Trapped in Neverland

10

Wendy walks with me back to the ship. We both have Felix propped up between us for support, and he's still unconscious. I think he's dreaming too.

When we finally reach the ship deck, and Captain Hook takes Felix away and down to the infirmary, I sink to the floor beside the mermaid girl. She looks at me.

"You should rest," she says.

I shake my head. "I need to make sure Felix is okay."

"You're useless to him dead on your feet," she says. "So just go rest. If you must, sleep beside him. But you do need sleep."

I nod, then I stand up and head to the stairs leading down. I walk to the ship's infirmary area, and I walk into the room. Three attendants rush back and forth, talking up a frenzy. I sit down on a bench in the corner of Felix's room.

I keep my eyes on him until sleep finally claims me.

...............

"Tinkerbell?"

I open my eyes, blink once, twice, and then I look up at Felix, who is standing up and holding himself stiffly, like he's in pain. I stand up and look at him.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

He's paler than usual, and he looks at the door expectantly. He walks over and sits down on the bench I was on. I sit beside him, and he sighs.

"I'm sorry," he says.

"For what?"

"All of this," he says.

"Shh, it isn't your fault," I tell him.

He shrugs. "I don't know about that."

Then, a nurse comes in to check on him, and she scolds him until he begrudgingly lays in bed again. I stay with him for a while, and he doesn't speak until he's ready, which takes quite a while.

"Are you sure you don't blame me? I mean ...."

"I don't blame you, Felix," I say. "Why would I? Pan and Zaine did this, not you."

When I look at his face, I see he is in fact crying. Sadness wells up inside me, and I walk over to him, brushing the tears from his eyes. He looks up at me, as I stand in front of his bed, holding his face in my hands. He's crying. He's so sad. He blames himself for what I've gone through, but what about what he's gone through? What about him?

"You're really thinking about me right now?" I ask him. He nods. "Why?"

"Because," he says after a minute, "I just am."

Then, there's a knock on the door. I step back from Felix and turn around, seeing Periwinkle walk in. She and Wendy and the mermaid all come in, the mermaid is now walking on two legs.

"I didn't introduce myself," the mermaid says. "I am Amora."

"I'm Tinkerbell, that's Felix," I say.

"Who is this, Tinkerbell?" Felix asks.

"She's the mermaid that saved Peri's box when she was trapped in it," I explain. "She and Hook helped me. Plus, I met Hook before."

"Where is Hook?" Felix asks.

"On deck," Amora says. "But we have an issue."

"Uh-oh," I mutter.

"Indeed, because Pan is here. He wants to talk peacefully with you."