Chapter 15: The Pied Piper

Pan's Perspective:

"What do you mean they know our weakness? Who?" I eyed Lea with a concerned expression, narrowing my eyes in confusion. Her eyes fell away from mine as she watched a group of Lost Boys walking together outside through the window.

"Don't pretend you don't know…" Lea spoke under her breath as her gaze fell back to me. "They were gathering resources in large groups over on the West side of the island. You damn well know they only have one reason why they'd be getting specific resources from all the way on the opposite side of Neverland." Her voice was now stern and her expression was cold. "And we both know they wouldn't be having the captured Lost Boys doing their dirty work if they weren't planning something important." Lea trailed off as her eyes fell to the floor. Many thoughts circulated through my head. I stood up from my bed and walked over toward the window, glancing out and seeing several groups of Lost Boys goofing around and acting the way teenage boys usually do.

"How many captured Lost Boys?" I asked. "Be honest." Usually, when she told me how many there were I could tell she was bluffing, as to not hurt me as badly. But I knew better than that. Things had tremendously worsened over the last two months. Off the top of my head, I knew we had lost eight boys in the past six weeks. Earlier on it was harder to notice who went missing and when, but now that the numbers have decreased so drastically, we all panic if someone shows up to a meal or a training practice five minutes late. At this point, I knew we were outnumbered. It was just a matter of accepting it.

"Eighteen," she answered, "I counted eighteen. They were scattered amongst the fields, collecting these odd roots and berries. I think you get my drift…" As I turned around Lea sat now with her legs crisscrossed on my bed, continuing to twiddle her fingers. Her head hung low as she sighed.

"They're preparing to finish the job" I spoke, my breath hitching. Speaking now with more concern, I continued, "They're gonna ambush us, right when we least expect it. They're just waiting for the right moment." I clenched my fists as Lea noticed my frustration.

"That's not all," she said, "I'm convinced there's more to it."

"Why do you say that?" I questioned, the slight twinkle in Lea's eye slowly fading. Her eyes looked into mine with this sense of hatred and betrayal.

"Someone here is a scout. I can tell. The pirates know our every move, and it would be incredibly easy to disguise anyone here as being normal and uninfected by their magic. They've been under our noses, lying to us." At first, I couldn't quite wrap my head around what she was suggesting. But after a moment of mulling it over, I began to believe her more and more.

"Who are you suggesting?" I cocked a brow as she eyed me with a suggestive glare.

"Who do you think?" Her tone grew dark along with the shade of her irises. I knew exactly who she was accusing. I also knew that there was no way it could be true.

"Come on, you know Hannah isn't a scout for the pirates. She's not overly trustworthy or anything—"

"That's what they want you to think, Peter!" Lea cut me off and stood up from the bed. She approached me as she gestured with her right hand. "Think about it, a random girl shows up, and nobody knows where she came from. She's incredibly unskilled and inexperienced, making you pity her. For all you know, she could be pretending to be weak."

I scoffed. "You really think she would be smart enough to pretend to be weak? Yeah, right." I paused for a moment. "She isn't pretending. When it came to a life or death situation, she picked death. She wasn't strong enough to get herself out of it on her own. She's just some sort of fluke." It was now that Lea raised a brow.

"Hmm, a fluke? Tell me, how often do you just happen to have a "fluke" in Neverland, Peter. Tell me." Thinking to myself for a moment, I chuckled.

"Well, technically you were a fluke." As I laughed she glared into my soul. But after a few moments, she lightened up. She took a casual step back from me.

"I wasn't a fluke. I could actually fight for myself, and I was pretty decent at it. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here." After a few shared chuckles, I spoke up about something.

"You know, you should lighten up on her. She's not a threat to you. Maybe you two could be like "besties" or something." However, as those words left my mouth something snapped in Lea. Something that was deep inside her core. Something I, nor anyone, could see.

"If you think I will as much as breathe the same air as that bitch, you're wrong" she exclaimed. She stepped towards me with a certain fire emanating from her eyes. "I don't make friends with the enemy. And I certainly don't make friends with fakers like her." Her sudden outburst didn't make surprise me, but nor can I saw was it wasn't unsettling.

