Chapter Eight:
"How's Elley?" I ask. Felix makes a face.
"The same I suppose. She hadn't woken up when I left, but she seemed alright. And if you meant how she is mentally then she's not so fine. She still hates it here and wants to go with Emma." I grimace in annoyance. When will she loose this obsession with Emma? If my plans had succeeded she would have forgotten about Emma her second day here! "There's something else." I glance over at Felix. "She wanted me to let you know that you can go to Hell for all she cares." He smirks and I chuckle.
She's fine.
"How's Henry coming along?" Felix glances across the camp at the young boy. He sits alone and watches as the Lost Boys dance around a bonfire.
"He's fine. Yesterday took us back a few steps, but it's alright," I shrug. Felix nods. "We're getting closer," I smile at the thought. Immortality!
"I'm sorry I brought Elizabeth so close. I was a little distracted," he mumbles.
"Girls have a way of doing that to boys. That's one of the reasons I never brought them here before," I point out. Felix perks up in interest as if he just remembered something.
"Are you ever going to tell her why you brought her here?" Felix asks.
I shrug again. "I figured she would have already guessed." I had several reasons for brining her here, but I kept most of them to myself. As far as Felix knew she was just here to make the game more interesting. Help distract Emma and such. Not to mention she was just fun to be around.
We elapse into silence and watch the Lost Boys dance. I imagine what it would be like if Elley were here. She would probably sulk in the shadows at first but more than likely she would come out and dance after a while.
Her first partner would probably be Tyler, then Devin, next would most likely be Felix. Her last partner would be myself. For a few minutes I imagine what it would be like to dance with her. It's a nice image and I find that I like the idea more than I should. I push the thought away. A boy in my position has no room for distractions!
"I suspect the poppy poison will be wearing off soon," Felix comments.
"Wait a while to start the plan," I suggest. The blonde Lost Boy raises his eyebrows. "I'm expecting company tonight and I'd rather talk to Elley after they leave."
"Where is this going to be again?" Felix asks as a second thought.
"Forget-Me-Not Field," I answer. Felix nods in understanding.
"She's probably going to hate you if she ever remembers anything," he warns.
"I think you'll find that after tonight she'll find it extremely difficult to hate me," I grin at the thought of my brilliant plan. Elley will have different thoughts about Neverland after tonight, very different thoughts.
*Elizabeth*
My dreams were dark and troubled. I was running through Neverland, but it seemed even darker than usual. The forest was full of life yet it seemed so dead. I came to a stop in a small clearing. Before I moved on several pathways formed around me.
They were each dark and tangled, but they were pathways none the less. I could see a figure standing in each one. They were too dark to tell who they were and I couldn't distinguish the gender. As I stood there in confusion several voices began to call out to me. Emma's was the first one I recognized.
"Elizabeth," she called. "Save Henry."
"Elizabeth," Henry's voice joined the chaos as Emma's voice subsided.
"Don't do it Elley. What has he ever done for you, but take Emma away? I devote my attention to you," that was Peter, no doubt about it. His voice sounded closer than the others, like he was right behind me. I turned around, but I couldn't see anyone.
"This is Elizabeth's decision. Don't try to persuade her," Felix joined the conversation.
"You hardly know her. I raised her since she was four," there was Jack.
"She's my best friend," Wesley insisted. "Come on Elley," he called. For a moment I hesitate. What did they want?
"Elizabeth," Henry called again. He sounded like he was in pain.
"Come on Elley," Peter's voice whispered in my ear. I wasn't sure if it was my imagination or if I could really feel his breath on my neck. Something inside of me shivered and I felt the desire to stay. He was really cute after all, and he smelt good… "Elley," I know I felt his breath on my ear then.
"Protect Henry," a mixture of voices shouted. I gasped and stumbled away from Peter's voice. Almost immediately my head cleared and I felt a rush of guilt and shame that I had been considering choosing Peter over Henry.
"Elley," Peter's voice came again, but I ignored it. I turned to the paths. Only one of the figures was shorter than the others.
"Henry," I called.
"Elizabeth," he cried. I started towards him, but another voice stopped me.
"Elley don't go," Wesley shouted. "I haven't seen you in so long. Come back to me." I bit my lip in confusion.
My heart ached to go with Wesley, but my conscience pointed towards Henry, while everything else said stay. "Elley," Peter's voice chuckled. "Time is running out."
