Neverland

‘We’re going to get caught.’

‘No, we're not.’

‘She’s going to hear us.’

‘No, she isn’t.’

‘But what if we get stuck up there?’

‘We won’t.’

‘But what if -’

‘Would you just shut up already? It’s like you want us to get busted.’ Sophie scolded her sister as she tried another key.

Click.

‘See, I told you. Now come on.’ She whispered as she put the keys into her sister's backpack and slowly pulled the door open, wincing as it creaked. She quickly led her inside, carefully closing the door behind them.

The attic stairs were dusty, and cobwebs littered the walls. The only light came from a badly boarded-up window at the top, casting heavy shadows around them. Anne gripped Sophie's hand tight. She had never been in the attic before and was beginning to think this was a bad idea.

Sophie led the way, taking small, careful steps as they crept to the top.

‘It’s so dark,’ said Sophie, letting go of her sister's hand as they stepped onto the creaky floor. She walked over to a shelf, picked up a pack of dusty matches and reached for a candle.

‘What are you doing?’ panicked Anne.

‘What does it look like,’ Sophie sniggered, ‘I’m lighting a candle. It’s almost pitch black in here. I can't see a thing.’

With a swift flick of her wrist the room illuminated, shadows danced across the walls as she placed the candle back on the shelf. She crept back over to her little sister and took her hand. Anne squeezed it with relief.

‘Come on, it’s over here,’ Sophie whispered.

Slowly, they made their way across the large attic. The floorboards creaked and groaned under their weight as they snuck. Anne was sure their grandmother would be able to hear the noise and come thundering up the stairs any minute now. Sophie guided them through the shadows, between old boxes and forgotten about furniture.

Sophie gasped. ‘There it is.’ She whispered.

Anne gulped as a small bead of sweat trickled down her forehead. The room was hot and stuffy, and the smell of damp wood was beginning to make her feel lightheaded.

‘The cage?’ asked Anne.

‘The cage.’ Sophie confirmed, excited.

‘Gosh!'

‘It’s huge,’ whispered Sophie in amazement. She pulled down gently on Anne’s arm. ‘Here, let’s sit. He’ll feel less threatened if we sit.’

Anne grimaced as she cautiously sat down on the wooden floorboards, which were almost definitely covered in all kinds of creepy crawlies. ‘Is he in there?’

‘Of course! He must be asleep, is all,’ answered Sophie. Anne gulped as Sophie let go of her hand and shuffled away from her in the direction of the cage. ‘Remember what I said, okay? No loud noises, and whatever you do, don’t get too close.’

Sophie rattled the cage, making Anne jump out of her skin. ‘Sophie!’ She scolded, annoyed.

‘Sorry, I’m just trying to wake him.’

Anne heard faint movement in front of her, and bit down on her lip. More sweat tickled her skin.

‘Hi there,’ Sophie whispered excitedly through the shadows, ‘I told you I’d come back. This is my sister, Anne. Anne, this is Peter. It’s okay. She won’t hurt you.’

Anne sat in stunned silence as her sister coaxed the boy out of hiding.

‘Hello,’ his voice was so weak that Anne herself could barely hear it.

‘Hi, Peter,’ said Anne, shocked. ‘My sister’s told me all about you. Are you okay?’ She whispered with a lump in her throat.

‘Do I look okay?’ Peter whispered sarcastically through the dark.

Sophie giggled.

Embarrassed, Anne pulled the straps of her bag from her shoulders and swung it around onto her lap. Of course he’s not okay, he’s in a cage, she thought as she fumbled with the zip. After what seemed like an eternity, she managed to get it open. She reached inside and found the water.

‘Here,’ she whispered into the darkness. Sophie took a flask from her hand and stepped forward.

‘It has a straw,’ she explained as she held it against the metal grate of the cage with a clunk. ‘Go ahead.’

The sounds of desperate slurping filled the room. Anne’s heart sank. He must’ve been so thirsty. How cruel must you be to look a poor boy away in the dark like this? She waited until he had finished. The room fell quiet. A light draft brushed her cheek as Sophie put the flask down next to her.

Anne reached out and shook it. ‘There’s still some left. We can leave it here for you, or we can go and refill it and come back?’ she suggested.

‘It’s fine,’ the boy assured her, ‘Thank you.’

‘It’s going to be okay, Peter,’ whispered Sophie from beside the cage. ‘I’ve told Anne everything, and we’ve come up with a plan. She’s going to help us.’

‘She is?’

Anne had to strain to hear him. She leaned closer.

‘Yes, she is,’ Sophie said with confidence.

‘I can’t believe our grandma would do this,’ said Anne, her lip trembling.

