Erin felt empty, but not in the same way that she had before. That had been the hollowness of lost hope, dreams displaced by nightmares. But now she felt as though a weight she never quite noticed was even there had been taken away. It would be easier to carry if Winston held it, too.
"Erin, that's not true. I want to be with you. Wherever you are, that's where I want to be. Maybe there's no place in the world that either of us can go but that doesn't mean that there's no place where we're wanted. We want to be with each other, don't we?"
"But New York...how are we going to get there if I can't fly?"
"Who said you couldn't fly? Think a happy thought and try it. I told you that it takes practice. It helps when you get it out into the open, into words. Then it's like carrying...oh, cardboard boxes instead of bricks. Try it."
Erin pictured the sight of the papaya's juicy pink flesh—now that had been a happy thought after going hungry for so long—and tried to recapture the sensation of flying, the tingle of the pixie dust. Easily, Erin rose up into the air and hovered for a moment, flying back and forth. She settled back down on the tree branch and looked quizzically at Winston. "It's not so hard, is it?"
"No...you're right," Erin said, settling back down onto the branch beside him. "So now what?" Winston and Erin rose into the air and continued on their journey. After several hours of exhilarating flight, the pair was feeling extremely out of breath. Then, through the darkening clouds appeared the glimmering lights of New York City. Before them, the welcoming hand of the Statue of Liberty beckoned them forward to the spreading city. The lights specks of light formed towering skyscrapers as they flew nearer: the Chrysler building, glistening like a crystal; the Empire State Building, dignified and calm, slightly disdainful towards the new, taller buildings; the Brooklyn Bridge, a luminous pearl necklace draped across the Hudson, alive with the throb of white-and-red car signals. Erin laughed at Winston's amazed stare.
"This," Erin shouted as she looped around the shining torch, "Is New York City! The Big Apple! N-Y-C!" Landing quietly on the head of the Statue of Liberty, Winston surveyed the land before him.
"Look at all the lights!" he shouted, bringing Erin down to shush him. "There could be people right below us, you know, they'll hear you!"
"Oh, sorry." Winston whispered sheepishly. "But can you believe how many lights there are! It's incredible!" Winston stood awestruck. Laughing at his bewilderedness, Erin soared into the air circling the statue's crown.
"I dare you to count them all!" she smiled.
"Are you trying to make me go insane?" Winston hollered back up at her. "How many are there? A million?"
"More than that." Erin replied
"Ten million? 100 million, wow, this is incredible!"
"You said that already!" yelled Erin as they made their way across the harbor. "Wow." was the only answer she got back. They flew in awed silence for a while. Even Erin was subdued by the view of the familiar city spreading below her. Seeing it from above gave her an idea of just how enormous it was. Winston didn't know where to turn his head.
"Central Park is right there." Erin interrupted the quiet. "Be careful, though, and don't fly too close to any windows. We'll be in major trouble if we're seen." Winston just nodded and followed as Erin slowly spiraled down into the single unlit part of the city. Landing softly on the pine needles, Erin motioned to Winston. "Try not to be seen by anyone, "she whispered. "They will be very suspicious of two 14-year-olds wandering around in here at this time of night."
"Hey, I'm a lost boy. I know how to camouflage," Winston replied. "Where are we going, anyway?"
"Well, I guess we could stay in the caves for a little bit, but there will be kids running around in them during the daytime. We'll have to figure out a plan at one point."
"I think it's too late to do that now," Winston yawned. "Let's find somewhere to go to sleep." Winston's yawn was contagious; Erin caught herself yawning, too. They hadn't slept in nearly two days, and she could feel a heavy wave of sleep passing over her. Flying was quite invigorating, but her adrenaline had settled down and she realized that she was exhausted. Before long, Erin and Winston found a suitable cave and they proceeded into the darkness. It only extended a few feet back into the rock, but both were too weary to care. Winston lay out along the back wall, and Erin nestled in beside him. "Wow," Winston sighed again, "I can't believe I'm here." Erin yawned again and moved her head onto Winston's shoulder.
"Goodnight," she breathed, dwindling an inch from sleep.
"Goodnight." Erin was lulled into a deep, dreamless sleep by the quiet beating of Winston's heart. He carefully wrapped his arms around her warm, sleeping body and fell asleep.
