Being held captive is not nearly as interesting as you think. In fact, it's downright, horrifyingly boring. There's really no adrenaline involved after the initial apprehensive first minutes. You just sit there with nothing to do, nobody to talk to, not even a nice view, depending on where they drop you. Fortunately for me, I was plopped off to the side of their campsite and left alone. Sure, my hands were still uncomfortably tied behind my back, but that was the least of my problems.

Bruises heal. Physical and psychological damage were a bit harder to fix.

I was being tested, of course. Nobody was guarding me. I could easily scamper off into the forest and escape. They were waiting to see what I would do. Would I create a crafty plan to leave these wretched beings behind? Would I simply sprint headlong into the unknown in my desperation to flee? What would the resident female do?

So I did what I knew best: absolutely fucking nothing.

The dubious 'Lost Boys' couldn't help but eye me curiously as they went about their daily routines. Was this woman stupid? She had a giant opening to get out of camp, and yet she just chooses to sit there?

I had my reasons, and my reasons were sound. Now, I was no dumbass. I had never been to this island before now. Everything was entirely unfamiliar to me. By leaving camp, I would subject myself to the elements, as well as Pan's wrath if he found me before I got myself killed.

No, I would sit here, where it was marginally safe.

It wasn't until around sunset that the resident dictator paid me a visit. The cool air had begun to nip at my skin, and my stomach was contemplating it's own digestion. If somebody didn't feed me, I'd probably just up and die. Sounds quite melodramatic, eh? I had room to be melodramatic here.

"I have to say - I'm quite surprised at you," His royal highness began, strolling out from behind the tree I sulked under, "I assumed you'd be halfway across the island by now."

I ran my tongue along the ridges of my teeth, annoyed with how dry my mouth was. "Funny how things work out, huh?" I flashed him a toothy grin, elated to see that he frowned at my feigned joy.

A leech, I decided, is what Pan was. Slowly feeding off others, sapping all the joy out of their system. He laughed at your sadness, dancing in your tears as they left their puddles on the ground. He would make meadows out of your anger, prancing through the flames of the wildflowers. Happiness, though, he could do without. Unless it benefited him, he didn't want to see you smile.

So grin I did, and boy, did it piss him off.

"Good to see you so fresh, girl," He said curtly, his words clipped and lifeless.

I merely nodded, prepared to let him scorn my content disposition. "That would be Adeline, my dear companion." One can only assume that the other people who'd been trapped on this God-forsaken island had far worse things to say to Peter - various curses, fancy insults, different reasons to let them out of Neverland - you name it, it's probably been said to him. Too bad he is dealing with a psychotic bitch, as of now.

"Companion?" Pan questioned, looking like he'd just smelled something bad, "We are hardly of the same species." Ah, typical response from a self-proclaimed king. Why should a blue-blood make friends with rats? Especially rats that trespass into his palace.

I scoffed, rolling my eyes skyward. "Well, you're definitely not human, if that's what you mean." He stood, rigid, his expression thoughtfully malicious. "I've met plenty of demons friendlier than you."

It was painfully obvious how quickly he was losing his patience. I decided it was high time to shut my mouth. … And then he laughed. It wasn't a nice laugh, not a hearty laugh, not a sarcastic laugh, but a… Peter Pan laugh. That is the only way to describe it. The laugh was humorous, demeaning, and soulless all at the same time. I shivered, the cold of night finally getting to me. I'd tested the waters a little too roughly, and the ripple effect was sure to drown me. Good thing I knew how to swim.

"If you learn to cooperate, you'll find that I can be very accommodating," Pan commented, waving down one of his boys, "Untie her, let her relieve herself, and show her where she'll be staying for the night." My lips curled up in mild disgust at the word 'relieve'. Something about this so-called boy controlling when I can go piss in the woods was unsettling and gross.

It's my bladder. What am I gonna do, run off somewhere mid-bathroom break? Fuck off.

So the arbitrarily selected boy did as he was told. I rubbed my wrists softly, trying to ease the bruising, as I was led a little ways into the woods. The boy stalked off, leaving me to do my business, which I, in turn, did.

Sadly enough, we were back at Lost Boy Headquarters in less than 15 minutes. I tried to take in my surroundings as best as I could. I'd need as much knowledge of the island as possible when the time came to escape. Briefly, I wondered why I wasn't so frazzled about this situation. After a bit of pondering, I realized it's because I wanted to be here. Well, wanting is a bit of a stretch, but it was more like I needed to be here. If only to bring some sorry brat home to his father.

I am here of my own accord, and therefore cannot be angry that I am trapped.

That, or it just hasn't totally sunk in yet that I have royally fucked myself over.

