𝐌𝐎𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐀, peter pan

Chapter Two

Mara was quite enthusiastic on this expedition to Neverland, the sight of the large island was exquisite, she pictured places, she had imaginations the island did not compare to her imaginations, but this was better.

She had dozens of questions swarming in her mind about this place, why does she needed a sword to fend for herself? Were the unknown inhabitants on the island were dangerous? The boat ride to the shore was quiet, she was seated beside the Captain at the front seat while two pirates were rowing them all to the shore and another two seated the back row.

When the boat reached the sandy shore, Hook was the first to get off, offered his hand for Mara to help her get off the boat. She moved forward, toward the jungle but stopped ten feet from it and gazed up at the unfamiliar tall trees.

"Alright, Mara" Hook stood at her side, "you only have one rule: do not wander off alone. If you do, and if we don't find you, then you're already dead"

Mara furrowed her brows as she glanced at the pirate.

When the Captain met her frowning gaze, he said, "Am I clear?"

She narrowed her eyes as she gazed forward at the jungle, "Yes, Captain" she grumbled.

"Let's move!" He ordered then took the lead into the jungle and drew his sword.

Mara didn't drew her weapon, she moved behind the captain as they entered the forest. Other than a sword she brought, but also a bag for souvenirs she can find and also carries her own canteen of water to keep her hydrated. The weather was neither cold or warm but in between. Yet, she could feel the sun rays warming her.

The jungle was odd, it was the first she ever saw, first she has ever been, some trees and plants she saw were the same ones she saw before but most of them she has never seen. Every peculiar plants she saw, she'd pick up and put it in her bag. She once heard one of the pirates whispering as they made fun of her but she did not mind the insults, she never minds them.

"So what are we looking for?" Mara asked Hook as she caught up to his side.

"A camp. But we must get to the ridge where we might able to see the camp" Hook sliced off the branch that stood their path, "we're almost there, just up ahead"

She wasn't yet exhausted nor thirst from hiking even when it's been nearly an hour since they left the cove. They reached the ridge, the height of it was quite deadly, but gazing from there, it's like they could see the entire island. Mara's breath was taken away when she first saw the view, but immediately felt an immense sickening in her stomach when she looked down over the edge and saw how far the ground was.

The view, there was something queer about it, the forest, the jungle, it's trees and everything, all of it look almost dark like they were all dying. As if a disease was taking the life out of every plant and trees.

"The trees," Mara said in bewilderment, "they look...dying and...sick"

"It's how they are, Mara" Captain Hook stated, he pulled his telescope, "They're not sick or dying, they're just dark and this whole jungle you're seeing right now is The Dark Jungle"

"Sounds like a really fun place to go to" Mara responded with sarcasm.

"It is, darling" Hook grinned before looking into his telescope to gaze at the Dark Jungle. "It is the last place in the world you want to be in"

Mara swallowed, nervousness began to build up in her but she wasn't afraid enough to back out. "You see what you're looking for?"

"Aye," He lowered his telescope, "it has to be right in the middle of it" clearly he wasn't happy.