Lost Boy » Ruth B.

❝ Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, Wendy Darling. Even Captain Hook, you are my perfect story book. ❞

As she roused from the unconscious state, she was first aware of the cool breeze tickling her skin and the poking on her back. The ground felt rocky beneath her.

As all her senses came back to life, something else pulled her attention. Or someone else.

"She looks just like Wendy!" said a chipper voice, from her right side.

"Except for the fact they are both girls, she looks nothing like Wendy," said another voice from her left side, less chipper and more irked than the last, and without a doubt a girl's voice.

There was stifled laughter from her right, like the sound of wind chimes in her backyard, lilting and sweet. "Are you still sore about --?"

"Shh! Peter, I think she's waking up," cried the feminine voice in a whisper. A silence charged by anticipation spread around them, waiting for a sound to be born.

She slowly opened her eyes, blinked against the unexpected sunlight and immediately froze at the sight of two heads looming over her. Involuntarily, she scrambled away from the strangers.

Their lips were moving fast, like they were bickering with each other. Each word tumbled out almost before the last was ended.

Slowly, the voices became clear and loud, as her heart thumped to normal rhythmic beats within her chest.

"I told you! You scared her, Tink!" The boy Peter, hissed through gritted teeth, trying to keep his voice down.

"I didn't do anything! I just said hey!" The girl exclaimed, crossing her arms over her chest and pouting her lips. "How is that scary?!" Tink rolled her eyes in a complete circle and continued mumbling something, that she couldn't make out.

They were acting so animated that she would have burst into fits of laughter if she wasn't so confused.

Wait, Peter and Tink?

Her baby-blue doe eyes sifted over the two figures as they squabbled.

Peter was scrawny, with a careless mess of brown hairs that fell over his forehead and big ears. He had brown eyes, and they always seemed to have a mischievous glint in them. He wore a deep-green tunic made out of leaves, matched with a pair of brown trousers that was torn off at the knees and was barefooted.

She shifted her squinted eyes over to the girl, and her head tilted to a side.

Tink had blonde hair tied in a bun on top of her head and blue eyes, the color of sunny afternoon sky. A spring-green dress moulded of leaves hugged around her small frame.

At sudden realisation that she was staring, and that they had stopped bickering and were watching her now, she slowly hoisted herself off the ground using her tiny palms. Small rocks pricked her skin. She was lying on gravels close to a river edge.

Wiped the dust of her hands and dress, she then aimed her finger at the boy saying, "You're Peter Pan?"

Peter stamped his foot down and struck a pose with his hands on his hips. Chin up, chest puffed out and lips stretched into a smile so bright and cheeky. "Yes, I'm Peter Pan!" He declared.

"And, you're Tinkerbell?" She clapped her hands together and grinned from ear to ear as Tink waved and nodded at her in response. "I thought you were small," she said, her thumb and index finger held apart in the shape of crescent moon.

Peter snorted an uncontrolled outburst of mirth, while Tinkerbell's lips downcasted and her cheeks fell.

"Precisely, she's got brain the size of a pea, so you're not too far from the truth." Peter winked. The fairy glared at him, her cheeks and tip of her ears turned scarlet.

She beamed a smile so wide to fit her small face. "You're really Peter Pan and Tinkerbell from my book!"

"We're in a book?" Peter asked, his jaw dropped a bit and eyes got wider. Tink had the similar expression, the angry red faded from her face and the pale shade returned.

"Yeah, my Mam reads to me in bed every night and sometimes I read to myself when I'm bored," the little girl piped up and said. "There's films about you too."

"Films..." he mumbled in a tone of confusion, but his face showed wonder and remnants of excitement. "Wicked!"

"They need to get the details right," Tink remarked, but her lips were furled up slightly at the ends.

The little girl looked around her. Confusion and disorientation must have displayed on her face because Peter asked,"Are you lost, boy?"

Tink snorted at that and giggled as she said, "Oh, nice one, Peter, but she's a girl!" Peter had a bewildered expression.

"Come on, lost girl, I'll show you around," called Peter, waved at her to come over and clasped her tiny hand in his big one. "What's your name?" He asked with a sweetest smile, as they strode down the natural paths hand in hand, with Tink right beside them.

"My name's Theodora, but everyone calls me Theo."

Theo took in the sights and sounds of the beautiful forest. The sun played peekaboo through the trees as they walked and the sunshine that hit the flowers and leaves made them look glittery.

They stopped near an inclined tree trunk. Peter hoisted her onto his back; her light weight made it easy and effortless for him. "Hold on, Theo," He announced, just as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He climbed up the trunk over to an adjacent tree branch and sat with his legs hung over the large branch.

