on her back though. The hunger and thirst grew and she was searching more for water than a decent hiding. She came across a stream a few hours later and drank her weight in water.
It was getting dark and Persephone had been roaming the forest all afternoon. She didn't care anymore; all she wanted was to go to sleep. She wandered upon a hollowed out tree which, surprisingly, was big enough for her to curl inside. She knew that Peter would find her; deep down, she knew that although they'd just met, she'd never really be able to get away from him. After making a small pillow from leaves and moss, Persephone curled up and closed her eyes. Sleep took her much faster than she thought and soon, she was having dreams of a wonderful land where no one aged and everyone was happy.
Peter smiled from his place in a tree as he watched the girl fall asleep. She had no idea about her importance. She was so important to all of this. She was the key. Why? For she would take Pan's heart and make it light. She would save him. She would keep the island alive. She would rule alongside him. Persephone was a perfect match for Pan, she just didn't know it. After a life where all she'd known was pain, Peter would show her something else. He would take her heart of glass and strength it to be made of stone or of iron.
He hadn't cheated in his game - god, he hated cheaters - no, he'd actually just stumbled upon her. Say what you will about him, Pan was honest at least. He knew that Persephone had lost his game and he knew that she'd be staying on the island. She'd be his forever. He also knew that she never really wanted to leave in the first place. It was Neverland; why would anyone want to leave?