Written by Vleggett
"James... James. James! Wake up."
I rolled over on the blanket to see Peter standing over me.
"Peter? What are you doing?"
"Come one. Get up, I have to show you something."
"But what about the other boys? Aren't they coming with us?"
"No, just you and me."
"Why?"
"So we can hang out, is that okay?" Peter wanted to hang out with just me, without the other lost boys. Of course it was okay.
"Of course! Let's go!"
We tip-toe around the lost boys sleeping on the floor. Even after we left the hide-out Peter walked quietly through the night. He held on to my elbow when we climbed over a big mountain of rocks- We were going to the Mermaid Cove! Peter was good friends with the mermaids and they always laughed and cheered when Peter won our games.
He leads me over to a rock by the shore and jumps on the rocks until he is standing on the one in the middle of the cove. I leaped from rock to rock until I'm standing on the same flat rock as Peter.
"What're we doing here, Peter?"
"James, my boy, I'm going to show you something that none of the others have seen." I could see Peter's white teeth illuminated by the moonlight in the darkness.
"Really? What is it?" I asked.
"Okay, turn around and look in the water."
"What am I looking for?"
"Do you not trust me?" Peter asked harshly.
"Of course-"
"Then look into the water, James."
I turned and looked into the water. At first I couldn't see anything, but then I began to see, what looked like, lights floating up from the bottom of the water. It was beautiful; it was several different colors that looked like stars floating in the bottom of the ocean. Then the lights began to take shape. It was the mermaids, but it was like they had flashlights. I didn't understand why Peter wanted me to look into the water; I've seen mermaids a hundred times.
"Peter? Why are you telling me to look in the water? I see the mermaids but I see them all the time." I said, looking over my shoulder.
"Have you ever seen them at night?"
"No?"
"Then just look closer. It really is brilliant." I looked back at the water.
The girls swam closer to the surface. I could see their long hair and angel-like faces. When they reached the surface, the moon-light reflected onto their faces; and in a blink their faces have changed. Their eyes are glowing white, their hands are no longer webbed but really sharp. It was terrifying but beautiful in a way a mermaid can only be.
I jerked back and screamed, not understanding how they could change like that. "Peter? What's going on? I'm scared!"
"Don't be, James. I'm going to take care of everything." His voice was off, it came out like a growl.
I turned around and jumped back when I saw that the moonlight had changed his reflection too. His ears and nose are pointed, his skin isn't the normal color; is almost grey, with dark splotches everywhere. When I looked closer, I see they aren't dark spots, they're holes in his sunken face. I screamed and leaned away from Peter. The boy who was my hero now looked like a monster.
"Trust me, James."
"No!" Stop Peter! Why do you look like that!?"
"This is me in my purest form. Now stay still."
"What? No! I'm outta here!" I turned to leap onto the next had rock when I feel something latch onto my leg. Glancing down I see mermaids latched onto my leg. I felt the water rush over my head as they pulled me down. I kicked and flailed around until they released me. Gasping, I pulled up and collapsed onto the rock.
"I can't let you leave, James! You're a lost boy. You can't ever leave."
"What are you talking about?" I coughed out.
"I can't let you leave Neverland." He pulled me up to stand on the rock in front of him. I saw a silver glint coming from his hand.
"Peter? What're you doing?"
He swung his arm out towards me. I heard myself scream in fear, and jerked back. "Stay still."
"What? No! STOP!" I screamed, but out of pain and not fear. I clutched my arm just to see that my right hand was gone. Peter pushes me unto the rock.
"Lay there, James. I can't have you go back with us now can I?! Be back for your body later." He turned and flied into the darkness, laughing.
