This is it. Escape time. I think. I've had enough of Pan and his evil ways. It's time to get Henry out of here. I see him sitting beside the fire, playing with a stick, muttering to himself. That's when I realize he's watching something.

I sneak over his shoulder. He's looking into... a mirror? In it are a few random people. His family?

He turns around, jumps, and the glass shatters as he throws the mirror on the ground. Then he looks relieved. "Ruby." He whispers.

"Who were they?" I ask softly.

Henry looks into the distance. "My family. They said they're here, on the island."

"They are." I say encouragingly. "They're going to rescue us."

"I don't know." Henry says slowly.

"Your family always find each other, right? Well they will. Don't worry. Now I want to tell you something. We're escaping somewhere, tonight. I have a plan. But I need Pan around to hear what I want him to hear. This is it." I whisper in his ear. He nods, and goes back to twirling his stick, while I wait for Pan to appear.

It all seems so easy. He's always around when he's not wanted. I start to feel restless. What is taking him so darn long?

Finally, he appears in the midst of his lost boys, looking full of confidence as usual. I doubt he'll be so smug when we disappear right from under his very nose. I try to look as suspicious as possible, looking around, making sure I know he knows I'm up to something. Then I sneak over to Henry, and say, softly, but loud enough for anyone listening to be able to hear:

"Henry, this is the plan. We're going to get the hell out of here. Tinkerbell told me where we need to go: It's a place called Skull island. Pan doesn't go there. When he starts his pipe, we're going to dance, and then we're going to sneak away while he's distracted."

"How?" Henry whispers. I can't tell whether he's still on my side or not.

"I'm going to create a diversion." I say quickly. I look up, and see Pan staring at me intently. He hurriedly looks away but what he doesn't catch is my wide grin of satisfaction. He's taking it.

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

Just as predicted, the music starts - more upbeat than usual. Henry and I dance around the fire, just as planned. The music is more hypnotising than usual. I clamp my hands around Henry's ears as he starts to lose himself in it. In a moment he blinks, and nods at me that he's ready.

We start inching out of the circle, then I trip one of the dancing boys. His fall marks the 'distraction' I need. Henry and I hide behind the tree, and start making our way down a rocky path.

"Where are we going? This skull rock island thing?" Henry asks me.

"Shh. I can't talk now. Pan has ears everywhere. But yes, we're going to skull rock island. But we're going to have to fly."

"Fly?!" Henry's eyes grow wide. "With what? Why?"

"It's faster. And besides that, I can't teleport anyway, without magic. And we're flying with pixie dust." I blow some over him and tip some over myself, grabbing his hand. We start rising, and in a moment we're hovering above the earth.

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

"Let's go, boys!" Peter Pan feels the air of excitement around his boys. "We're going to skull rock to claim the heart of the truest believer.

His lost boys rally around him, marching off in their groups. Felix falls in beside him. "Is the boy ready?"

"We get two for the price of one." Pan grins. "But I only need 1 heart to keep me young forever."

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

"Where are we?" I pull Henry up the last rock.

"We're safe." I say. "Now, we wait."

"For what?" Henry rubs his hand over a tiny cut on his arm.

"You want to see your family again, right?" I ask.

"Of course..."

"Then please don't ask any questions. If I'm going to out-smart Pan I need time to think and... you're not to say anything. I'm sorry, Henry, but it's for the best."

"I'll shut up now." Henry nods.

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

"Where are they?!" Pan looks around at skull rock, which is completely empty.

"Pan?" Felix runs over, face red from running. "They're not here."

"Blast the..." Pan shakes his head.

"What?" Felix asks, puzzled.

Peter's fist bangs into the tree. He looks amused, and slightly mad. "I just got outsmarted by a girl."

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

"Come to reclaim your special lost boy?" I watch the army of lost boys descending down the cliff face.

Peter Pan materializes right in front of me, his green eyes flashing fire, just like mine. But I don't give him the satisfaction of flinching back. I hold my ground. "Well done, Ruby. I've got to hand it to you, you did out plan me. But not for long."

"Oh, I haven't finished yet." I smile. "You won't find Henry."

"Oh, won't I?" Pan smirks, then blows a short note on his pipe. The smile fades off my face as Henry appears behind the tree in front of me, looking sheepish.

Something sinks inside of me as I realize that no matter how hard I try, this kid is now a lost boy - one of Pan's pocessions. "Henry? Darnit kid. I told you to run!" I'm growing impatiently annoyed at his persistant lost boy tendancies.

"I'm sorry." Henry says soberly. "But I have to save magic. It's up to me."

I stare at him. "How do you even believe this?"

Henry looks around at the gathered lost boys. "I was walking today, when I overheard Pan talking with Felix. I followed Felix deep into the jungle and met someone."