By the time Erin opened her eyes again the sun filled the cave and the laughter of children drifted toward her. "Ugh," she groaned, stretching her stiff back. She rubbed the spot on her thigh where she could still feel the imprint of the sharp rock she had slept on all night. Her left arm was asleep and she could tell that her hair was an absolute disaster. Winston stirred at the sound of her voice and groggily opened his eyes.
"What's for breakfast...er....lunch...er....food?" he slurred sleepily.
"You're such a guy, all you think about is food," Erin reprimanded, looking down at him.
"Sorry, but I haven't eaten since the papayas. Tell me you're not hungry."
"All right, fine, I'm starving. Let's go."
"You're such a girl, all you think about is food," Winston imitated her.
"Let's go," laughed Erin, pulling him out of the cave. They both squinted in the bright sunlight of Central Park.
"What time is it?" asked Erin, shading her eyes.
Looking up at the sun, Winston answered, "Around 11."
"Okay, whatever. Oh! That means Mr. Winda's hot dog stand is open."
"You eat dogs?"
"No, hot dogs: all-beef sausages on a bun," Erin chuckled.
"What?"
"You have a lot to learn." Erin grabbed Winston and pulled him through the crowds. They wove their way in and out of the trees and through the familiar labyrinth of paths. "Mr. Winda!" Erin shouted.
"Erin-san! It has been a very many days since Mr. Winda has seen you," he cried in his thick Asian accent. "Cut your hair did you Erin- san?"
"No, my face just grew," she answered, smiling sarcastically.
"Oh!" He paused for a moment. "I think you are pulling Mr. Winda's leg Erin-san!" They laughed together. "Ah, but who is your friend, Erin- san? Your boyfriend is he?" Erin felt her ears turn pink and she dropped her eyes.
Winston stepped forward. "Um, can we have some..." he read the sign "...hot dogs please?" Mr. Winda broke into a wide smile and looked back and forth from Erin to Winston.
"Of course, Erin-san!" He busied himself puttering around his stand, preparing the dogs.
"...But, you see...we don't have any money," Erin stammered.
"Ah, this could be a problem Erin-san." He studied the disappointed faces of the pair. "But since you are such a dear friend of Mr. Winda's, and you have brought your very special friend..." he winked "...to see Mr. Winda, then he will let you work for them."
"Thank you Mr. Winda!" Erin ran to hug him.
"Erin-san, Mr. Winda wants you to clean the grill. Friend of Erin- san, you help. Stay for one hour and Mr. Winda will pay you with hot dogs! You and your friend put on those aprons over there."
"Thanks, Mr. Winda," Erin and Winston said together. Mr. Winda was true to his word. After the longest hour in Winston's life, they got their hot dogs. Erin asked for hers with mustard and sauerkraut. Winston's was loaded with ketchup, pickles, sauerkraut, mustard, and tomatoes. Winston loved them. He downed the hot dog so fast that Mr. Winda gave him another one, free. Erin had another one, too, but she could only finish half, so Winston ate the rest.
"Do you usually eat like this, Winston?"
"Nope. I guess I'm growing now that I'm back in the mortal world again."
"Well, it's about time you had a growth spurt," Erin smiled, looking him up and down.
"Excuse me, Erin-san," Mr. Winda interrupted, an anxious expression on his face. "Is there some reason you are dressed like a bum out on the street? Everything is all right at home, is it not?"
"Uh, oh yes, I forgot about that." She pulled Winston aside. "What are we going to do about our clothes? People don't dress like this here."
"I don't know..." Winston whispered. "Does it matter what people think?"
"Yes, it does! Now, we don't have any money...but we could go back to my old apartment because Sharon and Susan are out this time of day. You could wear some of my clothes."
"Girl clothes?" Winston looked quite horrified at this suggestion.
"There not that much different anymore," Erin snorted. "Thanks for everything, Mr. Winda!" she cried over her shoulder as she led Winston out of the park. They walked down 50th street toward Sharon's apartment building.
"Wow...look at all the automobiles," Winston gaped, staring at the passing cars.
"You mean cars?" She answered her own question. "There are a lot of them since the invention of the assembly line. You better get used to them." He coughed in the exhaust of a truck zooming by. "A lot of things have changed since you've lived here."
Winston nodded in agreement, but his mind seemed elsewhere. "Do you hear something?"
