Will's POV

"Ben, please stop." I said blankly.

Ben has been carrying on like this for the past three days and I'm actually going to punch him in the face if he doesn't get off me.

"Will, this is not a drill we need to be prepared for anything."

"But-"

"ANYTHING!" Ben shouted in a deep voice as he pushed me back against the ground.

I sighed as Ben tied the rope tighter around my wrists. Honestly, how does he not know by now that I can get out of these ropes faster than he can tie them up? Despite my protests, Ben continued to tie my hands to the point where circulation was going to be a concern. I couldn't be bothered fighting against Ben, I had already duelled against some of the other boys and I am completely exhausted. I thought everything was going reasonably fine until Ben decided that he was feeling uncomfortable and sat on my back. I had already been tackled to the ground during the duels and my back was in no shape to have Ben's ass squashing it. I tapped the ground and gasped.

"B-Ben...can't...b-breathe."

I heard him gasp.

"Are you calling me fat!"

"Yes?" I mumbled only to regret saying anything as Ben hit me over the head.

"Should I even bother asking what you two are doing?" Ethan asked amusingly as he stuck his sword into the ground and looked over the two of us. He had sweat and dirt covering his face from fighting off the other boys in the duel contest that was still going. At least Ethan was actually preparing himself for the unknown punishment unlike the fat ass on top of me.

"Ben, you know Will can easily get out of that." Ethan commented as he watched Ben trying to tie the rope in an impossible knot.

"Yeah, I know that's why we're talking this to the next level!" Ben exclaimed.

Wait, what?

I turned my head around as much as I could to see Ben bringing a small flamed torch to my hands to light the rope on fire.

He's not actually going to...

"Ben what are you doing!" Ethan shouted as he pushed Ben to the ground and burnt out the flame before throwing the torch away. I managed to untangle my hands easily before standing to my feet.

"How'd you do that!" Ben asked in disbelief at how quickly I was able to get out of the rope.

I straightened the rough material out and pulled the rope into a fold before narrowing my eyes at Ben.

"You're about to find out."

He didn't have a chance to react as I quickly tackled him to the ground.

"Ethan quick! Help a brother out!" Ben shrieked as I held him down and began tying his hands up behind his back.

"Yeah no chance, I gave you a fair warning. You got yourself into this one." Ethan grinned as he sat back against a tree comfortably.

"Yeah you got yourself into this one and you won't be getting out." I replied smugly as I began wrapping the rope around his wrists.

I sat on top of his back to stop him from moving, just as he did to me. Ben lifted his face from the ground.

"Jokes on you, I can get out of this easy, I've done it before." Ben replied confidently.

Ethan and I shared a look of confusion.

"When?" We both asked in unison.

Ben paused and shook his blonde hair out of his face.

"Let's just say that karma's a bitch and leave it at that."

I knew he was trying to avoid the question so that only made me more curious.

"Spill." I said.

"No way!"

"Oh wait! I remember what happened." Ethan laughed.

"Ethan don't you dare!" Ben snapped but I covered his mouth.

I felt a wet substance against my palm and instantly regretted that decision.

"Ben!" I shouted in disgust as I at my palm that had a line of Ben's saliva covering it. I wiped my hand in his hair before slapping him over the head. Ben laughed at my reaction but was soon cut short as Ethan sat up from the tree with a wide grin.

Emily's POV

Being crammed inside a cage for five days straight can really piss you off...

I finally let the voices in my head subside after a while and now all I wanted was to get out of here. I glared at the boy on guard in frustration as he just stood there like a little worm. His legs were almost shaking as he would stand uncomfortably under my gaze. He kept his head down and eyes to the ground. When he was brave enough to force himself to look at me, he would instantly look away. Looks like Pan spread the word pretty fast. Every boy that's been on guard has just stood there, trying their hardest not to make eye contact with me until their shift was over. Every boy except for Will, Ben and Ethan of course.

Even with the cage door closed I hung my legs and arms out of the frame. It was the only way I could actually stretch my body and for some odd reason the boys would get freaked out as if I was going to escape or hurt them. I sighed loudly and looked up at the boy with boredom. I had been examining his features for the past hour, his short black hair kind of messy like all the other boys, his body was rather slim and he had large dark brown eyes. That was the only interesting thing about him. He dressed the same as all the other boys and having a conversation with him would be pointless since Pan gave them strict instructions to not talk to me.

