The First Lost Girl

Chapter Twelve: I Should Have Been There For You

Felix's P.O.V.
Oh I had been sure she hated me now. It was just a bit of careless humor, but I should have known better. I mentally scolded myself once I saw the look of fear in her eyes. I knew she was scared of going back. I shouldn't have messed with her that way. But she seemed to have forgiven me. She was combing her long brown hair with her fingers now, smiling to herself. She had a beautiful smile. One that occasionally appeared on her face and made her dimples show and pink cheeks stand out.
I caught myself staring at her and looked away. How would she feel if she had caught me staring at her again? I couldn't help but glance back up at her. She was wrapping her hair into a messy bun and tying it off with a strip of dark cloth.
"How long does this game usually last?" She asked suddenly.
"I stayed out here for three days once."
She looked at me wide eyed and I chuckled.
"I was proving to Pan that I could win the game, and I did."
Her shocked expression melted into a smile and I couldn't help but smirk.
"But you can imagine how boring it got. Speaking of, how about we go ahead and head back. I'm sure Pan would hate me for ruining his day of games if I decide to stay out here any longer."
She smiled and I started climbing down with her coming after me. When she got to the bottoms branch she started to lower herself down but seemed to be having a bit of trouble so I lifted her down, picking her up by the waist and setting her on the ground. She was surprisingly light and didn't complain when I helped her. I turned around and we began the trek back to camp.

***********************************

"I began to worry you'd decide to pull another camp out Felix." Pan said as we entered the clearing.
"No Pan, I wouldn't dream of ruining this day of games."
He lifted and eyebrow and smirked.
"And Rufio, I suspect Felix showed you the best place to hide. I'll admit that I still haven't found out where exactly that is."
"So I hear." She answered with a smile.
"I don't suppose you know how to hunt Rufio?" He asked. She bit her lip but answered.
"No, I don't."
"Alright then. Most of us boys are going to get food for tonight. What's a day of games without a party?" He asked smirking.
"What will I do?"
"You'll stay here with Tootles, Beau, Dean, and Devin." Help them prepare for tonight."
She bit her lip again but still answered.
"Okay."
"C'mon boys!" Pan called.
We all got our weapons and gathered together except, of course, for Rufio and the other four. I eyed Devin suspiciously but he just smirked at me. I wasn't comfortable with leaving Devin here with Rufio but the other boys were here too so I hoped he would do what was good for him and stay well away from her.
"Stick to the west side of the island." Pan was saying. "None of you hid over there during our game so I suspect there's a few animals that haven't gone into hiding yet."
A few chuckles went through the group as we set out. I took one last glance back at Devin who was now eyeing Rufio. It took all the strength I had not to turn back around and teach him a lesson. Why was I feeling so protective over Rufio now? Maybe I just didn't like the idea of them two alone.
"You're wrong Felix." I thought. "Dean, Beau, and Tootles are there with her. They'll watch over her. She'll be fine."
One last thought went through my mind as the camp clearing disappeared behind the thick lining of trees: I should have taught her how to use that knife.

Rufio's P.O.V.
Pan was leaving me here with Devin? I began to have a feeling of dread that tingled through my body. I saw Felix looking at Devin suspiciously and prayed that he would ask Pan to take Devin with him instead of leaving him here, but he didn't say anything. I watched them disappear into the jungle, leaving me and four of the Lost Boys here. Tootles, Dean, and Beau weren't really paying attention to me and Devin so I walked over to them. Devin followed. I was just being paranoid. He had to figure out what we were doing to prepare for tonight, it's not like he was just following me. Right?
"So what do I do?" I asked Beau.
"You can go collect wood for the bonfire tonight. Pan never has a party without a bonfire." He said grinning. I couldn't help but smile. Beau was absolutely the cutest little boy I'd ever met. I walked out of the clearing and into the jungle. Beau reminded me of the little boys I used to take care of back where I came from. But they weren't nearly as nice, or as happy. I liked Neverland a lot. It was like a dream come true for me. Yet it still wasn't mine yet. I wasn't sure that I could really prove myself as being able to survive here. What does that even mean anyways? Prove myself? Did I have to prove that I was strong? Smart? I also wondered what would happen if I was sent back. I picked up another branch to add to my pile. Would they send me back to the last house I was in? Or set me somewhere where I could start over and actually live my life. And if that was so then how would I do that?
I heard a twig snap somewhere behind me and my heart dropped. I turned to see exactly who I expected to see. Devin.
He was leaned up against a tree with his arms crossed and a smirk on his face that I didn't exactly like.
"Dry ones are the best." He said pointing to the wood I was holding.
"I know. Thank you."
I turned around and kept walking. He followed. The feeling of dread was getting worse now. I automatically looked around for an escape route, and maybe a weapon. The knife! Thank God Felix had given me the knife this morning! I relaxed just the slightest bit. "You know Rufio," Devin started. I kept walking. "You may have won the game this morning, meaning that I'll be a mile away tonight, but thats tonight. I still have time to get what I want now." I had thrown down the pile of wood and unsheathed my knife. But he moved quickly, grabbing my wrist and twisting it behind me so that I dropped my knife.
"Let go, let go!" I yelled but he clamped his hand over my mouth. No! I should have screamed for help instead when I had the chance. I jerked around, trying to get out of his grip but it only tightened.
"You humiliated me you know?" He mumbled into my ear.
I tried yelling at him again but it couldn't be understood, seeing how he did still have his hand over my mouth.
"And you have to pay for it."
He rubbed his face in the crook in between my jaw and shoulder, kissing my neck. I cursed at him and struggled more. I could feel him smirk against my skin. I was suddenly thrusted forward and against a tree. I tried pushing off of it but he grabbed me and twisted me around pressing me up against the tree and forcing his lips into mine. I kneed him in the groin and he doubled over. I took my chance to run but he grabbed me by my wrist and pulled me back down. He pinned my body down with his own and held my hands against the ground.
"Please." I cried, not daring to make eye contact. "Please. Let me go."
"Not a chance dear, you haven't paid your price yet. We're not done until you-"
Devin was ripped away from me and I looked up to see Felix holding him above the ground by the front of his shirt. I backed up against a tree and put my hands over my mouth.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Felix bellowed.
"F-f-Felix!" Devin squeaked. "I th-th-thought y-you were h-hunting!"
"Well you thought wrong." He growled.
"F-f-Felix I'm sorry!"
"Sorry?! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING TO RUFIO?!"
"P-please Felix." Devin whimpered.
"What is it that you should be begging for Devin? Your life maybe?"
Devin's eyes widened and he struggled with Felix's hand but Felix didn't loosen his grip.
"Now, you're going to go back to camp and finish helping prepare for the party and we'll go on like this never happened."
"Okay! Okay!" Devin whimpered.
"But you won't even look at Rufio, unless you want her to be the last thing you see. Do you understand?"
Devin nodded.
"Then go!"
He dropped him back on his feet and Devin ran for his life. Felix turned to me and was at my side in a second.
"Are you you okay? Did he hurt you?"
I couldn't help but burst into tears and cover my face with my hands.
"I'm so sorry Rufio." He said pulling me into his chest and wrapping his arms around me. "I should have been there for you."