"You mean besides the roaring of cars and hundreds of people walking down the street?" They both stopped and listened. She heard a faint tick tock tick tock.
"You hear it, don't you?" Erin nodded. She looked around for a clock or someone wearing a watch, but she couldn't see either within hearing distance. "What could that be?"
"It's coming from here." He motioned toward a manhole in front of them. He bent down and put his ear to it. "I can hear it. Listen." He took her hand and pulled her toward the ground.
"Are you sure?" "Yeah, listen." Erin quickly looked around to make sure no one was looking and put her ear against the drain. Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock.
"What is that?" Erin inquired. "Here, help me get this off." She pulled at the heavy manhole cover, and, with Winston's help, slid it off the hole.
Suddenly, out of the dark opening emerged a giant, scaly crocodile head. Erin and Winston both jumped immediately to their feet. "The sewer crocodiles of New York City!" she screamed, backing up a few yards. She clung tightly to Winston. Within a few seconds, the crocodile's entire body was out of the drain and mass chaos formed around them. People began screaming and running in every direction. Erin was frozen with fear. But the crocodile remained where he was, staring unblinkingly at Erin and Winston. Tick, tock, tick, tock.
"Croc!" Winston cried his voice full of relief. He kneeled down and stroked its head.
"What are you doing!" Erin shrieked, stumbling backwards. "Winston, are you crazy?" Winston looked calmly back at her, patting the crocodile. "Erin, relax. It's 'the croc'. You remember: with the clock. He's the one who bit off Hook's hand."
Erin caught her breath. "So...he's not dangerous then?" Her heart was still pounding in her chest. "Not as long as you don't have a hook for a hand," Winston laughed. "Come on, give him a pat." He motioned toward the crocodile. Hesitantly, she kneeled down beside him and ran her hand over its scaly head. It made a deep, almost purring sound from the back of its throat.
"But wait..." Erin was perplexed. "How did the croc get here?"
Winston looked quizzically at her for a moment, pondering her question. Suddenly, his face lifted. "It all makes sense, doesn't it? I mean, think about it. People were disappearing from Neverland, weren't they? Tucker, the mermaid, Tiger Lily...well, they had to disappear to somewhere didn't they? Maybe people from Neverland are disappearing to New York!"
"But..." Erin stumbled over her words, "...how? Why? Is it possible?" Winston didn't have time to answer, because the crocodile had turned on its belly and was heading back down into the sewer. "Croc!" Winston shouted after him. "Where are you going? What..." The crocodile's giant tail disappeared down into the hole. "Erin! We have to follow him! This is the only way we can find out exactly what's happening!" Winston disappeared into the hole. "Hurry!"
Erin didn't have time to think. She lowered herself into the drain and felt her feet catch the rungs of a ladder. She stopped for a moment, pulling the cover into place. The last thing we want is people following us down here! thought Erin. As the manhole cover slid into place, pitch blackness took over.
"Come on, Erin! We're going to lose him!" She groped for the ladder rungs, praying that none of them had rusted through. One, two, three, four, five, six – Erin kicked wildly for a foothold. Her hands slipped off of the slimy ladder and she landed in a foot of muck and sludge.
"Ugh!" Erin sputtered. She was grateful that she hadn't changed clothes; the Lost Boy garb was fairly water resistant. Except for the drainage holes that gave tiny slivers of light every few yards, the darkness pressed upon her like a weight, threatening to spill into her body and drag it downward into the muck. She could hear the squeaking of rats and smell human waste all around her. Winston's shadow was barely visible ahead of her.
"Come on," he said, grabbing her hand, "he went this way." Erin clung to Winston's hand as they stumbled through the sewage. Once Winston lost his footing and they both tumbled down into the mire. Winston swore colorfully and they helped each other up, and then dashed off again, still following the tick, tock, tick, tock, of the crocodile. "I never can remember the difference between an alligator and a crocodile," said Erin, making an attempt at conversation.
"Shush!" replied Winston. "We're losing him!" After that, Erin was silent. Above them, she could hear the sounds of passerby in the streets; every once in a while, she felt the deep, vibrating thrum of a subway passing somewhere nearby. Erin started to shiver. She couldn't help it, the sewage had completely saturated her moccasins and with every step she felt a slimy, squishing sensation. Even though she had gotten used to the stench, every time she saw the red reflection of rats' eyes, she felt the hair on the back of her neck prickle.
