Lea's Perspective:
I had a hard time sleeping last night. My brain just wouldn't shut off and end my wandering thoughts. It was so much to take in. Despite feeling hunted, I feel...great. It's been a while since I've been able to relate to someone so closely. I want to trust him, but I can't. That's not why I'm here. And actually, I still don't really know why I'm here. And if it's true that I can't leave...I don't know what I'm going to do.
Jake's Perspective:
After last night with Lea I decided to head back to camp with the guys. When I got back, I expected to be greeted with a dinner and some apple pie. But to my surprise, in the distance I was greeted by Pan. He was standing at the entrance to the camp with his arms crossed and a doubtful look on his face.
Oh boy.
"Where were you all day?" Pan sneered as I entered the camp.
"I took the day off, Ryan covered my shift for me" I replied vaguely. I continued to walk towards the fire, Pan followed.
"What's this I hear? Covering shifts?"
He stopped me as I stood my ground.
"Listen Jake it doesn't matter that Ryan covered your shift. We can't have people wandering off, not at times like this. We need as many people as possible right now and I can't be dealing with slackers. You hear me?" Pan lectured.
I nodded my head to show I understood, even though I only listened to about 20 percent of what he was saying.
"Good. By the way, we have a hunt tomorrow morning. Be at the archery tower, 7 a.m sharp" Pan added.
"Hunting? Hunting for what?" I questioned perplexed.
Pan paused for a moment. He started to walk away and answered me without even turning around.
"...Things" he responded coldly.
Later that night I couldn't sleep. What was Pan referring to by..."things"? What if he's talking about Lea? What if he's going to just end it all and kill her? I continued tossing and turning in my sleep not knowing what to do. There was a feeling in the pit of my stomach, what if I let her get hurt?
The Next Morning...
I woke up before dawn and let's just say I was not a happy camper. And I speak for all the Lost Boys that practically would've killed for another hour of sleep. And from the sounds of it, Pan was up even earlier. As the boys ate breakfast he was pacing around the camp. Eventually he disappeared into the woods to start heading towards the archery tower. Soon everyone slowly trudged in the same direction after him.
After arriving at the archery tower, we all stood at attention and awaited Pan's orders. By now the sun was partially visible and the forrest slowly awoke.
"Boys," Pan paused, "this ends today. We are taking the day to search every square inch of this island and by sundown, this nonsense will be over."
Boys shuffled and whispered among themselves as Pan waited to give more directions.
"You split up into groups of three, you will not hurt the arrival, but do what's necessary to retrieve him, understood?" Pan announced.
The boys were silent with a few murmurs spread throughout.
"I said understood?!" Pan yelled.
"Yes sir" the Lost Boys answered reluctantly.
Everyone split up into groups of three, except for my group which was a group of four. I was stuck with Ryan, Julian, and a newer lost boy named Chuck. We walked along the path of a stream for a few hours. I lingered behind them for most of the walk not being able to focus. I was zoned out not paying attention to my surroundings when I heard all three of the boys stop in their tracks. Laying on the ground was a knife, specifically Pan's knife, or what used to be Pan's knife.
"Hey!" Ryan shouted.
It all happened so fast. The green cloaked figure jumped from high out of the tree adjacent to us and bolted. My heart stopped but my group fled chasing after her; Lea. I was not prepared for what happened next.
Lea's Perspective:
When I woke up this morning, I woke up to the sound of birds chirping in the distance. Standing up from the ground, I stretched out my arms and legs. The funny thing is, I don't remember falling asleep on the ground. With the amount of light present, I was able to navigate down the stream to collect some water. I was quite drowsy from my lack of sleep last night, but I wasn't going to risk possibly getting caught while sleeping in. When I reached the part of the stream to collect the water, I slowly leaned in towards the smooth, cool water. The way it felt in my hands had the texture of heaven. I even collected some to wash my face. The water made me feel so fresh and clean. It may kind of suck not being able to shower regularly, but living in isolation isn't so bad. I get time to myself, I don't have to deal with foster homes or adults, life is good; for the most part. As I continued washing my face I knelt down on both of my knees and let the water seep into the cuts on my hands. For the first time being on Neverland, I was able to zone out and not have to think about anything. The only thing to think about is just what's in front of me. And all that is is the leaves in the trees swiftly blowing in the cool breeze while the sun reflects onto the cool stream. I could stay like this forever.
