Chapter 11 - Night Fright

Izzy POV

"Jake when I said I'd go back to going on adventures with you guys, I meant on warm bright sunny days, not dark cold and scary nights." I exclaimed, shivering as a chill wind rustled the leaves in the tall, ominous trees of a forest on Neverland that surrounded us.

"I told you fifty times already, there is nothing to be afraid of." Jake said, turning back to shoot me an annoyed yet ensuring look.

"You say as we're out here helping Peter Pan look for things that we should be afraid of." I recalled, though he only turned around and continued to lead us through the forest.

"Oh don't worry little matey," Cubby said, putting an arm around my shoulder. "We're here to protect you." If he ever called me 'little matey' again, I'll...well...I'll make him wish he never had! Buddy I was taller than you for who knows how long! Why don't you put some weight back on, you scrawny bean pole? Before you know it you'll be taller and skinnier than me.

"Hey uh Cubby," Jake began as both Cubby and I turned our attention towards him. "Did you ever figure out who or where that pendant you found this morning came from?" he asked.

"You mean this one?" Cubby asked as he reached into his red board shorts and pulled out a pendant that dangled from a silver chain. The amulet itself was no bigger than the size of a strawberry. It was a small red ruby engraved in a stone that was molded into the shape of the head of a fierce snake-like creature. It sure was an eerie looking thing. However, why did I get the feeling that I had seen it someplace before? I know I have, but I just don't know where or when.

"I tried to Jake, but no cigar," Cubby admitted. "I asked almost everybody in Neverland about it, they all said the same thing: I've seen nothing like it."

"Um…Cubby, do you mind if I look at it for a while?" I asked. "Maybe I could figure out whose it is. Afterall I've been here longer than you fellas."

"Sure Izzy. Knock yourself out." he said, handing me the pendant and I hold it in my hand the rest of our journey.

"Alrighty boys and uh girl," Jake said, coming to a stop and therefore we all stopped. "Which way should we go?" he asked us, pointing to the fork in the road.

"Cubby, aren't you the one with the map?" I asked him.

"Well…I was Izzy. But uh..it burned in the fire when you burnt down Pirate Island and Peter's yet to give me another one." the blonde boy answered, scratching the back of his head.

"Oh…I forgot." I answered, looking down at the ground in embarrassment.

"Aw it's alright mate. We've managed without it." Cubby comforted.

We decided to go left and the search through the forest continued. My heart pounded in my chest, and every rustle of the leaves sent shivers down my spine. I couldn't understand why all the confidence and bravery I had as a little girl seemed to have evaporated. Usually, it was Cubby who was scared of everything, but now he walked with newfound bravery, and a courage I could no longer find within myself.

As we continued through the haunting forest, my mind raced with thoughts of poor Nikki and what could've happened to him. I couldn't believe it. I convinced him that it was absolutely one hundred percent safe here and then what happens? We get separated of course! I had to find him and bring him home before his father finds out and beats my arse. Now I know I don't usually go on adventures anymore, but the minute the boys said they were going on another scan of Neverland, I knew I had to join them. Then and only then, could I find my poor lost nephew. But if we don't I'll just have to come back and find him myself… In the middle of the night as usual. And as if that weren't enough, there was the mystery of this stupid pendant! Where had I seen it!? Ugh! If it were a snake it would have bitten me!

Jake POV

Walking through the dark woods with the crew, I couldn't help but get a little tired of Izzy being scared of every little rustle or shadow. I mean, come on, this was Neverland – we've faced pirates, crocodiles, and all sorts of magical mayhem. But here she was, shivering like a leaf in the , I sure miss when Cubby was the scaredy cat. Those were the good old days.

"Seriously, we've probably walked down this path hundreds of times when we were younger. What's got you so jumpy now?" I asked Izzy, trying to sound patient but feeling a hint of frustration.

"Uhm, nothing Jake. Nothing at all." she answered.

"Well you look slightly nervous. Your legs are shaking like crazy."

