Emily's POV:
They all stared at me.
All the lost boys, standing in a group, watching as Pan and I stood in front of them.
I think some of the boys were surprised to see me standing with Pan as they whispered to one another.
"Boys training in five minutes!" Pan ordered.
All the boys broke apart and grabbed their things. "Emily!" Ethan called. I watched as Ethan came running from the huts with Ben following behind them. They looked half asleep.
"What happened to you guys. Where's Will?" I asked as I watched Ben almost trip over as he caught up to us.
"I'm not sure, we just woke up." Ethan said as he rubbed his eyes. My eyes widened as I remembered the other night, Pan put them under a sleeping spell.
I was about to tell them but my mouth restrained me from talking. My lips were sealed. "Emily." I looked over to the other side of camp to see Pan standing next to the fire watching me. "You know the rules." I watched as Pan's mouth didn't move but his voice echoed through my head.
"Yes I am telepathically talking to you from now on. I can listen to every conversation you have, so don't even think about telling anyone." Pan said.
"Emily!" I snapped out of my trance and looked at Ethan and Ben.
"I literally said you're name five times." Ben said.
"What were you looking at?" Ethan asked. I looked back to where Pan was standing but he was gone.
I sighed, "Don't worry, we should get going." I said as I watched the rest of the lost boys making their way to the training area.
We reached the skull gateway to the training area and Ethan, Ben and I joined the group of boys. As we stood at the back of the group. I watched as Felix whispered to Pan. Pan smirked and nodded his head.
"Boy's we have a special treat today!" Pan announced.
Pan waved his left hand and we all turned our attention to the targets. They were all gone except for one. My face fell as I saw Will's head look up at all of us. Will's arms and legs were tied around the target, his face was so pale and sweat was covering his forehead. I could not believe what I was seeing.
"Pan! You're going to pay for this!" I yelled and looked at him. He turned to me and looked a little shocked to see that I could get into his head. "I see you have developed a little telepathy." He said back smirking.
"Let him go!" I said getting angrier. I looked back to Will and went to run to him but my whole body stopped moving. "Don't make me punish you in front of everyone here." Pan said his voice echoing through my head.
"You can punish me all you want, just let him go." I said stubbornly and looked back at Pan.
"Or you could be a good girl and we could have some fun instead." He grinned. My eyes narrowed and I tried to fight off Pan's magic. "Get out of my head!" I screamed at him.
Pan laughed and I felt my body straighten up. "Let's make this a little more interesting, shell we." He was now in complete control of me, and there was nothing I could do to stop him. "Boy's! It's time for some target practice!" Pan yelled to all of us. Felix and most of the older boys started to yell and cheer while the younger boys, Ben, Ethan and I stood quietly.
I wanted to move and help Will. I wanted to cut him free and run away. But instead I am forced in this miserable reality where I can't move or speak, only watch as others get hurt.
Will's POV:
My head sunk down as I heard Pan.
I hate this...I hate Pan...
I want to escape off Neverland, even if I get killed in the process. That's a risk I'm willing to take.
"Do we have any volunteers?" Pan yelled.
"Stand aside." The older boys cheered as Felix walked in front of the group with his bow and arrow. He placed the bow against the string and pulled the arrow back to his shoulder. "I've been waiting to do this for a long time." I heard Felix say.
My head shot up and I flicked my hair out of my face. I could see Felix standing side on ready to let go of the arrow at any second. My eyes couldn't focus on Felix, I was so dehydrated and I hadn't eaten since that night. The night Pan knocked me out.
I watched as the arrow flew through the air and make its way to me. I flinched as it stabbed into the target making the wood shake. I felt a shiver run through me as I looked down to see that the arrow had landed next to the bottom of my right leg and almost pierced the skin.
My breathing increased as I heard the boys start to yell as the next person lined up to shoot. In a blink of an eye another arrow hit the edge of the target. One after the other, all aiming at me. After a couple of minutes had passed Pan stopped the boys and Felix came to remove the arrows.
"I really hope you're enjoying yourself as much as I am." Felix said amusing himself. I lifted my head up and stared at Felix. "What has Pan done to her." I asked through gritted teeth completely ignoring his comment. The last thing I remember is when Emily stole the crystal and then Pan coming after all of us.
"Well let's just say she's not the same person you knew before." Felix grinned and held an arrow up to my neck. My eyes widened. "What did you do?" I yelled but could only just get the words out because my throat was so dry. Felix laughed and removed the arrow. "She's one of us now." Felix grinned. My face fell and I stared at him with shock.
"N-No." I stuttered and watched as Felix turned around with the arrows and walked back to the other boys.
I won't believe him, not until I see for myself. I looked through the boys and tried to find Emily but my head ache continued to get worse and my vision blurred.
