If you find yourself in Neverland, avoid making deals with anyone, especially if they seem like you get something for nothing. Everything comes with a price.

"A deal," I said incredulously. I would have crossed my arms, but well, they were kind of restrained.

That stupid smirk stayed on Pan's face. "Yes, love. A deal."

"Don't call me that."

He continued as if I hadn't spoken. "Here are the rules. If you can beat my second-in-command in close combat, you can become a Lost One, with all that that entails."

I raised an eyebrow. "And if I lose?"

"Then you get a choice of either living in a cage for eternity or running away while the boys hunt you down like a raccoon."

"What if I just refuse?" I sneered.

"Then it's the same result as if you'd lost," Pan said easily.

"Quite a choice you're offering me, little Lost Boy."

He grinned mischievously. "It's no choice at all."

"Yes," I said thoughtfully. "Yes, that's what I meant."

"So." He stuck his hand out. "Do we have a deal?"

I just looked at him pointedly until he realized that I was still tied up. When he untied my wrists, I shook his hand. "Deal."

He grinned evilly and I wondered what I'd gotten myself into.

"Great," he said kindly. Too kindly. "Now let's get you some food, huh?"

I followed him to the campsite, thinking. Why would he care if I was hungry? Wouldn't he have a better chance of me losing the fight if I was unfocused? The more I thought about it, the less sense it made and the more bitter and distrustful I got. He was toying with me.

Pan dug around in a black leather bag and pulled out a canteen and a few pieces of dried meat. "Here. The boys won't go hunting until tomorrow, so it's what we've got."

I took the meat carefully, not trusting him at all. He snickered. "I'm hurt, Uriel! It's just raccoon meat, I promise. I didn't do anything to it. Go on and eat."

I took a few bites. It tasted alright, so I shrugged. "It's not that I don't trust you not to poison me. I mean, it's that too; I just met you what? Three hours ago? It's mostly that I don't trust a complete and utter stranger to tell me the truth."

I knew I should've kept my mouth shut as soon as the words were out of my mouth. Pan's easygoing, darkness-just-under-the-surface demeanor changed completely. He glared at me harshly and slapped me hard.

"Look, girl," he hissed. "If there's one thing you'll learn in however long you spend on my island, it's that you will do as I tell you. Obediently, without complaint or question. I don't lie, ever, and I usually don't put people in harm's way without a reason. If I say the meat isn't poison, it isn't poison. Got it?"

I stared him down, completely unfazed. "What game are you playing, Pan?"

His usual smirk settled back on his face, just like that. I could almost sense the anger churning beneath the surface, though. "It depends. I have a lot of games going at any given moment. Which one are you referring to?"

"Me," I said simply. I knew he would get my meaning.

"Shadow wanted to play a game, and before you ask, I'm not telling you what it is. The way I figure it, you're already a girl, so why give the boys any more advantages?"

I scowled. "That's so sweet, really. As it is, though, I don't want your help. Nor do I need it. I can take care of myself."

His smirk just got wider. "Then I guess you won't need my help when you're passed out from the drugged raccoon meat you just ate, will you?"

My eyes widened, even though I wasn't really surprised. More pissed off than angry. "You little--"

"Hypnos," Pan said quietly.

The world went black and the last thing I remembered was falling heavily into Pan's arms and muttering, "I thought so."

*~*~*

"Wake up. Come on girl, wake up." Someone shook my shoulders gently.

I bolted upright, instantly alert. One of the Lost Boys looked at me calmly.

"Qui in vobis sunt?" I asked.

He looked confused. "What'd you say? I don't speak Latin anymore."

I forced myself to speak English. I wasn't really sure where the Latin came from in the first place. "Who are you?"

He laughed. "Oh, I'm Wildcat. Come on, Pan's waiting for you." I took the hand he offered and stood up. The ground shook beneath me as I did, and I finally noticed the small door that stood wide open.

