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That night in the cove could have possibly been the best sleep I had ever gotten. To be honest, I really didn't even know how I ended up asleep. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, so it was kind of strange that I drifted off in the middle of all that contemplation. Anyway, I woke up in a very good mood, which was a BIG deal for me. I yawned and stretched at the bottom of the boat, not thinking about anything, and definitely not dreading the impending doom that lurked just a few hours from now. I sat up without a worry in the world, and looked around. The bottom of my stomach dropped out.

The banks of the inlet were packed with every Kauai Island species of animal I had ever seen, and even some that I hadn't. They were all staring at me. I peeked over the edge of the boat and even glistening pairs of eyes were watching me from there. I felt as though I had stuck my finger into a light socket because not only the hairs on the back of my neck were standing up, but every hair on my body…yea even those…

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"

Everything bounded, scurried, flied, or swam away. I was left alone with my ears ringing. I knew that scream…damn straight I knew that scream…mom? I was like a speed boat without a motor. So much adrenaline pumped its way into my veins. I was like Arnold Schwarzenegger in that Terminator movie, minus all the machine parts. Anyway, I paddled that shitty old rowboat as fast as humanly possible and arrived at my house in a record of two minutes. I jumped out of the boat and ran to my petite house. Everything seemed normal enough, but I wasn't taking any chances. I tiptoed up the stairs of my wrap-around porch and ducked under the windows peeking into every one as I crouched by. I finally came to the last window and my paranoia drained a bit. I almost stood up when I heard it.

A muffled groan and a squeak of bedsprings. I tried to hold back my gag reflexes…ew. This was just disturbing; I never thought I would ever catch my parents of all couples…

"Shhhhh," a sharp whisper drove my thoughts away.

That's not something you would hear if you walked in on your parents…yea. So I cautiously peeked in. My mom was bound and gagged to MY bed. It wasn't in some sick, perverted bondage way either, her hands and feet were bound, and she was fully clothed. I was so puzzled that I forgot what I was doing. I stood to my full height and Morgan saw me. Her eyes bulged out of her head and she started to wiggle around. The bed shook and creaked. This was thoroughly disturbing and I was about to hop back into my row boat and high tail it out of there when who but Nibs walked into my bedroom. I was so confused by then I just gave up and yelled through the screen, "What the hell?" He fiercely spun around and looked at me with wild eyes. His expression softened when he saw it was me, and he walked over to the window with a smile on his face.

He lifted the screen and said to me, "Well golly, just the person I was waitin' fur." He beckoned for me to hop through the window.

I scrambled through the opening, ignoring the hopping business and stood, hands crossed with an 'I demand an explanation for this scene' look on my face. My mother was wilder than ever. I could hear muffled squeals coming from her gag. "Lovely day outside," sighed Nibs near the window as if it were normal to have my mother bound and gagged on my bed.

"NIBS!"

"Wot?" The confused face was getting old fast.

"What is THIS?" I gestured frantically at my frenetic mother.

"Ah, love. This is something tha' should have been done a long time ago."

Despite myself, I laughed, "No shit." My mother shot a look of rage in my direction. "But really, Nibs. What is the meaning of this? Why are you here? Why is my mom bound and gagged on my bed? How did you even get here? Where is my dad?" I could hear myself speaking rapidly and I saw Nibs getting the confused look again when…

"Over here, Bea." I spun around. There was my dad looking thoroughly stressed out and more helpless than I had ever seen him. "I need to explain something…"

"Dem right ya do!" Nibs interjected. "Can't believe you haven't told her at all you twat!" My dad's head hung lower than ever.

"Nibs, I thought about it I did. But she…," he nodded in my mother's direction. "You know…"

I looked at Nibs, he nodded somberly.

"Wait, you two know each other?" Now it was my turn to wear the clueless mask.

My dad opened his mouth to speak but Nibs beat him to it, "Long story short, love, me and Slightly here grew up together, and now we have a matter of business to talk to you abou'."

"Slightly, is that a nickname or something? His name's James, Nibs." What the…excuse my French, but this was highly disturbing…fuck kind of name is Slightly? He grinned at me, and I wanted to punch him.

"Or so you think, love." He seemed very pleased with himself. "James happens to be the name of her demmed father. And to straighten one thing out, Slightly is not your father."

He said this very casually, but it struck me like a hammer to a nail. I grew dizzy and lightheaded. I wanted to say so many rude things like "What the fuck?" or maybe a more refined "Nibs you have gone mad," but all I could get out was a shocked huff. For the first time ever I didn't feel like talking, I was in danger of spewing up whatever was left in my stomach from the day before yesterdays meals. Nibs only laughed, "You see, love, na' this might be a tad shocking, but all four of us are not originally from here," my head swam, "We're from a place close by…but…far away."