"Oh shut up Ryan, there's no way Josh could beat Pan in a Duel, nobody has beaten him before. The only one closest was Felix."
I gasped and nearly had a heart attack. I snapped out of my trance and stood up from my crouch. I quickly scanned my surroundings for a quick hiding spot. The Lost Boy's voices were getting louder as they proceeded closer. I was in full on panic and bolted to the closest tree next to the stream and climbed as fast and high as I could before the Lost Boys entered the surrounding area. I could see three boys, one of which I remember being the one I hung upside down by the leg with one of my traps. They walked even slower as they traveled along the stream. As the boys walked along, one last boy with golden hair and big brown eyes appeared from behind a few trees; Jake. He was the only one not carrying a weapon of some sort, which led me to thinking, what are they doing out here in the middle of the day? Looking for me? As they walked by I leaned in a little farther off of the branch to extend my view when Pan's knife caught on one of the branches. I held my breath praying I wouldn't make a sound. My knife was caught in a notch on the branch near my leg. I slowly reached toward it while holding my breath. It was practically hanging by a thread as it dangled on the branch, but with one twitch of my leg, it loosened itself and fell from the branch. It all happened so quickly yet so slowly. From the two seconds it took for the knife to travel through the air and reach the ground felt like an eternity. In those two seconds I hoped that maybe it would just silently hit the ground and the boys wouldn't be able to hear it, but it struck the ground blade first and a sharp noise rang through the forest.
"Hey!" The one boy yelled.
My feet moved before my brain could decide what to do. Before I knew it I was in mid-air jumping to the ground for my first instinct to take place; run. My feet glided across the soil as I heard three sets of foot steps follow me, soon to be a fourth. I kept running and running feeling like nothing could slow me down. My adrenaline was rushing and my speed was increasing. I was ahead of them for sure, but by how much I couldn't tell, and I didn't want to risk looking back. At this point their voices were faint, but I was able to catch a fragment of a sentence.
"NO CHUCK DON'T!"
I heard a wisp of air come from behind me as I was running, and I felt a sharp pain course throughout my side. I continued running without looking down until the pain began to increase and all of a sudden I fell to my knees in so much pain. I looked down in awe and confusion as I saw an arrow protruding out of my side from behind. I didn't know to scream or pull out the arrow or what to do. I started to get up as my vision became blurry. I wobbled my way farther away from the boys when I suddenly became out of breath. Hesitantly, I stopped and with all my might pulled myself onto a tree branch trying not to touch the arrow sticking out of me. Every move I made stung and it felt hopeless. There's nothing I can do now but wait. Wait for them to find me; to kill me. I heard footsteps getting closer as I leaned the back of my head against the tree. Looking down at my wound I touched the arrow and it made my entire body sting. Just one touch drowned my hand in blood as I slowly began to bleed out. Who knew this would be the way I'd go; running like a coward from teenage boys trying to hunt me down. I could only climb myself midway up the tree as I sat there waiting. At last, the boys reached my area, checking trees in the area across from me. I heard them trying to say something but I could no longer hear. I looked back in their direction not seeing Jake. I clutched my wound and held my hand there scanning the area. My eyes stopped when I looked downward about fifteen feet away from me. There stood Jake with a single tear rolling down his cheek. He was staring up at me with wide eyes and he was barely breathing. His eyes remained on my wound until he paused and looked at my face. At this point I was breathing so heavily that I felt as though I'd never have the chance to breathe again. Our eye contact broke when it appeared to be another group had arrived. I leaned my head back up against the tree and slowly closed my eyes hoping this was all a horrible nightmare. A nightmare that was too real. My entire body shook and started swaying back and forth. And just like that, I lost my balance and fell unconscious before I hit the ground.
