Journey to Neverland (Haunting Fairytales Collection Book 2)

by R. L. Weeks

  Bell giggled. ‘You’re welcome.’ She went to the door. ‘Please wait here, I must go and get the lost boys. They’re probably hunting or partying.’

  FOREST PARTY

  Peter walked in smiling and looked at Gallisa. ‘It’s been too long, old friend.’

  ‘I thought you’d be angry that I left,’ she admitted, hugging him. He was wearing a green baggy top, brown cameo shorts, and sandals. His short blonde hair was unkempt, but it looked good on him. His green eyes shone brighter than anyone’s she had ever seen. His teeth, perfectly white and straight flashed at her as she shot her a mischievous grin. Small dimples curved around the edges of his smile.

  He nodded. ‘I was upset, not angry. But, you came back, and you brought some friends. Hi!’

  ‘This is Snow,’ Gallisa gestured to Snow. Peter’s gaze locked onto hers. He half smiled. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, and so powerful. He then turned to Rapunzel.

  Gallisa smiled. ‘This is Rapunzel,’ she said. Rapunzel smiled warmly.

  ‘And this is Red, my wife to be,’ Rapunzel said, putting her arm around Red, squeezing her softly.

  ‘Wonderful to meet all of you,’ Peter grinned and gestured to the Lost Boys. ‘This is Croon, Tide, Spear, Bark, and Micky,’ They all bowed their heads. Snow looked them up and down. They all looked around eighteen, and each of them just as handsome as Peter.

  ‘No women here then?’ Snow asked, curious.

  Peter shook his head. ‘Not until now.’

  Croon stepped forward. ‘We are having a campfire soon. Would you like to join us?’

  ‘No,’ Snow said. ‘We have some people to find.’

  Belle walked up into the treehouse. ‘Oh my gosh, what are you all doing here?’

  ‘To find someone. Why are you here?’ Snow asked, stepping back.

  Belle smiled. ‘It’s okay, I forgive you Snow. I’m here because Lori and Stilt kidnapped me. I managed to get away. They are here, on the island.’

  ‘We know,’ Red said. ‘They’re who we’re here to find.’

  Peter stepped into the middle of the sofas. ‘How about we have some food, tomorrow we can have a little party, and then we can find them? They’re in Neverland, my Neverland. They won’t get far. We will find what out what they are looking for, in the meantime, please stay.’

  Red shook her head. ‘No, we need to find them.’

  Peter grew impatient but did not let it show. ‘Give me just one day to show you around, so you can have some food and drink? Then, I promise to help you find them.’

  Rapunzel, Galissa, Red, and Rapunzel looked at each other. ‘Fine, thank you,’ Snow said.

  Galissa warmed her hands by the fire. ‘It’ll be good to catch up, Peter.’ He nodded and smiled.

  ‘May I have a bath?’ Belle asked. Bell showed her to the Aztec styled bathroom and ran her a bath.

  Bell dressed into a short strapless green dress, let down her hair which fell to her shoulders, and walked back into the living room.

  Belle jumped into a warm bath and let her thoughts drift to her son. Was he okay? She’d have to find a way to get home, or to send him a message. She got out of the bath and found a piece of parchment and quill in one of the rooms. She wrote a note and slyly handed it to Galissa.

  ‘You’re a fairy, right?’ Belle asked.

  Galissa smiled. ‘How did you know?’

  ‘The ears and the shining hair,’ she admitted. ‘Could you please send this to my son, James? He is Northmanni.’

  Galissa looked down at the note and held Belle’s hand. She took a deep breath and the note disappeared. ‘He has it.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Belle said.

  A thousand miles away James opened the note that appeared on the table of their old cottage. After Belle was taken he had tried to find a way to get Neverland, but failed.

  ‘Inside the note was reminiscence to fairy dust. The note read

  My son,

  If my plan worked then this note has been sent by fairy dust. There will be some left over.

  I am in Neverland and I am safe, but I don’t trust Peter, the boy who lives on the Island. Snow is here too.

  There won’t be much dust so you must throw it onto a mirror and step through it immediately.

  Stay safe.

  Love Mum.

