Something is dreadfully wrong. 

There's no specific manner of describing the sense. It's probably different for everyone but for me it starts with a pit in my stomach. The pit works up to my throat and tightens it up like when I'm about to cry. My muscles cramp and my steps feel labored. 

My mind rushes to comfort me, assuring me that the feeling is just a feeling. Everything is alright. 

I don't think so. 

Ever since revealing my powers, guards have escorted me everywhere along with a researcher. Today, there are double the guards as usual and an extra researcher. They don't take me to the routine location for a series of tests but walk me to the deck of the ship. 

It could be that I just didn't notice it prior, but the guards have guns tucked in their belts. 

It could be that I just didn't notice it before, but the researchers Hansen and Melinda are wearing gloves. 

It could be that I just didn't notice it before, but their grip on me is extra tight. 

The ship had been traveling speedily. In my room, I wondered where we were headed. As the expressions on everyone's faces are grim, my mind wanders to dark places. My optimism swats at the thoughts like a buzzing fly. 

It's silent above deck. It's almost dead silent apart from the crashing waves. 

The crates are blocking the view but it's safe to assume we're out in the middle of the ocean. 

A terrifying thought surfaces. 

They're going to kill me and dump my body at sea. 

It isn't a crazy idea. Nakpuna said it himself, I am more trouble than I am worth. He might have gotten his fill of information from me during these days of testing. He might have gotten his information on Neverland and the insider from Charlie. Besides that, what am I good for? 

I have always questioned how I would be returned home - if I would be. 

I recall falling from the crates to the deck and splattering into a heap of injured limbs. That could happen again except this time I will be dead and plunging into the ocean. 

I am being pulled down the line of crates. I ask what we're doing here and I am met with more silence. 

As we make further progress, my vision makes out figures. It makes out faces. It makes out scenery. It makes out an island. 

Neverland. 

The ship is as close as it can be to Neverland and everyone who dwelled on it is kneeling on the deck with their hands tied behind their backs. 

"Dovie!" 

The cry belongs to Luka who makes a move to sit up and is shoved back in place by the guard behind him. His glasses fall off of his face, causing the lens to crack. 

Willow is next to Jimmy who is pressing his head into her side. "Oh my goodness, you look half dead." 

I refuse to believe what I'm seeing is real. 

Finding my voice, I ask, "How did this happen? How did they find you -" 

"It wasn't you?" Shawn is back to back with Willow and has to crane his neck to peer at me. His stare is no match for Tina's. 

"No, I would never tell." 

Charlie. It was Charlie. 

My knees buckle. I slip out of the guard's grip and then I'm crawling over to them. I wrap my arms around, Willow, Jimmy, Luka, Shawn - anyone who can fit. 

My heart breaks for them, for me, for Charlie because I know he'll be dead to me for this. If we don't get all of them out of here, I won't be able to stomach looking at him. 

"We'll get out of this." I stroke Jimmy's head and grab his chin in my hand. "We're going to be alright." 

A tear trickles down his cheek. "We need Peter Pan and TinkerBell. That's how the pirate is defeated in the story." 

"I know, bud. I know." 

Shawn starts twisting around behind Willow. He's squirming in his seat, pulling on the rope that bounds his wrists. His breath is labored and his skin reddens. He appears as if he is on the verge of an anxiety attack. 

"I can't go back down there. I can't be trapped here again," he says, growing more and more irritated with every word. This is the most vulnerable I have ever seen Shawn and it tears me apart that there's nothing I can do to help him. 

Three more boys are brought onto the ship with guards uncompaning them. It's Aaron being held by guards and the twins. Marcus and David are taken by researchers to be tied up while the guard reports back to Nakpuna who has emerged from behind the crates. 

"These three were harder to catch, sir. The boy can fly and he took those two with him." 

Nakpuna crosses his arms. "Aaron. I suspected you were still out and about. Reeking havoc as always." 

