InsaneJournal

Who - Neal Cassidy
What - Driven out of his cave
Where - Panem
When - Now
Warnings - Character Death
Status - In Progress


Since the first time the group had been separated, Neal had decided that he was better off just finding a cave and staying there. Staying away from the others. He knew what this place was like, and eventually the Seal or the Game makers would find a way of turning them against each other. And, it was safer all around if he stayed away. The Supernatural’s had all become human, even the angel and the demon. And that worried him. Because that meant it was people like him, Alison and Ward who were at their peak. Who weren’t trying to compensate for lack of powers. And, therefore were actually in some ways the most dangerous. And, whatever happened, he’d never killed anyone. Sure, he was a thief and a con-artist. He was a survivor. It’s what he’d had to become in Neverland for over a century. And again, when he arrived in the US the first time. A teenage boy scraping to survive, having to create an identity for himself.

But, killing. Killing was something he’d never done. He knew how to fight, sure. Killian had taught him how to use a sword on the Jolly Roger, and he’d taught himself how to use a bow. But, that was for hunting. He knew, if he had the right equipment he’d be able to defend himself if it came down to it. But, he didn’t want to have to. He didn’t want to take a life, if he could help it. No, staying away was the best option. Keeping in touch with them via the comms they’d been provided with. Offering advice and warnings. He’d seen the conversations where some of them had died, and then come back. And, he knew that the seal was somehow responsible. But, even if they were going to come back. He didn’t want to take that step. Not ever.

But, once again his food and water stores were getting low. So, he poked his head out of the cave, the bow and arrows he’d grabbed from the cornucopiea strapped to his back. Keeping low, he moved along the bank of the river and into the forests. But, then everything moved. He felt it. They’d rearranged the arena again. “Damnit!” He shouted, hitting the nearest tree. He was going to have to find his cave again.

Except, then he heard them. The jabber jays, again. The terrified screams of Emma, Henry and Belle. Mixed in with the mocking laughter of Pan and the Dark One. Not his father, well not as he was now. Now, he was a bit more like the man he remembered before he was cursed. But, the mocking high pitched laughter of the full on Dark One. The reason he’d tried to get Rumplestiltkin to the world without magic. The monster who had taken his father away from him. And yet, he knew there was nothing he could do. And, he hated it. Having no idea whether the screams were real or not. He couldn’t bear it. He turned and ran. He needed to find a way back to his family, at any cost.

Too late, he saw the fog ahead of him. He recognized it from the film. He tried to skid to a halt, and turn around. But, instead he tripped and fell.

As the fog engulfed him, his last thoughts were of Emma and Henry. He needed them to be safe. All he wanted was to be there for them, and yet again that was being taken away from him.