Another (crappy) chapter out! What do you think Peter should call Remi (before he finds out she's a girl)?
"Get up," Tink said, lightly kicking my side. I opened my eyes, furrowing my eyebrows. "Pan is looking for you." I stood up, dusting off my leather pants. I pulled my hood up, and slipped my boots on. "This is where we go our separate ways. The boys will most likely challenge you to something - a fight, a game - anything, really. If and when they hand you a sword, keep your balance in your middle, leave no open spots, and keep an eye on your opponent's movements." Tink pulled my hood forward a bit. "Make sure that is up at all times. Keep your head down and don't attract much attention. And as for the speaking," she smiled. "keep doing what you're doing."
I nodded, paying attention to everything she said. "Be sure to be on everyone's good side - especially Pan's." Tink moved away from me and pushed the boulder as I got my bag. "We're going to go two miles away from Pan's camp. That way you'll be far enough in the jungle that it'll seem you kept walking. If you just showed up on the beach, where you were originally, it would make Pan suspicious." I grabbed my dagger, and my game bag Tink made for me, and pulled the strap of my suitcase over my shoulder, and followed Tink outside.
We followed a stream due north for a couple of hours. Tink often pointed out different berries, both poisonous and safe. Tink stopped, making me run into her. "This is where we separate. Remember what I told you?" I nodded. "Good girl. Walk that way," she pointed west. "and you'll run into Pan eventually. I wish you the best of luck. Until next time," and then she disappeared from my life - at least for what seemed like a few years.
I continued walking in the direction she pointed in for another half hour before I stopped. I sat down, opening the bag of game. Tink had placed the bird we had caught not even an hour before.
I started a fire, using a few leaves and twigs I had found lying around. Placing the bird on a rock close to it, I waited until it was cooked. I sat there, just waiting. It was getting darker, and so far Peter Pan nor his Lost Boys had appeared anywhere near me.
Once the bird was ready, I slowly picked at it. How had they not found me? It was still bright enough for them to see smoke.
Snap!
A twig behind me broke. I stood up, and threw my dagger on instinct. Great, I just lost my only weapon. "Nice aim," a masculine voice said. A boy who was not much older than me, stepped out from behind a tree. My dagger was held only inches from his chest. Nice catch, I thought. He was wearing all green, and had brown hair. "Let me introduce myself," he said, tossing my dagger aside. "I am Peter Pan." So this was the infamous leader of the Lost Boys? "Who are you?"
I didn't respond. "Who are you?" Peter repeated, teeth clenching. I pointed to my mouth and shook my head. Eyebrows furrowing, he asked, "You can't talk?" It wasn't the fact I couldn't speak, it was the fact I wouldn't. "Okay, then." Peter changed the subject. "You're very hard to find, you know." Peter had an accent, one that would surely make the girls back home swoon. "Let's go back to camp." he said, gesturing the direction I was going in before I stopped. I pointed to the fire. Peter waved his hand, making it go out.
XXX
The boys were playing some sort of game when Peter and I arrived. "Boys," Peter called, wanting their attention. Silence fell almost immediately. "Who's up for a game of Capture?" There were a chorus of "Me's" throughout.
"Who are the captains?" a boy that looked about fourteen asked.
"Me, obviously." Peter said. "And...," he trailed off. "Felix." I kept my eyes trained on the ground, standing next to Peter. A pair of feet started walking towards us, and those belonged to Felix, I presume. "I pick first. Jared."
"Carson,"
"Josh," They picked people off until there were only two people left. Me and a boy that looked my age. "Newbie," Peter said. I didn't move, since I was already standing by him. "Here's how you play," he said. "There are two teams divided equally - fifteen each side - and stand on either side of the island. You have thirty minutes to get there, so we have to go fast. Whichever team captures the most people by sunrise wins. You can recover other players that have been captured. Whatever goes. No rules."
Seems simple enough. I just hope I remember how to fight, I thought.
XXX
"Stay away from the water," Peter said to me we reached the edge of the island. The moon shined over the water, it's reflection wavering as the waves crashed on the rocks. "Welcome to Mermaid's Cove." Peter drew his sword, and handed it to me. "Take this. People will come after you either first or last," Peter started walking, motioning me to follow along. "If Felix thinks that you're any good - which he won't - he'll take you first. In any other given circumstance, he'll pick off all of the good people until it's just you. Or until its' sunrise." A scream of help erupted in the forest behind us. "And Felix doesn't have faith in you." Peter laughs. "Let's watch you be great at fighting." I remained silent.
Let the game begin.
XXX
I gripped the hilt of the sword tighter as the boys on my team started to make a camp fire. Such idiots, I thought. They are sitting ducks right now, with their backs turned towards the forest. They faced the water front, keeping an eye on it as they spoke ghost stories.
I turned away from them, grabbing a sheath of knives from the pile of weapons Josh Bright along with us. I started towards the forest, choosing a tree that suited best for climbing. Once I had chosen one close to the boys but far enough inside to prevent Felix's team from finding camp.
I climbed up to a branch, testing my weight before sitting down.
The only challenge of this was, I was terrified of heights.
XXX
I had dozed off long before I heard the snapping of twigs. I had always been a light sleeper, ever since I was a child. I grabbed a knife from the sheath, one with a curved and rigged edge. I quickly sat up, feet scrambling up. It was the dead of night, the only light I could see was the one from the camp fire. Most of the laughter was gone, which told me that they had either gone out to capture people on the other team, or had been captured themselves. (I know most reader don't read the author's notes at the bottom - heck, I don't most times! - so I put it here where I knew you would read it. In the story. What should Peter call Remi before it's revealed she's a girl?)
Snap! I threw the knife, hoping I was as good as I used to be. "Nice aim," a voice said. Peter, I realized. "We need to move out, start capturing." he paused. "The other team has already gotten three of our men. It's time we even the playing field. You might even get a good fight in. How skilled are you with hand-to-hand?" I could even hear his smirk.
We're about to find out.
XXX
At least half of the remaining boys had stayed behind, Peter wanting them to guard the site, to capture any boys that crossed their paths. "We need to stay quiet, we're almost to their site." Peter said, drawing his sword. He smirked, casting a small look at me. I drew mine as well, the sword glinting in the moonlight. "It's exhilarating," he said. "Trust me."
And then I realized.
I do.
XXX
Peter had given all of us specific orders, each of us positions exactly in specific places. He had me stood farthest away from Felix, who was sitting on a log, drawing out attack plans in the dirt. I adjusted my hood making sure my face was hidden.
I kept my face down, even if it was dark outside. I couldn't be seen, who knows what would happen to me. I could be killed, maybe sent back.
But where is that "back," anyway? A homeless shelter? The orphanage.
I might be killed here, the thought awakened me. I have to win. For Caleb.
Okay, so can you guys please comment below what Peter should call Remi (before he finds out she's a girl)? Sorry for that mid-story interruption!