Trapped in Neverland

1

We have hidden in the mountains, and stayed far away from the main area of Neverland for months now. We have hidden and remained quiet, safe from the rest of the world. For now.

I remember one night, after Periwinkle had found us, that she sat down next to me on the floor of my room, and she and I talked for hours. Just catching up. It was a peaceful endeavor, just me and her talking about whatever.

Then, as the time goes on, and more days pass between when we killed Pan, I grow restless. Every night, I lie awake, and it is not because of Felix in the next room having nightmares. No, it is because of the fact that I cannot shake this weird feeling, this odd sensation that prickles against my skin.

I need to clear my head, but I can't seem to focus. My chest hurts and my mind is locked on this one thing — this place Pan used to take me all the time. If he was hurt, badly, and he had retreated into the world to hide from us, he'd most certainly go there.

So, one night, as I lie in bed, I decide to go. Alone.

I creep out of the house, and fly back to Neverland's heart. When I arrive at the place, the small grotto where Pan had first taken me so many years ago ...

I slip inside the grotto.

The scent of blood hangs in the air, and as I walk through the narrow entrance, I see him laying there among the leaves and discarded debris. Pan's eyes are closed, his one hand over his heart, the other over his stomach. He is paler than usual, and I slowly, gingerly approach him.

My heart races as I near him. Then, for some reason, I reach my hand out and touch his hand over his heart. I am plunged into the vision of the first time Pan and I were here.

Pan and I walked through the entrance of the grotto, and he holds my hand in his as we walk. We reach the center of the grotto, and I turn and smile at him. I was so young then ...

So foolish.

Pan cupped my face in his hands, and then he kisses me on the lips. I closed my eyes, and felt like the world was living in my heart, the universe in my soul. I keep my eyes closed and wrap my arms around his neck and shoulders.

Then, a sharp pain pricks my arm. At first, I ignored it. But then, it got worse. I looked down, and nearly screamed.

Pan was carving a symbol into my skin.

I screamed and pulled away, and he shoves me to the ground. Blood trickles down my arm, and I looked up at him, my blood soaking into the earth below me. Pan walks towards me again, and then he smiles darkly.

"You're mine, Tinkerbell."

That was the night I changed my name.

I snap out of it, and look at my scar. It is a circular scar with four circles that loop through each other inside the larger circle. It is faded and hard to see, but there nonetheless.

Pan opens his eyes and looks at me.

"The feeling of our mouths moving against each other's.... The way you moaned my name ..."

I punch him across the face as hard as I can.

He laughs. "You're never going to change, are you."

"Screw you."

"Oh, right," he says, spitting blood into the dirt at my feet. "You don't think that I was dead, did you? No, not all this time ..."

"Where were you?" I ask, my voice a whisper.

He looks at me. "Trapped, much like you. You're trapped by my ghost, and I was trapped inside a box like the one I trapped you in."

I shudder. "Who put you there?"

"You did," he says. "You cast me into it. But now, I'm back. And I'm not the only one looking for you, Tinkerbell."

I shiver hard, and he smiles. "If I wasn't already wounded, I would kiss you."

"I'd deck you," I say.

He chuckles. "And I'd expect no less."

"What is the goal here, Pan?" I ask. "Was it you want to be with me? Is it that you think I'm yours and only yours?"

"You still don't get it," he says, shaking his head. When he looks at me, there's nothing but madness and lust in his dark eyes. "I want you inside me, Tink. But not the way you think. I mean ... I want your soul as part of mine. I want you and I to be entwined ... locked, spiritually, mentally, and physically. Please, Tinkerbell. Think about it, about joining with me forever. Think about bonding with me, becoming one. We can find a way to do this, I know it."

"You're insane," I say. "Pan, you're talking about ... what? You want me to be sealed away inside you?"

He shakes his head. "I want the mental bond that only can be given to mates, Faerie mates." He sits up and looks at me more closely. "Don't run, Tinkerbell. Just tell me ... why? Why won't you love me again like you did all those years ago?"

"I'm beyond that," I snap. "Especially since you killed Hawk."

He suddenly stands up. He then pulls something from his pocket and hands it to me.

"Go home, wherever home is. You'll be safer there."

"Since when do you suddenly care?"

"I've always cared about you," Pan says. "But trust me, I will be the one to kill you, in the future, that is."

I shake my head and roll my eyes. Then I leave him alone, and as I fly back home, I open my hand. I see a ring carved with filigree patterns and the ring itself is silver, not iron, that would burn me. Pan gave me a ring? Why?

Maybe he is going insane.

Yes, that has to be it. Right?