"No can do sweety." I shrug, smiling sweetly. "You're going to get what's coming to you." We watch as the whole group of Lost Boys come into view. They look angry. If I was excited about seeing a riot, I'm not disappoitned. 

With their faces painted in mud, their feet bare, spears in hand, they look menacing. The leaders are the bigger boys, Felix and the others. In the back are the littler ones, wielding their spears like pros. Boy, am I glad Henry wasn't apart of this.

Pan turns to me. His eyes. They say what he's thinking. What have I done?

*********************************************

"Ohhh.... crap." I stare at the boys marching towards us. "You know I thought they might.... I never meant..." 

"Shh." Maybe we can talk some sense into them." Pan strides forwards, going straight to the tall leader of them. "Felix... how nice of you guys to show up. So... how's it going?"

Felix punches Pan in the face at the speed of lightning.

"Not again." Pan mumbles. The Lost Boys crowd around Felix, looking him to know what to do next.

I see the arrow far before I hear it. It's arching towards me, at lightning speed. And all I can do is watch it coming towards me. "Ruby!!" Pan calls. I try to answer but I'm frozen in this position. I look over to see Felix grinning at me wickedly.

"I'm sorry." Is the last thing I say, and then the arrow hits me.

I'm expecting it to be painful. But it's not really all that painful. Maybe I'm getting used to this being injured business.

I can feel it connect though, and that's when the pain starts. It's sort of like an explosion. And then I feel the ground coming up to meet me in a thud. Well... this is certainly how I wanted to go out... not. 

******************************

(Hours later)

I awake in the same frozen position, cramped, frozen and stiff. Any small movement sends stabbing pain through every part of my body. Dimly, I can detect the hint of smoke. A fire? It's far away though, because I'm shivering with the cold.

"Pan?" I call weakly. I'm expecting nothing but I get a small laugh. I can't crane my head around to see where he is. But I can tell that I'm tied up to a tree, tightly too because I can barely move. He must be too.

"Been sleeping for a while." He comments.

"What are they doing?" I wince at the pain shooting around through my body. I can feel blood seeping from where the arrow hit my shoulder.

"Having a barbecue." He says wryly. "And I'm not invited. They're planning on having a nice little dance and then killing us."

I groan, not even bothering to struggle against the ropes.

"You can get us out of here." He says. "I don't fancy being killed tonight."

"You're the one... with magic." I get out slowly.

"Mhmm, but it's useless against these ropes. I made them myself - they counteract magic. But you have something else - non magic."

"What?" My brain can't comprehend what he's trying to say.

"Belief. It's stronger than magic. Catching on?"He asks slowly, amused almost. He's still the same Pan I know.

"Riigght." I groan. "How is that going to help us? Even if I could get out, how can I take you? I can't see you... let alone take your hand to get both of us out."

"I'm sitting beside you, sweetheart." He says sweetly.

I try to turn my head but the ropes cut into my neck, forcing me back down again. I'm losing strength fast.

"Just trust me. Is that so hard? If you believe yourself out of those ropes, we can teleport out of here."

The effort of believing is hard to take - especially seeing I'm probably going to die soon of blood loss.

The Lost Boys are still dancing around their bonfire, banging their sticks, oblivious to us.

I try. I really do try. But every time I seem to hit some sort of wall. At last, I sag back against the tree, exhausted. Panting, I try again but feel something poking me.

"Relax. Try again. Catch your breath first."

I pant, steadily recovering what little strength I have. "This better work..."