Erin lost all track of time as they wandered through the subterranean maze. She wasn't sure if it had been hours or only a few minutes before they abruptly changed direction, squeezing between a fissure in the wall a number of inches above the water level in the tunnel. Erin stumbled out the other side and blinked to adjust her eyes. This tunnel was long and round, but the light from one of the Coleman lanterns that someone had already placed there she could see that down at one end it was caved in, the rubble completely blocking the way. The other end stretched far away, and the light faded before she could tell if it curved away or just kept going. It took her a moment to place where she was...it was a subway tunnel, but one that they certainly couldn't be using now. Not for some time, she thought, since the rails were darkened with rust and grime.
Winston was surveying the subway tunnel, as well, and as he reached down to touch the main rail, Erin grabbed his arm.
"Winston! Don't touch the rails...even if they aren't using this tunnel anymore, the rail could still be electrified. You'd die in a minute if you touched it. In the stations, the rails are insulated with a rubber coating, but this far down they don't bother. If we don't know, it would be better not to find out by one of us getting electrocuted."
Winston drew away his arm, eying the subway rail warily. However, just then the crocodile stepped on the rail, as if it was trying to show them there was no danger. Erin relaxed, but Winston kept a safe distance from the rail.
"Erin, why did the croc take us here, do you think?" "Dunno. What's this?" Erin asked, holding up an elaborately beaded leather satchel. "I have no idea. And this?" It was a mirror with a gold back and mother of pearl designs on the handle. "Who knows. Hey, where's he going?" Winston spun around at Erin's voice and ran after the crocodile. Erin dropped the beaded bag and dashed after the pair.
Through the fissure on the opposite side of the tunnel, down what seemed like miles of the damp, reeking sewers, over a catwalk that spanned the conjunction of two sewage tunnels, and on through yet more endless tunnels they trudged. Erin could tell by the waning light that evening was coming on. Had they been moving in circles? Erin couldn't tell. Hadn't they already passed that ladder leading back to the surface? No, with a ladder every block or so, it was hard to say. Why are we even following this animal that Winston thinks knows something? If someone had told me that I would be doing this four days ago, I would have thought that they were crazy! This is crazy! thought Erin. Lost in her musings, she bumped into Winston when they came to an abrupt halt.
"Erin, that's not true. I want to be with you. Wherever you are, that's where I want to be. Maybe there's no place in the world that either of us can go but that doesn't mean that there's no place where we're wanted. We want to be with each other, don't we?"
"But New York...how are we going to get there if I can't fly?"
"Who said you couldn't fly? Think a happy thought and try it. I told you that it takes practice. It helps when you get it out into the open, into words. Then it's like carrying...oh, cardboard boxes instead of bricks. Try it."
Erin pictured the sight of the papaya's juicy pink flesh—now that had been a happy thought after going hungry for so long—and tried to recapture the sensation of flying, the tingle of the pixie dust. Easily, Erin rose up into the air and hovered for a moment, flying back and forth. She settled back down on the tree branch and looked quizzically at Winston. "It's not so hard, is it?"
"No...you're right," Erin said, settling back down onto the branch beside him. "So now what?" Winston and Erin rose into the air and continued on their journey. After several hours of exhilarating flight, the pair was feeling extremely out of breath. Then, through the darkening clouds appeared the glimmering lights of New York City. Before them, the welcoming hand of the Statue of Liberty beckoned them forward to the spreading city. The lights specks of light formed towering skyscrapers as they flew nearer: the Chrysler building, glistening like a crystal; the Empire State Building, dignified and calm, slightly disdainful towards the new, taller buildings; the Brooklyn Bridge, a luminous pearl necklace draped across the Hudson, alive with the throb of white-and-red car signals. Erin laughed at Winston's amazed stare.
"This," Erin shouted as she looped around the shining torch, "Is New York City! The Big Apple! N-Y-C!" Landing quietly on the head of the Statue of Liberty, Winston surveyed the land before him.
"Look at all the lights!" he shouted, bringing Erin down to shush him. "There could be people right below us, you know, they'll hear you!"
"Oh, sorry." Winston whispered sheepishly. "But can you believe how many lights there are! It's incredible!" Winston stood awestruck. Laughing at his bewilderedness, Erin soared into the air circling the statue's crown.
"I dare you to count them all!" she smiled.
