Short Story- Neverland’s Secret

 Daisy and John are our cousins visiting for the winter. George and I decided that we should take them around, and in the field of trees, we played hide and seek. I was the seeker, while rest of them should hide. I felt this was getting boring, as I was the eldest and didn’t want to play baby games. Suddenly we heard a noise.  “George, Mary, John, come take a look!”cried Daisy. I, George and John ran towards Daisy, who was now pointing towards the Forbidden Castle among the trees. “That’s the Forbidden Castle.” said George. “Is this place scary or fun?” John asked. I replied with a smile, “Don't know, but it is sure going to be an adventure” 

I know I was supposed to act all mature and say, no children, we mustn’t go there, but I was dying for something exciting, and this was my chance.  We all ran over to the castle and entered it. It was splendid to see all the different things that were in there, from the chandeliers to the knight armors, which the boys wanted to wear, of course. It looked like something from a fairytale, like as if we had entered into a book. “What is that? Ooh, it’s glowing!” said George. I cautioned myself and the others, and went towards the light. But before I turned around to tell them not to do anything, little John rushed in. And he disappeared. Just like that. The entirety of the situation sank in.  I panicked. This was all my fault. I should have warned them not to come here. A second later, his hand and head came through and said, “You have to see this.”

George was first to go, then Daisy and me. Remember when I said we entered into a book? This was exactly like that! There was not a sign of any buildings, or farms, or houses, or barns. It looked like a page from the kids fairytale books. Full of trees, flowers, little birds, beautiful butterflies, the last thing I wanted to see was a fairy. You know, because fairies are there in almost all fairytale stories.

Whoosh! Some thing came. Whoosh! There it was again. Daisy gave me a look. A look that she gave only when she sees a fairy, unicorn, some magical being in those silly cartoons. I watched her eyes move towards a bush near to us. I went towards it when.. whoooossshhhh. “Hello! Are you humans?! Peter is going to be soooo excited!” Came a voice, squeaky, but it was a voice. “Um, up here missy.. Can’t you see me?” the creature said. I looked up. Guess who was flying? Tinker bell. Yes the same ‘Tinkerbell’ from the Peter Pan story, right in front of us!! Daisy was torn between ‘I told you magic was real’ and ‘oh my God, magic is really real!’. George and John were unamused. “Fairy lady, where is Captain Hook and Pan boy and all? I want to meet THEM not some fairy.” Said my wonderfully spoilt brother, George. 

“Ooh yes, humans. We will see them. But introduce yourselves first, won’t ya?”

“Where are my manners! Well, I am Daisy, and I love fairies and unicorns and always brush my teeth for the tooth fairy, and keep little sweets for Santa and Elves. I have one for you too!” exclaimed Daisy as she popped a candy onto Tinker Bell’s  tiny hands. To which she nibbled as the rest of us spoke.

“I am John, and I like dinosaurs, robots, pirates.. I don’t brush the teeth like Daisy, but I am always a good boy doing good things like Mommy says.”

“Hello fairy. I’m George the mature one here. I am not interested in any of the things, just wanna see Pan kicking Hook and winning like in that super cool video game our neighbours bought but mom won’t let me play as it is too much violence I mean I am 10 so why can’t I it is just not...”

I broke him off. If he goes on, then even Peter Pan would get old. “ Hey, uh, I’m Mary. It’s really nice to meet you. But we kinda need to get home somehow. Would you be kind enough to tell us how?”

She laughed. That’s the first thing she did. “So, you think I would just poof you guys to your home? I am a fairy, yes, but a small fairy. Come on, we will ask Peter Pan, he is the plan man around here so he would tell us.”

