Running. That was all I did. Who knew I would be voluntarily following the music that tormented every one of my nightmares. Unaware of how long the melody would last; I knew I just had to be quick. Fear struck me, being back in the very same forest that caused my trauma: I felt a severe amount of guilt weighing my shoulders like bricks. I guess this is part of my punishment for my brother's disappearance. Although everyone told me I shouldn't blame myself: I couldn't help it. He was mine to take care of and always have been since my mother gave birth to Jack.
Trying to shake off the horrid nostalgia that laid upon the path I stumbled through, the fire pit was in my sight. I froze. Was this really a good idea? If my brother hasn't found a route to escape them, would I have any chance? Maybe. After all, Rumple did say he would come back. He was honest about the Pied Piper's arrival tonight, thus he had no reason to lie about him coming back in my dreams. I narrowed my eyes at the scene; it was the very same sight as the night they took my brother. Apart from the fact, the boys looked slightly different, but still dancing joyously however.
I took a step further. The hooded man with a pipe to his lips in my sight. He played the pipes with a luring and innocent tune; it took every possible will in my body to resist the urge to attack him there and then. That man was the cause of every one of my night terrors and he stood there happily stealing innocent boys from their families. There was no turning back now.
I blundered closer and joined in. My feet tripping here and there, I danced with the other boys around the fire. I tried to deny that I was enjoying it; but I couldn't resist. It was bizarrely freeing to let the music light up the void of darkness that had been settled in me for such a long time. Waving my hands about and humming silently; I twirled and jumped and leaped. It was peaceful. I was so lost in the sounds and the movement that I didn't it comprehend the fact that the surroundings had changed. I looked up at the trees; they were much taller in highly and more lusciously green. But what really confused me was the structures on them: treehouses? How didn't I notice them before? I throughly check out the surroundings. This forest clearing was obviously bigger than the one I was in before and there were big tents here and there. They weren't there before, were they?
The boys seemed just as bewildered as I was.
The Pied Piper chuckled loudly on a rather large tree stump, making his appearance loud and clear, "Lost Boys, do not fret. The name's Peter..Peter Pan.
As we know you all craved freedom and limitless boundaries and I'm here to deliver. Welcome to Neverland."
He took his hood off to reveal himself. He was...a boy? Merely 17 by the looks of it. I was dumbfounded by his youthful appearance; was this really the evil figure that oppressed my dreams. It can't be. He had brown hair and a leafy green shirt on with various weapons around his waist. But that wasn't the thing that caught my attention; his piercing emerald eyes spoke millions of unwritten thoughts and feelings that time itself wouldn't be able to comprehend. He had broad shoulders and an intense gaze. From the stories I've read on him, he should be younger and most definitely not the villain.
I look around to see various Lost Boys staring at us and smiling at us, the new arrivals. I notice a familiar face, the one that left the very same night as Marcus: Thomas. He was staring straight at me, his gaze fixed solely on me.
I can't have him recognise me; it would demolish the entire plan. His gaze left me as another Lost Boy caught my attention. He made his way in front of my and I couldn't help notice the subtle scar that grazed across his eye. He noticed my the concern in my eyes and asked with a smile, "You don't have to be afraid. I'm Felix, Pan's second in command, and you are?"
My mind went blank. What is my name? I couldn't say the truth, although I could have said any name in the world, but a part of me felt like it was unwise to lie entirely. He chuckled, "Cat got your tongue?"
I looked at the twigs on the ground, my shoes nestled between them. It hit me. It wasn't a lie, but wasn't the entire truth, "My name is...A.J."
His response was a warming smile. I smiled in return and asked in the most convincing man voice I could muster, "what's going on? Why am I here?"
Thank goodness he didn't question the lack of masculinity in my voice, "All in good time, but you must be exhausted. For now, you'll have to share one of these treehouses with another two Lost Boys. They can answer your questions from there. Follow me."
I was dumbstruck. They seem...nice. What's going on here? I scanned my surroundings and I don't see my brother anywhere in sight. Only trees, tents, logs and tree houses. Altogether, there are 5 treehouses and a 3 big tents on the ground. I saw one tent in particular with a red plus sign on top, must be a hospital of some sorts. This place seems to be a miniature community. It's nothing like the fairytale's I read in books. The story of Peter Pan and the Lost Boys.