"Ethan!" Pan yelled. I looked up to find Ethan walking out of the group. Pan tapped his shoulder and put the bow and arrow in his hands. "Shoot." Pan said bluntly. I watched as Ethan hesitated for a second but soon pulled the string back. His hands started to shake and I could tell he was trying to fight against it.
I knew what Pan was trying to do by getting the people that I care about to turn against me, but it's not going to happen and soon I'll prove it once and for all. I looked at Ethan and gave him a small nod. His face softened and he let go of the string.
I was shocked to see the arrow fly pass and bounce off the edge of the target. All the boys went fell silent.
Why did Ethan miss on purpose and right in front of Pan. Pan sighed loudly and grabbed the bow off Ethan. My eyes flashed with anger as I watched Pan push Ethan on his knees. I roughly pulled forwards on my restraints as I watched Pan take out his knife and hold it to Ethan's neck.
Ben went to help Ethan but Felix and Zac held him back. I tried to pull as hard as I could on the rope but it had been wrapped so many times that I could barely feel my hands and feet. "Let this be an example for the next person that wants to disobey me." Pan said loudly and stood in front of Ethan.
I watched in horror as Pan lifted up Ethan's head with the knife. Pan was going to kill him!
"Ethan!" I watched as Ben screamed and continued to roughly pull against Felix and Zac.
Pan pulled the blade to the side of his head ready to slice his neck.
"Stop!" I heard someone yell. Emily...
I watched as she came out of the crowd of boys and stood in front of Pan. She grabbed the bow and arrows off the ground and faced Pan. They stared at each other for a minute before Pan smirked and stepped away from Ethan.
Emily's POV:
"Pan stop!" I screamed as I watched him push Ethan to his knees. Pan was so concentrated on Ethan that he was completely blocking my voice out. If he could not hear me than maybe this will be my only chance. I quickly grab a long leaf and a small stick. I dip the stick into some mud in the dirt and start writing on the leaf. I blow on the leaf so that the mud can dry and use the other hand to grab an arrow.
I tie the leaf to the arrow tightly, making sure that it stays in place.
"Ethan!" I heard Ben scream. I quickly shot up and looked through the boys to see that Pan was about to slice his throat.
"Stop!" I yelled, Pan surprisingly letting my voice speak.
I pushed through the boys and walked to Pan and Ethan. I had a plan...there was probably a one in five chance that it would work but it's all I've got right now. I had to be careful too and not think about it too much otherwise Pan will know that I'm up to something.
I grabbed the bow and a couple of arrows from the ground and placed my arrow with the leaf hidden in between them.
"I would have thought that you would be the last one to fire an arrow at him." Pan said as he lowered the knife from Ethan's neck.
"You said to have some fun, so that's what I'm going to do." I said and smirked back to him.
"You just stopped me from taking his life, you better make this interesting otherwise it will be you under that knife." Pan threatened. I swallowed the lump in my throat.
I felt Pan controlling me as I positioned the arrow towards Will. Forget about Pan wanting me to trust him, I needed him to trust me...even if it is just for now. I pulled the arrow back just like Pan had taught me too and let go. My breath hitched as I watched the arrow land in between Will's legs.
All the other boys only got one shot at shooting but I had to show Pan that I was not afraid to 'hurt' the people I care about. I quickly grabbed another arrow and shot it at the target again. I tried to ignore the look of pain on Will's face as he watched me in shock. Will didn't even flinch as the arrows hit right next to his skin.
I grabbed the arrow with the leaf I tagged on it and shot it straight to the top of Will's head. He looked up slowly then back to me. I knew what he was thinking...that I have betrayed him as a friend, that I have joined the others. If only he knew the truth.
Will's POV:
I couldn't move or speak...
Only watch the horror before my eyes. It pains me to say it, but I was starting to think that Felix was right. Emily has changed. The way she kept firing the arrows to me without hesitation and showing no emotion on her face sent shivers through my body.
She had a fierce look in her eyes. The boys were all cheering and shouting as she continued to let go of each arrow but to me all I could hear was silence. I just watched as if the world had stopped moving. Emily looked like she was trying to take all her anger out through each arrow.
My eyes widened as an arrow landed straight above my head. I could feel the wooden stick on it touch the top of my hair. I knew Pan was responsible...he had to be.
Emily's POV:
"I guess my lessons on how to shoot really helped you." I could hear the smugness in Pan's voice. I blushed a little and remembered Pan's so called 'teaching'.
I stared at him rolling my eyes as I pulled another arrow out and placed it onto the bow.
"It's like this" Pan whispered into my ear standing with his body against mine as he levelled the bow, his larger hands covering around my smaller ones. I took a breath as I felt his chest against my back. My body shivered as I heard his voice whisper his breath hitting my neck as he continued talking.
"Pull the arrow back and aim" he said doing the actions and pulling my arm back against him.