"You know, there's really no point in guarding me when I'm locked in a magical sealed cage." I said blankly.

The boy looked at me nervously. Was he seriously that scared that he couldn't even talk to me? Even some of the other boys had at least told me to be quiet if I spoke.

"You're free to go."

I turned my attention to Pan who walked out into the opening. The boy left in a hurry, practically running back into the jungle.

"I see you have started to make friends." Pan said in a sarcastic tone as he walked up to the cage.

"When am I getting out of here!" I snapped at Pan.

He walked closer to me and I brought myself back behind the bars. Pan's eyes locked onto mine turning a darker shade of green as he grabbed hold of the bamboo bars.

"Be careful what you ask for. If I were you, I wouldn't want to be leaving this cage anytime soon." Pan warned.

"And why is that?" I asked in annoyance.

Pan's smirk only grew.

"Because the real punishment has yet to begin."

I knew I was used to Pan's threats by now but there was something in the way he spoke that made me think he was planning something far worse than being locked in a cage. A cold wave ran through my body causing the familiar goose bumps to spread across my skin. Pan's laugh echoed through the open area making me move further away from him.

"Did you really think this was going to be your punishment? Sitting in a cage all day?" Pan laughed.

I didn't answer him I only waited. Pan composed himself and his face soon changed into a look of anger.

"No, your punishment is going to be far worse than anything you could possibly imagine. In two days' time you will join the rest of the boys for your punishment."

My stomach twisted in a knot, the voices I had kept away were now coming back. It was my fault that I tried to escape with Connor and now all the boys are going to suffer because of what I did, that includes Will, Ben and Ethan. No wonder all the boys were so anxious when guarding me, they didn't want to make the punishment even worse then what Pan had planned for all of us.

"That will all come in good time. For now eat up." Pan waved his hand and small pieces of bread and berries appeared on a cloth in front of legs in the cage. "You will need your strength. Well, that's if you want to survive."

I looked down at the food and instantly felt my mouth water. I hadn't eaten in two days but I ignored my hunger, wanting to ask the important question on my mind.

Will...

I had no clue if he was okay or not. I hadn't seen him in a couple of days and the more I have to wait the more worried I get. Did he not want to see me because of what did? What if Pan told Will that I was escaping with Connor?

I curled my fists. I would never do that. I would never leave without Will. We made a promise that we would both escape together and I will never forget that. It was a stupid mistake. Now this unknown punishment might stop that from ever happening.

I looked up to face Pan but he was gone leaving my thoughts to break the silence around me.

Will's POV

"Will, do you hear that?" Ethan asked as he looked to the circle of boys who were surrounded in front of the giant oak tree.

"They're chanting your name." Ben said from my other side.

I got up from the ground and walked towards the group, the chants only growing louder as I got closer. The boys were all huddled in a group yelling my name as loud as they could. The confusion I felt soon drifted away as Felix stepped out of the group, sweat visible on his forehead as he leaned comfortably on his sword.

"Come on Will, it's not polite to back down from a fight." Felix grinned as he swung his sword.

"Please just kick his ass and shut him up." Ben rolled his eyes as he passed me a sword.

"My pleasure." I grinned as I took the sword.

Ethan laughed and the both of them joined the large circle of boys who had spread out to give us more space once I had stepped in front of Felix. Their cheers and howls filled my ears from every angle.

"It's alright Felix; I'll kick your ass for the second time today." I grinned. "Let's see what the pet can do when his master is away."

The boys roared louder from my insult.

"That's my boy!" I heard Ben yell above the other boys.

I smirked and winked at Ben who laughed along with Ethan. I chuckled and turned back to Felix. He's hood was off and he looked pissed. The sound of swords colliding was overhead by the loudness of the boys yelling and howling. Felix took several forceful swings to my head. I could tell he was almost about to lose it. I pushed Felix back which made him stumble, his anger causing him to lose focus giving me more of an advantage.

Will

No. Not now.

Why was Pan trying to communicate now.

Emily sends her regards.