Worry struck me. Where's Marcus? I don't see him anywhere. Felix must have saw my distraught and stopped his tracks, "I know you must be scared. It's a new place and you don't know what going on, but trust me. Whatever home you came from, this place is a million time better. Why else would you be here?"
That question was meant to be a rhetoric, funny enough the truth would be unbelievable. We made our way up a ladder to a treehouse. Opening the mossy wooden door, three beds, two of which where bunk beds where there. There was drawers and various items on top of them. This place seemed very friendly and almost reminded me of Marcus's room. One Lost boy, who was sitting on a bed, stood up and came to welcome us. He was dirty brown hair and dark eyes; maybe twelve years old and loads of enthusiasm. He looked at me up and down which made me scared that my appearance was not convincing enough to be a boy.
However, his response was a childish grin and he held a hand out for me to shake, "I'm Frankie, it's nice to meet you!"
I took his hand, then looked at Felix, "Frankie here is just glad to finally have another boy his age. This is A.J, he is new and so try to answer all his questions, sleep good." And he left.
I was stupefied. I mean I do look young, but did I really pass as a twelve year old boy? I was most certainly taller than him by a good foot and a half. Well, there goes all my confidence and self esteem.
Another boy came out of, what I think is seemingly a bathroom. Before I could look or say anything, he gasped. My eyes went to him: it was Thomas. Frankie looked at him perplexed and I attempted to look so too, although a small part of me wanted to run up to him and hug him. We had been friends for a while, before he disappeared with Marcus without a trace. He knew me well and was one of the few who knew me. Truly knew me.
Frankie interrupted, "Tom, you look like you've seen a ghost."
He shook off his surprise, and answered, "sorry, you looked like a friend of mine. Well anyway, I'm Tom and you are?"
He made his way towards a raggedy bed and looked at the ceiling. I responded in a weak voice, "I'm A.J."
Frankie sat on the floor in the middle of the room and gestures to me to sit in front of him. I did. He then proceeded, "Alright, these are the rules. There are a few rules you should probably know. The first being: don't break the rules. That's something some people can't manage to wrap their heads around."
On edge, I asked, "what happens if you break the rules?"
I could hear Thomas tiredly snigger in the background. Well, it's nice to know his attitude hasn't changed. Frankie's response to my question was cut short, "I'll get to that. Just listen carefully. I know it's a lot to adjust to, but I promise that things are better here than in your old life."
"M-my old life? What if I was happy in my life back home? What if I wanted to go back home?"
"Then your wouldn't of heard the music." He spoke as if his response was obvious.
I nodded my head, knowing it was less fitting to oppose the way things worked around here. He carried on, "Rule number two: follow his orders. He doesn't like it when people disobey him, especially after what he's done to save us from our old life."
He took a deep breathe, "Rule number three: Don't fight with the other lost boys. Firstly because, by the looks of it, you wouldn't survive. Secondly, Pan says this place runs on trust and cooperation. Rule four is pretty simple; just stay out of the mermaid lagoon."
"Mermaid lagoon? But mermaids aren't real." Did this mean pirates and natives lived here? Fairies?
Frankie smiled at my shock, "They are. But don't get too friendly with them, they will sweetly drown you if you if you get too close. A lot of boys have fallen for their tricks, so be careful."
I remember reading about mermaids. Their looks were meant to be entrancing and beautiful to lure filthy men into death. I guess they like Lost Boys too. Out of sheer fear, I asked, "D-do they eat us?"
"We don't know. No one had lived an attack to tell the tale. Well, apart from Pan. Apparently he can speak to them, but he refuses to tell us what they are after. Anyway, rule five is to not go behind Pan's back for anything. That includes escaping."
Thinking about Marcus, he most certainly would've asked to come home. What if he got punished for it? Or even tried to escape unsuccessfully. I asked worriedly, "What if you wanted to leave? Would he not let you go?"
Seemingly distraught, he said no.
I asked a different question this time, one that I was too scared to ask, "What's the punishment for trying to escape?"
Frankie avoided my gaze like a child. "It's not all bad, you know. We take care of each other here. We're a family, well, the closest we'll ever get to one."
I pouted at his complete avoidance of my question and asked it again sternly. "What happens to you when you try to escape?"