Theo deliberately descended from his back, and carefully settled on the branch beside Peter.

Up from the branch, she could see vast dark waters spread out far ahead, motionless and glistening. A ship that echoed an old pirate ship floated lazily in the middle. A chill ran down her spine at the realisation that was Captain Hook's ship.

Theo...

She felt just a whisper of something soft and feathery against her forehead, like a kiss. She blinked and as soon as it came, the sensation was gone.

A flutter of wings attracted her attention, and she turned just in time to beheld Tink fold her wings down her back. The fairy had transparent wings like a shining clear glass, which wouldn't have been visible if the light had not fallen in that direction.

"Theo," Peter called, drawing her attention. He produced an acorn out of nowhere and held it up in front of their faces. The nut wore a burnt brown hat and still had a tinge of green at the bottom. "See this tree nut?"

"A tree nut?" She peered at the acorn, her face strained to suppress the amusement.

"Yeah, there's a tree inside this little nut." She giggled at his response. Peter simply blinked and then grinned with his starry eyes.

"Watch this," he wrapped his fingers tightly around the acorn and curled his hands into a tight fist. Peter placed his fists over his mouth, puffed out his cheeks and let out a lungful of breath like blowing a horn. He then bumped both of his clenched fists together. "Now, tell me where is it?" Peter outstretched his hands, and there was a little rise in the corner of his mouth.

Theo studied his closed fists, before she declared matter-of-factly, "None."

Peter looked like the eye popper toy that she saw at the fun fair. Hilarious.

As the fairy and the boy paused for thought, Theo added, "Because that's what I'd do. It makes people crazy trying to figure out how you did it."

Peter turned his hands and slowly uncovered his fingers. The acorn was gone. His opened palms were empty as though the acorn disappeared through a hole in his hand. 

"How did you know?" Tink looked quizzically at Theo.

"Magic," Theo said mysteriously, but a soft laughter still undertoned her voice. Tink snickered while Peter had this impressed look of adoration on his face.

Her eyes trailed over the fairy's wings and later made their way back to Peter.

"Can you fly?" Theo asked Peter, sudden excitement and curiosity seeping into her voice. She looked to her right and in that moment, he looked like the never-aging child he was inside the body of a teenager.

He jumped up using his two hands, and nimbly stood on the branch stretching.

Peter pulled in a deep breath, and fixed his eyes on her, who was in turn watching him with bated breath. She watched incredulously as his feet ever so slowly rose off the branch and he hovered several inches in the air. She met his gaze with parted lips and the corner of his mouth creased in delight.

Soon, he was flying around her laughing as she giggled along. He then hovered in front of her, gave a dramatic final bow, and said, "come, fly with me."

"But I can't fly!" She pulled a face, eyes flitting from Peter who only chuckled to Tink who shared a knowing look with the floating boy.

"Yes, you can!" He responded, enthusiastically.

She hauled herself up and gingerly stood on the branch, then peeked below, "what if I fall?"

"But what if you fly!" came his reply without a pause.

"Maybe I need pixie dust..." she trailed, looking over at Tinkerbell.

"No you don't," Tink flew and joined Peter's side.

"There's magic in the air around here, Theo," Peter circled around her, walking in the air, free and easy. "Here," he continued, "you can do anything if you truly believe with all your heart and have faith, without fear." He soared into the sky and did a front flip, halting in the air with his hands on his hips, waiting for her.

Theo looked at the smiling fairy and then at the expectant boy. The next thing she knew, she leaped into the air without any fear and inhibition but instead all she felt was joy and excitement. For a second, she seemed to be falling, but then she took to the air.

She blinked rapidly, a smile of disbelief marked on her face before her lips parted and a joyous peal of laughter surged out of her as she flew upwards. She wobbled a bit and almost lost balance, but Peter grasped her just in time and steadied her; Tink followed beside him.

The cool wind wafted into her face and hair. The cold temperature bit into her cheeks and her hair floated over her head like a golden halo. Yet Theo loved the feeling.

"I'm joy!" She yelled, 'cause that's what she felt. Infinite joy.

Peter instantly looked at her with a subtle curious glint in his brown eyes, "That's what I say! Finally, someone gets it!"

She glided in the serene atmosphere, watching the shades of greenery slowly fade away to the dark blue space. Suddenly, she was hit by the salty air and the soft murmurs of the beguiling waters, like the snoring of a sleeping giant.

Out the corner of her eye, she saw a movement in the water. Theo fixed her gaze on the spot and there it was again.