Well, that escalated quickly…

I knew that these two girls having this teenage animosity certainly wouldn't bring any more peace to the camp as it was. Girls were never something the Lost Boys, or I, really understood. Girls expect you to agree with what they say, even if they're wrong. Because even if they're wrong, they're always right. Some weird science, I know.

"You don't have to like each other, you don't have to be friends. I honestly don't care. But if you feel so strongly in your suspicions then why don't you just keep your eye on her from a distance? Just make sure she doesn't get into any trouble." Lea rolled her eyes and exhaled a heavy sigh.

"Great, so now I get to play the role of "secret babysitter". I know when something's off Peter. And she's got it written all over her. I'm not willing to take risks anymore. Not after everything that's happened to us…to me…"

It was then that my mouth could no longer form words. In a way, Lea was right. We can't afford taking risks. All it's ever done in the long run is kick us while we're down. And for her, trusting someone would be the equivalent of throwing herself off that waterfall when she was petrified of heights.

"Just promise me you'll at least try to keep the peace, please? That's all I ask for." Her eyes fell to the floor, causing pieces of her long brunette hair to fall in front of her face. "Please…"

After releasing a heavy sigh she slowly nodded. "Okay, I'll do my best to keep peace…But the moment she comes after me I won't hold back. Got it?" Her eyes met mine with a questioning glare. I nodded my head while she gazed out the window once more. "I should go…" she said. I furrowed my brows in curiosity.

"Go where?" I questioned, my voice growing more concerned. She shrugged casually and looked back to me.

"I'll go hunt or something. I can't sit around here doing nothing. It'll drive me nuts," she said. She began to head towards the door before I grabbed ahold of her right forearm.

"Wait," I spoke. "Please don't leave yet. The boys have missed you more than you know. Plus, I can't let you be on your own again while everything is falling apart. I can't abandon you like that. I won't." To my surprise I could see the slightest bit of a smile in the corner of her mouth, just threatening to escape. "Please, just stay at camp until this all clears up" I begged her. She rested her eyes.

"You know it won't. You know this isn't something that's just going to go away" she spoke quietly to herself. I released a soft sigh.

"I don't know when things will clear up, or if they will, honest to God. But one thing I know for sure is that I want one of our best fighters here to help. Maybe you could help train the boys and get them back into fighting shape? We've been slacking since all of the disappearances" I suggested. With slight hesitance, Lea looked back over her shoulder at me and nodded. She turned back towards the door and left my hut without another word. I sighed once more and threw my body onto my bed. Closing my eyes, I played through so many scenarios of how these next few days could go. Most of them were negative and ended in tragedy, but there was this small glimmer of hope in one scenario, where everything had turned out okay. But I knew that was as much a fantasy as Camelot or Wonderland.

That night I barely slept. I tossed and turned, opening my eyes every few minutes to check if the sun had yet risen. But every time I did so I found myself distraught that morning hadn't come quick enough. I sighed as I opened my eyes once more to find my hut pitch black. I laid deeper into my bed. Why can't the night be over yet? My patience had now grown thin to the point where I saw no use in trying to sleep. I sat up and threw my legs over the bed, feeling my feet touch the cool floor. I stood up, hearing my back crack and my muscles relaxed. As I quietly crept toward the door I picked up the small, dark violet pouch laying on the vanity. Careful not to make a sound, I quietly opened the hut door and slipped out, closing it behind me without a sound in the night.

The fire had mostly died out, except for a small puff of smoke dissipating into the air. I walked quietly, being sure not to snap any twigs with my footsteps. I walked through the camp, heading towards the forest where I wouldn't bother anyone. As I did so, my eyes fell upon the hut Hannah slept in, the old hut that used to belong to…someone else. Every time I walked passed it sent chills down my spine, along with a sense of remorse and guilt. But another question still lingered in my mind—one I could not answer myself. Out of all people in this universe, why was Hannah somehow brought here? Everyone knows that only lost children can find their way to Neverland. But something must have glitched, or she slipped through a crack in the system somehow…It doesn't take a genius to tell that she hasn't gone through the things us Lost Boys have. She isn't lost. She isn't one of us. And what was most perplexing of all was, how the hell did she get here?

