Never, Never by Brianna Shrum

into his shoulder, and when Pan darted toward him, he swung it with all his might. There was hardly a contest in the area of brawn, so it connected with a sickening thump, and Pan fell.
    Without looking back, James sprinted away. He had no idea where he was going or if Peter was behind him or if he was going to survive, but he ran on into the black. Trees smacked him in the arm, stinging him, cutting him,and the entire forest shrank in around him. The metallic air assaulted his tongue. The wind pounded darts into his skin. He could hear no Pan behind him, but continued to run. Then, he stopped. At his feet, the river ran, babbling as it did. Beyond this river lived the Indians. He stuck out his foot, and hesitated. It seemed to him that no good could come from crossing that river. None could come from staying behind, either. James was frozen in space, having no inkling as to what to do.
    There was a distant crow behind him that sounded more like a boy’s than an animal’s, and that sound propelled him across the water. Ahead, a small fire glowed, sending up a pillar of smoke that was white against the darkness of the sky. He crept closer and closer to the camp until he could see silhouettes of the people milling around. Eventually, he could see the general features of their faces. He was unable to enter the camp, however, because a large man whom James recognized as the Chief came out of nowhere and blocked his path.
    â€œJames Hook.”
    He looked slowly up into the man’s eyes. “Chief.”
    â€œWe grow weary of your provocations.”
    The Chief was the same size as he’d always been, so James wondered for a moment if he himself had shrunk. He certainly felt small under the other man’s hard scrutiny.
    James took a step back. “I’m truly sorry for that, Chief. I beg no quarrel from you tonight.”
    â€œThen what do you beg?”
    â€œSanctuary.”
    The Chief looked at him for a while, dark eyes cunning and sharp. “Sanctuary from whom?”
    â€œThe Pan.”
    â€œUnexpected,” he replied simply.
    Stinging tears welled up in James’s eyes, and he blinked to stave them off. “To both of us, sir.”
    James looked down at the ground, knowing full well that nothing he had done these past years warranted any sort of special favors from the Chief. Of course, they weren’t always battling; sometimes they would have grand celebrations and hunting parties and dances. More often than not, however, James was attempting, under Pan’s orders, to provoke them to war.
    â€œLook me in the eyes, Hook.”
    James’s gaze flickered upward.
    â€œSo, the Pan has turned on his boys?” The Chief crossed his arms, muscles like boulders, hard and bulging and bumping.
    â€œOnly on me. It seems I’ve been growing up.”
    The Chief looked him up and down, crow’s feet around his eyes wrinkling. “It does indeed.”
    â€œHe pursues me even now. I ask, though I know it is undeserved, that you allow me to join your ranks.”
    The Chief shook his head. “You are not one of us.”
    â€œI’m not one of anyone.”
    He set a large hand on James’s shoulder and looked straight into his face. “You’re a different sort of boy—a man, Hook. I wish to believe you. But I cannot risk the safety of my tribe. Were I to shelter you and find later that this was another of your tricks and you meant only to ambush us, I would have no one but myself to blame.”
    James closed his eyes slowly and opened them again. “Where am I to go?”
    â€œYou will find an answer.”
    The Chief patted him heavily on the back and left him there, walking back to camp. James slumped his shoulders and sighed, and it was a breath made of fear and anger and utter anguish. Then he started to walk away from the Indians and into nothingness.
    â€œWait,” he heard a sweet voice say. He stopped.
    â€œJames