"Are you trying to make me go insane?" Winston hollered back up at her. "How many are there? A million?"
"More than that." Erin replied
"Ten million? 100 million, wow, this is incredible!"
"You said that already!" yelled Erin as they made their way across the harbor. "Wow." was the only answer she got back. They flew in awed silence for a while. Even Erin was subdued by the view of the familiar city spreading below her. Seeing it from above gave her an idea of just how enormous it was. Winston didn't know where to turn his head.
"Central Park is right there." Erin interrupted the quiet. "Be careful, though, and don't fly too close to any windows. We'll be in major trouble if we're seen." Winston just nodded and followed as Erin slowly spiraled down into the single unlit part of the city. Landing softly on the pine needles, Erin motioned to Winston. "Try not to be seen by anyone, "she whispered. "They will be very suspicious of two 14-year-olds wandering around in here at this time of night."
"Hey, I'm a lost boy. I know how to camouflage," Winston replied. "Where are we going, anyway?"
"Well, I guess we could stay in the caves for a little bit, but there will be kids running around in them during the daytime. We'll have to figure out a plan at one point."
"I think it's too late to do that now," Winston yawned. "Let's find somewhere to go to sleep." Winston's yawn was contagious; Erin caught herself yawning, too. They hadn't slept in nearly two days, and she could feel a heavy wave of sleep passing over her. Flying was quite invigorating, but her adrenaline had settled down and she realized that she was exhausted. Before long, Erin and Winston found a suitable cave and they proceeded into the darkness. It only extended a few feet back into the rock, but both were too weary to care. Winston lay out along the back wall, and Erin nestled in beside him. "Wow," Winston sighed again, "I can't believe I'm here." Erin yawned again and moved her head onto Winston's shoulder.
"Goodnight," she breathed, dwindling an inch from sleep.
"Goodnight." Erin was lulled into a deep, dreamless sleep by the quiet beating of Winston's heart. He carefully wrapped his arms around her warm, sleeping body and fell asleep.
By the time Erin opened her eyes again the sun filled the cave and the laughter of children drifted toward her. "Ugh," she groaned, stretching her stiff back. She rubbed the spot on her thigh where she could still feel the imprint of the sharp rock she had slept on all night. Her left arm was asleep and she could tell that her hair was an absolute disaster. Winston stirred at the sound of her voice and groggily opened his eyes.
"What's for breakfast...er....lunch...er....food?" he slurred sleepily.
"You're such a guy, all you think about is food," Erin reprimanded, looking down at him.
"Sorry, but I haven't eaten since the papayas. Tell me you're not hungry."
"All right, fine, I'm starving. Let's go."
"You're such a girl, all you think about is food," Winston imitated her.
"Let's go," laughed Erin, pulling him out of the cave. They both squinted in the bright sunlight of Central Park.
"What time is it?" asked Erin, shading her eyes.
Looking up at the sun, Winston answered, "Around 11."
"Okay, whatever. Oh! That means Mr. Winda's hot dog stand is open."
"You eat dogs?"
"No, hot dogs: all-beef sausages on a bun," Erin chuckled.
"What?"
"You have a lot to learn." Erin grabbed Winston and pulled him through the crowds. They wove their way in and out of the trees and through the familiar labyrinth of paths. "Mr. Winda!" Erin shouted.
"Erin-san! It has been a very many days since Mr. Winda has seen you," he cried in his thick Asian accent. "Cut your hair did you Erin- san?"
"No, my face just grew," she answered, smiling sarcastically.
"Oh!" He paused for a moment. "I think you are pulling Mr. Winda's leg Erin-san!" They laughed together. "Ah, but who is your friend, Erin- san? Your boyfriend is he?" Erin felt her ears turn pink and she dropped her eyes.
Winston stepped forward. "Um, can we have some..." he read the sign "...hot dogs please?" Mr. Winda broke into a wide smile and looked back and forth from Erin to Winston.
"Of course, Erin-san!" He busied himself puttering around his stand, preparing the dogs.
"...But, you see...we don't have any money," Erin stammered.
"Ah, this could be a problem Erin-san." He studied the disappointed faces of the pair. "But since you are such a dear friend of Mr. Winda's, and you have brought your very special friend..." he winked "...to see Mr. Winda, then he will let you work for them."