By now I was just leaving camp and wandering into a deep part of the forest. It was relatively dark, except for small strands of moonlight that shone through the trees. The cool, light breeze was relatively relaxing. When I happened upon my usual sitting rock I pulled the purple pouch from underneath my arm. Sitting criss-cross upon the large gray boulder, I opened the purple velvet pouch and reached inside, pulling out my most cherished pan flute. Each pipe was hand-crafted from the most beautiful and rarest bamboo. The sounds that I could create with it couldn't be replicated by any other pan flute in the world. That's why it was so special to me. Any time I brought it to my lips, I felt as though I was home. Blowing into the pipes, I created unique and song-like melodies that rang through the cold island air.

Hannah's Perspective:

My head laid upon the warm sheets, still feeling foggy due to my recent episode. I could now breathe without an issue, though I still felt nervous about getting amped up over anything. It had been a long time since I had a panic attack, and I certainly didn't want to push it. However, there was something off in the distance that caught my attention. At first, I just thoughts I was hearing things. But when I kept hearing it, I knew I wasn't crazy. There was music somewhere. I could just barely hear it. It was soft, light, and airy. Despite my recent episode, the curiosity inside me was too much to bear. I quietly opened the door to my hut and slipped outside without a sound. The cool air made me shiver at first, but after a few moments, my body became accustomed to it. The music continued to play, but it was still quite soft. You'd really have to be listening for it to hear it. I stood for a moment to try and detect what direction it was coming from. After a few seconds, I had determined that it was coming from behind me. I turned on my heels and began to follow the peaceful melodies. I moderately walked through the woods, the quiet music slowly becoming more apparent. As I neared the edge of camp I grew uneasy, but by now I knew I could figure out a way back.

The music continued on as well did I. I couldn't quite describe what it sounded like, other than the sound of a flute came to mind. Except it wasn't a normal flute. This was unlike anything I had ever heard before. It was more unique. I continued following the music. It grew progressively louder, telling me that I was getting closer. It was to the point now where I knew I had to have been close. The light of the moon lit my way through the forest, allowing me to see the leaves blowing in the trees. When I laid my eyes upon the source of the hypnotic music I was stunned. Facing the opposite direction of me was Pan, sitting cross-legged on a rock while playing what appeared to be a pan flute. I could tell it was him, due to the tufts of mahogany hair swaying in the light breeze. He was hunched over with his elbows on his knees, continuing to create wispy and calming music.

I stood behind a tree near me, leaning my back against it. As I rested my eyes, I just listened. For some reason, as much as I hated this boy, his charming looks and all, I couldn't help but have a particular fondness for the melodies that he played. They were soothing, almost as if my troubles just slowly melted away. I dozed off as I continued listening. My breathing slowed and I was fully relaxed. I couldn't help but wonder why he was up this late, playing his music in the middle of the night. Maybe the Lost Boys weren't joking about him being nocturnal after all. Being so lost in my thoughts, I hardly noticed that the soothing music had stopped. In wonder, I peaked my head out from behind the tree and saw the empty rock where he previously sat. I shrugged my shoulders, turning back around when a hand suddenly covered my mouth. My heart skipped a beat when I saw that the person holding their hand over my mouth was Pan. I began to speak before he hushed me.

"Shh!" he whispered, "You're gonna wake everyone up!" His eyes looked directly into mine, not losing eye contact. He slowly pulled his hand away from me.

"Says you! You're the one playing music in the middle of the night!" I spoke in a hushed tone. He gave me a sort of funny look.

"You could hear it?" He questioned, taking a small step back. I raised a brow in confusion.

"Yeah, along with everyone else who isn't deaf. The hell are you doing up this late?" I asked, another breeze sweeping through the trees. He cocked a brow for a moment before shaking his head.

"I could just as easily ask you the same, as well as ask you why you were spying on me. You should be asleep. And you shouldn't be out here alone." I rolled my eyes and scoffed.

"First off,I'm a big girl. I don't need a royal escort everywhere I go. Second, if I should be asleep, then so should you. And third,are you telling me that if you heard mysterious music in the middle of the night that you wouldn't try to figure out where it was coming from?" I asked honestly. Pan lightly chuckled.

"You make a good point," he said. I smirked before pushing myself from the tree. Pan's face furrowed. "And where do you think you're going?" He interrogated me as I began to walk through the forest. I turned my head to look at him as I continued walking.

"I don't know. Wherever the wind takes me I guess." I turned my head when a few seconds later Pan caught up to me and put his hand on my shoulder to stop me.