She squinted her eyes, and her gaze travelled to where a shape of long, fish's tail floated on the surface. From the distance, it glimmered at the fading sun's touch as the tail whipped and cut through the water like a steel blade. A mermaid.

Before she fathomed it, Theo dove towards it, as Tink and Peter called after to slow down. She perched on the nearby boulder, and the mermaid emerged out of the water, it's blue-green eyes — almost a beautiful teal — bored into hers, curious and alert.

Up close, the mermaid's skin looked to be a dull greyish-blue like the sky just before a storm, with a soft scattering of aquamarine scales here and there. A fin started from the middle of its back and went down the base of the spine, and a mane of silver hair swayed gently in the water. The little girl stared wide-eyed when she saw it's tail that was far longer than her body; a spectrum of iridescent teal and turquoise that shifted colors in the light.

Theo timidly reached out to stroke the mermaid's tail. As her fingers grazed the scales, an urgent and loud voice called out, "Theo, step back from the creature!"

She flinched and withdrew her hand back. Her misty eyes shifted to terror and she caught her breath as her wrist was grabbed with alarming strength. Her gaze see-sawed from its webbed hand on her wrist to the sinister smile on its pinkish-grey lips.

The creature jumped out of the water and tackled her, dragging both under the tide. She was able to break free but was grabbed by the ankle and dragged under a second time. The freezing water enveloped her and a weird feeling of serenity and safety overcame her. 

Theo doesn't like deep waters. To be more precise, she don't like being submerged in water where her feet can't graze the bottom surface.

She still remembers how her heart had started banging against her chest as she peeped over the edge of the diving board. So loud and fast that she hardly heard her father instructing her to jump. He had been below in the pool treading water, ready to shelter her as promised.

Theo had closed her eyes and jumped, trusting her father. Terror slivered through her tiny body and then she hit the water with a piercing scream and a sploosh. She swallowed some water, choked and coughed before she sensed her father's solid arms around her small torso, anchoring her as the water rushed about them.

It was moment of desperation that made her decision. She never plunged into any water deeper than her bathtub since that day, even under her father's persistence.

But now as the frigid water enveloped her and as she felt the same feeling of overwhelming desperation, she wished she had listened to him.

She would have screamed but every time she tried, the water mercilessly got in her mouth and nose creating only gurgling noises.

Each chance to breathe became further apart, each breath less than the last. It felt all too familiar to be in this position as she sensed the darkness ready to swallow her whole just as the water. But then, all of a sudden she was being pulled out of the water.

She took a deep breath and blinked the water droplets out of her eyes. She could make out the familiar silhouette of Peter, brawling with the mermaid. Finally, her feet touched the sand, and she looked up at her saviour. Theo's eyebrows frowned in focus upon seeing Peter's tender look, and she turned back to realise it was Peter's shadow tackling the mermaid.

"Magnificent creatures, aren't the mermaids?" came a husky, grave voice from behind them, "so pretty but it's just a mask to hide the evil that lies underneath." The mermaid's eyes widened at the presence that had appeared and with a flick of its tail it swam away, and the shadow rejoined with Peter.

Theo's head snapped to the source of voice, and her heart dropped at the sight of the shining hook attached to the man's left hand. There standing few feet away from the trio, clad in long, red velvet tailcoat and ebony vest and trousers was the notorious Captain Hook.

"What are you doing, Pan?" The pirate sounded like her tired mother when she does something troublesome. Peter and Tink stiffened beside her as Hook sauntered towards them, his boot-like shoes thumped dully on the dense earth.

"She doesn't belong here," the set of devilishly blue eyes fixated on Theo's, unassuming but intimidating, and refusing to blink or look away. She quailed under the pirate's eyes and ducked away to conceal herself behind Peter. His beard and long hair made him seem all the more terrifying to Theo.

"I hope you do remember what happens to the lost boys and girls who stay," Hook's gaze now on Peter and Tink. "I thought you knew better, Tinkerbell?" he said in a questioning manner, with a calm but disapproving lilt in his voice.

For someone she believed always knew the right thing to say and make joke out of any situation, Peter Pan seemed to be speechless. In fact, him and Tink looked like they swallowed a bitter pill.

As Peter glanced down at her, his expression lightened. Then, there was a ghost of a smile on his lips and he winked at her. And just like that, the charming, daring Peter Pan was back.

"Ready for a run?" Peter asked, as he grabbed her hand, "Come on, Theo, run away from the big, bad Captain Hook!" He yelled, as he pulled her along with him and then gestured at Tink to follow them.

