The Land Beyond | Peter Pan 2003

Chapter 11: Tainted Love

Peter's POV

The wind beats against my face, drying out my eyes but the tears won't stop falling. The smoggy air sticks to me. My skin has a thin layer of sweat which only wettings the more I dip into the cloud line. Tink flies close beside me, trying to comfort me but I can't stop thinking about Lahona and what she said. We reach the large bell tower and lower through the cloud barrier, slowing until I reach a building with an open window. The lamp lights inside glow dimly upon Wendy who sleeps in her favorite rocking chair with a book in her lap. Her child, asleep, in Wendy's old bed.

I wipe at my eyes, sniffing to keep my nose from running. This has to be done. Not just for Lahona but for me. I need to do this.

I float a foot from the window, not wanting to get too close otherwise I might wake them.

"Wendy, it's time I let you go," I whisper.

Tink chimes at my side, encouraging me. Silently, I reach for the window, touching the edge as I pull it down slowly bit by bit and as softly as I can. With every inch that it closes a heavy weight lifts from my shoulders until it finally shuts.

Relief.

I feel utter relief.

Sighing, I shake off the dreary emotions from me. I may be letting her go, but I can still have our memories. A smile spreads across my face.

I see Lahona smiling in the back of my mind. She's probably asleep by now in my bed. This has me grinning. Time to go home.

"Bye, Wendy."

Turning from the window, I wave a final goodbye and then shoot off into the sky towards the second star to the right.

***

My feet land silently on top of the branch outside my window. The sun will rise soon and so will the Lost Boys and Lahona. Maybe I will take her back to the lagoon again and finally teach her how to swim. I speedily walk into the room.

"Lahona..." I stop dead in my tracks when I see she's nowhere in sight.

My eyes narrow as I examine the room.

Could she be up already?

Rushing to the ladder, I float down and land in the throne room. The Lost Boys are asleep on the floor, the candles are out. I check all the other rooms in a hurry, stirring a boy as I search, but she's in none of them.

Did the humans find her? Or that man she was supposed to marry? Or Hook?

I rush out the front door, slamming the door behind me and leap into the air. Bursting into the sky I race to the elven city deep in the forest where I first saw Lahona. Reaching the tree line, I pop through the branches carelessly. A few guards point up at me but I search the grounds for her too quickly for them to keep up with me. Lastly, I check her room which is empty and dark. A cold feeling washes over me.

Zipping back into the sky I head for the sea. Not far off from the human harbor is the Jolly Roger, right where I found her and Hook. I didn't finish Hook's and my fight because I wanted to make sure Lahona got back safely. I wasn't able to find her until late last night in my bedroom. Lowering down by the starboard side of the boat, I wave at the gathering crowd of pirates that point and scream my name. Some ready for the cannons but wait for the order as they point the heavy machines my way. Hook comes rushing out of his cabin, his eyes burning red as he approaches my side of the boat.

"Where is she?"

"You're precious Lahona? Not here."

A foul taste forms in my mouth. Something isn't right.

"Awe, you can't find her? Maybe she left you just as Wendy did. After all, in this part of the world, humans and elves can't be together," Hook sneers.

"She wouldn't!" I yell.

Images of Wendy and my last moments flash in my mind. She chose a life of adulthood over me. But Lahona is different. She never once mentioned wanting to go back to her father or city.

The last I saw Lahona, she looked crushed. I wanted to wipe away the tears from her eyes but I didn't want to hear anymore - I just wanted to forget the pain Wendy put me through. I should have told Lahona the truth. I should have said she's different. I never felt so warm with anyone but her.

"She did leave, Peter. What did you do to cause her to run away, like Wendy?"

I shake my head. "No, you're wrong!"

I blast into the sky and head for the lagoon. It takes me seconds to reach it and only a second to fly through the cave. I land next to the decrypted castle, peering through one of the broken windows but all I see is the empty ballroom. I see us dancing together in the middle of the room, her humming to me, so close and warm that I could feel her heartbeat.

Glancing to my right at the lagoon, I see us swimming, close in the cold water. I am holding her afloat, her arms tight around my neck and her sweet breath on my skin. It made me nervous being so close to her but I couldn't stop staring into her green eyes.

Where could she be?

I head back to the hideout, hovering into my room through the window and landing in the center. The sun is rising over the horizon, blasting a yellowish-orange light into the room. Even with the warmth of the sun, it feels empty.

She's not here.

She's gone.

The thumping of my heart beats in my ears and I feel like screaming. Tears burn at the corners of my eyes as I open them further to keep them from falling. Kneeling to my knees, I slam my fists into the hardwood floor. The light of the sun goes out behind me and a cold breeze creeps into the room. Thunder booms off in the distance. Before I know it, it's pouring outside and the scent of rain fills the atmosphere.

I need to find her.

I will find her.

:: Thank you for reading. I am working on the second fanfic called "The Land Beyond 2". Please leave comments below on what you think of this fanfic and what you'd like to see in the second!::