The pain in my back slowly disappeared the moment the boy I learned to call Tootles had pulled the arrow out. They dragged me away, deeper into the forest, and I kept my feet slack. I wasn't going to make it easy for them, but they managed to pull me without much fuss. I reminded myself to in future, pick up some muscle weight. It was an insult that two boys with their scrawny arms and build could actually drag me...period.

Peter Pan had vanished again, and I was surrounded by the lost boys. Most of them stared at me curiously, some stifled laughs, and others glared at me. That was what I was used to.

They seemed to take me to their hideout, which I admitted, was useful, in the future, if I was to return, which I seriously doubted. I had never lost a teammate in a quest before, and here, in Neverland, we lost Maddox merely on the second day. That was, I have to admit, a bad omen...and why I also understood that Neverland was rated so dangerous. But I was still alive, no thanks to Peter Pan, and I prayed hard that the rest of them, Quinton, Zeke, Nova, and Penelope had managed to escape the natives. If they were wise, they would find the rest of the pixie dust and be on their way, and I would follow shortly.

"Take the girl to the cages," the blonde boy with the scar and the hood spoke softly to the two boys holding me.

"Just hang right there on your cape blondie, a cage?" I snapped. My heart raced, and I forced myself to calm down. Sure, I had been imprisoned plenty of times, but I hated it. And I tended to make those who caged me, pay as well.

The boy glanced at me and smiled, "It's Felix."

"Right, Felax," I said. "You don't want to put me in a cage, I tend to get very mad."

"That's precisely what Peter wants," Felix said. "And what he wants, is what he gets."

I frowned as the two boys carry on pulling me. I didn't put up much of resistance either. The number of boys around meant that even if I tried out my latest fighting moves, I would be knocked out or injured within seconds. I could always get out of a cage. I believed that.

I stared at the cage they took me to and looked up. They were going to put me in there, and hoist me up like a crane did to a building block. I had to admit. That was kind of ingenious. But it also made my escape insanely hard.

They shoved me in, and I turned around. I did not have much moving space and sure was uncomfortable.

"How long do you intend to keep me in here?" I asked. The two boys looked at me and shrugged.

"He's got a fight planned tonight, he wants you to watch. Maybe, he'll take you out then," the boy said.

"Indeed," I mumbled. It meant that I had a few hours to get out. They locked the cage, and sure enough, hoisted me up. I shook my head to block out the dizziness as the cage moved. I prayed that the rope was strong enough, but although it swayed it seemed secure. As soon as I could see the boys walking away, I tested everything. I touched the wooden bars that surrounded me, up and down. I felt the ropes which kept everything secure. I tugged, and it barely moved. I would sooner rip out my nails than untie this rope.

I heard laughter below me, and I took a deep breath. Without any prior knowledge, it sounded like children having fun. Everything that I missed out as a little girl. I had to grow up immediately. I felt envy build up. I was a rat in a cage, quite literally now, but even as a world warper, with the chip in my neck, I was never free. They were, free from growing up, free from adults, free from being forced or told what to do apart from Peter Pan.

For the first time in years, I actually envied the villains.

I shook my head. I had to stop with the self-pity. I had a rare opportunity on this island. The very remote that controlled my fate was now within my grasp. Freedom. I had my chance at freedom. If I managed to escape the cage, and destroy that blasted controller for my neck, I could return to the headquarters, pick any world of my choosing, and escape there forever. I had visited many beautiful places, and there was a few I wouldn't mind staying in.

I struggled as I reached for my boot. Sure, they stripped me of my obvious weapons, but the pearls and one of my combat knives were securely hidden in an empty casing in my boot. For once, I had somewhat of the upper hand.

I pushed hard on the heel in a manner that it opened, and I took out the knife. The rope was no match for my hands and fingers but against sharp steel? I grinned. I had my escape planned out for me.

It took me a while to cut the necessary ropes for my escape, but also to prevent myself from plummeting down to the ground. Before I could cut the last piece of cord, I heard a massive racket below me. I stared down to see Peter Pan walking ahead, a group of the boys following and someone dressed in black in the middle. I swore, was it night already?

My eyes widened as I recognized the dark hair and build of their new prisoner. It was Quinton.

Now Peter Pan has pulled the last straw.

"There she is!" Peter Pan motioned towards me in the cage, above them. I grasped the bars and peaked down. Quinton's face was beaten, hard and he looked exhausted, but his eyes were still rock hard, and his mouth pulled tautly. "All you have to do is win."

Quinton shoved off the boys that were holding him. They gave him space, in a form of a circle. He looked up at me, "Are you ok?"

"You know me, just hanging up there," I spoke back to him. He still had the energy to grin. "And you?"

Quinton shook his head and glared at Peter Pan. "Playing a game."

Despite the fact that I was flattered that Quinton was trying to rescue me, it really threw my escape plan for a total loop. I wondered if that was what Peter Pan intended. Or maybe, I was really growing paranoid.

"Who am I going to fight?" Quinton asked.

I saw Felix step out from the group and smiled. "Me..."

The fight had started before I could even protest. Quinton and Felix stalked each other, circling around. Felix had a club in his hand, and Quinton was armed with nothing but his steel will. Felix swung out at him, and my heart stopped. Quinton swerved to the side. Felix struck again and again, but Quinton dodged and jumped out of the way. He ensured to stay in the middle of the circle, not to be shoved or pushed at the other lost boys.

I struggled and grabbed one of the magic pearls in my boot. I was always saving them for a rainy day, and now it was pouring. I shoved the white Magic Pearl in my mouth and waited before biting in. It contained enough magic to absorb any major injury that I might sustain.

Felix was fast, and his club finally met a mark and struck Quinton in legs. He fell down to the ground, and I cut the rope, and clenched my teeth, breaking the pearl.

I landed feet first on the ground and immense pain swelled up inside me, but the pearl did its job and absorbed the injury before I got knocked out. In a surprise, the boys made way as I ran and jumped onto Felix's back.

"That's cheating!"

"How would you know if no one gave the rules!" I snapped back. I did not even know who yelled that, but I did not care. Felix dropped his club, and I felt a rush of hands upon me. I clung hard around his neck and kicked out. He dropped on the ground. I moaned and let go. This boy was heavy. Felix stood up and I rose from the ground. Everyone formed the circle again, and I looked at Quinton, who was still lying on the ground, dead still.

"I want to take his place and change the terms of the deal!" I snapped and turned to see Peter Pan behind me. He stayed quiet, and I assumed it was his cue for me to continue.

"If I win, Quinton and I are free to leave," I said.

Peter Pan nodded, and the boys cheered. "But if I win..." he stared at me and I clenched my fists. He walked and leaned in closer, "You will live in that cage...forever."

I steeled myself and took a step back. I could still feel his cold breath against my neck. The boys stared at me in silence. "Who am I fighting?"

Peter Pan gave his familiar dark smile. "Me, of course."