"Thank you Mr. Winda!" Erin ran to hug him.
"Erin-san, Mr. Winda wants you to clean the grill. Friend of Erin- san, you help. Stay for one hour and Mr. Winda will pay you with hot dogs! You and your friend put on those aprons over there."
"Thanks, Mr. Winda," Erin and Winston said together. Mr. Winda was true to his word. After the longest hour in Winston's life, they got their hot dogs. Erin asked for hers with mustard and sauerkraut. Winston's was loaded with ketchup, pickles, sauerkraut, mustard, and tomatoes. Winston loved them. He downed the hot dog so fast that Mr. Winda gave him another one, free. Erin had another one, too, but she could only finish half, so Winston ate the rest.
"Do you usually eat like this, Winston?"
"Nope. I guess I'm growing now that I'm back in the mortal world again."
"Well, it's about time you had a growth spurt," Erin smiled, looking him up and down.
"Excuse me, Erin-san," Mr. Winda interrupted, an anxious expression on his face. "Is there some reason you are dressed like a bum out on the street? Everything is all right at home, is it not?"
"Uh, oh yes, I forgot about that." She pulled Winston aside. "What are we going to do about our clothes? People don't dress like this here."
"I don't know..." Winston whispered. "Does it matter what people think?"
"Yes, it does! Now, we don't have any money...but we could go back to my old apartment because Sharon and Susan are out this time of day. You could wear some of my clothes."
"Girl clothes?" Winston looked quite horrified at this suggestion.
"There not that much different anymore," Erin snorted. "Thanks for everything, Mr. Winda!" she cried over her shoulder as she led Winston out of the park. They walked down 50th street toward Sharon's apartment building.
"Wow...look at all the automobiles," Winston gaped, staring at the passing cars.
"You mean cars?" She answered her own question. "There are a lot of them since the invention of the assembly line. You better get used to them." He coughed in the exhaust of a truck zooming by. "A lot of things have changed since you've lived here."
Winston nodded in agreement, but his mind seemed elsewhere. "Do you hear something?"
"You mean besides the roaring of cars and hundreds of people walking down the street?" They both stopped and listened. She heard a faint tick tock tick tock.
"You hear it, don't you?" Erin nodded. She looked around for a clock or someone wearing a watch, but she couldn't see either within hearing distance. "What could that be?"
"It's coming from here." He motioned toward a manhole in front of them. He bent down and put his ear to it. "I can hear it. Listen." He took her hand and pulled her toward the ground.
"Are you sure?" "Yeah, listen." Erin quickly looked around to make sure no one was looking and put her ear against the drain. Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock.
"What is that?" Erin inquired. "Here, help me get this off." She pulled at the heavy manhole cover, and, with Winston's help, slid it off the hole.
Suddenly, out of the dark opening emerged a giant, scaly crocodile head. Erin and Winston both jumped immediately to their feet. "The sewer crocodiles of New York City!" she screamed, backing up a few yards. She clung tightly to Winston. Within a few seconds, the crocodile's entire body was out of the drain and mass chaos formed around them. People began screaming and running in every direction. Erin was frozen with fear. But the crocodile remained where he was, staring unblinkingly at Erin and Winston. Tick, tock, tick, tock.
"Croc!" Winston cried his voice full of relief. He kneeled down and stroked its head.
"What are you doing!" Erin shrieked, stumbling backwards. "Winston, are you crazy?" Winston looked calmly back at her, patting the crocodile. "Erin, relax. It's 'the croc'. You remember: with the clock. He's the one who bit off Hook's hand."
Erin caught her breath. "So...he's not dangerous then?" Her heart was still pounding in her chest. "Not as long as you don't have a hook for a hand," Winston laughed. "Come on, give him a pat." He motioned toward the crocodile. Hesitantly, she kneeled down beside him and ran her hand over its scaly head. It made a deep, almost purring sound from the back of its throat.
"But wait..." Erin was perplexed. "How did the croc get here?"
Winston looked quizzically at her for a moment, pondering her question. Suddenly, his face lifted. "It all makes sense, doesn't it? I mean, think about it. People were disappearing from Neverland, weren't they? Tucker, the mermaid, Tiger Lily...well, they had to disappear to somewhere didn't they? Maybe people from Neverland are disappearing to New York!"