"Let go" he whispered his voice full of lust as his lips touched my neck. His touch caused me to relax my shoulders as I let go of the bow.
I shook the memory out of my head and concentrated on Will.
"So you do like my lessons." I looked at Pan who cocked an eyebrow and smirked. "We should try that again sometime." Anger rushed through me as I blushed harder and looked back at the target. I completely forgot about Pan being able to read my mind.
"Yes you did." Pan replied. I could feel my cheeks burning up.
"Get out of my head!." I yelled again.
"Shoot the arrow." Pan said.
I looked at Will and held my last arrow at the target.
"Oh and Emily...chop some skin off this time."
I felt my stomach drop as Pan's words rang through my head. I wanted to hesitate but Pan controlled my body like a puppet without strings. I felt my fingers tingling telling me to let go, but I didn't have a choice. I closed my eyes and my heart skipped a beat as I let go of the string.
I opened my eyes slowly and I could feel tears building in my eyes as I looked at Will. Shooting arrows at him was worse enough but looking at Will's pained expression hurt the most.
Will's POV:
I turned my head in shock as I looked to see blood running down my arm. The arrow had pierced deeply across my skin. I felt the blood run down my arm as I stared down at the ground. I couldn't look up at her. I didn't want to believe Felix before but I couldn't believe what I was seeing. She really has changed...
I looked up but Emily was gone. I looked through the crowd of boys to see that Pan was gone too. I felt my body fume with anger. I know that Pan is behind all of this...he always is. But this time he's not getting away with what he has done to her.
"Boys back to camp, now!" Felix yelled. I watched as they all ran back to camp. Once they were all out of sight I looked at my arm. From my shoulder down to my elbow was red with blood. I took a breath and pulled against the rope by twisting it ignoring the excruciating pain coming from my shoulder.
I screamed out in pain as my shoulder burned as it rubbed against the arrow that caused the wound. I stopped moving and waited for my heavy breathing to settle down. I leaned my head back against the target and looked up at the arrow directly above my head.
I looked at it in confusion as I saw a leaf attached to it. An idea came to my head. It was a pretty crazy and stupid idea but might just work. I leaned my body up as far as I could and moved my head to the side, grabbing the arrow in between my teeth. With a couple of jolts I groaned as I managed to get the arrow out of the target.
I moved the arrow across with my teeth so that the point was facing my roped hand. I placed the the point of the arrow into the rope and started sawing the arrow back and forth from my teeth. I stopped and paused after a couple of minutes to get my breath back but still held the arrow in my mouth. I then went straight back to cutting the little piece of rope that was left.
I pulled roughly on the rope and it broke free. "Yes!" I yelled accidentally dropping the arrow from my mouth.
"Oh shit." I looked down to see the arrow on the ground. Of course I had to drop it.
I slowly reached my injured arm over and started to pull the rope off my other hand. It soon became loose and I removed the rope.
I did the same with both feet until I was fully untied. I went to take a step forwards but only to fall flat on my face. I looked to see the arrow I dropped lying on the ground. I picked up the arrow and unwrapped the leaf that was tied.
Help me. Is what was written in mud.
I was so dehydrated and my head was spinning but there was no way I'm giving up on her. I don't care what anyone says I know her and how she really thinks. She wouldn't harm the people she cares for unless she is being forced to.
I got up off the ground and started walking one step at a time, I picked up the pace and start running for camp. A couple minutes passed and I have finally made my way back to camp. I ran passed the bonfire, ignoring all the stares of the boys and span around 360, I ran my fingers through my hair frustratedly as I scanned camp for Emily. She was nowhere in sight.
"Will!" I turned around to come face to face with Ethan and Ben.
I grabbed Ethan and hugged him. "You scared me for a second you know." I said to him. I felt Ethan nod in return. Ben wrapped us both in a bear hug.
I hissed and broke apart as one of them touched my opened cut. "Will your arm!" Ben said as he looked from the blood on his hand back to where he touched my cut. "I know, it doesn't matter right now. Where is Emily?" I asked quickly.
"We don't know. The last time we saw her was when she...you know, did that." Ethan said gesturing to the cut on my arm.
"Her hut." I said. I took off running down the gravel path with Ethan and Ben behind me. We ran up the steps to see that the top of the door's hinges had been ripped off. I moved aside the broken door and turned the light on. All three of us stood silently. My eyes widened at the sight in front of me.
Written on the wall was the same writing on the leaf.
'SMASH THE CRYSTAL.' Was written in mud across the wall.
"Emily." I said quietly out loud.
"I remembered what happened.." Ethan said from behind me.
"So do I.." Ben said. I scanned the words over and over again.
"What do we do?" Ethan asked.
I turned around to them and faced them both.
"We find Pan and make him pay." I said through gritted teeth.