  ***

  The next day Peter showed them around until they settled in a clearing. The mahogany brown forest was a leafy paradise. Lucid snowflake stars shone brightly against the black canvas. The trees were gigantic, towering high above anything else in Neverland. They were home to squirrels that slunk away into their holes, nuts scattered the forest floor. Grass crisped under their tired feet, Rapunzel danced in the clearing. Toadstools surrounded her, candy red and milky white. The smaller fairies mirrored Rapunzel’s dancing on top of the toadstools, leaving trails of magical dust which made the ground glow silver and gold.

  Birds tweeted and animals scurried to see the forest party. Lost boys Croon and Tide played their wooden flutes. The most delightful sounds swept around them, lifting them to dance. Croons brown hair blew in the breeze. He sipped at his tea and smiled at Gallisa. She smiled back and tucked her hands neatly on her lap while slightly swaying from side to side. Croon got up as everyone danced and sat next to Gallisa.

  ‘You have such a lovely head,’ Croon said.

  Gallisa laughed. ‘I’ve never been complimented on my head before.’

  He lowered his voice to a whisper. ‘Before I came here, I made hats. You have a lovely head for a hat.’

  ‘Oh wow! Why don’t you do it here?’ she asked.

  He leaned in closer. ‘Best if you don’t mention it.’

  She leaned in and noticed how good Croon smelled. ‘Why?’

  He glanced over at Peter. ‘He doesn’t like us to do anything that resembles our life before here.’

  She looked around suspiciously. ‘That’s a bit weird. Oh, when did you come here? You weren’t here when I was here last?’

  Croon gasped. ‘You were here before and left?’

  She nodded. ‘Yes. Is that weird.’

  ‘Uh, yes! No-one leaves here,’ he admitted.

  She shrugged. ‘Well, I did.’

  Peter looked over at Croon and Gallisa and smiled. ‘Ready for a real party?’ he asked. They both nodded and shuffled away from each other. Peter sparked a fire, magnificent and bright, in the centre of the fairy ring. Everyone clapped as he marked his face in a warrior fashion and danced around the fire. His face was the epitome of youth, innocence, and happiness. His eyes were brighter than the bright green grass beneath him. He flashed his pearly white teeth as he smiled widely at Snow.

  ‘The music is amazing. I could stay here forever,’ Snow sang as she took off her boots and danced with Rapunzel. A breeze danced with them as the music took over their senses. They all smiled, smiled wider than they ever had. Everything was perfect. They had never known happiness like this.

  ‘Edward would have loved this,’ Belle said. The thought of Edward took her away from the music, taking her away from Neverland just for a moment. Something flashed across Peter’s eyes, something sinister, as Belle sat down, depression falling on her features.

  ‘Belle, dear Belle, what is wrong,’ Peter asked, taking her hand.

  ‘My heart is broken,’ she admitted.

  He huffed and forced a smile. ‘Bell,’ he called. Bell skipped over to the log where they were sat.

  ‘Yes, Peter?’ she asked. Obedient and dazzling, she was his perfect ally.

  ‘Belle has a broken heart.’

  ‘No,’ she gasped. ‘I must help you. You are safe here, with me. Come with me to the treehouse and we can see what we can do about your broken heart.’

  Snow, Red, Rapunzel, and Gallissa continued to dance. Peter joined them in dancing. He took Snow’s hand. ‘May I have this dance,’ he asked with a mischievous smile.

  ‘Just one,’ she said and smirked.

  THE PIED PIPER


  The canopy of trees stretched out into the distance. Sea surrounded them, Peter’s Island was just a small, safe dot from the Island they stood on. The red sky reached into the clouds, the fairy dust lining them lit up like smouldering ashes.

  Squawks from the birds echoed out from the forest. They stood on the golden beach. Each grain of sand was ablaze from the red hue, footprints left behind from the pirates marked the way for Lori and Stilt. They approached the rocky mounds with caution. The rocks stood taller than them with deadly jagged edges.

  Hook ushered them through the narrow gap of the rocks. The smell of smoke still lingered from the stoked out fire that lay in the centre of rocky mounds, it’s ashes still burning from the pirates last visit.

  They sat on the seats which Hook and his crew had made from logs. ‘I’m glad we’re back on land,’ Stilt admitted. He wiped the sweat from his head and brushed back his golden blond hair. Lori stretched her legs.

