As the fabric falls from my face, my eyes attempt to adjust to the darkness. I blink quickly, worried that if I don’t get my bearings, I’ll meet a fate I’m not ready for yet. One I’m understanding now that I’ll never be ready for.

As my mind is still trying to make sense of everything, my eyes still adjusting to the low light, I see a figure step forward in front of me. I push everything else aside and focus there. All my worry is set on the shoulders of one individual. One man.

Him.

My shoulders stiffen as my eyes finally fully adjust and I take in the deep scowl on his face. He lifts a cigarette to his lips and takes a long drag as his eyes roam across my body. Up. Down. Stopping on my most intimate parts. Shuffling my weight on my feet, I glance behind him and see the lost boys staring, ogling, undressing me with their eyes.

As my eyes adjust further to the lonely light coming from the lantern Rufio carries, my head turns and takes in where we are.

Skull Rock.

“It’s where we take the ones we kidnap.”

“Do you kidnap a lot of people, Peter? Before you kidnapped me, that is?”

“You came willingly, Wendy. Something tells me, you’ll always come willingly.”

I feel my body begin to tremble as the memories come flooding back and I take in my surroundings. He was right. I did. Once again, I fell for his magic. His charm. But this time I find myself bound and gagged in Skull Rock as horny lost boys look at me like a feast they are about to devour. It’s something completely opposite from the first time I found myself here, alone with Peter.

The memory shakes through me, forcing my eyes back to his as a cloud of smoke slowly leaves his lips. “Seems fitting that we start at the beginning, don’t you agree?”

My eyes widen, my defiance shining through the darkness as I struggle in my restraints and take a step back. I can tell when he sees the rebellion in my eyes because he takes two steps forward instantly. Grabbing my throat, he pulls me towards him with one strong yank.

“This is the first place I felt it leave me. The first place I felt you steal it from me, Darling.” He cocks his head to the side and studies me. “The first place I felt your submission.”

I hear a murmur amongst the boys behind him and my heart speeds up in fear.

“Don’t tell me, Wendy, that you don’t remember?”