Over a week later, Slightly stepped onto the shore and looked around. He turned to the longboat and stared at Captain Hook. The man smiled at him warmly.

“Thank you, Captain. I’m sorry if I slightly doubted you’d keep your word,” the boy said. “If you need anything that doesn’t involve betraying Peter or the others, I’ll do what I can.”

“Oh, I will call you on that,” Hook answered. “I am a pirate and I do no favors for free. I’ve considered you a worthwhile investment as an ally. Don’t be upset if I hope your reception home is less than warm… I could use a lively lad like yourself in my crew. Remember, my offer still stands.”

“Where are you going now?” Slightly asked.

Hook chuckled, “You’re on your own now, lad, so my business is none of your concern. You’ll see us around.”

“Good luck, Slightly,” Billy called as he and the men began rowing again.

Slightly waved to his only friend, then slowly made his way into the trees. The past week had been quiet. He’d awakened in the brig (although it had been a lot cleaner and more comfortable than when he’d gone to sleep), and his only visitors had been Billy and Hook. Hook only came by once a day or so, but Billy kept him company as much as he could. The Captain had sent him some books to read while he was alone, to pass the time, and Slightly had waited impatiently for the day he could leave the ship.

Peter and the others hadn’t been seen the entire time. They never came to the ship, and none of the pirates had glimpsed them when they were ashore. Slightly was worried, but Hook had said that perhaps they thought he was dead and were grieving.

Slightly smiled as he walked, imagining their faces when they saw he was alive. Maybe they’d forget about the argument and welcome him back in relief. Suddenly dread filled him – what if they were happier thinking he was dead? He shook his head and began whistling to drive away the unhappy thoughts.

It was a long walk to the home underground, and he stopped frequently to rest. Around noon, he stopped to eat lunch. Before he could even pull out the bread and cheese Cookson had given him, he was surrounded by the Lost Boys.

“Peter!” Slightly said happily when he saw the boy alight in front of him. He faltered when he saw the look on his former leader’s face.

“Where do you think you’re going, pirate?” Peter challenged, drawing his dagger.

“What?” Slightly stammered, “I’m not a… I’m going home…”

“You’re going the wrong way, pirate,” Peter interrupted. He pointed behind the boy, “the Jolly Roger is that way.”

“I’m not a pirate!” Slightly yelled, tears welling up in his eyes. How can he be so mean?

“You’re not an Indian and you’re not a fairy. There’s only Fairies, Indians, Lost Boys, and Pirates in Neverland. And you’re certainly not a Lost Boy.”

Slightly looked at the other boys, but they all stared back at him stonily, even Tootles. “I was your friend!” he cried, “I didn’t do anything wrong… Tootles, I took Hook’s sword for you!” The small boy looked away from him, and a stray tear leaked out. But he stayed silent.

“Lucky that Hook accidentally clipped you,” Peter said icily, “He exposed his spy for us. When did you become Hook’s pet?”

Slightly stared, stricken, too upset to reply for a moment. As he thought he grew angry, and it gave him more clarity. “I never betrayed you, Peter. I hoped and prayed for the last week you’d come rescue me and take me home. But you never came.”

“So you’re saying you were a prisoner” Peter asked, smiling. It deflated him a bit when Slightly didn’t lie.

“No!” Slightly snapped. “Billy must have spoken to Hook, because they saved my life and let me stay there until I was better. I had nowhere to go – I could barely walk and it’s taken me three hours to get this far!”

Peter frowned, “I know. We’ve been watching.”

Slightly felt something in him snap, and he thought it was either his sanity or his heart. Whatever it was, it hurt. They knew where I was and they didn’t care enough to even see if I was alright. They’ve watched me walk for this long, and they just now decide to show themselves. “You betrayed me, Peter!” Slightly screamed. “If you didn’t want me any more, why didn’t you just take me back where you found me? No, you disowned me and pushed me into the river. You wanted me dead, didn’t you!”

Peter looked shocked, “I didn’t push you…”

But Slightly was hysterical now. “You knew I was hurt, you knew our enemy had me and YOU LEFT ME THERE! Did you even bother to look for me? Or did you forget about me as soon as I was out of sight?”

Peter punched Slightly as hard as he could, and Slightly dropped like a rock. The boy touched his jaw gingerly and felt blood run down his chin from where his teeth had pierced his lip. Peter glared down at Slightly.

“You allied with the pirates. You stayed with them, even after Hook offered to let you go. You’re leading them to our home right now. Don’t pretend like I’m the bad guy. You are the traitor here. Go on to the underground house; we don’t live there anymore. We moved when we heard the deal you struck with Hook. You’re a pirate, Jason. Go back to your new friends.”

“Jason?” Slightly repeated, dazed. Something unpleasant stirred in his mind, and he pushed it away.

“Your real name is Jason. Slightly was a Lost Boy’s name. Slightly is dead. You are the pirate Jason. Next time we see you, you’d better be armed.” Peter lifted off the ground, followed by the other Lost Boys. “See you around, Jason!” he called and they flew away.

“That was hateful, Peter!” Tink scolded when she caught up to the boys. “Why did you give him his name back?”

Peter frowned, “You were in the tree watching. You know what I told him.”

“You stupid CHILD!” Tink screeched angrily. “Do you even remember why we took his name in the first place? Do you know what having that reminder might do to him?”

“I don’t care…” Peter began, and they heard Slightly scream.

“Peter, what have you done?” Tink whispered and flew down. Peter frowned and ordered his boys to go home, then flew after her.

Slightly was still sitting on the ground, staring ahead at nothing. He screamed again and began sobbing as flashes of memory streaked through his mind. They were too fast for him to catch, but they burned through him, leaving echoes of fear and anguish in their wake. He didn’t see Peter kneeling before him, eyes filled with worry. He didn’t see Tinker Bell as she flew around him, casting her dust and chanting the spell of forgetfulness. Gradually, the images stopped and he saw Peter at last.

“Go away,” Slightly moaned, still haunted by the echoes of his forgotten memories. “Leave me alone. I get it, you hate me and you never want to see me again.” He wiped his eyes and stood, then began backing away. “Maybe I don’t want to see you either.”

“Slightly,” Peter tried to stop him.

“NO!” the boy screamed. “Slightly’s dead. Jason’s dead too.” He shook his head sadly, “I’m nobody. Go away, Peter. Go back to your real friends. I hope you aren’t as ready to throw them away as you were to throw me away.” He turned and ran blindly through the trees.

Peter watched him go, worry and guilt flooding through him. “Was I wrong?” he whispered.

“I think you were, and Wendy would agree with me,” Tink answered. “But the damage is done. You’ve lost your oldest human friend. Even if you forgive him, I doubt he’ll forgive you… or the others. I just hope my magic holds and he doesn’t remember again.”

“I should go after him,” Peter said and leapt into the air.

“No, Peter. You’ve hurt him enough. Give him time. Besides, he’ll be running across Hook soon. Billy Jukes will calm him down.”

Peter frowned at the thought of Slightly taking up with the pirates again, but he heeded Tink and went the other way.

End Chapter 6