"My name is Captain Hook. I'm named this because I have a cute little hook as a hand!" Theo laughed at Peter's dramatic antics, while Hook grumbled with frustration in the background as the shadow attacked him.

"You can't run away for long," Hook shouted after them,"Her time is running out, Pan!"

They ran back into the forest, with Tink flying behind. Theo looked back and her eyes landed on Hook's. She felt an odd lightheadedness and quickly averted them at her running feet.

They were now sat on that same tree after their escape from Captain Hook, watching the sun slowly fade away when Theo felt a ringing in her head. The fuzzy ringing cleared to be replaced by another sound, rhythmic beep; it was not loud as both Peter and Tink seemed unfazed by the noise.

Theo...

"How did I get here?"

"We found you unconscious by the river. What happened?" Peter inquired.

"My cousin Eoin and I, we were playing by the river behind our nana's house," her temples throbbed as she recalled; it felt like piecing together a half remembered dream. "There are willow trees next to the river; it was Eoin's idea to swing on the tree branches. He made it look fun. I had to give it a try." She added, truthfully, innocent eyes looking up at Peter and Tink.

They were staring at her now, their eyebrows furrowed.

"We were having fun swinging, testing who can get farthest," there was a flicker of smile on her lips at the thought of the wind rushing through her blonde locks and into her eyes as she watched the puffy clouds.

Theodora!

Her smile vanished as quick as it appeared, "I fell into the river."

"Well, that explains it," Tink said, matter-of-factly, though Theo was just confused.

"What did Captain Hook mean by time is running out?" She asked, half to herself, as she looked back at setting sun. She marvelled at the few stars that appeared. All around the horizon, the sky was soft pink slowly faded to a rich purple and then deepened to a royal blue.

Theo saw a star flickering in the sky. She squinted her eyes and saw the spark of light was getting near. She blinked her eyes to see the twinkling star near her face. A giggle escaped her as she realised what it was.

The firefly sat on the tip of her nose. She was about to stroke it when it flew away.

"Hey Peter, Tink, look!" Theo exclaimed, floating down to the ground, all thoughts of Captain Hook gone in the innocent childish joy at the sight beheld.

Around the dark woodland, an explosion of fireflies darted in and out of the trees. It dotted the darkness with specks of yellowish-green light, which to her young eyes looked like an enchanted forest from a fantasy book. She ran towards them, and the fireflies took off into the air. Their luminescent glow mesmerized the six-year-old as she twirled around, while the fireflies continued their merry flight going in loop the loop and random patterns.

Off to the side, a swarm of fireflies rested on a lush green bush. She stepped closer to capture a better look when someone came out from behind the tree and caught her wrist. "Peter Pan! Tinkerbell!" Theo looked up, eyes wide.

"Believe me, darling, you need to get out," Captain Hook said.

"What?" She breathed.

"Tick-tock tick-tock, you don't have much time," he continued, those blue eyes fixated on her. "Open your eyes, or you'll be stuck here —" he got cut off by Peter calling her name.

"Theo!" she saw something change in Peter's demeanour, a slight straightening of his spine perhaps, at the sight of the pirate. "Hey, Captain Crook," he said, cheekily.

"Hey cocky pants," Hook retorted, sarcasm light on his voice. "You got any idea what you're doing?"

There was a quick flicker in Peter's eyes, but his voice remained playful when he said, "Uh chasing fireflies?"

"Don't play coy with me, mate," Hook said, eyes narrowed at the never-aging boy. Annoyance hinted on his face. "I know what you're doing, but you can't keep her here."

"Hook is right, Peter," Tinkerbell, finally spoke up after watching their exchange in her stretching silence."She will be lost forever."

"I thought you were on my side, Tink," he huffed, his turmoil was evident on the twisted features of his face. "Everyone leaves me in the end."

When his eyes landed on Theo, he questioned,"we were having fun, right?"

Theo nodded her head. Her usual sweet smile faintly appeared at the edges of her lips but the baby-blue of her eyes was misted over.

"We could fly all over the land and water, go to the top of Neverpeak Mountain to see over anyone and anything-- "

Theo's tender voice cut him off, "What's going on, Peter Pan?" The way she conveyed his name was as if he was her hero, even though Peter hadn't had saved Theo yet. The blind faith little kids have on their heroes that they could do no wrong.

Peter took a swift glance at Hook and Tink, then sighed through his nose. "Do the right thing," he stepped closer to Theo, and bent down to her eye level. "You believe in me, right?" She blinked upon catching the familiar hopeful, high spirited spark in his brown eyes, and responded with a simple nod. "Good. If it got to work, you have to believe," he said firmly. "You have to believe to find your way back home."