'What is he talking about? I, Beatriz Indy, have always had a life here in Kauai. I had just finally graduated from Aire Junior High and in the fall I will soon be attending Willow High where I will ,no doubt, be pushed around by the mean girls giggling about their hair straighteners or whatever.' At this point I actually wanted that. Taking harassment from the A-crowd seemed like heaven compared to what I was experiencing now. I wonder what Caroline would have thought of this…Caroline. She was the last shred of my life I held onto before reality as I knew it was shattered with a simple sentence…

"We're from Neverland, love." All it took was three words and I was out like a light, and I had never passed out before in my entire life. I woke up a few minutes later on the floor of my bedroom with Nibs and my dad standing over me. I could feel the tears in my eyes and I looked at my dad. He just gave me a helpless look. That's it, I sobbed. I hardly ever cried in front of people, but I'm sure everyone could hear my gut-wrenching cries.

"Oh don't cry," Nibs tried to comfort me, but anything he said at this point just made me sob harder. "It's a lot better than this place. The air was sweet an' the water clean. You're lucky that you get to go back…" GO BACK? What the hell was he going on about now? I didn't want to go anywhere, much less somewhere that didn't even exist! I was staying here in Kauai and I was going to be the biggest nerd at Willow and Caroline was going to help me do my math homework and…

My bed gave a hard thud, and I laboriously stood up. My mother was livid, or was she really my mother? Nibs just giggled a little and walked over to her. He ripped off her gag.

"AHHHHH, NIBS YOU FOUL CREATURE! I ALWAYS KNEW YOU WERE AS DENSE AS YOU LOOKED!" She glanced at me and her blotchy red anger faded just and was replaced by a sneer. She laughed at me and seemed to have read my thoughts, "And you…HAHAHA…you're damn right I'm not your mother!" She was about to say more but madness took her and peals of laughter erupted from her mouth instead.

Nibs scowled, "Maybe I shouldnta ungagged her," he yelled over the squeals. He walked closer to me and somewhat embraced me. I just stood there stiff legged, arms glued to my sides. He whispered in my ear, "This lady is a terrible woman named Morgan. She's from Neverland too. She's not like me and Slightly, though. She's just some evil, kniving slut that ran off with your dad…" The laughter was gone.

"I AM NOT A SLUT! Slightly here is just as thick as you are. He came along and followed me all the way back here, just like all of you did. Tootles and the Twins were easier than you two, though. They went quietly. Curly, well let's just say he was taken care of as well. But you two were special. I was always sort of fond of you Slightly and Nibs, I just knew you would follow Slightly anywhere," she smiled maliciously. "And you all eventually drifted away from Neverland. Oh, but what of Peter, now?" She voiced facetious concern. "Well let's say, he'll slowly drift away too. You all know what loneliness will do to a person." Her grin widened and she resumed her cackling laughter. I turned back to my da-Slightly and Nibs. They were both livid.

"YOU BITCH," Nibs screamed.

"Oh yes, and everything was going great until we found her (she glared at me) on our way out that godless isle. 'Oh, please Morgan we can't just leave her', 'Morgan she can be our baby'. You were a lovesick fool Slightly!" More laughter, "And child who knows where you came from, as far as I'm concerned you're a worthless little brat who…"

My fath-Slightly was shaking with ferocity, "You evil bitch, you're father deserved everything he got." The words were whispered but all of us heard every word. Silence.

A strange voice issued from the mouth of Morgan, "Oh he did, did he? You all will deserve what you're about to get, as well." I looked at her. What I saw was very frightening. Her hair was all askew all over my bedpost but her eyes were glowing…red; not just any normal red though, like blood freshly poured from a gaping wound. I stood with my mouth hanging wide open and Slightly grabbed me from behind and carried me to the hall. He ran me down the stairs of our porch and dropped me in the sand. I quickly scrambled to my feet.

"Get out of here Bea," he fumbled with something in his jean pocket and pulled out a small, brown tweed pouch. "Take this and row far out, sprinkle it all over yourself, and think happy things. Remember, second star to the right and head in that direction." There was a loud crash from my bedroom, there goes my new mirror.

"Hurry! Quickly now!" Slightly grabbed me again and threw me into my boat. He waded out until the water bobbed at his chest and pushed me off. I began to paddle, but tears began to pour out of my eyes for the second time that night. My vision was blurry and watery but I could still see Slightly's form on the beach. He waved, and ran back into the house. That was the last I would ever see of the man I called my father.

I rowed and rowed until my house was a tiny white square no bigger than the tip of my index finger, and water surrounded me on all sides. I wailed and wept. Finally, I calmed down enough to remember the small tweed bag. I hastily picked it up and dumped the contents onto my palm. DUST? I was so angry I could have torn my hair out. The last thing my father will ever give me is gray, clumpy DUST? In a rage I threw it over the side of the boat, but a gentle breeze picked it up and threw it back at me and into my eyes. I screamed and dug my hands into my eyes, crying again. I blinked the dust away, but I did not stop crying. Throwing myself to the bottom of the boat, I sobbed until deep sleep overcame me.

………..........