Aaron scowls at Nakpuna with a resentment that could burn the air into ashes. His eyes travel the lot of kids on the deck of the ship's floor and he finds me. 

I stand up. I'm already apologizing. "I tried. I really tried -" 

"I know," he says. "I know." 

He's sincere with his words. The greens of his pupils are as gentle as the leaves of the forest behind him tousled in the wind. Still, it is not easy for me to forget how messed up everything is - how far things have gone from the plan. My mind searches for someone to blame. If it isn't me, then it's Charlie. He's the one who told. 

"Where's my sister?" He directs the question at Nakpuna. "Let me see her." 

"Very well." Nakpuna waves his hand at some researchers and they disappear behind the crates of the ship to get Tina. They emerge with her arms bound behind her back. She looks tired and defeated. She doesn't even flash me her signature scowl. 

"Tina?" 

Her face is blank of any recognition. She just appears shocked at the amount of new bodies on the ship. 

"You remember me. It's Aaron." 

She squints at him. A smile overtakes her features. "I knew you'd come back for me." 

Aaron practically bursts into tears. He bites his lip, steadying his voice. "It's been my life's work." 

Nakpuna cuts into the moment. He steps in between the two, blocking Tina from eyesight. He gestures to the island with the hand missing it's pinky. 

"This island will make the perfect permanent docking station for our ship," he says, his words laced with poison. "Perhaps we could expand the lab to the whole island. We'll have to with all these former participants coming back." 

My fists clench at my sides. It's astonishing that not only did Charlie tell Nakpuna about Neverland but where to find it. At the very least, he gave him information that made finding it possible. The captain that had generously taken us to and from Neverland might have been killed at Nakpuna's hand. The insider too. One could say he did this all for me but with the plethora of ramifications that have resulted from this makes me think that he could have had another motive. Perhaps, despite his uncle's cruelty, he still feels loyal to him. 

Charlie is very loyal. 

But if he is loyal to a monster, I want nothing to do with him. 

Nakpuna stalks over to me. I don't look at him. All I see is how close to death Tina appears, how Shawn struggles for breath though he remains perfectly still, Willow's attempts at assuring Jimmy and the twins things will be okay when she isn't certain for herself. I see a crowd of people that I love and need to protect. 

"My hope in showing you all of this, Dovie," Nakpuna says, " - is to drill it into your head that I am the one in control. The more you struggle, the worse things get. This is your life and this is theirs. Be grateful I let you continue to breathe." 

In a blur of anger, I lift my hand to move one of the massive crates. I think I'll drop it onto his head and watch him splatter. Then the guards and researchers. All the kids will be traumatized but they'll be free. It's such a good idea that I kick myself for not thinking about it before. It's not like the blue juice they pump into their veins can stop me from lifting objects. 

But the crate is heavy. It'll take everything in me to lift it up a few feet when I've been so heavily tranquilized. To direct it at anyone would be nearly impossible. With all the other people on the deck, they'd be able to detain me faster than I could get rid of them all. Nakpuna must read my mind because he huffs while shaking his head. 

Turning from me and to his employees, he orders, "Take all the kids into cells and prep for some busy work weeks." 

I am the last one taken back and thus, I am forced to watch as everyone is dragged off. A heaviness settles in the air and I swear I can hear an ominous note whistled in the wind. My heart tears in my chest as Jimmy kicks and screams, reaching for me. He yells for me to help him but a guard grabs a hold of me to make sure I can't. 

Aaron knees the guard holding him and rushes over to me. He places my hands in his and I feel the thimble I had gifted him in between our palms. 

"This isn't the end. You have to trust me here." 

"I won't let them keep us here," I promise. "I said I would save all of us and I will." 

"We will." 

I blink back tears as the guards seize him. He's treated just as roughly as Ruslan had been and it troubles me to think what will happen to him since he can fly. He's what they have been working towards for years. 

He's their star.