My eyes widened. My body froze for a second and I completely forgot that I was in a fight with Felix. That one second of concentration lost caused Felix's sword to cut across my face. The shock made me lose my balance and fall to the ground causing uproar from the boys at my unexpected freeze. I wasn't shocked that Felix had cut me; I was shocked of what Pan could be saying to Emily. The noise from the boys suddenly fell silent and I could only hear Pan's laughter in my head.

Oh, Will you really know how to put on a show.

Show yourself Pan!

Where's the fun in that when I can let you come find me.

Rage ran through me as I shot off the ground and pushed my way out of the circle. Once my vision was clear I span around until I noticed Pan on the other side of the oak tree with a smirk on his face. I squeezed the handle of the sword and stormed up to Pan, not giving a second thought as I pushed him against the tree and placed the sword under his chin. He didn't fight back. He could easy use his magic to stop me but he just looked down at me as if I was still the weakling even though he was the one with a blade against his throat.

"I can see that you're upset." Pan grinned, which only made me angrier.

"Enough with the games Pan. You know what I want." I said through gritted teeth.

Pan grabbed my wrist and pulled the blade away from his neck easily while I used all my strength to fight against him. He dropped my sword to the ground and easily grabbed a fistful of my shirt before throwing me against the tree I had him pinned against. Pan's green eyes looked over the cut on my face. I flinched as his grip tightened keeping me still against the tree so that I wouldn't be able to move while he lifted his hand to my face. His eyes narrowed as he put pressure on my cheek.

I realized what he was about to do it was too late to stop him as Pan pushed his thumb across my cheek where Felix had cut into my skin. I yelled out in pain as I felt the skin burning as Pan put pressure on the open cut. Pan didn't react to my shouts of pain as he knew that none of the other boys would be able to hear. Once Pan removed his hand he let go of me leaving me to glare at him as I carefully brought my hand to my cheek. My eyes widened as I felt the skin was flat and the pain had vanished. The cut was gone.

"Alright, seeing as I'm about to put you through hell, I'll grant you this one wish." Pan said, completely ignoring what he had just done to me.

Before I could question Pan we were out of the training area and appeared in the opening of the jungle where the cages are kept.

Emily's POV

I had to blink a couple of times to make sure I wasn't imagining this. Pan and another boy were standing with their backs to me. I was sure it was Will.

"Will?" I asked hoping to make sure it was him.

He turned around instantly and ran over to my cage making me sigh with relief that I could finally see him, knowing that he was okay. His eyes were sparkling as too also held a look of relief and happiness as a smile spread across his face. His hand reached through the bars and he interlocked my hand with his. A feeling of warmth from his hand made me feel comforted. I had felt so alone these past few days that I felt like I had forgotten that he has been here with me the whole time, even though we were spread apart.

His smile soon faded as he looked back at Pan who was watching us, his eyes on alert as he leaned against the tree that all the other boys had when guarding me. Will turned back to me and dropped his head.

Will's POV

"I'm sorry; Pan wouldn't let me see you he threatened to-"

I had to stop myself short; I didn't want her to worry any more than she was.

"Don't worry about it; all that matters is that you're safe." I said as I looked back up at her now concerned face.

"Is it true-with what happened to Connor?" I asked softly.

I still couldn't believe Emily did it.

Her eyes began to water and I instantly regretted asking her that. Why would I ask her that! Of course she would be traumatized by it. I rubbed her hand to comfort her.

"I did do it...I k-killed him. Pan had it all planned out." Emily whispered.

"Don't worry about that. I'm just glad you weren't the one getting hurt." I said as Emily looked up at me with tear filled eyes.

Emily and I both froze as we heard Pan start to laugh. I looked back and glared at Pan as he finally stopped laughing and crossed his arms over his chest.

"I just don't understand why you're so worried about Emily." Pan said as a mischievous smirk curled through his lips as he continued, "It was her decision to leave with Connor in the first place."

Silence filled the open area as I stared down at my feet.

It felt like something inside of me had just been torn out. I unlocked my hands from Emily's and pulled my arms away. I stepped back from her cage, my eyes never leaving the ground. I couldn't look at her right now. I was so angry and sad that she would even consider doing that.

She wanted to be with Connor this whole time...

"Will." she pleaded. "I-"

I cut her off.

"Don't bother."

That's all I said before walking away.

I didn't look back...I didn't care anymore.