"Banishment."
Things went silent for a while. Who knew one word could bring chills down my back like a spider crawling along my spine. Before I could even ask, Thomas sat up on his bed and answered my next question, "When your banished, Peter feeds you to the mermaids. It's a cruel and sickening death, so I suggest you don't get any ideas. Now, you might think Peter is the villain, but the ones who tried to escape were the ones who always disobeyed his rules. They were untrustworthy."
My heart dropped to my feet and a clump of sorrow choked my throat. Not only did I think Thomas was indoctrinated with Pan's lies, but a part of me feared that Marcus was fed to the mermaids.
Thomas noticed my unease, "Well it's time the both of you should go bed. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. Sleep good."
"Sleep good." I heard Frankie whisper as he went to the top bunk of the bed. I followed shortly after. I remembered Felix saying 'sleep good' and figured it must be a common phrase they used. I closed my eyes are drifted off...
Flashes of flames blinded my eyes.
Brief images of muddy shoes hitting the fresh soil.
Laughter and a singular tune could be heard.
A haunting figure with a pipe to his lips coming out of the darkness reveals his cloak: Peter Pan.
He looks straight into my eyes with no good intentions.
My feet glued to the ground, vines were holding me down. I look up to him; his green eyes slowly turning into a shade of crimson.
"A.J, A.J! Wake up."
I gasp and my eyes jump open. Frankie is shaking me back and forth. I asked with the most convincing boy's voice I could use, "W-what happened."
"It's time to wake up. I guess you didn't sleep good." He chuckled.
"Just... nightmares."
"That's common for meaties."
"Meaties?"
"It's short for 'fresh meat' since your a new arrival."
I nodded and followed him out of the treehouse. Felix was standing in front of the fire pit, giving order to several other lost boys. A part of me was glad it was Felix and not Pan. I don't think I could face his again after the night terror. We joined them and Felix commanded, "Frank, show the meatie how to get fruits and try not to get him killed on the first day."
He saluted happily and told me to follow him. We spent the rest of that morning collecting fruits from various trees. I couldn't help notice the beauty of this place; I've never seen trees this shade of green and never inhaled such as oaky scent before. It gave me comfort to know that all along, these missing kids weren't sold into traffickers like the police were thinking.
I was on my way to camp with a basket full of apples and pears, when a filthy hand covered my lips. He pulled me behind a tree, and he tried to keep me down as I attempted to kick and hit erratically.
"AURORA!"
"Marcus?" I mumbled through his long fingers while tears were coating my eyes slightly.
He removes his hands and hugs me, "I didn't think it was you, but it is! What are you doing here? Why are you dressed up like that?"
"Nevermind that, your alive. That's what matters. I'm here to take you home."
"No. I-I like it here. I'm sorry but I'm happy here."
"Mark, you don't belong here. You can't hear the pipe. You are not lost. You have a family at home who loves you and cares about you. Do you know some people would kill for something like that?"
His face said it all; he wasn't going to leave. I took both of his hands in my palm and looked at him straight in the eye. "It was my fault that you were taken. It was my fault that our family fell apart. It was my fault that I wasn't there to take care of you. That was my job. This. Is. My. Fault. The least I can do is fix it."
"I don't want to leave!" And with that he ran away. I was about to go after him, but I ran into Tom. In turn, dropping all the fruits in the basket. I quickly picked them up and he helped and asked, "do you know Mark?"
He must have noticed Mark running away from me, I knew I had to come up with a reasonable lie, "We were friends before coming here."
"Did you know he had an older sister with the same initials as you. What does you name stand for?" he said nonchalantly.
"Um- I don't know what your implying, I'm Abdul Jakarta." I internally cursed myself for coming with a name that random.
"What were you two talking about."
He was walking towards me until my back went into a nearby tree.
"Nothing. Seriously it was nothing Thomas-" I covered my mouth, but it was too late on my words. I always called him Thomas, I didn't think the name Tom suited him and he knew that.
He whispered, "Aurora."
There was a moment of silence. We just stared in each others eyes. Until Frankie, with a basket in his hands, cleared his throat. Thomas and I simultaneously looked at him. He asked, "are you guys okay?"
My eyes were pleading at Thomas and he sighed, "Yes, everything is fine."