Chapter Two

Papa looked different. Out of place. Same appearance, same age, but different.

Changed. Warped. Different.

He had a smile on his face, and he took Linda into his arms.

It was the happiest moment of her life.

She wasn't being held by a sociopath in green. She was being comforted by her father.

"Hi, Papa..." She murmured, her face in his warm chest.

"Hey, little Linda," he whispered in her ear, and she felt so happy.

So happy to be with him again.

She hoped Pan would never come to her again.

She hoped he would accept that she had escaped, and that he would leave her alone for good.

She doubted he would.

"Linda, where have you been?" He set her down, his hands on her shoulders. His eyes were full of concern.

"Peter Pan. He took me. I've been on Neverland, Papa..." She closed her eyes.

She could see hatred smolder in his eyes, and she suddenly grew frightened. "That demon dared to abduct my daughter? I will make him pay for what he's done."

"Papa, don't!" She stared into his eyes. "Just leave it alone! I'm trying to be discreet so he won't take me again!"

"Linda, I've changed. I'm through with letting people hurt the people I love. Letting them hurt me."

"Papa, what do you mean, you...?" There was so much more that his eyes were telling than just her situation.

"Darling, there's something you need to know.

"I'm a Dark One. It's all because of a woman I used to love."

Was Linda supposed to say something? She didn't know.