Peter Pan sat on a log in front of the bonfire. His Lost Boys danced wildly around him but Pan was not feeling the urge to join in. His pipe sat on his lap yet he had no desire to play it. Staring into the fire he thought about his actions and the consequences that could follow. Since Wendy, a girl had never set foot onto Neverland of her own accord. It was a place strictly for the deepest and wildest dreams of boys. In Pan's opinion, girls just couldn't handle what Neverland had to offer.
Until now. This girl had chosen to leave her life behind in exchange for somewhere she had only visited in her dreams. The only person Peter knew that had done that was himself. What did that make this girl? A powerful new addition to a wonderful new game.
"Peter? If I didn't know any better you have a plan in mind." Pan looked up to see the pointed face of his right-hand man, Felix, staring down at him.
Being his most loyal 'brother', Pan was not surprised that Felix had caught him in mid-thought. All he could do was nod as Felix sat down beside him.
"Why the girl?" said Felix talking quietly to avoid eavesdroppers.
Pan thought to himself for a moment. He had been asking himself the exact same question yet the answer was simple.
"It's a new game, Felix. One I've been looking forward to for awhile"
"But what kind of game involves a girl?" Felix suddenly sounded ten years old.
"I'm just curious. She gave up her whole life to come here with only a dream to guide her. Speaking of which... it won't be long now" Pan lifted his head to the stars and closed his eyes as if listening for something.
"We've had a girl here before. Remember how that played out?" said Felix.
"If you're referring to Wendy, that was different. She's a child and wasn't as special as this one..." Pan broke off thinking about his time with Wendy. She was so young, not much fun at all.
"What makes this one special?" said Felix cautiously.
"Enough questions Felix!" hissed Pan and fixed Felix a deadly stare. Felix didn't cower but looked at his feet in defeat.
Suddenly a shock wave vibrated across the island. The boys stopped dancing and looked up and around in wonder. Pan didn't need to think twice about it. He knew what that wave meant. It was time.
The shadow had bought him his prize.
The flight to Neverland was absolutely horrible. The shadow hauling Amily through the air by one arm was the worst part. She followed the strange boy's instructions and tried not to squirm but her arm could have been ripped out of it's socket and she wouldn't even know. The fear of how high they had flown had taken over and if any pain was felt it was incomparable to the sheer terror Amily felt at the fact that the shadow wasn't going to fly any lower any time soon.
Not being allowed to switch arms at any time during the flight was difficult and soon her arm became numb with exhaustion. But it was when she had finally arrived when everything about her seeped relief. So it was real! Neverland was really here right in front of her. Though maybe it was coming a bit too fast. Too late to realize that the shadow had released her from his grip, Amily was hurtling towards the sandy beach. In what seemed like a split second she was on the ground, groaning in pain.
"Welcome" said a familiar voice. Amily looked up and wasn't surprised at who she saw.
The boy from her dreams looked all the more dangerous in the flesh yet this time Amily had to remind herself that he was real. There was just something so hypnotic about him, she couldn't help but stare. Without thinking, she blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
"You're... you're real!" she squealed in excitement and a little fear.
He laughed and rolled his eyes playfully, coming to sit down on the sand beside her. Out of thin air he produced a wet rag and offered it to her. Amily was confused.
"You've got quite a bad bump on the head, love" he said before dabbing it clean himself.
The pain in her head made itself known and suddenly she was dizzy and everything was a blur. She leant into the cold press and Amily could smell the strong earthy scent on him. Wood, nettles and pine needles.
She smiled gratefully before replying, "Who are you?"
He examined her wound carefully before answering.
"My name is Peter Pan" he said casually without looking at her, yet Amily could feel the power behind the name. He practically radiated it.
"NIce to meet you Peter Pan. My name is-" he cut her off
"Oh, I already know your name. I already know everything about you" he looked her in the eyes and Amily couldn't help but feel afraid of the playful glint in his own.
Peter Pan stood up off the ground and offered a hand to Amily. She wasn't sure how well she could walk but there didn't seem any point in arguing.
"Would you like to meet the boys?" he said, smiling playfully.
"No girls?" said Amily.
"No of course not. You're the first!" Pan was sure that Amily wouldn't be able to see through his lie and it felt good being able to say it so confidently and see the joy in her eyes. She felt special, valued. And that was important. He could see Amily trying to hide it but she was grinning to the ground.
"Come" he offered her his arm. "Come and meet the lost boys"