The Pan of Neverland

Chapter 22: Lamia

With a thud, the three boys landed on a dirt floor, tumbling out of the slide. They scrambled to their feet, the clanking of gears and cranks resonating from above where they had plummeted. Nibs dusted himself off and surveyed their surroundings, alert to their predicament. He approached the hole they had emerged from and shouted up.

"Curly? Slight?" His voice reverberated through the cavernous tunnel.

"Nibs!" Curly's frantic voice echoed back. "Are you guys alright? What happened?"

"It's a trap door, don't move forward," Nibs warned.

"Yeah, we weren't planning on it," Slightly replied from above.

Nibs took a deep breath, the reluctance evident in his voice. "Slight, run back to the fort. Hopefully, Peter and Tink have returned. If not, get Sidewing. Curly, lead the others back safely. We'll try to find another way out."

Turning away from the hole, Nibs beheld the grandeur of the colossal cavern they had stumbled upon. Rows and towers of old wooden furniture, along with discarded items forgotten by their owners, filled the vast space. Each piece exuded an air of mystery and wonder as if holding untold tales within their weathered surfaces. The boys stood awestruck, gazing at the sprawling maze-like structure formed by this eclectic assortment of forgotten treasures.

Holes in the cave's ceiling allowed sunlight to filter in, illuminating the scene below with a natural radiance. The interplay of light and shadow lent a surreal quality to the space, evoking an otherworldly ambiance that enraptured their senses. Cheddar and Thump, especially, felt an irresistible pull towards the stories that might lie concealed within these abandoned relics, their curiosity urging them to delve deeper.

Nibs lowered his voice to a hushed whisper, mindful of any potential creature lurking amidst the labyrinth of forgotten items.

"We must proceed cautiously," he advised his companions. "Stay close to one another."

A lingering sense persisted within Nibs as if they were intruding upon a hoard belonging to some otherworldly creature, akin to a squirrel amassing nuts for the winter.

They embarked into the maze, skillfully navigating through towering stacks of furniture and peculiar oddities. Every turn revealed a new trove of curiosities, from weathered books and rusty tools to trinkets and baubles of unknown origin. The boys couldn't resist the urge to touch and examine these intriguing discoveries.

As they ventured deeper into the labyrinth, narrow passageways and towering furniture stacks evoked a spirit of adventure and exploration. They clambered atop piles of discarded items, precariously balancing on wobbly chairs and rickety tables as they sought a way forward. Nibs led the way, his eyes scouring the surroundings for signs of danger or clues that might lead them to an exit.

The further they proceeded, the enormity of their task became apparent. The maze appeared endless, devoid of clear paths or directions. They found themselves losing their way amidst this cavern of forsaken treasures, turning left and right, ascending and descending in what seemed like an infinite loop. The initial excitement and novelty waned, replaced by a mounting sense of unease and urgency.

. . .

With a jarring impact, James Jones and Tom Morgan crashed onto the dirt floor, the Captain landing heavily on top of Tom, who let out a guttural scream of pain. As they struggled to sit up, it became clear that the valiant sailor, Tom, had suffered a broken arm in the fall. However, the urgency of being pursued by the relentless boys outweighed any lingering pain after the initial snap.

"You all right there, Mister Morgan?" Captain Jones inquired, his voice quick with concern for his mate.

"Aye, Captain," Tom gritted through the pain, his rugged resilience shining through. "Feels like a clean break."