The Devil's Game

Encounter

Breathing had become the only activity that I was allowed to occupy my time with for the last 3 days. After leaving the cave in which Pan had trapped me to break my resolve I had expected him to capitalize on it immediately. However no such event occurred.

Swinging my rag doll body into his arms I was brought back and chained to a tree on the edge of camp. I felt the eyes of the boys on me, staring intently, but I refused to meet their gazes. I focused on the ground at my feet and nothing more. I must have been fascinating to them, the only girl on the island and the only one who was willing to openly oppose Pan chained to a tree and left like a dog.

The smell of food wafted across camp, it had been days since I had eaten but the cooking meat held no appeal to my nostrils. Life meant nothing to me, why would something with the intent to keep me alive hold any temptation.

I noticed a pair of feet approaching me. Naturally expecting Pan my entire body went into high alert mode, but the feet were much too small for the teenager. They looked almost dainty, with a high arch and narrow structure and the stride carried a tell tale lilt of a small body. Each step brought them closer and closer. Eventually I found the strength in my weak muscles to raise my head. Standing above me was a boy. His eyes were big innocent brown and his dark skin glowed in the fire light. He couldn't have been more than about 15 and upon examining him a bit closer I realized who he was and my stomach dropped. Bevin, the boy standing above me was Bevin.

The young boy folded his legs so we was seated facing me cross legged. We locked eyes and finally he spoke. The soft tenor was almost soothing "My name is Bevin." There was no smile, but smiles were rare on this cursed island. Something about his voice was somehow peaceful and so much more kind than all the other boys and, what was left of my heart, broke in half. What a cruel game that Pan must play. He knows I would never allow someone to hurt an innocent boy like this. It was his way of tormenting me. Reminding me of the stakes. If I could give him to the mermaids and watch as they slowly fed pieces of his still alive body to the sharks, I would without a second thought.

Bevin's gaze had become expectant. I wondered if it would be kinder to ignore the boy, but turning away from that innocent face was too difficult. I needed to protect him. "Lily." I whispered just loudly enough for him to hear. He cocked his head slightly as if confused about the statement. "My name." I qualified.

"Lily." He repeated my name softly and although his mouth didn't smile his eyes did. "It's pretty, I like it." Rolling my name over his tongue a few more times, he seemed to get more excited with each syllable. A voice from another one the boys was heard over his shoulder calling him back to the festivities around the fire. Responding that he would be right there he left with a passing remark that I should eat something and returned to his earlier activities. If my dead face had the ability to smile I would have given it to him.

Returning my eyes to the ground guilt filled my heart. Such a boy to have been unloved, now to be stuck with a monster, and just as a little extra garnish of shit life luck his life was now leverage. I hated myself, Pan, and every circumstance that lead Bevin here. Some part of me wondered if that was how Killian felt when he first saw me. The thought of my old friend renewed all the pain. I was so alone in this world with Pan and he only person who had shown basic kindness was on the chopping block because of me.

The saving rhythm of the boy's feet created a beat the lulled me into a slumber softly resting my head against the tree behind me. It was the first time I was voluntarily losing consciousness. Despite my paranoia of Pan I drifted off into a light sleep as exhaustion took over.

-_-

Another short chapter, my apologies, but another chapter should be up in a few hours. I'll try to make it longer.

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