‘How could she?’

‘I’m afraid you have no idea who your grandmother really is,’ he insisted, ‘she’s evil. The worse of the worst.’

Anne gasped.

‘It’s okay,’ said Sophie, reaching out and putting her hand on Anne’s shoulder. ‘Be brave,’ she encouraged before turning back towards the cage. ‘Peter, Anne is only young, please don’t scare her any more than she already is.’

‘I’m sorry,’ he whispered, ‘you stay locked in a cage long enough, with no one to talk to you, you forget how innocent little minds are.’

‘But YOU are a child,’ said Anne, confused.

‘Not really.’

Anne frowned, but before she had a chance to ask, he explained.

‘I might look twelve, but I’ve been alive a lot longer than that. I just never grow old.’

‘You what?’ said Anne.

‘Told ya,’ quipped Sophie.

‘I never grow old. I’m immortal. And before your grandmother put me in this cage, I lived a wonderous life of mischief and magic. I’m telling you, she’s wicked. She’s worse than Captain Hook himself,’ he whispered, ‘and if you don’t get me out of here, she’s going to leave me here to rot forever. It’s been so long; I’m worried I’ve forgotten how to fly.’

‘You can FLY?’ Anne cried out before kicking herself for being too loud. How had Sophie forgotten to tell her the best bit?

‘I used to be able to, but now I fear I’m too weak. Anyway, that was before your grandmother killed Tinkerbell, my fairy. She stamped on her in a rage when Tink tried to save me. All you would need is a little fairy dust and to think a happy thought, and off you would go, gliding into the night to dance between the stars. But I’ve been here so long I can’t remember how to be happy. And with Tink being dead, I think my chances of getting back to Neverland are nearly impossible.’

‘She…killed a fairy?’ said Anne in disbelief.

‘I told you; you don’t know her!’ Peter insisted. ‘She keeps the body over there, in a jar.’ Anne couldn’t see which way he pointed but Sophie moved instantly with her feet heavy on the old wood as she crossed the room.

Sophie lifted the jar, looked inside and squealed in horror.

‘What is it?’ panicked Anne from her spot on the floor, ‘Is she in there?’

‘She is! Or her tiny fairy bones are anyway,’ groaned Sophie as she placed the jar back on the shelf with a disgusted thud and hurried back to her spot next to the cage. ‘I’m glad you didn’t see that. It was not a sight I will be able to forget any time soon.’

Anne's imagination ran amok with what a smushed fairy might look like, tying her stomach into knots.

‘She wouldn’t even let me bury her, let alone return her to Neverland where she could be laid to rest in the Fairy Garden with her ancestors. Poor Tink, she didn’t deserve such a fate.’

‘I'm so sorry. That's awful.' She paused for a moment before continuing. 'Sooo, what is Neverland?’ she asked softly.

‘It’s home. Or it was, once upon a very long time ago.' He said wistfully. 'Second star on the right and straight on till morning. It’s beautiful, full of forests and waterfalls… and the Lost Boys. They must think I abandoned them. There’s probably no point in going home now.’

‘How long have you been in that cage, exactly?’ asked Sophie.

‘I lost count a long time ago,’ he muttered,’ ‘thirty years, maybe.’

‘Thirty years!’ gasped Anne, dumbfounded.

‘But you look like a young boy,’ interrupted Sophie from closer to the cage than before; Anne worried that Sophie had forgotten her own rules. ‘That’s crazy! Why would she lock you up in the first place?’

‘We were good friends a long time ago. I would fly over and see her at night, and we would sit and tell each other stories about our lives. But mine were always full of enchanting adventure and spellbinding secrets, and hers, well, hers were… normal. Human, I guess. I tried to visit as much as I could, I swear I did. But it was hard. In Neverland, time works differently. I would never know if I had been gone for a week or a year at a time. Not until I saw if she had aged.

I even took her to Neverland once, but she didn’t like it. She missed her mum and dad and was scared of the pirates. She never could get the hand of flying either, which didn’t help. When I flew her home, it turned out three months had passed. There had been search parties in the streets, and her mother and father were beside themselves with worry. After that, she vowed never to go back again.’

Peter’s voice peaked high for a second and he coughed hard. Anne figured he was trying to cover up his tears. She couldn’t blame him. After a minute of silence, he cleared his throat and continued.

'I had no choice but to visit as often as I could. But as the years grew older, so did she. She got jealous, I guess. One night, as I climbed through her window, she hit me with something hard and knocked me out cold. And that had never happened before; even Hook couldn't best me.