"He put me in a cage. A cage. That boy is gonna get it, I swear," I muttered. I looked down and got the strange sense that the ground was moving farther away. I shook it off, closed my eyes, and jumped down onto the pile of leaves below.

Wildcat followed me, then grabbed my arm (much more gently than Felix or Pan had, I noticed) and led me deeper into the woods. “Don’t judge Pan too harshly, girl. Even if he’s not showing it, you shook him up pretty badly. We don’t know if you’re a threat or not yet.”

I snorted, but didn’t respond. Why would Pan think I was a threat? All I knew was my name and the rulebook. The rest was pretty… instinctual. As much as he annoyed me, I didn’t think I could do much damage to him, especially without my memories.

When we reached the training area, the group of boys was sitting in a circle, laughing and talking, but when they noticed that I was there, it went silent.

“Oh, don’t mind me,” I sneered.

“They won’t,” Pan said from behind me. Had he been there the whole time? Probably. That wouldn’t surprise me, given his behavior from earlier. “Felix, you ready?

Felix? I was fighting Felix? That could either be awesome or awful, depending on if I won or lost. I looked him up and down as he nodded at Pan. His hair was long, but I couldn’t really count on the chance that it would get in his eyes. He’d probably been fighting with it like this for a long time. He was thin, but by no means weak. Under his jacket, I could make out lean muscle. His stance implied that he was a runner, so I couldn’t count on him being one of those slow-but-powerful fighters. He was a quick strike who would pack a lot of punch.

All in all, a formidable opponent.

Then I was shoved roughly into the ring of boys and handed a dagger. Not my dagger, which was annoying, but it was a weapon nonetheless. Felix stood in front of me, smirking at me mockingly. It angered me in way that was somewhat familiar. I didn’t know how, but I couldn’t dwell on that if I wanted to survive this.

We stalked each other in circles, doing a delicate dance of You go first. No you! Okay. Sike!

Finally, he got impatient and lunged at me. I dodged quickly and parried, clashing my blade with his.

We continued like this for a while. Sometimes I took the defensive, but it was usually him. What can I say? Once the first move is made, I'm a whirlwind. Eventually, we both stopped for a moment, breathing heavily.

"Did I say stop?" Pan said quietly.

Felix immediately attacked again, but I was ready. My knee instinctively went up as fast as it could... right between his legs.

He fell to his knees with a groan and I slammed the hilt of my knife into his temple. He fell unconscious and slumped to the ground completely.

"Do I win yet?" I asked, bored.

The forest was silent except for the occasional birdcall. Then Pan nodded grudgingly.

The group of boys shifted side to side and I became embarrassingly aware of the taboo I'd broken: below the belt hit.

At this point, I couldn't have cared less. I'd survived.

"Boys, give our newest member the proper welcome. And Wildcat, get her some clothes," Pan said.

The group shuffled around silently, each doing a routine task. The boy from earlier walked me back to the tent and a little kid trailed behind him.

"I've never seen a girl fight like that," the little boy said in wonder. "And no one's ever beaten Felix."

"Hush, Michael," Wildcat said. "She's in, but we don't know for how long. Don't get attached."

"What do you mean, you don't know for how long?" I demanded. "The deal was that I win and I get in."

"And you are in, girl," he explained. "But if Pan decides to kick you out, you won't survive it."

I have him a hard look. "I guess I'll just have to prove myself, then, won't I?"

So so so so so so so so late I'm sorry. Wi-Fi has pretty much been a bitch and I haven't had my tablet to update and I have finals coming up and there's a billion other excuses but mostly I was lazy.

Hahahahahaha........

Aaaaaanyway..... F**** YEAH, CAPTAIN SWAN IS OFFICIAL NOW GUYS. There is no better feeling in the world than when your OTP finally gets together. None.

Also. Between you and me, love in real life is screwed up. there's this girl I like and she's taken by a guy, and the boy I like is not only taken by one of my good friends, he's like an older brother to me. #FML

Besides that, how's your life going? Anyone who catches the City of Bones reference gets a dedication!!

~ Emma