"They've been holding me up for fifty seven years. Yours would shake too." the girl in pink replied.

"Isabella, for the love of Neverland, we-don't-age," I stated firmly. "Anymore." I added before she got the chance to nitpick me.

We continued our search through the dark Neverland forest, the towering trees casting shadows in the moonlight. But then, as the forest started to clear, something caught my eye, making my jaw drop.

"Holy mackerel," I whispered as I continued to stare at it. "Mateys come and get a look at this," I called, my voice a mix of awe and confusion. There, built into the face of a mountain, stood an abandoned-looking stone palace. It looked ancient, as if it had been there for centuries. But in all my time in Neverland, I had never seen this structure before.

I turned back to the others, and they shared my bewildered expression. Cubby voiced the thought on everyone's minds.

"Is that a…a castle?" he asked.

"Looks like it." Izzy added. "But I know I've never seen it before."

"Neither have I." Skully squawked.

"Maybe I'd be able to tell us its name or who lives in it if I had my map." the blonde in red shorts noted and Izzy looked down in embarrassment again.

"It looks abandoned though." our pet parrot observed. I shook my head, pointing at a small window on the palace that emitted a faint light.

"No, Skully, look. There's light inside. It's not abandoned."

As we stood there, gazing at the mysterious palace, a sense of intrigue replaced the fear that had gripped us moments ago. Questions swirled in my mind. What was this place? Who lived there? And why had it remained hidden for so long?

As we stood there, captivated by the mysterious palace in the hills, Izzy's sudden exclamation cut through the night air.

"Did you guys hear that?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "It…it sounded like hissing. I think we should go."

I rolled my eyes, exchanging a glance with Cubby, who shrugged. I know I said I didn't mean to be mean to her anymore, but this was getting ridiculous. The girl was afraid of her own shadow!

"It's just your imagination playing tricks on you." I said dismissively, turning my attention back to the enigmatic structure. But Izzy, visibly more frightened now, walked over and hid behind us.

"No, Jake, I swear, I heard it again!" she insisted, her eyes wide with fears. I let out an irritated sigh.

"Oh for crying out loud Izzy, there's nothing out here. If you're scared then go back home! Now would you be quiet!?" I hissed.

"AHH! OW!" I heard her scream from behind me and then I knew there really was something back there.

I spun around to see her on the ground, tears streaming down her face as she clutched her wrist in pain. Cubby rushed over, picking her up in his arms and then setting her on a rock. I ran over, frustration turning to concern and regret. I gently took Izzy's wrist, and it felt disgustingly moist and uneven. I looked at it to see six large bleeding holes had been freshly made in her skin.

"Izzy what happened!?" Cubby asked.

"It bit me! It bit me!" she cried, her voice full of anguish.

"What!? What bit you!?" I asked, putting my hands on her shoulders.

"That!" Izzy said through pain as she pointed, and we all turned to see a black snake with glowing red eyes slithering away from us and towards the mansion in the mountains.

"A snake? Crackers! But snakes have hardly ever bothered us before!" Skully commented.

"Look at its eyes!" Cubby exclaimed. "They're glowing bright red! I don't know if it's a snake, Skully."

"Whatever it is, I don't think it wants us to be here anymore!" I shouted, grabbing Izzy and Cubby as we retreated from the hissing snake, leaving the mysterious palace behind, its secrets still hidden in the dark night.

Cubby POV

We were sprinting through the night, leaving that eerie palace behind us. Izzy clutched her wrist, trying to suppress the pain, but the strain was evident in her face as she ran alongside us. I could feel my heart racing; something about that snake was just not right.

All of a sudden, Izzy halted.

"H-h-hold on a minute mateys. I…..I don't feel too good." she groggily mumbled. Panic surged through me as she fainted and collapsed to the ground.

"Izzy!" we all exclaimed, our hearts racing with fear. This time thought she was gone for sure, that she'd just… I don't know. My mind was spinning out of control.