When I woke, I was chained to the floor in one of her empty bedrooms. I stayed there for a while. Now and then, she would unscrew the chains, and lead me outside to float around like a leashed dog. She even took me out at Christmas once, so I could float up and see the lights. But she stopped after I saw my chance and tried to escape. Shortly after that, I was downgraded to the cage. She’s kept me here ever since, watching me wither away to skin and bone.

Sometimes she’ll come and sit next to the cage and taunt me. She reminds me how beautiful Neverland is and how the Lost Boys must be crying themselves to sleep at night, with no one to protect them from Hook and his men. She said Neverland is a pretty fitting name, seeing as I’m never going back. I hadn’t even seen another person until Sophie found me, like the brave explorer she is.’ His voice was high-pitched and desperate.

‘It’s okay. You’re not alone anymore.’ Sophie said softly. ‘Anne and I are going to get you out of here. In two days, it's Thursday. On Thursdays, Grandma goes to bingo and always stays out late. That will be our window, no pun intended.’ Anne listened quietly as her sister comforted the poor boy. ‘We will find the key for the cage, and we will come and rescue you. But for now, we have to go. The longer we stay, the more likely she will catch us.’ Anne's blood ran cold.

‘Please don’t forget about me,’ he croaked.

‘We won’t!’ Sophie said confidently, as she walked over to where Anne was sitting and helped her to her feet. Anne shivered as she wiped down the back of her dress. The poor boy is stuck up here with all the spiders; the thought made her skin crawl.

Sophie took her hand and slowly lead her back across the attic, blowing out the candle as they reached the top of the stairs. Anne stopped and turned, facing the middle of the room as she stared into the darkness.

‘Please be brave, Peter. It’s only two more sleeps!’ She whispered.

The sisters crept back down the stairs, hand in hand.

*

The next morning, Anne woke with a shudder. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up and wondered if this was the spare room Peter was talking about when he said he was chained to the floor. She felt a chill run down her spine. She couldn’t see if Sophie was still asleep in her covers but knew from the lack of snoring, she was probably downstairs already. Anne heard a distant rumble from outside as the gravel in the driveway crunched under the sound of heavy tires. Someone was here.

She changed into clothes that had been left on the chair next to her bed, within easy reach, and started down the hallway. The soft carpet under her toes was usually enough to cheer her up. But not today. All she could think of was the poor boy in the cage above her. They had to find that key.

She took the stairs one at a time, knowing all too well the dangers of falling. Reaching the bottom, she followed the hallway down towards the kitchen. The smell of bacon and eggs greeted her as she entered. She found her usual chair and sat down.

Grandma was humming whilst she cooked as Sophie shovelled food into her mouth. Anne didn’t know which was worse, the clanging of her spoon against the bowel, or the way her sister gasped and slurped as she inhaled her breakfast.

How can she eat on a morning like this? Things were far too serious.

‘Good morning, Anne. Did you sleep well, dear?’ said her grandmother with her usual sweet and caring voice, but Anne wasn’t fooled.

‘Fine.’

‘Would you like some bacon and eggs?’

‘No. Thank you.’

‘We have some toast here if you would like some.’ She says, walking towards Anne with her slippers dragging across the tiles. Anne shook her head. ‘Are you okay, love? You look very pale.’ She asks as she raises her hand and places it on Anne’s forehead, making her flinch.

There’s a knock at the door. Anne breathes a sigh of relief as her grandmother leaves the kitchen to answer it. Her father’s voice is unmistakable as it fills the hallway, heading in their direction.

‘It’s Dad!’ Sophie said with a mouthful of food.

‘I know that! I can hear him too.’ Anne whispered back.

She stood as her dad entered.

‘There they are!’ He said, pulling her into a bear hug as he kissed her forehead. Releasing his grip on her a little he extended his arm to pull Sophie into the cuddle too. Anne felt her sister’s weight on her back as she relished the safety of the cuddle sandwich.

‘What are you doing here, Dad?’ asked Sophie. If circumstances were different Anne would have been able to see the knowing smirk on her sister’s face, instead she obliviously nestled in the safe embrace of her father's arms.

‘I'm picking you up early to take you to the fair, like you asked, remember?’ He laughed in surprise.

Sophie squealed in delight as she ran out of the room.

Anne’s stomach turned cold.

‘Daddy, I’m so glad you’re here. There’s something I must tell you,’ She whispered into his ear. ‘We can’t leave, there's something terribly wrong with Grandma.’

‘What? What’s wrong with Grandma?’ He asked with concern in his voice.

He leaned backwards and away from the safety of their cuddle to look at Anne, his hot breath warmed her face.