You know how parents always say, “don’t follow strangers!” ? Yeah, these children BLINDLY followed some small fairy. “George, are we really going to meet Peter Pan and Captain Hook? Can we become the lost boys? I want to fight Hook. I practiced karate, so I’m an expert! Can you do karate? HEEIIYYAA!” blabbered away John to George. Daisy was interviewing Tinker Bell by asking her a thousand questions. “You have that flying powder right? So we can fly with it right? Can you pretty please make us fly? I have always wanted to fly. When did you start flying? Are there other fairies?” I saw Tinker Bell shooting a ‘how-do-you-manage-her’ look at me. Well, all I could do was grin back.  After what seemed like eternity through the enchanted places, we reached a cavern cum hangout. The lost boys were running around, mermaids were swimming in the water near the cave, other small fairies were flying about, and the Indians were laughing and talking with someone.. Peter Pan. 

“Oh hey, looks like we have got guests! Hello people and my lady Tinker. I’m the amazing wonderful brave handsome Peter Pan. And who are these young ladies, and bros, Tinker?” Wow. The Peter Pan just talked to us!! “Hello Pan boy. Haha. Pan boy. Anyway, these are humans who want to go back home they were lost around here you know.. I saved them from Captain Hooks potential kidnapping, the way he does you know, and they are a rather.. cheerful lot!” Bell replied.

“Okay, children. What brings you all to Neverland? You want to be a kid forever huh?” Peter said, I interrupted, “Hi!  Very excited to meet you but we’ve REALLY gotta go home. Please just take us back.”Tinker and Peter started laughing in a weird strange way, and told us ‘once you come and see how neverland really is you will never yadda yadda..’ I was distracted by a glowing light — like spirits, coming from a lab like area. Upon being asked on what that was, Peter again had a weird laugh. “Oh you do not want to go there. It’s like locked for years. A glowing light? Why, I don’t see any. You must be day dreaming haha!!” There was something really uncomfortable about how he talked nervously and laughed like he did, but hey, he was Peter Pan, and I saw mermaids and goblins so I was kinda sure it was nothing. I must be day dreaming...

So we danced about, toured, played, and I even swam with Mermaids. The kids were enjoying themselves, but I firmly said it was time to go back. Peter looked at me in the eye, smiled and took me by my hand. “Nothing is complete without a little something to eat. Isn’t it, Tinker dear?” “Oh yes, Peter, I shall bring the delicacies!” Weird, but yes I was kinda starving. Peter was called by someone, and Tinker flew to the pantry or something. A girl about my age came to us. She whispered, in a scared tone, “Please leave and go to Captain Hook while you can. Please, or else you will end up here like us. My memory will fade soon, please listen.” And she left. Just like that. Weird. The others didn’t even notice that. Another one of my dreams I guess.  I felt very nauseous, so I thought of breathing some fresh air. So I headed out. I heard muddled voices, “Great Tinker. 4 more to the 96 gang. A hundred now. Just perfect for our plan. Soon we will be able to defeat Hook and take back the potion so we can add it to ours to...” “Quick already. Enough with the speeches. Peter, I want to change from this awful self. That Hook’s curse has left me flying for no reason. Now come, let’s give these to the children..” 

“Hey Mary! What are you doing here? Thought you went to get some air. Where is Bell and Pan? I am starving!” came George. Ugh. Peter came towards us. “Uh, hey! Sorry to keep you waiting but Tinker here   needed some help with the delicacies.” Liar. What was his plan. It’s gotta be those ‘delicacies’ he’s talking about. “Were you standing nearby, Mary?” Tinker exclaimed. “No. I was getting some fresh air there. You are right. Neverland is wonderful! Never want to leave” I said. Peter and Tinker smiled at each other. “How lovely! I’ll be bringing the delicacies now!”. As soon as Tinker flew towards us, I ‘accidentally’ threw a rock at the plate and walked over the ‘delicacies’. I looked completely innocent and oh-so-sorry, I was scared and the kids were mad at me, but my gut said there was something wrong, so I believed it. “WHY WOULD YOU..” Tinker started. But Peter stopped Tinker, he was not happy.

Peter Pan grew red. Red. Red. He came closer to me. I was scared but acted super cool. He stared into my eyes, like a warning. He smiled creepily.  It seemed like time stopped and me, Tinker and Peter were only moving. I grew dizzy.BAM! Everything went blank and dark...

What did they do to me? Where are the other children? What happened to me?

To be continued..