"Oh my coconuts, that snake was probably poisonous! A-are you dead! Are you sick! Do you need us to make you throw up!?" I shouted as I shook her.

"Will you please shut-up!?" Jake hissed at me. "And don't touch her!" he ordered, pushing me away from Izzy as he approached her drowsy unconscious form. "Don't worry Iz. You're not dying on my watch." the green eyed boy said confidently.

Jake bent down and picked up Izzy. We resumed our desperate run through the dark forest. My thoughts were a jumbled mess, but I tried to focus on keeping up with Jake.

Skully POV

When we got back home Jake gently laid Izzy on her bed, her form still unconscious. I perched on her bedpost and got a look at the snake bite on her wrist. It was oozing, and I couldn't help but squawk and cringe a little at the sight. Jake very gingerly wrapped her wound in gauze and even gave it a light kiss (that warmed my little parrot heart) before delicately setting it down at her side. You could tell how bad he felt about not listening to her, as he should. But it appeared he was trying to make up for it while remaining as calm as possible.

Cubby, however, couldn't contain his worry and he then approached Jake.

"Now what!?" the blonde exclaimed in a whisper-shout that echoed through the room.

"SHHHH!" both Jake and I shushed him. Sometimes that kid's volume is louder than a cannon blast.

"For one thing we're gonna be quiet," Jake whispered. "And don't panic."

"Don't panic!?"

"SHHHHH!" our leader hissed once more at Cubby.

About fifteen minutes later, we heard a moan coming from Izzy's bed. I and the two boys immediately raced over to see her starting to wake up.

"Ohhhh," she hideout seemed to hold its breath as she attempted to sit up, her eyes darting around, trying to make sense of the situation. "Why….why are we back here?" There was something off about her voice. Usually this is what she would sound like after being locked in a room with Hooks pirates for the night back when we lived on the Jolly Roger. "Wha….wha month is it? Christmas or April?"

"September, but close enough." I chirped.

"What's the matter, are you drunk or something?" Jake asked her, truly bewildered.

"Oh no. Not again!" Cubby let out, only for Jake's eyes to widen even more.

"Wha-What do you mean again!?" the teen with the red bandana demanded to know.

"It doesn't matter right now Jake. What matters is that we force whatever poison that snake put in Izzy, out of Izzy."

"Hold on Cubby," our leader countered. "We still don't know what we're dealing with here. We don't know if the snake was poisonous. Now Izzy, why don't you tell us what happened." Izzy, seeming to have regained her normal mindset only glared at Jake as she held her injured wrist close.

"It was just my imagination running wild Jake. Remember?" she spat.

"Look I'm sorry I didn't listen to you when you said you heard something. Honest I am." Jake apologized.

"Oh what difference does it make? The dumb snake would've bit me either way." she grumbled.

"Hold on a minute," Cubby began, rubbing his chin in deep thought. I landed on his shoulder and got ready to listen to what he was about to say. "Izzy, how long did you hear the snake hissing?" he asked.

"For a while Cubby. Probably five minutes." After she answered, we all went silent and stared at each other, until someone finally spoke.

"Do you think it was following us?" Jake asked.

"It had to have been." Cubby confirmed.

"Crackers you guys! It's just a snake! Why would it want to follow us!?" I squawked.

"Well it sure wanted to take a bite out of Izzy for one thing." Jake said, pointing at the girl on the bed and her injured wrist.

"Yeah but was that on purpose or just a reflex of some sort. It is just a snake after all."

"Hold on a minute mateys," Jake said, his eyes widening. "Right after it bit Izzy I saw it slithering out of the forest and in the direction of that castle we saw."

"Well she probably scared it away with her screaming and it went somewhere to hide"

"No I think if it wanted to it would have definitely bitten the rest of us."

"Well then why didn't it?" Izzy asked him, gently caressing her wrist and forearm.

"Simple Iz. The snake was after you."

To Be Continued…..