Jake's Perspective:
Everything happened all so slow yet all so fast. Chuck let go of his arrow.
He hit Lea.
This can't be happening.
I ran as fast as I possibly could when I saw Lea in a tree and I stopped dead in my tracks. There was an arrow lodged in her side and she was grasping it, holding it in pain. I stood there, feeling like there was nothing I could do to help her. I started to tear up the more I looked at her in pain. We made eye contact for a split second when another group led by Felix arrived in the area.
"What's going on here? Did you find him?" Felix asked after arriving.
I ignored him and looked back at Lea expecting to still see her in the tree. Except I didn't. By the time my brain could register anything that was happening Lea hit the ground. Hard. Her body layed on the ground covered by her cloak. All of the boys except me where startled. The lost boys waited a second for "him" to get up, but "he" didn't. Felix proceeded over towards "him" with caution and the rest of the boys followed suit, including me. Felix crouched down to examine "him" and lifted "his" cloak.
Felix stopped half way and just paused. He sat there more dumbfounded than I have ever seen him before in the years I've been in Neverland. He slowly continued uncovering the body of a girl with long brunette hair and delicate facial features layed out on the ground; unconscious.
"...Oh my god..." Felix mumbled in complete shock. The other Lost Boys just stood there without a word until Ryan spoke out.
"Felix...is it...is the arrival...a... a...?"
"It's a girl" Sam spoke quietly with slight doubt in his voice.
Felix examined the wound on Lea's side with caution. The arrow was even deeper into her flesh. She was covered in blood from the waist down.
"We need help" Felix said. His voice showed obvious fear and was still filled with shock.
The other Lost Boys were still standing there looking at each other like they've seen a ghost. Where as I didn't take my eyes of Lea. I couldn't.
Felix scooped her up in his arms and the Lost Boys circled up around him.
"We need to get her back to camp as soon as possible or she'll die" Felix choked.
He looked down at Lea then up at me as he walked towards me.
"Jake, I need you to get her back to camp and take her to Pan. He's her only chance to live."
My heart sank when he told me to give her to Pan. That's what we've been avoiding all this time, but I can't let her die, I won't let her die. Felix put Lea in my arms and I ran as fast as I possibly could towards camp. Soon after the rest of the boys ran with me. My lungs and my legs burned from running so fast but I couldn't risk Lea dying from me slowing down. She saved me, so it's my turn to save her. While I was running, I glanced down at Lea, admiring every small detail on her face. She was amazing. It's been so long since I've been able to get away from everyone else, she might just be the one thing that makes Neverland great again. I could see the entrance to camp as I got closer. The other groups got called off and were wandering around aimlessly. Pan was nowhere to be seen as I entered the camp. Every single Lost Boy turned their head when they saw me walk in. At first they were eyeing the arrow and the wound, but eventually, everyone noticed. They all noticed their "arrival" was a girl. Several boys dropped whatever they were eating or stopped what they were doing and surrounded me.
"Where's Pan?!" I yelled out of breath.
"He's in his tent" a Lost Boy recalled.
Like clockwork Pan walked out of his tent and casually started walking towards me. At first it just looked like I was holding an unconscious boy, but upon further inspection, he noticed the arrow inflicted wound, and finally, the long flowing hair. Pan stopped and stared with wide eyes. He started walking again but very slowly. His face showed much concern and finally he was right in front of me. At first Pan didn't say anything and just looked at the wound. After silence rang throughout the camp with every Lost Boy paying attention, Pan spoke.
"How-...how did this happen?" he stuttered. His voice lower than usual.
"Chuck tried to kill her..."I spoke with sorrow in my voice. "Is there anything you can do?"
Pan studied the wound on Lea's side even closer, I could barely feel her heartbeat against my chest.
"Get her in my hut quickly, we don't have much time".
A.N: OK, so I know this chapter took a very long time to write, but I was able to find time to finish it at 2:00 in the morning (as usual). It's so much fun writing these chapters and it keeps me busy throughout the summer lol. I'm so excited for what's coming next so stay tuned ;) Happy Reading!
-Agm 3