Disbelieved was she felt and a bit of confusion. The boy she encountered just moments ago was the one that Captain Hook was looking for, what was a boy doing out here all by himself? Was he alone? But Mara remembered Hook mentioned 'inhabitants' so there were more than just one boy. Why does the pirate is looking for just one boy she saw earlier?

She grew more tense as the light slowly decreased, but Mara knew it wasn't the sun setting because it was still hours away until night comes. They were just going further into the dark jungle, it's like there were millions of tall trees and leafs standing over the group and blocked the sun. As if the moon shaded the jungle or an eclipse occurred.

"Who is he?" Mara was behind Hook as they continually search for the boy. "The boy I saw, who is he?"

The pirate didn't answer the girl's question right away and took a moment before replying, "His name is Peter Pan and he's in charge of this whole island"

"He's a bloody boy, how can he be the--King of this whole damn place?" Mara was confused, the looks of the boy she saw seemed to be around her age. Mara was a poor peasant who begs for jobs, shelter and coins and this boy has this entire island where nobody grows old.

The pirate chuckled lightly, "I'm sure you think he's some piss-poor, innocent and harmless boy to you but believe me, Peter Pan is a treacherous little demon that you do not want come cross with"

"And here you are, about to come cross with a treacherous little demon boy" Mara responded ironically. The captain chuckled again. "Is he really that bad?"

"You have no idea"

"Should I be worried?" Mara wondered.

"No" He answered then met her gaze with little smirk formed on his face, "You should be terrified"

Mara scoffed, "I'm not scared"

"Well you're a fool then and less brave" He commented. She wasn't sure if he was making fun of her or if he was serious.

"If you're not scared then I shouldn't be" Mara mentioned. "You went through this before and you're still breathing so there's a chance"

"Luck, sweetheart. But I wouldn't keep my hopes too high, darling. Try not to spoil us all with your hopes"

She wasn't really hoping she would make it out of Neverland nor thinks she wouldn't. What other things she would worry about other than the boy she saw?

There was a time she remembered quite clearly when she was scared of dying, that time she was sure she was going to die when coming across through the land of ogres. She spent all night sneaking through the land, hiding behind tree to tree and bushes to bushes from them. It was the time that she was terrified the most in her life.

What could be worse than ogres that lurks in this land of the place where no one grows?

Her mind might jinx her and the pirates, jinx their chances of getting out unharmed. There are times where she underestimates things and people then suddenly everything turns unfortunate for her.

It was mid noon by then when Killian Jones was sure they were nearby the camp. It was still noon as the trespassers were beneath into the dark jungle and the daylight was weak as if night completely swallowed the light. They could still see where they were going even without a torch.

Once the Captain halted and signaled Mara and the rest to stop and keep quiet. The girl tightened her grip on her sword when she knew they had arrived. Agitation almost came over her as she watched Hook taking a peek for a moment. It sounded awfully quiet, no sound can be heard but the rustling from the pirates, the trembling breaths from the pirates beside her and her heart quickening.

Hook let out a sigh then he went forward, entering the camp, it hinted the rest that the camp was clear so Mara followed. She found the camp empty, a smoke that had been recently burned out in the middle of the camp, crooked tents from left and right, there was one shack in the far left, wooden baskets and shelves. It looked as though that the inhabitants left the camp in a hurry and abandoned it.

"Where did they go?" Mara questioned before putting her weapon into the holster.

"No idea" Hook sighed, "They must've changed destination recently"

"Do we keep looking?" the girl tipped a basket over near her and checked what was inside of it but there was nothing.

The Captain was looking around for a moment, using his sword to move small objects and cloths on the ground as if searching for some clues. "I'm sure he'll show up" he said, "any moment perhaps"

"Any moment?" Mara was confused.

Hook was observing left to right, he seemed to be gazing up as his head shifted up horizontally. Like he knew what was going on or where the inhabinants went. He suddenly let out a chuckle. He turned around and looked at his companions with no sign of concern or fear on his look. "Let's put down our weapons"

"What?" Mara half chuckled and looked at his eldest friend as if he were mad.

"Just put them down on the ground" he demanded then dropped his sword.

"Why?" the girl shifted her head to the right, glimpsed there for a second then back at Hook.

"Because we just walked into a bloody trap" he frowned.

Mara furrowed her brows, she was about to say something until she heard rustling nearby, then the noises came from around them. Multiple footsteps, she whipped around until spotting the first person coming out of the bush with a wooden pointy spear, more came out with the same weapons but some had knives. All of them had hoods over their heads. Cheers and whoops started from them, they even came from above them. Mara saw more of them on the trees, and the hooded inhabitants on the trees had bows and arrows ready to shoot.

Mara observed the hooded folks, the longer she stared at them, she realized they were boys, children like her, small and tall ones. She only saw boys, every direction she gazed, just boys with weapons and ready to attack the trespassers. She was astonished that the inhabitants of this seemingly isolated island were boys.

"Children?" Mara uttered to Hook as she stood inches from his back.

"No," He corrected, "Lost Boys"

Lost Boys? What does he mean by 'lost'? Does he mean these boys are lost and trying to find their way home? Mara was perplexed.

The Indian cries from the boys instantaneously stopped. "Now will you drop your weapons?" The Captain hushed at his companions, "They see us as threats with them"

Mara reluctantly unstrapped the holster then tossed her weapon down on the ground. The pirates behind her followed. She tensed more than before as she glanced at the boys one by one, weapons drawing on them and readied to shoot.

Are they even mad to kill us? Are they foolish enough to kill us? Are they brave enough to take our lives? They mustn't be because they're only children, Mara thought. Do not underestimate, you stupid girl. She told herself.

Footsteps proceeding toward them can be heard, it was the only noise in the area can be heard. She glanced right where footsteps was heard and see the same boy she encountered earlier walking toward them. Mara took a step back, staying behind her friend.

The boy had two hooded companions each of his sides, one had a wooden club resting on his shoulder and the other had a spear. It was obvious that the boy in the middle was the leader and Hook said his name is Peter Pan.

The leader had a smile as he approached, it wasn't really a warm welcoming smile but rather a contemptuous one. "I would've given you a warm welcome if you never bore weapons, pirates" he said.

"Oh how rude of us, my apologies" Killian responded ironically. Mara felt a little cringe by the Captain's rude response, at the moment she doesn't fancy of getting shot or impaled by the arrows and spears by children.

Pan raised a brow with his smirk remained before responding "Now why have you come here this time, pirate?"

***