Anyways, I was then led to a shabby-looking tent, where I assumed I would be staying for the hopefully short duration of my stay here. It had a low ceiling, very nearly brushing the top of my head. As a rather short woman, I tried to put myself in the place of some of the other boys on this island. I could imagine that this was generally the least-liked living space to pick from. Some of these guys were giants.

Pushing back the front of the tent, I was greeted with something completely unsurprising. It was just as little on the inside as I thought it was. It could fit two people, if you especially liked to be forced into spooning someone. There was a large, worn-looking, frayed blanket sitting in the center of the tent. I curiously checked behind me to see if anyone was waiting for me to be done exploring, but nobody seemed to be.

Abandoning my inhibitions, I plopped down onto the tent floor, wrapping the blanket around me. As I thought - well-worn, but well-loved. They'd picked a nice one. I approve.

I shrugged off the surprisingly comfortable fabric, and angled myself to better check the rest of the stuff they'd thrown in here. Towards the corner, there lay a couple articles of clothing, and a pair of dusty boots. I wrinkled my nose at the offending footwear, deciding that my own boots were sufficient enough for now. Besides this, there was a rather flat pillow, and a thin bedspread. Hope most nights were warm...

Now seemed as good a time as any to reflect on what I'd been through thus far. Firstly, Alexander had willingly marched himself onto this island, and was probably not too keen on leaving. Secondly, this island was a death trap. I had better chances of breaking into the Queen's castle than repeatedly entering and exiting Neverland. Thirdly, Pan had control of much of the magic here. He could eject me entirely, and keep me out if really wanted to. I had to assume that he could do the opposite, which I would really have to look out for.

Lastly, and possibly the worst piece of information I'd salvaged all day, was that he didn't want me dead. Yet, that is. He also didn't want me gone, considering he went to all the trouble in dragging me back to this shithole. So what did Pan want?

Only time will tell.

"You, girl. Hurry up," A gruff, aggravated sounding voice called to me from the outside of my new tent. I conceded almost immediately, shuffling haphazardly back into the outside world. It was not a happy face I was met with, no, quite the opposite. He looked like one of those bedraggled parents that host a kid's party and suddenly are weighed down by the obnoxious little brats they invited into their home. I related quite a bit. Something quite curious, though, was the long, ugly scar etched across his face.

Something told me he meant business.

"That's Miss. Girl, to you, sir," I chided, knowing full well that I wasn't doing myself any favors in pissing off the locals. He looked unfazed though, and shoved a bowl of some sort of food into my hands, simultaneously pushing me towards the campfire everyone else seemed to be sitting around.

I would've given one of my organs not to have to sit with the Lost Boys, but it was to no avail. It seemed that isolating me wasn't among one of Pan's tactics. Something new to keep in mind.

All eyes were on me as I quietly snuck in off to the side, trying to avoid looking as conspicuous as I figured I did. As I sat down slowly, non-threateningly, the gazes slowly turned themselves back to whatever it is that they were preoccupied with. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Having everyone stare at you as you walk onto the scene is one of the most nerve-wracking things anyone has to deal with, ever.

Don't look at me that way. What did I do to you?

Trespass into your home and bother the residents? Nah, not me. Never. That sounds like a rude, horrible thing to do to someone. Who could ever be so inconsiderate?

I stared into the almost-appetizing bowl of food, trying to figure out how this stew could be a metaphor for life. Taking a spoonful of my supplied sustenance, I decided that it could never be a metaphor for life. It was too good. Life, though? It sucked major ass.

I send my compliments to the chef.

That night, I didn't sleep so well. I continued having various allergic reactions to Neverland's magic. I itched, I sneezed, my eyes watered, my skin felt dry, and I could almost swear somebody was watching me. It was suffocating. I tried multiple times to see if I could try to warp off the island, but it was as the whole realm was covered in a sheet of Saran wrap. You could poke at it and prod it, but it wouldn't do more than bend. I would've been more comfortable trying to punch through bulletproof glass.

Fact is, I was stuck here.

Fact is, I hated being trapped.

"But I guess in the end it sort of feels like every day

It's harder to stay happy where you are.

There are all these ways to look through the fence

Into your neighbor's yard

Why even risk it? It's safer to stay distant."

La Dispute ("For Mayor In Splitsville")

AN: Wrong neighborhood, motherfucker. Whatchu gon' do about it, Andeline? Speaking of which, heyyyy, I actually added her name into this chapter. Three cheers for goal-reaching! Thanks to fruitylooper, Guest, and luvduv123 for reviewing! Hahaha, glad to see everyone finds Adeline badass. Is she really? I don't know that I planned for her to be… Thoughts, anyone? I could always go for more reviews, if you know what I mean. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge. Adios, everyone~