"Nuh-uh, you're going back to your hut. Now" he demanded, as though he thought I cared about his opinion.

"Since when did you become my Dad?" I grunted. Pan rolled his eyes with a raised brow. He stopped in front of me to block my path.

"My island, my rules. Visiting hours have ended." He crossed his arms and stood authoritatively. He eyed me with a mischievous look on his face, his brows still raised.

"Then when in the heck are you guys gonna let me explore? There are miles of this island I haven't seen. And like it or not, I am going to see every last bit of it" I assured him.

"Does the bottom of that lagoon count?" Pan responded cheekily. "Because if so, that can be arranged." I glared at him, soon after rolling my eyes. My tongue in cheek, I snarkily chuckled.

"Very funny. But last time I checked, you just sit around moping in your hut. It seems like I have more of a social life than you." I stepped around him and started to head even further into the forest. I was a good ten feet away from him when whisper-yelled in my direction.

"How about a compromise, then?" Pan suggested. I stopped in my tracks and turned around to face him. Crossing my arms, I spoke.

"I'm listening." Pan thought for a moment before speaking.

"How about if you start training with the other Lost Boys, I'll start showing you around the island. Would that satisfy you?" He questioned. I sighed as I pondered over his offer.

"What, still don't think I can handle myself? I've been working hard, I have you know. You wouldn't wanna cross me in a dark alleyway, that's for sure" I snickered.

"I'm shaking," Pan replied in a monotone voice. "No matter how good you think you are, there's always something new you can learn. Plus, it would be really nice to not have to watch over you acting like a five-year-old. That's all I'm offering." It appeared to me that no matter what I did, this would probably be the only way Pan would stop getting on my ass about everything. I sighed.

"Despite how obnoxious you are, and because it seems to be the only way you'll quit pestering me about it, I'll start training or whatever with other Lost Boys. But you have to hold up your end of the deal." With a serious expression, I held out my hand. "Deal?" After a few moments, Pan stepped towards me, slowing raising his hand.

"Deal." Pan grabbed my hand and shook it firmly. As he did so his eyes were locked with mine, his dark green irises glowing with this sort of curiosity. He released his grip and shooed me away. "Now go on. I'll catch up in a minute" he insisted. I thought about pestering him again, as it was just so fun, but I decided against it.

"Fine, night mate." As I turned around I just caught a glimpse of Pan rolling his eyes. I think I've found the thing that really sets him off. Who knew Australian jokes would be so entertaining? As I headed back to my hut, all I could think about was how good of a fighter I would soon become. I'll show him, I'll show all of them, that they never should have messed with me. Plus, any extra time I can in get being a pain in the ass towards Pan was an added bonus for me. I still wondered though why Pan was out here this late at night. I guess I was just too distracted to pester him. Whatever, I'll find out eventually. I was now met with the door to my hut. I opened it quietly and slipped inside. With a big yawn, I threw myself on the bed that was still surprisingly warm. It wasn't long before I drifted back off to sleep.

Pan's Perspective:

I watched as Hannah traveled back through the forest until she was no longer in sight, disappearing within the large trees of green. I exhaled a heavy sigh as I sat back down on my usual boulder. All of a sudden, I began feeling certain drowsiness begin to overcome me. I rubbed my eyes with closed fists, reopening them widely. I sighed once more as I stood up. Beginning to walk back towards camp the same reoccurring thought kept attacking my mind. I checked my belt to make sure that I still had my pan flute with me. What many people don't know is that my flute is very special, it's enchanted. It's the reason why it's so haunting yet enhancing. The fact that Hannah was listening to the music was somewhat perplexing to me. Sure, it's not that peculiar that Hannah listened to me play—

Except for the fact that only lost children can hear the sounds of my pan flute.

—

A.N:

Hi everyone! I'm so sorry it's been over a month since I last updated. Finishing up school for the year and holidays have left me with barely any time to write. But alas, I've been pushing through these last few days, staying up late writing, and I've finally finished it. Anyhoo, what do y'all think? Why do you think Hannah could hear the music? Why do you think Hannah is in Neverland? Why does Lea despise Hannah so much? Let me know all of your thoughts in the comments. I hope you enjoyed the chapter and I'll see you all in the next update!

-Agm3