Theo! Open your eyes! She heard from somewhere above after a couple of minutes and felt a light coming from her right side.She raised her hand reckoning them to adjust to the shift in brightness around her. For the first time, she noticed a blazing white light that flooded the path towards the passage out of the woodland. The light was so radiant, she couldn't see anything beyond it.

Turned back to look at the three of them, she saw they had moved a short distance away but still within earshot.

"What's that?" Theo asked. She felt the light behind her growing faint without her attention, but peeked back to realise it was still there. It felt strange at the same time it tranquilised her.

"The way back to home," Tink said with a small smile.

"It'll take me back to Mam?"

"It will take you back to everything, you just have to believe," she said, repeating Peter's words from earlier.

Theo contemplated the light that brightened again, its warmth radiated and reached out to her. She finally forced herself from it's hypnotic charm and looked back at the three. Her eyes fell on Peter; he had a frown that he instantly changed to a smile.

"When will I see you again?"

Peter gave a humble shrug in response, but upon seeing her drooped shoulders and how her face fell into a natural low-spirited way, he walked over to her. Crouched down to be face to face, he took her tiny hand in his.

He looked off to the side and up at the light, as if trying to think of the right thing to say. Then, a small, secret smile tugged safely at his lips. "You know that place, that strange but sweet spot right between sleep and wake? That place where you can dream with your eyes open?" He asked, and Theo nodded though she looked slight confused. "That's where we'll meet again. That's where I'll be waiting."

Theo gave him a toothy grin before stepping forward and wrapped her arms around Peter; surprising him enough to take a moment to put his arms around her to return the gesture when she didn't let go.

"I'll see you all soon," she mumbled, bringing a warm smile onto his face.

"Soon enough," Peter whispered, as Theo let go of Peter and walked past him to the light, one tentative step at a time until the tip of her toes touched the light. She turned around and waved at the never-aging boy, the fairy and the pirate. Their waving figures slowly faded as the light glowed brighter and brighter, and encompassed Theo's small figure. She shut her eyes as the light enveloped her. Thoughts of home gobbled her mind.

She felt a gush of air rush past her, and heard faint voices of people mingled with the howling wind. Then nothing.

Silence.

Suddenly, she opened her eyes, gasping and lurching for a clear breath.

"Hey, something's happening! I-I think she's waking up!"

Something tightened her chest, and a firm yet loving hand on her head kept her from moving too much. "Hey Theo, baby it's alright," Theo's vision was blurred, her eyes watered but could make out her Mam's face looming above her. She was smiling while tears flowed on her cheeks.

A moment later, an unfamiliar soft-spoken voice broke through, "Please ma'am, if you could give us some space." A nurse garbed in light blue scrub stepped in with a sweet smile.

The nurse removed the tube from her throat and Theo coughed before she breathed in her first real air on her own with no problems. "Welcome back, Theodora!" She said and looked back at Theo's mother who was craning her neck over with a concerned and anticipated look. "She's a strong kid."

After few minutes with Theo still breathing on her own, and assisting her to get comfortable in the bed, the nurse left to call the doctor. Theo's father and cousin Eoin arrived soon after the nurse left the room. Both were smiling from ear to ear and Eoin clutched a book close to his chest as though it was the precious thing and he was afraid someone might steal it.

"Theo! You're awake," he beamed as he ran up to her, his mess of curls dangled carelessly over one eye as he stooped over the bed. "I brought your favourite book to read," he held out the copy of Peter Pan. Her dry lips cracked at the corners as she stretched them into a smile.

"Hey, little clover," Bending down, Theo's father kissed her on the forehead. "I missed you." He then, picked Eoin up and positioned him on his lap as he sat on the chair, next to the bed.

"Aunt Ciara, can you read to us?" Eoin asked.

"Of course, m'dear," her mother took the book from him and gently sat on the edge of the bed between them like she did for the past two weeks. Staring down at their innocent young faces, her eyes crinkled with love, before she flipped the book to the first page and started reading.

"You know, Captain Hook isn't as scary as he looks," Theo whispered halfway through the first page, her voice still too scratchy from disuse. "I think he might actually be a marshmallow inside."

"Ew!" Eoin scrunched his nose up in disgust and Theo's smile widened.

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Author's note :

Hey everyone!

I hope y'all liked this story featuring the Neverland characters inspired by Ruth B.'s Lost Boy. Peter Pan is like my all time favourite Disney character. What's your favourite Disney character?

If you enjoyed the story, please vote and don't forget to comment your thoughts. Tell me what was your favourite part? I appreciate all your comments.

Thank you!

All the love,
Maddy.