  The crew stayed behind on the ship as Hook, Lori, and Stilt gathered food. After they dropped the supplies to the ship, they walked into the forest.

  At first, the forest seemed to mirror the one on Peter’s Island, but the further they ventured into the depths of the forest, the wider the trees became. It reeked of age. The ancient trees seemed to have little life left in them, old ones left to die on the outskirts, out of sight, out of mind.

  A wasteland for dying creatures, skulls, both human and fairy, littered the ground. The trees fell away, revealing grey mountains with snowy peaks, looking picturesque against the red sky. The last of the morning stars were like pinpricks against the sunset.

  A haunting melody entrapped the air, calling them to mountains. Lori dressed into one of the garments that Hook had gifted her. The off-white corset curved around her small waist and chest. The skirt fell down to her feet. Her shoes were ballet style, pink, with ribbons wrapping around her ankles to her knees. White laced gloves reached her elbows. She took her hair down, feeling the freedom of no constraints. The tight gowns, the itchy fabrics, and pulling headdresses were gone. She couldn’t help but feel happier in Neverland.

  Stilt noticed how the river surrounding the mountains were the same colour as Sadie’s eyes. He dearly missed his wife, but everything felt okay for the first time. He even felt a smile spread across his face.

  ‘Wipe those smiles off your faces, that’s what he wants!’ Hook barked and walked ahead of them, his brown boots squelched as he walked through the mud. Lori walked around the muddy puddles and followed Hook, with Stilt strutting shortly behind.

  They subconsciously swayed their hips to the melody. It spoke to each of them in different ways. Lori could smell Edward’s rich, musky scent. She could feel the warm embraces on her skin from each loving hug she had ever had.

  Stilt could hear his wife singing a familiar lullaby to their child. He could hear his daughter’s laughter echo around his mind.

  Hook felt his late wife’s soft touch on his face, and everything around them morphed into images of her. Her lips were in the red of the sky, her eyes were in the greens from the leaves, her smile was in every footprint.

  The closer they bore to the mountains base, the more the happiness faded from their spirits. Green mist sat in a ring around the base and the haunting melody grew louder. The sound of the river crashed in their ears. Death hung in the air, a reminder of the truth about Neverland.

  Lori’s eyes scaled the mountain. ‘The keeper of the entry to the fountain lives here? Really?’

  Hook smiled. ‘Peter will not go near him. As powerful as he is, the keeper has a flute which can entrance even Peter. It lures animals, people, fairies, and even mermaids. The beauty of his tunes will breathe life into you, but they will also be the last thing you hear before your inevitable end,’ he warned. ‘So, we must proceed with caution.’

  ‘Why doesn’t he just leave?’ asked Stilt.

  Hook looked up at the cave. ‘Because, the Pied Piper is Peter’s slightly less evil brother.’ They made their way up to the cave, following the winding, dangerous path that led toward the songs of souls.

  They watched their shadows dissolve into the impenetrable darkness as they stepped into the large cave. You couldn’t tell where the roof ended and the ground began. They were careful not to catch themselves on the jagged rocks as they pushed forward into the blackness. Lori summoned up a ball of light, which followed them, offering little comfort from the eerie surroundings. It highlighted the skulls, bones, and lost treasures of those who had entered the cave and did not live to tell the tale.

  The most beautiful music filled their minds. Covering their ears did nothing, the melody stretched out it’s musical hand and pulled its way into your soul. All they could hear was the haunting melody, it surrounded them and filled their being. Lori felt elevated, she danced, taking Hooks hand, who, Stilt was surprised to see, danced with her too.

  Stilt felt his worries melt away, a smile spread across his face with each sweet tune. He felt lightheaded, as if he could fly.

  ‘Who dare enters my cave?’ a booming voice asked, breaking the melody. They snapped back to reality. The melody was replaced by the sound of dripping water. The light disappeared, leaving them in a chilling blackness, only slightly illuminated by the green hue ahead of them. They had not realised in their daze that they had ventured half a mile into the mountain.

  Their gazes locked with the man’s in front of them. They wanted to stay trapped in the dreamy haze, for they had just awoken to a nightmare.

