Escaping Neverland

Lost and Forgotten

After taking a few bites, I found myself surprisingly full, which was disappointing considering how hungry I had felt and how good the food tasted for once. I set down my fork and let out a sigh. "I'm already full. I guess when you don't eat for a while, your stomach really does shrink. I'll try eating more in a little bit, okay?" Greg looked like he wanted to argue, but James quickly intervened, standing up and moving my tray aside.

"That will work just fine, Janice. We understand that it will take time for you to fully recover. Just let us know when you're ready to eat again, okay?" I nodded and watched James return to his spot before turning my attention back to Greg, waiting patiently for him to finish his food so I could finally meet my baby. It felt strange to be sitting here in peace with these two, with no yelling, crying, or pain. It was a welcome change, despite the overall circumstances. Although everything was far from ideal, at that moment, I felt a sense of tranquility. Perhaps it was because I knew the other children had made it to safety, and hopefully, they had all been reunited with their families. For now, I felt a sense of accomplishment. Even if I managed to escape, where would I go? I had no family, and being almost an adult in the world, it was unlikely any family would want me. Besides, it had been months since they were found, and they probably had forgotten about me and given up on finding me.

I had started to accept my fate and knew that the only thing left was to end this terrible situation. But to do that, I would have to regain the trust of those around me so I could eliminate the source of all this torment—Damien. Letting out a sigh, I shook myself from these thoughts, reminding myself to be patient as I waited to meet the daughter who I hoped to save from my own fate or, worse, the fate of most children here. Once Greg finished his food, he smiled at me and stood up, saying, "I'll be right back with our little Lucy."As he mentioned the name he had chosen for our daughter, Lucy, I couldn't help but wonder why he had chosen that particular name. No matter how hard I thought about it, I couldn't find an answer. However, my thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a baby crying, breaking the silence in the room. Greg walked in, holding a tiny baby in his arms. With her pale, smooth skin and her cries filling the air, she resembled a delicate porcelain doll. He carefully handed her to me, and almost instantly, her crying ceased, eliciting a wide grin from Greg.

"Looks like she remembers her mother well. I thought the name Lucy was fitting for her, as it means 'light,' and she was the light at the end of the tunnel for us. Especially with how hard things have been up until this point. I hope you'll accept her in the end." With those words, he stepped back and sat with James, both of them watching me intently, their fear of me doing something rashly evident. It was justified, considering that until this moment, I had done everything in my power to end her life before she even entered this cruel world. But I didn't want to kill her out of hatred. No, I wanted to spare her from the suffering that awaited her. "Lucy," I whispered, tracing her small forehead with my middle finger. It was fitting that she would be the light that guided me forward from that moment on. Even if I had been forgotten, I would not allow myself to be lost or let her be consumed by the darkness that surrounded us. I had to protect her, just as I had to save the others. And at that moment, it meant biding my time, nurturing her until she could stand on her own.

For the next week, we followed the same routine—waking up and eating, spending time with Lucy, getting cleaned up, having lunch, engaging in friendly conversation, taking a nap, having dinner, spending time with Lucy again, and finally going to bed. It may not have been the most exciting routine, but after that week, I was granted permission to start stretching my legs and exercising. It was challenging; I hadn't realized how much strength I had lost from lying in that bed for so long. By the time we reached the room where Lucy was kept, my legs were aching, and I had to sit down, causing Greg to leap up and rush over to me. "Are you okay, Janice?"Dismissing his concern, I waved my hand in the air and looked at him. "I'm fine, just tired legs from not being up for so long. Stop worrying so much, will you? Now, give me my baby, please." A sigh of relief escaped Greg as he smiled and nodded, moving over to pick up Lucy and carefully placing her into my arms. I thanked him before starting to rock and talk to my little one, her eyes now open and sparkling as she looked up at me. Whenever she was in my arms, it felt like the world around us dissolved into nothingness, leaving just her and me in a tranquil embrace. The peace was comforting, but it was also lonely, and I wished that Carson were there to meet her and keep me company. I missed him dearly, just as I missed them all, but he held a special place in my heart. I wondered if he missed me as much as I missed him or if, like the rest of the world, he had forgotten about me.