‘She has a boy locked in the attic,’ she whispered frantically, afraid her grandmother would join them any second. ‘His name is Peter and she’s keeping him prisoner. He's from Neverland and he had a fairy called Tat, or Tint, no Tank, or something like that.’ She shook her head frustrated as tears welled in her eyes. ‘Grandma killed her and captured Peter and keeps him locked up with all the spiders! We have to help him!'

‘Peter... Peterpan?’ He asked; the amusement in his voice was obvious. ‘Anne, Peterpan is a fairytale, sweetheart. We used to read it to your sister when she was little. He doesn’t exist.’

‘Who doesn’t exist?’

Anne jumped out of her skin at the sound of her grandmother’s voice behind her; it wasn’t often that she could be snuck up on, but her panicked state was overwhelming her senses.

‘Peterpan,’ her father answered, bemused. He groaned as he stood up.

‘Peterpan?’ her grandmother giggled, delighted. ‘Well, my goodness. That was one of my favourites when I was growing up. I used to read it to your father, did you know?’

‘Peter is real!’ Anne cried; fists clenched she spun around to face her as her cheeks flushed with anger. ‘And you have him locked away - in a CAGE. How could you?’

Even Anne was surprised at the spite in her voice.

‘Woah! Slow down there slugger,’ said her father, placing his hand on her shoulder, ‘You can’t talk to your grandmother like that. Apologise, Anne.’

‘No way! Didn’t you hear what I said!’ She begged, looking helplessly up in her father’s direction.

‘What’s going on?’ asked Sophie, re-entering the room.

‘Go on, Sophie, tell them! SHE’S EVIL!’

‘That is ENOUGH, Anne!’ Her father’s words stung her heart.

‘Sophie?’ her grandmother asked.

‘It was nothing.’

‘What was nothing?’ asked Dad.

‘It was just a joke. Just a silly little joke, that was all. I took her to the attic, and I told her...’

‘Told her what?’ He snapped, his patience running thin.

Sophie sighed. ‘I told her that Peter was in the cage, you know, Dexter’s cage from before he died. I told her grandma locked him up and we were going to help him escape.’

For a moment the room fell deafeningly quiet.

‘You did WHAT?’ their father asked, his voice full of disbelief and disappointment. He bent back down to Anne ‘And you thought – oh my god.’ He said sadly, pulling her into his arms once more.

‘Sophie, how could you?’ Grandmother snapped.

‘Go and get in the car, Sophie. Right now.’ Dad barked as he stood up. Anne felt weightless as her dad lifted her from the floor and cradled her softly. She buried her face into his neck and began to weep. She felt numb.

How could her Sophie do that to her?

‘I’ll go get her things,’ her grandmother said softly as she passed them on her way out of the kitchen.

‘Oh Anne, love. I’m so sorry.’ He said as he carried her through the house and out of the front door into the fresh air. ‘Your sister can be a real spiteful brat when she puts her mind to it.’ He said sadly. She gripped his shoulders tight as he bent down to open the car door. The last thing she needed now was to be dropped on the floor.

The soft summer breeze whipped gently through her hair as he placed her in the car. He shut the door with a swoosh of air and headed back towards the house. Anne fumbled for her seat belt and clicked it into place. Sophie was already buckled in next to her as distant but annoying audible beats escaped her headphones.

‘Look, Anne,’ Sophie said as the music got louder for a moment, ‘It’s really boring when we stay here, I didn’t mean t-‘

‘Don’t talk to me,’ she muttered, bowing her head sadly.

Sophie put her headphone back in and returned to whatever it was she was doing.

The pebbles crunched as her father returned to the car, deep in muffled conversation with their grandmother. He opened the boot and placed their bags inside. Slamming it shut, he walked around to the driver's side and opened the door before stopping to say goodbye.

‘Honestly,’ He tutted, ‘I’m sorry. God only knows what their mother's going to say. Where on earth does she get these ideas?' There was a quick lull in conversation as they embraced, Anne heard their grandmother give dad a wet smooch on the cheek. The car rocked slightly from side to side as he got in.

‘Don’t give it a second thought. Kids will be kids.’ said Grandma, leaning in the open door. ‘Oh, and don’t forget this.'

The car rocked again as Anna's dad reached behind his chair and tapped Anne on the leg. She reached out and grabbed her white cane.

'Of all the things I could forget, huh?' He tutted as he closed the door and wound his window down.

Grandma laughed, ‘It would’ve been hard for Anne to get around the fair without it.’

'That's true,' He sighed. 'Girls, say goodbye to Grandma Wendy.'

'Goodbye', they chorused as he turned the engine on.

‘Goodbye, girls. See you soon. Behave yourselves.'

She stood back from the car and waved as they pulled away.