  Edward stood before Lori, the axe wound on his neck was dripping with blood. ‘I loved you!’ Edward gurgled. Lori fell back against the wall, tears falling down her soft cheeks.

  Stilt’s wife sat in the corner of the cave, rocking back and forth, holding onto their daughter’s rattle which was covered in blood. He could taste the blood. He ran his tongue along his teeth and felt the chunks of the flesh from his daughter’s fragile body.

  He heard Sadie’s anguished screams as their daughter cried out for her mama and papa. Her beautiful blue eyes were covered with tears as she looked at her fathers warped face. The dangerous glint in his eyes instilled fear into the sweet child. She tried to wriggle free, but he took another bite from her. With each bite, the hunger in him satisfied. His daughter’s cries ran dry until the only sound left was Sadie’s heart-breaking sobs.

  Stilt looked down at his blood-soaked hands and fell to his knees. He hadn’t meant to kill her, but something evil had rotted into his core, forcing him to do the unspeakable act that he’d never forgive himself for. It was happening again and again until Stilt was an empty shell, rocking like Sadie on the cave floor.

  Hook wept tears of relief as he felt his sweet Jane’s fingers entwined with his. They were lying in bed, her head on his chest. He ran his fingers through her fruity smelling hair and smiled down at his little Jane. She nuzzled up to him.

  They both jumped on hearing a loud bang outside. He stood up to find out what had happened. As he walked out of the cabin, sea spray blinded him, throwing him onto the floor.

  They had almost escaped Neverland, they were so close to home, but Peter had seen, as he always did, and flew to them. Large rocks grew from the waves, preventing them from passing.

  Peter, unable to step foot on the enchanted ship, called to the mermaids. Hook could hear their screeching laughter as they grabbed onto the sides of the ship.

  He caught the gaze of one of them. She was beautiful, in her eyes calm waves swam across her iris’s. He could smell nothing but her enchanting scent. He walked over to her, she took his hand, and he followed her almost overboard. Ensnaring him into a trap, the mermaid sunk her teeth into his wrist.

  Janes cry brought him back to reality. He ripped his hands from the mermaid, but his hand tore off into the mermaid’s mouth. Screaming with pain, he looked over at his wife. She had been dragged overboard by a mermaid. She called to him to save her and over again.

  She trembled as she was lifted out of the water by Peter.
He laughed evilly and he held onto Jane.

  Hook pleaded, begged even, for Peter to let her go. Tears streamed down, but Peter’s eyes had already flashed black. He dropped her into the water below. A crocodile, larger than any he had ever seen, the size of the ship itself, ate Jane as if she were a grape. Her head crunched under its teeth, blood squirting out. His men screamed as they were dragged into the murky depths of the ocean.

  A voice broke their nightmares. ‘Who are you and what do you want?’

  Hook looked around. He was back in the cave, as was Lori and Stilt. It was an illusion, using their memories or desires to crush them, warping them to terrify.

  Lori tried to catch her breath. She had lived it again, walking in and catching Edward with another woman, in their bed. Not just any woman, but her mother!

  She remembered each promise, each ‘I love you’ and finally the beheading. She took his life and he kept telling her that he loved her, but it was too late. Every time she tried to drag him back to life in this nightmare, he’d say it was too late and the memories of them were lost into a sea of nothingness. ‘Why show me those memories. Why show me Edward dead? Why?’ Lori wept.

  ‘Who are you?’ A man stepped out of the shadows wearing green and brown. He looked uncannily like Peter, but less cheery. The youth in his face was replaced with tiredness. His green eyes were just as, or even more vibrant than Peter’s. He stood at six-foot-four, looking down at Lori who was still crying.

  Lori spluttered, ‘I’m Lori, Queen of Northmanni.’

  The Pied Piper knelt down and looked into her eyes. ‘Queen of Passion too? The woman who takes others beauty and happiness to feed her own, but will never succeed. With each revenge, your heart will grow blacker until you are nothing. You will become as ugly on the outside as you are on the inside,’ the Piper smiled evilly and turned to Stilt. ‘You, the man who can spin gold, the one who has tried to right his wrongs. The man who has been kicked down over and over again, but keeps coming back. The one whose child will always lay as a reminder in his stomach. The one who will never get his daughter or wife back. They now float in the sea of your own darkness.’