I hope this is not the case but it is possible that Neal was tricked by Wicked, and he helped her in someway to cast the curse or that he chose to but did not realize the price of doing so. I think wherever he is, there is a story that needs to be told that differs from what happened to everyone else. Also this definitely is a reverse curse reversed since there is whale and he should not have been in the ef, nor should Wicked have a reason for him–that we would guess right now unless there is more to his story too. Wonder if they will imply Hatter is in town too though I doubt we would see him. Wl is not done so kind of curious where that winds up!
“If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?” -- Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass