9: Lost Boys and Hunting Games

The Lost Boys began to close in on the unconscious boy. He was tied up in ropes should he wake up and dragged through the jungle. While the boys headed back to the camp, I found myself staring out into the beach. Who was this boy and what was his story? A frown formed on my face as the questions stacked up with no answers.

"Cheer up, Jess, we got a new visitor who's coming back to camp with us. They could make our little game more interesting. Having a new face and all." 

I shook my head at Peter "You're a monster, Pan. Why don't you just let the boy go?" 

"And why would I do that and ruin all the fun?" 

"It's not right. He deserves to be from wherever he came from." 

He cocked his head at me saying coldly "You're not getting it, Jess. Once you set foot in Neverland, you can never leave unless I say so. Besides..."

He took a step closer to me, "We've got a game to play." 

With that, he pulled me away from the beach as we followed the Lost Boys back to the camp. Peter addressed the boys about their new guest.

"As you know, we have a new guest here in Neverland. We brought him back with us. Now, what do you suppose we do with him?" Peter asked and Felix spoke,

 "Let's play a game with him. See how good he is with a sword. Have him battle you even though you would dominate him." 

The other Boys nodded their heads in agreement. 

"How about we do some target practice right now? He wouldn't even know it," Peter suggested, "I've been wanting for some real entertainment." 

All the Lost Boys cheered. I was too stunned to make a move and stop Peter.

Devin got him a crossbow and loaded an arrow in it. He aimed it at the mysterious boy ready to fire. I broke out of the crowd and ran in front of the boy just as Peter fired the arrow. Peter's eyes widened and all the boys gasped. I reacted knowing that I was going to die. There was one thing I had to do, but was I ready?

I raised my hand and fiercely grabbed the arrow by the shaft just before it pierced me. I was breathing rapidly and looked at the arrow. It was just inches away from my heart. I dropped the arrow and looked at it. I almost killed myself. Peter walks towards me, his face red from anger. 

"What was that for?" He shouted and I knew he was going to yell at me for doing that. 

"Why did you do that? You could've gotten yourself killed. If you weren't who you are, I probably would've killed you for making that move." 

I looked at him with sad eyes, "You can't kill him." 

Peter looked me in the face as he stepped forward. The rest of the circle stepped back and watched.

"And why can't I? It's not like you're going to stop me."

I smiled bitterly, "If you kill the boy, you kill me. Take your pick."

I took my dagger and brought it to my throat. The boys let out a collective gasp and no one made a move. My face was stone to not give anything away. 

"Make your choice before I make it for you."

Peter reappeared in front of me. He used his strength to pin my arms by my side. I felt his breath on my ear as he spoke in a calm voice, "You're either brave or crazy to do such a thing. I'm quite impressed. Just for that, I'll reward you for letting the boy live. He'll be a part of our group."

"Thank you, but you do mean your group. There is no us." I told him and he stepped back. 

He looked at me with a hard look before turning to Felix and Devin.

The two boys seemed to straighten up when Peter stared at them.

"Take the boy to one of the tents and leave him there until he wakes up." 

My eyes followed them as they dragged the boy to one of the tents. I made a plan in my head to visit the boy as soon as he woke. Peter must have read my mind as he stood behind me, "You are not allowed in that tent."

I rolled my eyes as he stared at me before walking away.  After he was gone, I knew what I was going to do. I'm going to break into that tent.

I quietly waited until Felix and Devin left the boy's tent. I watch as Pan wanders off after Aaron. He looked at me once before turning away into the jungle. I watch as Felix and Devin walk off. I overhear them speaking to each other:

"There, the boy should be waking very soon," the first voice who was Felix's said.

"He won't even know what hit him when he wakes," Devin stated.

"I still can't believe the girl stood up for that kid."

"I agree, she sure has some spunk and fire with her like Pan said. I never thought she had it in her to threaten her own life."

"What makes me wonder is why Pan gave in to her. He should have seen if she bluffed. Could it be a sign of weakness? Peter Pan has no weaknesses so why start now?"

"Well with what she did back there, if Pan knows what he's doing, she could be an important aspect of the team. But there's no way she would join. "

"You never know Devin, she could easily. I'd say give it time. For now, I think we know what needs to be done."

The two boys walked away towards a bunch of hammocks where the other Lost Boys were. 

Silently, I sneaked into the tent and watched the sleeping boy in front of me. He seemed so interesting. I've never seen anything like this ever happening. 

The ropes were binding his hand together I saw the boy start to move and I tensed. I pulled my dagger and held it out startled. 

I slid the dagger back into my belt as I watched the boy move more. He woke up and his eyes fluttered open. He stares upward and sees me. He instantly sits up and prepares to attack me. I pulled out my dagger and held it towards him. 

He froze at the sight saying "You're not going to kill me are you?" 

I remained silent until finally said. 

"Depends on your actions. If you try to hurt me, I just might." 

He looks away from me.

"What do you want from me?" The boy asked me and I glanced at him and said, "I don't want anything from you if that's what you're asking. We found you on the beach unconscious. I saved you from being impaled by an arrow, so you're welcome." 

My voice turned a little cold and the boy stared at me saying "You're a girl." 

I turned my head and faced him "What's that supposed to mean?" 

He shrugged his shoulders saying, "Nothing. It's just I expected a girl like you to be more proper and everything."

I rolled my eyes at the boy annoyed, "I'm not proper, I'm never going to be. Nor do I even want to." 

The boy's eyes stared at me as he muttered, "Sorry... Gees." 

I sulked and he said, "What ever happened to me anyways?" 

I finally looked him in the eyes answering, "I have no idea. Just be grateful we saved your sorry butt." 

"Thanks," the boy murmured and I nodded my head at him.

"I didn't quite catch your name," the boy says and I replied, "What's your name?" 

He frowns at my avoidance of the question. He shrugged and answered, "It's Baelfire if you're wondering. Yours?" 

I froze and muttered quickly, "Jessica." 

"That's a good name, Jessica. How old are you?" 

I glared at him annoyed, 

"You ask too many questions Baelfire. But if you must know, I'm only sixteen." 

His eyes widened saying, "I'm sixteen too if you're wondering." 

"Thanks, but I wasn't wondering," I told him annoyed and walked out of the tent. Before I finally managed to leave, he asked "Why am I tied up in ropes?" 

I forgot and looked at him, "It's a precaution Baelfire." 

Before he could reply, I walked out of the tent and closed it behind me.

"Unbelievable, I walk off with Aaron to the beach specifically telling you not to go to the tent and what do you do? You immediately sneak into the tent," Peter said shaking his head at me and I frowned at Peter. 

"You need to learn how to follow orders," Peter scolded me.

"I was never a follower." 

"You are now," he told me and I rolled my eyes. 

"The boy's awake Pan. His name's Baelfire and he's sixteen." 

Something popped into my mind as I looked at Pan.

"Speaking of which, how old are you?" 

Pan shrugged his shoulders saying, "I'm immortal if you're wondering. I'm always going to look young like all the other Lost Boys in Neverland. You will be too if you stay here long enough. I'd say I'm about sixteen because I look it." 

I frowned at him saying, "You look more seventeen than sixteen." 

He snapped at me "It doesn't matter!" 

Pan called Devin and Felix over and he said, "Boys, make sure that Jess doesn't find another way in the tent again. And while you're at it, bring the boy out. Now that he's awake, we can start the game fresh." 

The boys nodded their heads and went inside the tent. The rest of the group crowded around Peter and me. I still highly disliked being in the middle of it all, but this time, Peter wouldn't let me go off to the side. I could only watch as Baelfire gets dragged out by Felix and Devin.

He stands before Peter and notices me. His mouth slowly turned into a smirk and I looked elsewhere. Peter also saw and he tensed irritated at the sight. 

"What the heck do you want from me?" Baelfire asked and Peter roared with a devious smile. 

"Silence Baelfire. Unfortunately for you,  you aren't the boy we're searching for." He glanced at me quickly before continuing.

"Today's your lucky day Baelfire. Usually, I'd just kill you since you aren't the one we're looking for, but I'm feeling generous. From now on, you're going to be part of my group of Lost Boys... And girl." I rolled my eyes and growled under my breath at Peter who just shot me a devious look of his green eyes.

Baefire's eyes widened in shock. 

"There is no way that I'm going to join your gang." 

Peter Pan laughed, "You don't have a choice Baelfire. It's how the game works." 

He faces Felix ordering, "Take him back to the tent. Make sure he's locked up and can't escape." 

Later that night, Peter had left the camp to tend to other business. I was about to walk to retrieve something when an arrow pierced the ground in front of me. I turned to face the wall of Lost Boys wielding weapons. 

"What gives?" I ask them.

"We're going to play a small game," Felix answered, "Call it a test of strength and strategy."

"What kind of game is it?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Chase," Devin stands beside Felix, "We'll give you a head start."

A boy shot an arrow barely missing my face. The look in their eyes told me they weren't just playing a game, they planned to kill me. Was this Peter's idea or were they going rogue?

"You're not running," Felix chuckled in a wicked tone.

I swallowed as another warning arrow was aimed towards me. Not thinking twice, I fled the camp. I wasn't looking at where I was going and tumbled down a ledge. I landed on my back in pain and rose to my feet. A hand pulled me to my feet and I lashed out defensively.

"Calm down, Jess."

It took me a second to gain my bearings, "Tink?"

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