Peter's Lily (Sequel to Pan's Tiger)

Chapter 3: Pan's Deals

All that could be heard was the wind hurtling its way through the undergrowth, attacking my bare skin and playing with my loose clothing. The autumn leaves rustled like living things.

'Alright.' He said eventually. 'But I won't tell you, I think its best if I show you.'

He guided me across the camp and then out of the side entrance, his smile growing larger with every footstep. He turned around and beamed at me widely, pulling back branches of the dense forest to ensure my safe passage through. I coughed a couple of times and yelped as brambles caught my skin, but we didn't talk.

'Here.' He said and stopped by a tree. I had been to this spot before as I instantly recognised the cages hanging from the branches and a lump caught in my throat. I peered at the bamboo cage carefully, but unable to see through the thick twisted branches that made up the main body of the cage.

I could easily see the shape of the person was tall and muscular, but hunched over into a slumped crouching position against the edge of the cage.

Peter stepped up closer to the pulleys and lowered the cage. My eyes widened as it crept towards the ground, swaying sickeningly and violently and then smacking firmly against the floor.

Oliver.

I screamed in horror as I realised how awful he looked in this state, his body thinner and more frail than ever before. Oliver's eyes crept up to look at me, narrowing slightly before they lit up like they had not seen a person, but had encountered hope itself.

'Let him go, Pan. Now.' I ordered defiantly.

'I don't think that was part of our deal.' He mused, chuckling to himself, letting my skin crawl at how obnoxious he was.

'But what was the first deal I made with you? That I would stay in Neverland with you if you let Oliver go, therefore you have broken your promise, Pan.' I reminded him and smiled triumphantly, knowing that broken promises angered Pan more than anything.

'If there is one thing you should know about Peter Pan it's that, although I may not be the most well behaved boy on this island, I never break my promises.' He said, his eyes wide with sincerity and taking a large step over towards me to emphasise how angry he was. I didn't say anything, just let him explain himself. 'You see, Tiger, I did let him go. It was he that came back trying to find you and I locked him up for it. There are no broken promises here.'

'Just please, Peter. Please let him go free.' I begged and he sighed, running his hand through his hair as exasperated as I had been. But even he couldn't hide the pleasure of being in control of me, gaining leverage from holding Oliver captive.

'One minute.' Pan agreed and opened the cage.

Oliver gasped, racing across the forest in a very undignified manner. He pulled me close until his body was touching mine and we hugged tighter than ever before. We savoured every moment in our massive bear-hug, both shaking with sobs and I cried the hardest and most meaningful since my mother died.

'I can't believe it, I had no idea you were here!' I squealed, pulling away startled to inspect him. 'Oliver? What happened to you? You're like a skeleton!' I hissed, tears welling inside of my eyes as I examined the boy I had known so well since entering this island, my bitter hatred for Pan growing with every second, no matter what rubbish he said about loving me.

'Im fine, Lily, honestly,' Oliver badly attempted to lighten the mood. 'Besides, you look dreadful, what happened?'

'Enough.' Pan growled, rudely interrupting our conversation. Oliver reluctantly stepped back into the cage, his eyes wandering up to meet mine with grief and sadness.