#nlstarter

Sat up in his hospital bed, Lewis’ mind was clear for the first time since the explosion. Not as much morphine in his system as before, just him, the pain and his mind scrutinising over every last detail that had lead to a man’s death. He had known the risks of embroiling himself with Neverland, he had heard the ominous warnings and the whispers of dark things passed. 

Reese looked up as though threatened as someone slid into the opposite side of his booth as he was midway through his apple pie. In prison every move was a power struggle, the cafeteria had been a battleground for dominance and more than once something as meaningless as chocolate mousse had ended up in an infirmary visit. Despite being free nearly a month now, he hadn’t been able to shake that mindset. 

“What?” Josh asked, as though the marks on his face weren’t glaring. His latest hit had more fight left in him than he anticipated. It had mirrored his own own will to survive when he had been held captive. Distant days that still crossed his mind. Empathy hadn’t been enough to deter him from finishing his assignment. 

Graveyards made him uneasy, but that was something to overcome when there were respects to be paid. This was the first time in a long time that Dante had been in Neverland on the anniversary of Louis’ death, and he couldn’t let the occasion go unmarked. 

“Sorry, don’t mind me, excuse me,” Wendy said as she wove her way into the penthouse kitchen, making sure she didn’t bump into any of the staff who were busy making the meal and distributing appetizers onto sterling silver trays. Even for a small group of a dozen, a Darling dinner was at least a four course event.

Charlie rubbed her temples, frustrated and annoyed with the catalogue in front of her. Father’s Day was yesterday and Charlie had spent the whole day panicking over whether she should buy Leo a gift or not. Was it too soon? She’d only known him a couple of weeks, she’d spent less time than that with him as well because of her busy work schedule. “What the bloody hell do you even buy the Dad you’ve only just met?” She groaned, turning the page and scanning it with her eyes in her seat at the bar.

Di had discovered when she was seventeen that the chapel of the hospital was the most empty place in the entire building. It was a good place to hide, cry, catch a quick sleep in the pews. No one here bothered with God. Not anymore, at least.