"Elizabeth," the wind stirred with thousands of voices, all of them calling out my name. "Elizabeth." It echoed through my head until I couldn't stand it anymore. I clamped my hands over my ears and crouched into a fetal position.
"Next time," Peter laughed. "Next time," his voice faded out. Finally I awake.
Now I'm sitting on the ground in my new camp site because they had to move me around for some reason. The sky is the perfect shade of midnight blue and a few stars twinkle overhead. The peaceful night washes away the fears my dream had stirred. I'm the most relaxed I've been in days.
A Lost Boy named Bernard is my only guard tonight. He looks drowsy as he stands alone in the dark. I briefly wonder where Felix is, but push the thought away. I'm not sure I want to see him after my little explosion the other day.
As I sit there a twig snaps in the forest. Voices echo through the woods. They sound oddly familiar, but I can't place them. Bernard looks alarmed. He glances back at me. To my surprise he pulls out some rope and heads over.
"Whoa, what the heck are you doing?" I jump up and back away.
"It's just for while I'm gone," he explains.
"Where are you going?" I ask.
"I need to investigate," he replies. Begrudgingly I allow him to tie my wrists together and then tie the rope to a tree limb. "Stay put," he tells me before heading into the woods.
"Yeah. Not gonna happen," I roll my eyes. When I'm sure Bernard isn't around I pull a little dart out of my pocket. I had found it in my side when I woke up. It must have been coated with some sleeping poison and they shot me with it when I found Henry. It was the only explanation I could come up with for why I had a dart sticking out of my side.
I work quickly and quietly. Every sense is alert for Bernard's return. Luckily I finish before he comes back. Without hesitation I take off into the woods in the opposite direction he had gone.
After my many walks through the jungle I had a pretty good idea of where I was. Blind Man's Bluff was visible through the trees so that meant Vixen Valley was just around the corner. It was a good place to hide for the night.
"Hey," Bernard's voice fills the forest. Crap. I run towards Vixen Valley. If I can make it before Bernard I'll be set till morning. There are plenty of caves with entrances too small for Lost Boys to fit in. I've got a head start, but I still run at full pace. I glance behind me to make sure no one is following me. With my eyes averted I don't notice the large dip in front of me until it's too late.
"Ahhh," I scream as I tumble down a hill. Rocks and sticks bruise me while briars and thorns cut me. By the time I land at the bottom I'm bleeding from a large gash on my shoulder and another one on my forehead.
I'm unfamiliar with this part of the woods and I feel my heart pound in dread. Bernard had probably heard my scream and was coming this way. Soon he'd arrive and I'd be brought back to Peter. When I got back Peter would probably have some crazy punishment planned for running away again.
"I swear this island hates me," I breath.
"Probably just because you hate it," Peter's voice makes my heat freeze. I close my eyes and take a deep breath before turning to face him. He's dressed in his normal clothes with his annoying crooked grin painted on his face. "So wanna tell me why you've run away, again?" His voice looses all its playfulness and turns dark. His eyes look furious. I've never seen him this angry before. He actually looks very frightening.
"I-I," my tongue feels dry and I lose my train of thought. This only seems to annoy him. He stands up and walks over so he's all in my face.
"I'll ask you once more. Why did you run away again?" his voice is dangerously low and his body is tense.
"I'm trying to get to Emma," I choke out. He sneers.
"Emma? Why do you want to go to her?" he looks disgusted at the idea. "What has she ever done to help you?"
"She's done more than you," I snap. He narrows his eyes.
"But she hasn't done anything to help you since you got here has she? There's been no sign of her or her friends, has there?" he asks.
"She's just preoccupied," I defend her.
"Yes, I suppose so. I mean who wouldn't choose their son over the street urchin that followed them home?" he chuckles darkly and moves away so he's walking around me.
"I didn't say she chose him over me. She's just preoccupied," I cross my arms and glare at him. He makes me feel uncomfortable the way his eyes travel up and down filled with so little emotion except anger.
"How can you be sure she isn't choosing him over you? After all wasn't that why you were mad at her when she left for Neverland?" I open my mouth to argue, but something stops me. He was right after all. In the days before she left Emma spent more time with Henry than with me. Besides she never asked me to go to Neverland with her, she just left.
"When they save Henry, they'll take me too," I finally say.
"I'm afraid it's too late for that." I stare at him in confusion. But I just heard Henry yesterday, they couldn't have saved him yet! He looks amused at my confusion. "You know Baelfire right? Henry's dad?" I nod. "Well he arrived in Neverland recently. It appears he's joined forces with good old dad and they've commandeered Henry for the time being," Peter doesn't look worried, he looks frustrated, but not worried.
