Forever Land

Part 4

Above is the worlds worst 5 minute map. I needed a visual of the island so that I could have an idea of where everything is.  I thought some of you might to.  Although I don't know why I added the Indian village other than that it was in the Disney movie. I wasn't really planning to have it in the book. And because I missed it, the area around pirate's cove is the Nightmare woods.

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With the excitement of introductions over, the kids begun to break off into groups and wonder away. Some disappeared back into the tree's, others began to plan out some game of another. Wendi caught snippets about hid and seek, follow the leader, and a whole bunch of other games she had never heard of. One group was huddled close together whisper arguing like they were planning some sort of heist. Their were a pair of identical girls in the group who's eye's would regularly dart around suspiciously. One of them caught Wendi watching them and stuck out her tongue before ushering the others away.

"Well, what should we do now?" Johnny asked her. Looking slightly lost both boys turned to Wendi as the oldest and therefore closest to authority.

"Why you do what ever you want to do!" Peter announced grandly before she could respond. "That's what Forever-Land's all about. We run and play and have fun all day long." He jumped into the air in an impressive back flip to prove his point. "There's no rules hear except to have fun; and stay away from Nightmare Woods unlessing your wanting to be gobbled up by shadow beasts," He added with a dismissive flick of the wrist. "They're about to start a treasure hunt over their. Why don't you go join them. I hide it real good this time."

He pointed out larger a group of kids who were strategizing over a map scratched into the ground. A short mud covered boy must have overheard because he looked up waved enthusiastically. That little invite was Johnny and Mitchel needed and they happily ran over to join the boys. Within moments the group was off and running. A couple of kids let out whoops and war cries. Little Mitchel held Growls out in front of him roaring. Wendi, however, didn't join in.

"You don't want to go treasure hunting?" Peter asked, his head tilting sideways in a bird-like gesture.

Wendi shook her head. Something was bothering her. Actually quit a few things were bothering her, and while the boys may have been happy to run off and play, she needed answers. Peter waited patiently for her to start talking, a soft half smile on his face. Questions swirled in her head. She didn't know what was about to come out of her mouth but she needed to just say something.

"What is this place? How did we get hear? It doesn't seem possible. We were flying with that...thing...? Was that your shadow?" Once she started the questions just kept pouring out. "And speaking of shadows...shadow beasts...Nightmare Woods!? Um WHAT!"

"Easy, easy." Peter fluttered his hands. "Wowee you ask a lot of questions don't you? Let's just start righty O' the beginning, nice and simple. This," He gestured broadly, "is Forever-land. When you died you w..."

"What! But I didn't die. I mean, I don't feel dead and I feel like I'd be able to tell...right!?"

Peter looked utterly baffled. "But you did." He said matter of factually. "That's why your here. You see, every night I send my shadow out and it finds children who have died before their time. The ones who are afraid and aren't ready to face whatever comes after. The ones that just...need a bit more time to work the thingamabobs out. And then, when their ready, they move along. Unfortunately, theirs only so much time and soooo many children, but we do what we can yea. My shadow goes to whoever calls the loudest and what'n'with three of you in one spot callin' so loud well..." He trailed off and gave an awkward shrug.

"But I couldn't have died." Wendi insisted, "How can I not remember that? Shouldn't I at least feel different?"

For a moment her mind flashed back to the hospital window and looking back at her own slumped form. Even in that memory though she felt in her heart, she wasn't dead.

Peter made a peculiar noise and flopped down onto a pile of leaves. "Well this is funny."He looked both confused and amused.

"What's funny?" Wendi asked angrily.

"Well I've never met someone that didn't know they were dead before. Everyone hear remembers dying. They jus' don't talk much about it. You know, like how problems don't seem so bad when you get a little distance from them?" He seemed truly confused. "You don't have to tell me if you don't wanna, but what's your dying fear?"

Several things crossed her mind but Wendi was pretty sure none of them were what he meant. "I dunno." She finally muttered. "Besides," She added with a note of finality, "I'm. Not. Dead. Your shadow didn't even stop at my room. I saw it go by my room and followed. It didn't even notice me. If anyone brought me hear it was Mitchel. He was the one to take my hand."

It was the certainty in her tone that caught Peter's attention. It seemed impossible but somehow, maybe she was right. After all who else would know better than Wendi herself. The best thing to do, Peter decided, was to just keep a watch over Wendi until he figured things out. Not that he minded to much. She seemed quit nice, and it might turn out to be an adventure. And if there was one thing Peter Panning loved, it was an adventure.

"Wendi, do you want me to show you the island?" He offered, abruptly changing the subject. "There's not much to be done until we can sort out what exacta-actually happened. Might as well have fun in the mean time yea."

Wendi thought it over for a moment, playing with her newly regrown hair. She hadn't had real fun in a long time. Why go running back to a hospital bed without enjoying a bit of freedom first. She suddenly realized that what she wanted more than anything was to run, to jump, to explore every inch of this magical place and forget her troubles for a while. She still had to go home, of course, because obviously their had been some sort of mistake. But why not enjoy a little freedom first. The thought filled her with uncontrollable excitement.

Remembering one of her Grand-mamma's favorite sentences she turned to Peter with a mischievous grin, "Let's go have an adventure." 

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Woop! Woop! Would you look at that, two parts in one day.  I know my chapters are a turning out to be pretty short but this is a short story after all. :) Haha anyone? No? okay bad joke.

Well enjoy, enjoy!

~Michelle B.

Published 2/04/21

Updated 11/14/22