Henry opened the door to his mom's town car, sliding into the backseat and saying hi to Sydney as he took is backpack off and the car pulled away from the curb.
"Its nice to finally meet you, Henry," a formal voice said from the passenger seat.
Henry looked up in shock, seeing two young men sitting in the front seats. A blond boy with a death glare was driving, and a brunet boy had turned to look at him from the passenger side. His green eyes bore into Henry's blue as a smirk played on his lips.
Henry clutched his backpack, suddenly feeling very scared. "Who are... Who are you? Where's Sydney?"
The passenger smiled but evaded the questions," I've been watching you for awhile, Henry. I know you may not realize it, but your mothers do not love you. I'm here to show you what you are missing, What you deserve."
Henry's lip trembled for a second. "Who are you!? My mom is mayor and my other mom is the sheriff, you'll be in big trouble if you don't take me back."
The boy's smile got even bigger if possible. "Did you hear that, Felix? We'll be in trouble! Now, Henry, both of your mothers had been warned, but you know once they realize they won't have to take care of anything anymore, they will stop looking. But since I suppose I shouldn't lose my manners, my name is Peter Pan. The other Lost Boys just call me Pan."
Henry's eyebrows knit together. "Peter Pan? Like the movie about fairies and Neverland? No. I don't want to go with you. My moms will find me, I know they will."
"That's what they all say, Henry. And yet, no one is ever found."
—
When IT finally got the computers working, all the files and system had been corrupted with malware apparently coded as 'pixie dust', and the surveillance video had been similarly destroyed. She gave Graham her statement, pacing the conference room as she waited for the technical analysts to find anything of value.
She texted Mary-Margaret, who assured her that Henry left with Sydney, at least lifting that weight from her shoulders. Henry had to be safely at Regina's. She sent a text to her ex-wife warning her of the situation. She didn't expect a response.
When the tech analyst came back, they stated the attack was performed by an incredibly complex code that would take days to crack, but that they wouldn't stop decoding. She nodded and dismissed them.
Emma paced the conference room, everything that she could recall from her missing file was written on the white board. There had to be something she was missing that tied all these kidnappings together. Something that would give away Peter Pan's real identity.
—
Regina walked into her house, typing away on her phone, frustrated from a long day with incompetent people at the office. She set her things down in the entry way, calling a greeting to Henry and Sydney. She walked to the kitchen, washing her hands. She paused, confused by the silence of the house.
"Henry!" she shouted, not seeing him in the living room. She ran throughout the house, calling for Henry. "This is not funny, Henry, come out now!" As the house remained silent, she felt the blood in her veins freeze.
She pulled out her phone, dialing Sydney first. A phone started ringing. Regina reminded herself to breathe as she started down the hall shouting angrily, "this is not funny, Sydney. You are the adult and should not go along with such childish pranks." She continued cursing under her breath as she opened the closet in her bedroom, only to scream as Sydney fell motionless to the ground, eyes wide and glassy.
Her chest heaved as she scrambled away, lowering herself to the ground as she fumbled for her phone.
"911, what's your emergency?"
—
Graham ran into the conference room, "Emma! Its Regina!"
Emma looked up, her eyes already wild as she jumped into motion, holstering her weapon. "Let's go."
Emma drove rather wrecklessly, but justified it with the sirens and emergent situation. The car wasn't even fully in park as Emma threw open the door running through the other emergency responders to reach her ex-wife, who was shouting at a firefighter.
"-he was in there too, he has to be. Go back in there and find my son!"
"Ma'am, I need you to cal-"
"I will not calm down when someone as incompetent as you is refusing to let me find my son in my house."
"Ma'am, your house is now a crime scene. We will do everything we can to find your son, but I need you to step back..."
Regina scoffed cynically, "Everything you can? Everything you can? My assistant is dead! My son is-"
"Regina! "Emma shouted, grabbing the older woman's arm," shouting at people isn't going to find Henry! "she waved apologetically at the firefighter, pulling her angry ex-wife away from the house..
Regina angrily fought against her," Miss Swan, you may not care where your son is, but I am going to find mine!"
Emma glared, jerking Regina closer by the lapels of her suit jacket, her to in low," Henry is more my son than yours," Regina shoved her, snarling, but Emma held on tightly," If you had cared enough to pick him up from school, he would still be here. So stop barking at the people actually trying to find-"
Graham pulled her off of Regina, who swallowed thickly, adjusting her jacket and smoothing her hair down. "If you can not be professional, Emma, you cannot be here."
Emma shrugged him off, nodding, "You're right." She took a deep breath. "Take Regina to the station and get her statement. I'll speak to the responders here.''
He observed for a moment longer before nodding and leading Regina to the squad car.
Another deep breath and Emma turned to face the music at her old residence.
—
Henry stood between Felix and Pan as he was led into a mansion in the upper side of town. He took in his surroundings carefully, unsure of what to think. The mansion was loud with boys running, screaming, pounding through the halls.
Pan led him over to a chair in the living room beside a large flat screen television. Felix stood over Henry's shoulders dauntingly.
Pan grabbed a remote a flipped the TV off, garnering the attention of the three boys on the couch, before he used his two pinkies to whistle loudly, calling "Boys!" once he was done.
The thundering of running appeared to shake the house as 15 boys ran in, jumping on the couch, sitting on the floor, and looking on at Pan as their leader. Henry couldn't help the shiver that ran down his back at the devoted looks Pan received.
"Boys, we have a new brother amongst us. This is Henry," he gestured to the mentioned boy, who curled in on himself at the attention. "Make sure you all help him feel at home." The Lost Boys all cheered and stomped their feet until Pan raised a hand, bringing silence about once again.
"Henry, these are the Lost Boys, your brothers." He began introductions, pointing to each boy as he went.
"That's Tootles!" a toddler missing his front teeth and clutching a teddy bear.
"Nibs" a teenager covered in freckles.
"Slightly," a teenager with a frown and his nose on the air, clearly looking at Henry like scum.
"Curly," a small boy with a big smile and an even bigger afro.
"The twins!' two identical blond boys pushing one another.
"Ace," a small boy with round glasses who gave Henry a nod before dropping his gaze.
"Pockets," an older boy wearing 2 coats and cargo pants.
"Rufio," a tanned young man who was undoubtedly oldest of the bunch.
"Devon," a boy Henry's age who glared like Henry was a problem.
"Jack," a toddler with green eyes.
"Cubby," a large, stout boy with rosy cheeks.
"Michael," a blond boy with thin features and rectangle glasses
"John," another blond who had to be related to Michael because of their identical hazel eyes.
"and lastly, Tubbs," a chubby brunet boy with braces.
"Of course you've met Felix, and you'll meet Tiger Lily later... Now, with introductions out of the way, welcome home, Henry. Boys: go play!"