"But..." Erin stumbled over her words, "...how? Why? Is it possible?" Winston didn't have time to answer, because the crocodile had turned on its belly and was heading back down into the sewer. "Croc!" Winston shouted after him. "Where are you going? What..." The crocodile's giant tail disappeared down into the hole. "Erin! We have to follow him! This is the only way we can find out exactly what's happening!" Winston disappeared into the hole. "Hurry!"
Erin didn't have time to think. She lowered herself into the drain and felt her feet catch the rungs of a ladder. She stopped for a moment, pulling the cover into place. The last thing we want is people following us down here! thought Erin. As the manhole cover slid into place, pitch blackness took over.
"Come on, Erin! We're going to lose him!" She groped for the ladder rungs, praying that none of them had rusted through. One, two, three, four, five, six – Erin kicked wildly for a foothold. Her hands slipped off of the slimy ladder and she landed in a foot of muck and sludge.
"Ugh!" Erin sputtered. She was grateful that she hadn't changed clothes; the Lost Boy garb was fairly water resistant. Except for the drainage holes that gave tiny slivers of light every few yards, the darkness pressed upon her like a weight, threatening to spill into her body and drag it downward into the muck. She could hear the squeaking of rats and smell human waste all around her. Winston's shadow was barely visible ahead of her.
"Come on," he said, grabbing her hand, "he went this way." Erin clung to Winston's hand as they stumbled through the sewage. Once Winston lost his footing and they both tumbled down into the mire. Winston swore colorfully and they helped each other up, and then dashed off again, still following the tick, tock, tick, tock, of the crocodile. "I never can remember the difference between an alligator and a crocodile," said Erin, making an attempt at conversation.
"Shush!" replied Winston. "We're losing him!" After that, Erin was silent. Above them, she could hear the sounds of passerby in the streets; every once in a while, she felt the deep, vibrating thrum of a subway passing somewhere nearby. Erin started to shiver. She couldn't help it, the sewage had completely saturated her moccasins and with every step she felt a slimy, squishing sensation. Even though she had gotten used to the stench, every time she saw the red reflection of rats' eyes, she felt the hair on the back of her neck prickle.
Erin lost all track of time as they wandered through the subterranean maze. She wasn't sure if it had been hours or only a few minutes before they abruptly changed direction, squeezing between a fissure in the wall a number of inches above the water level in the tunnel. Erin stumbled out the other side and blinked to adjust her eyes. This tunnel was long and round, but the light from one of the Coleman lanterns that someone had already placed there she could see that down at one end it was caved in, the rubble completely blocking the way. The other end stretched far away, and the light faded before she could tell if it curved away or just kept going. It took her a moment to place where she was...it was a subway tunnel, but one that they certainly couldn't be using now. Not for some time, she thought, since the rails were darkened with rust and grime.
Winston was surveying the subway tunnel, as well, and as he reached down to touch the main rail, Erin grabbed his arm.
"Winston! Don't touch the rails...even if they aren't using this tunnel anymore, the rail could still be electrified. You'd die in a minute if you touched it. In the stations, the rails are insulated with a rubber coating, but this far down they don't bother. If we don't know, it would be better not to find out by one of us getting electrocuted."
Winston drew away his arm, eying the subway rail warily. However, just then the crocodile stepped on the rail, as if it was trying to show them there was no danger. Erin relaxed, but Winston kept a safe distance from the rail.
"Erin, why did the croc take us here, do you think?" "Dunno. What's this?" Erin asked, holding up an elaborately beaded leather satchel. "I have no idea. And this?" It was a mirror with a gold back and mother of pearl designs on the handle. "Who knows. Hey, where's he going?" Winston spun around at Erin's voice and ran after the crocodile. Erin dropped the beaded bag and dashed after the pair.
Through the fissure on the opposite side of the tunnel, down what seemed like miles of the damp, reeking sewers, over a catwalk that spanned the conjunction of two sewage tunnels, and on through yet more endless tunnels they trudged. Erin could tell by the waning light that evening was coming on. Had they been moving in circles? Erin couldn't tell. Hadn't they already passed that ladder leading back to the surface? No, with a ladder every block or so, it was hard to say. Why are we even following this animal that Winston thinks knows something? If someone had told me that I would be doing this four days ago, I would have thought that they were crazy! This is crazy! thought Erin. Lost in her musings, she bumped into Winston when they came to an abrupt halt.