Neverland: Appetite for Murder

Chapter One: The Believing Dtectivee

Pan showed up at the armory, waiting for the Lost Boys when he saw Cody strung up and left for dead. He grabbed the pixie dust and sprinkled some on him quickly and jumped to get to Cody. All Peter could think about was, Is Cody dead? He got to Cody quickly, untying him, and got him to the ground where he checked his pulse. A sigh of relief was all Pan had to offer before picking Cody up again and flying him to an unlikely friend’s place.

“Hook,” Peter yelled, “I need your help.” Hearing those words had Hook rushing out to see what Peter needed. Hook saw the Lost Boy that Peter brought to him in dire need of a healer.

“What happened?” Hook growled, grabbing Cody and placing him on the table, getting ready to take out the knife.

Peter started stammering the words, “I...I...I...I do...don...do...don’t kn...kno...know,” He gathered himself and finished his sentence while Hook was preparing to take out the knife that was still in him. “We had practice, so I told the boys we need to go to the armory to practice different fighting techniques. I am usually the first one there, so when I looked around, because of the faint smell of blood I could smell, I saw him strung up on the flagpole and the knife plunged into him. I didn’t know what to do.” That was all Peter could get out before Hook commanded him to grab Cody’s shoulders so he could pull the knife out.

Hook felt sorry for the boy lying on his table. “Pan, why did you bring him here to my ship? You know he needs a healer, so why is he here on my ship?” Hook’s eyes pierced into Peter’s, making him wonder just where the strong boy that used to fight him had gone. How did that boy get so lost?

“I don’t know what to do, Hook. You have one of the best healers hidden on your ship. Don’t deny it, please—we all know. Just help him. He can’t die. Not yet, or ever, for that matter. Just... please, I’m begging you. Help him, Hook.” Peter looked truly scared for this boy’s life. “Please don’t make me break my promise to him,” came the broken whisper, making Hook look back at the shattered boy before him.

Hook called the healer, giving quick instructions on what to do. Then he turned to Peter, eyes sharp. “Follow me.”

He handed Peter a cup of something stronger than faeriemead. “You look like you could use this. Here, drink,” Hook said, pushing the faeriemead whiskey concoction into Peter’s hands. “I’ll have Smee go get the other Lost Boys, don’t worry. But, Pan, you need to do something. The sentries are all hiding. You need someone to investigate the murders. You can’t do it.”

That was all Hook said before he left, and that’s when Peter had a brilliant idea. He had made a promise to Wendy to bring her back every Spring Cleaning and Mayday. After her, he’d promised to bring her daughters and their daughters. But the problem was, even when Peter stood before her descendants, they stopped believing. He had given up after a while.

But then, a Sentinel told him there was another Darling girl who believed: Wendy’s great-great-great-niece, and she happened to be a detective. Peter knew what he had to do. He had to find her.

Setting the faeriemead whiskey down, Peter fled across the Veil without telling Hook or anyone else. His destination? Detective Delilah Darling.

Delilah had just finished her last shift at the police station—she had been let go because no one there shared her perspective. She’d said the needle marks found on people’s necks looked more like teeth marks, and the slashes across their torsos resembled claw marks. She knew she was right. She had seen it once and hidden so whatever creature had done it wouldn’t find her and kill her too.

As she walked down the street, she saw someone approaching with their hands raised.

“Who’s there?” she called out, making the figure laugh.

“I thought the green hat and red feather gave me away,” the figure said, stepping into the light. “Delilah Darling, I am Peter Pan.”

She narrowed her eyes, not convinced. This wouldn’t be the first time someone had pranked her, pretending to be Peter Pan.

“If you’re really Peter Pan, then float,” she challenged, folding her arms.

Peter grinned and lifted off the ground, hovering effortlessly.

Delilah’s jaw dropped. “I need your help, Delilah Darling. Neverland is in dire need. Someone is killing people and creatures. They almost killed one of my Lost Boys.” Peter’s voice softened into a weak whisper. “I’m asking nicely. I’ve heard you believe in the stories. Help me find out who’s killing my people. Please.”

Delilah’s mind raced. “Neverland needs my help? What? How? Murders?” She bombarded Peter with questions, her voice coming out in a rushed frenzy.

Peter chuckled. “Yes. Are you willing to help me, Delilah?”

Her excitement bubbled over as she jumped up and down. “Yes! Yes! Yes!”

Peter laughed even harder. “All right, then. Let’s go to Neverland, Delilah Darling.” He held out his hand, and together they took off into the night.

They landed on the Jolly Roger, much to Delilah’s confusion.

“What are we doing here, Peter?” she asked, glancing around the infamous pirate ship.

Before Peter could answer, a gruff voice interrupted them.

“Peter,” Hook growled, stepping into view, “who is this, and why did you bring her here?”

Peter grinned sheepishly, like a boy caught in mischief. “This is Delilah Darling. She’s going to help me solve what’s going on in Neverland. Is Cody—and the rest of the Lost Boys—still here?”

Hook nodded, gesturing for them to follow him. He led them down into the lower deck of the ship. “In there,” Hook said before turning on his heel and walking away.

Peter turned to Delilah, a determined look in his eyes. “Now, Delilah Darling, it’s time to meet the Lost Boys.”