"They rescued Henry?" I feel a rush of hope. It's my turn next! My hope shatters as I recall the fact that Neal is dead. "That's impossible. Neal's dead."
"No he's not. He fell through a portal yes, but he's not dead. Now he's back in Neverland with his dad. Together they were able to get Henry, but don't worry, I'll have him back soon. Anyways, don't you find it odd that you're still here?" he raises his eyebrows.
"They just don't know where I am," I say quickly. I struggle to hide my worry. What if they never find me so they just leave me?
"Or maybe they don't even know you're here. Besides they left before my shadow brought you. How could they know?" his eyes sparkle with mischief. I feel an urge to smack the look right off his face. The pressure of his words start to sink in before I can move.
"Henry knows," I blurt out, more for my comfort than to prove him wrong.
"But Henry's under a sleeping spell. How can he tell them?" Peter moves closer so he's standing behind me. I can feel his chest against my back and his breath moves my hair.
"When he wakes up he'll tell them," I say. Despite my words I feel myself losing hope. They didn't know I was here. They could load Henry up on the boat and be back in Storybrooke before he wakes up and lets them know they left me.
"Are you sure?" Peter presses his cheek against my hair so his lips are next to my ear. His hands rub my arms and send chills through my body. My head feels dizzy and I barley stop myself from falling into him. "Why would Henry want them to go fetch you? All you do is distract his mother from him, why would he want you there?"
"Because, I," my voice falters. I don't know what to say. Deciding not to give in I jerk away from Peter and turn to face him. "Why do you have to do this?" I demand. He cocks his head to one side with his eyebrows raised.
"You ruin everything. Granted I never red Peter Pan or saw the movie, but I know he's not supposed to be like this. You're supposed to be fun and adventurous. You aren't supposed to be dark and creepy," I exclaim.
"How would you know? How would anyone know? They've never met me; they have no right to publish stuff about me when they don't know it's true. It's false advertising," he points out. I groan in irritation.
"Is everything just a joke to you? Henry's life, my life? Are we just pieces in this little game you've concocted?" this time I put myself in his face. I try to muster as much force into my words and eyes as I can.
Peter just looks at me without talking. "Yes," he finally answers. His voice breaks in laughter. I scream and turn away from him. Not caring about what he'll do I start to walk away. His laughter stops abruptly and I hear him walking. "Elley, where are you going?"
"Stop calling me Elley," I turn back around. I've had it up to 'here' with him and it's time he knows. "Nobody calls me Elley. No it's not because Emma likes my name, it's because only one person has ever called me Elley and if he can't do it anymore then neither can you. I don't care if you remind me of him because you really shouldn't. He was amazing and you are just some creep that wants to be young forever so you steal young children from their beds and keep them on this insane island. You would be doing good to be one third the person he was," I shout. For a moment Peter looks sympathetic then it disappears.
"Wesley?" he asks. I nod. "What happened to him?"
"I told you I'm not ready to talk about it," I sigh.
"You don't have to talk about it," Peter says. I raise my eyebrows. Peter raises his hands and places them on either side of my head. He closes his eyes and leans forward so his forehead is resting against mine. At first I'm confused. Then an idea strikes me. He's magical so he must be able to like read my thoughts or something. So he meant it when he said I don't have to talk, I just have to remember!
I hesitate. I've never shared my past with anyone, not even Emma. Was I ready to share it with this boy I hardly know? This boy that makes me play insane games and keeps me a prisoner on his island?
"It's okay Elley. It doesn't hurt," Peter opens his eyes and looks at me. He moves back a little but doesn't remove his hands. "Just remember your past and then I'll remember it too." His voice is so soft and soothing I find myself closing my eyes as he leans forward again.
I take a deep breath then let the memories flow.
A/N:
Hey ya'll. So life has been catching up to me and I wasn't able to upload this week. Sorry bout that. This chapter is just opening up to the next couple of chapters. You finally learn Elizabeth's history. And no Peter was not getting ready to kiss her at the end of this chapter, he's getting ready to read her memories. I have no idea if he can really do that in the show, but I liked the idea so I thought I'd use it. At the beginning of this chapter it's from Peter's pov and it takes place right before Felix heads out to learn about Neal and Rumplestiltskin then comes back and tells Peter Pan then they come and knock everyone one out and such. Hmmmmm, don't know what else to say so please R&R! Love you guys!