My eyes grow wide, imagining all the possibilities. "Who?"

"Wendy." He says, without any further explanation. I don't need one.

"Wendy Darling?" I ask. "She's here too? Of course she is." I sigh, saying more to myself than him.

"I have to help save her." Henry insists. "She said that she's dying - she has some sickness... Pan is doing all he can but..."

I can't help the snort of laughter that comes. He gives me a funny look and carries on. "...But he can't help. If I save magic, then she is saved too."

Now it's my turn. I think back to the debate I had at school once. That was nothing. Someone's life is at stake here.

"Henry, Pan is not who you think he is. He doesn't care for anyone but himself." I'm expecting him to jump over and stop me, but he doesn't. He seems to want me to carry on. "There's no such thing as saving magic. Henry, don't you get it?"

"Get what?" Henry asks. I sigh in frustration. Pan looks at me with that hideous smirk of his.

"Kid, there is no magic to save. The island is full of it. Pan wants your heart." I emphasise my words slowly. "He. Is. Going. To. Kill. You." My voice breaks on the end. I can't let Henry die.

"I'm saving magic, and Wendy." Henry repeats stubbornly. "Heroes have to make sacrifices sometimes, even if that means risking their lives."

I have never felt so defeated ever, in my whole life, even after my dealings with the Bakers. Right now, the thing I dread is happening. There is no hope. Pan is winning the game. He was never intending to lose it, and as long as I play by his rules, he never will. I'm suddenly so angry at the smirking fairy tale character in front of me, I grit my teeth and hold out the sword I fought with the first time. Then I glare at Pan. "Ready for a rematch?"

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

"You think you're going to kill me?" Pan looks amused. "You see, dearie, everything's played out just how I wanted it. I would have had Henry sooner, of course, if not for you, but then again - here he is, willing to give me his heart. Curious, isn't it? And how is it that you are suddenly so enlightened."

My sword crashes into him, and in an instant he's blocking it with one of his own.

"When Tinkerbell told me, I knew immediately this was your stupid plan - to get me to go to Skull Rock and fall right into your trap. You really didn't think I was that naive, did you? After I talked to her I got a visit from a friend."

I ram my sword into his. "The Shadow. He told me you hardly ever come here. I knew if I came here it would give Henry time to escape -so I thought." I glare at him, but he looks down, now in the presence of two of the lost boys. "Now that you have Henry, what are you waiting for?"

I lock his sword at the very top and take a step forwards so he's backed up agains the cliff. "Kill me with a wave of your hand - banish me from Neverland forever. Or, if you prefer, turn me into a mermaid or a fairy and make you serve me all the days of my life. Or send me back to my miserable home. Your choice."

I step back and he clashes swords again. "You really think I'm a monster, don't you?"

I laugh haggardly, ducking the swife of his sword. "I don't think. I know."

He looks up at the moon like we're not even fighting and huffs. "We're running out of time. Take Henry to Skull Rock. And as for you..." he looks at me. "I think I have a place you can go." He pushes me back against the wall until my head thumps against it. My green eyes battle his, even though I know his mind games are stronger than mine. That sinking feeling multiplies. A realization overwhelms me. The realization that I have lost the game.

"I wouldn't be terribly disappointed." He says, his tone comforting. He doesn't fool me. "You've played my game well - even made a few moves of your own. I have to say, I'm not disappointed. Out of the girls I've met, you're the only one that's ever come remotely close to matching my skills. Nevertheless, you are just a piece. A piece in my game. A piece that I'm about to move."

"No." A shudder runs through me. "Take me instead. Pan, I too have what you need. Just let Henry go." my voice wavers pleadingly. He doesn't answer flor a while, just stares at me.

"Please." I hate begging but I'm desperate. "The kid has a family... and a life. I don't. Don't do this to him."

"These are my games, Ruby." He says harshly. "Pleasant dreams, my little lost girl." He puts both his hands on my shoulders.

"Nooo!" I resist the pull of teleporting with everything I have. tears work their way down my face."

"Please no." I whisper, my resolve weakening as the pull increases. I get one last look at Henry before Pan whispers something. Instantly, I am yanked from where I was standing. I disappear, and reappear inside... a cage?

"Oh great." I say sarcastically.

"Hello?" A voice in the cage makes me jump

"Whose there?" I ask, scrambling up into the corner.

"It's OK. My name's Wendy. Wendy Darling."

A/N: I KNOW I KNOW!!! Cliffhanger!!!! I'm sorry! :( Actually no. I'm not sorry at all. mwahahaha.

The next chapter will be up - it is the last chapter of book 1. I know the books are fairly short, but still, I have to pack a lot into them. :D HAVE FUN READING AND WAITING MY ONCERS!