I'm not too sure when the night ended and when the day began, but about day-break; I was jolted awake, by a pebble that had found its way into impacting the back of my head, which helped me realise just how uncomfortable it was to sleep on the undergrowth of a forest.
From what I could see, all the boys were still asleep, including peter. It was the rustling in the trees behind me that drew my attention away from the camp. Curious to know what lay beyond, I picked myself up and stole into the mysterious greenery.
I must have followed the rustling for half an hour before I stopped, in a clearing in the woods. Despite the desolate location, I knew I couldn't be alone, something had led me here, and I wanted to know why.
"I thought you might not have come" I turned around to find that the voice had been that of a lost boy, The one who had not enjoyed the night like the rest of his comrades. I stared at him for a good while before daring to say anything. For some reason, I didn't feel safe in his company, like I had when I was alone with Peter.
"The name's Felix, In case you were wondering." He pulled back his hood to reveal a scarred and mangled face, from god only knows what. "I bet you were also wondering why I brought you here."
I looked down and shuffled my bare feet through the mulch. When I looked back up, he was smirking as he watched me intently. Before I could resist, my face was pressed against a tree, his strong grasp, wrapped around my wrists, which he pressed into my back, restricting me from repelling his threatening body language. I could feel his voice as it brushed past my ear.
"Neverland is no place for little girls. Your best bet is to get out now before Pan gets his claws into you." I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
"I can take care of myself, thank you very much." I wasn't prepared to let him get to me. He already had the upper hand, having led me to an unknown place, unarmed, and now, he had me helpless and vulnerable as I was pinned against a tree. However, I could feel his grip slipping.
"Please and Thank you will get you nowhere while you're here."
"Maybe not, but violence might!" I whipped around, ready to attack, but he was nowhere to be seen. Once again, I was alone in these woods, without the slightest notion of where to go and how I could get there.
"Looking for something?" I could feel him behind me, his hand slipped around my waist and pulled me back into his chest, his hot breath run across the nape of my neck, turning around, I was face to face with peter once more.
"No, I was just exploring, when I thought I heard something in the bushes, and…" He frowned. He knew I was lying. I had never been good at it, but I wanted him to believe in me. I hunger for his trust. I craved him like some sick addiction. I feared Felix had been right about Peter getting his claws into me.
"You would have some job fighting off something stalking you with your bare hands." His face lit up when he smiled at me, his green eyes glowing in beam of sunlight that broke though the foliage above.
"I think I could do it, if I only believe." I regretted saying this, for when I did, his face fell, and he turned away and began to walk back into the woods. I followed him, trying to keep him in my sights. I called after him, trying to convince him to stay with me. I was desperate to not to lose this boy I had just met.
"Did I say something wrong?" He spun around to face me then; his eyes darker than how I had seen them before. He raised a single eyebrow at me.
"Wrong?" the corner of his mouth twisting up into a crooked smirk. "You said nothing of the sort, dear." He was beginning to worry me now. I had placed all my trust in him only to reveal a hidden darker side. He must have seen the fear in my eyes for he questioned me then. "Are you scared?" he teased. He managed to retain his boyish charm in a more sinister practice.
"Not scared," I retorted, trying to remain cool and collected. "I'm just interested." He stepped closer to me, placing his hand on my shoulder. His touch was light but warm; it was exciting, like electricity ran through his fingers and into my body at the point of contact. Everything he seemed to do was astounding, as if he were made of magic.
"Interested in what?" he was prying and I feared I had dug myself a hole that I couldn't get out of. I just wanted to seem brave but he had a literal hold on me now, and running away didn't look like an option.
"Neverland." I wanted to keep up my reputation and seem braver than just a convent girl. "Survival." I bit my lip and wrapped my arms around his neck, lacing my fingers together behind his head. "You."
His gaze was intense. His look was powerful and penetrating, as if he could read my mind. He pressed against me and laughed half-heartedly.
"Flattery will get you nowhere, love" he pushed himself away and turned to leave, I wanted to follow him, but I felt as though my feet had been strapped to the ground.
Before he disappeared he turned to look over his shoulder, "I'll leave you off with a warning this time, but if you ever try something like that again, the result will be your demise."
I blinked and he was gone, leaving me dumbfounded, alone in the woods.
I tried to follow after him, but I was stopped in my tracks when a hooded figure appeared before me on my path.
"Felix." I sighed. "I was just heading back to the campsite. Do you think you could show me the way?" He laughed at me, pulling back his hood so our eyes met.
"Oh, it's worse than I expected." I marched on past him, ignoring his snide remarks. I didn't want to be a pawn in this game he seems to be playing with Peter.
"I don't know what you're talking about" I tried my best to keep my dignity, or whatever little I had left of it. I didn't know how, but Felix must have heard Peter's and my conversation.
"Peter may have already gotten his claws in you," he was following me through the woods now. "But whatever you do, don't make him angry." I didn't want to listen to him. I didn't want to hear a foul word he said, for fear I would have confidence in him and his lies.
"If Pan has a death wish for you, you won't see morning." This had tempered me. Peter had given me a second chance and even if he hadn't, it insulted me to see a random strange view me as being so incompetent.
"I think I can handle Peter on my own, thank you very much." He sneered at this. I had only been on the Island a day and I was already making enemies. If I wanted to survive any longer, I really had to let go of Maria and fully embrace M, My alter ego.
I didn't need help from Felix. I found the camp on my own and I gathered my own sticks and stones for weaponry. I had never spoken to a boy before and now I was living with about a dozen or so, and I didn't want to be the runt of the pack; some play thing for them to get enjoyment out of. If I wanted to succeed in Neverland, I had to be willing to do it on my own and I had to be capable of fighting for myself.
I didn't sleep that night, as I was preparing myself for the dangers which I now knew were all around me and came in the shape of lost boys.
By the time dawn had come about, I had fashioned myself a bow and a harness for the 15 arrows I now possessed. I ventured south of the camp where I stumbled across a small clearing. Here I laid down my load and armed myself for target practice. Drawing back on the bow string, arrow nestled snuggly in the nock, I was prepared to take aim, when I heard a voice come from behind.
"I hope you don't plan on using that on me." It was Peter his sarcastic remarks seemed a bit of a habit at this stage. Lowering my arrow, I turned to face him.
"Would you feel threatened if I was?" If he wanted to be cynical, two could play this game.
"Not really." He sneered. I raised an eyebrow at him. I wanted to be my best and I wasn't willing to let him get in my way.
"Don't get me wrong, you do look like a girl who could brandish a bow," He edged closer to me as he spoke, "But you don't really look the part of the huntswoman, when you're in a nightgown."
I had failed to realise I was still wearing the simple white linen nightgown that the nuns wore back in the convent in London. I looked down at my feet, embarrassed now having not noticed this before.
Peter grabbed my chin and lifted my head so my gaze met his. His eyes focused on mine and his smile showed his crooked teeth. "Let's get you out of it, shall we?"