Wonder [R.K.]

Chapter 9

This chapter is super important and contains a lot of information that will set the story!

I wake up, looking at the same wooden ceiling, entangled in the same green sheets, in the same large hut I did when I blacked out the first time.

There's only one difference this time, I don't know why I blacked out.

What was that bell?

Was it an earthquake?

I'm not in any pain, I mean I actually feel pretty good. I am starving, though.

I move to sit on the edge of the bed, with my feet dangling off the side. I look through the window and notice it's night. There's no fire going and the boys are all in their huts, so it must be really late.

I don't know what to do or where Pan is, so I decide to wonder around his extremely large hut.

I make it to his main room and this time, actually look around. He has a fire going right in front of the table. Next to the table is a large white couch, and laying right on it, Pan.

I take another quiet step into the room, but apparently not quiet enough because Pan shoots right up.

He looks at me with wide eyes and a cocked eyebrow. "You're awake?"

"Uh, yeah." I scratch the back of my neck. "How long was I asleep for?"

"2 days. We were scared you weren't going to wake up. "

My mouth drops. 2 days? What happened?

"What happened to me?" I question, becoming more and more confused with this event.

"It's a long story. I'll explain in a little bit, but you probably need some food." He points to the table. On the table sits a plate with a sandwich and a cookie and a glass of water.

I sit on the couch next to him and begin eating my sandwich.

"How are you?" he asks.

I swallow my food before replying, "I'm fine, just hungry." I chuckle and he smirks. "Why didn't you just move me so you could sleep on your own bed?"

He sits back and makes himself more comfortable on the couch, "I wanted you to be most comfortable."

Is Pan actually, caring?

"Wow, uh, thanks, that was really nice." I say, at loss of words.

He chuckles, "you're welcome love, hopefully this won't be happening much more."

"Hopefully," we both laugh. He seems so different when it's just me and him, no pressure of the island.

I finish my food and curl my legs on the couch. "So you know why I blacked out?"

He visibly stiffens, "uh," he scratches the back of his head. "I do."

"So, can I know?" I smile, but it doesn't seem to calm Pan's unknown nerves.

"Alright, I'm about to throw a lot of information at you. I need to get through it, then you can ask any non sense questions you would please."

I nod my head as a small knot starts to form in my stomach.

"The day I met you, how do you think I knew where you were, or that you were even here?"

I try and think of any logical answer, "I don't know, you were wondering through Neverland and ran into me?"

He shakes his head. "Do you know that stump, sitting directly in the middle of the clearing?"

I furrow my brows in thought. "Yeah, but I mean, it's just a stump."

Pan shakes his head again. "To you its just a stump, but it's sacred to the island. See, when a new lost boy, or girl, shows up to the island, it places a small clock on that stump, with their name on it. "

"So if-" I begin.

"Stop." Pan cuts me off. "Wait til I finish explaining to ask questions."

I nod my head and let him continue, keeping my mouth shut.

"Anyways, when I got your clock, the boys were so excited to find you. Of course, I new where you were because, well, magic." He says like it's obvious information, but my eyes go wide and my brows furrow.

"How does this have to do with why I blacked out?" I ask first, even though there are tons of other things I am dying to ask.

"I'm getting there," he hisses and I roll my eyes. "Now, the boys think that these clocks are just a way to represent each member of the island, but that's not the whole case."

Pan stops and puts his head in his hand, taking a deep breath.

Is Pan getting, emotional?

He moves his hands through his hair and continues, "anyways, the clock really represents your time here, even though there is no time. For most lost boys, there time here is never ending, but some very rare people have to leave. And it's not pretty. The island chooses who gets to come to the island. Then, when they come, they get to enjoy. And once they're still new to the island, but have gotten time in it, the island decides if they are worthy of staying." He takes a deep breath.

Why is it so hard for him to tell me this?

More talking, here we go. "The way the island tells you that you have to leave, is by making your clock tick."

Realization suddenly hits me like a brick.

I shoot up processing what he just told me, beginning to freak out. "My clock ticked! Oh my god, my clock ticked!"

I start pacing, unable to calm down, while mumbling under my breath.

"Aria." Pan says, but I don't stop, "Aria!" Pan booms and grabs ahold of my shoulders. "Look at me."

I look into his vivid eyes, and I see that he truly wants to help me. We sit back down right next to each other and I lean on his shoulder, not giving a damn. He places his arm around my shoulder and I'm instantly relieved.

"It can't be that bad, I'll just go home, right?" I ask.

I feel him gulp, "Well actually..."

I sit up and look him in the eyes. "Well what?" I say angrily.

Pan avoids eye contact, "I honestly don't know where you go."

I throw my hands up in the air dramatically. "Well great." I put my head in my hands and try and stop the tears I feel threatening to burst.

I take a breath, "When do I have to leave?"

"Well, your clock will tick 7 more times, so 8 in total. I don't how long it is in between each tick, but I do know, if you're not," he pauses,"dead, before the 7th tick, bad things will begin to happen to Neverland. On the 8th tick, a black hole, and I know it's odd, but it will open up and begin to take Neverland until your gone."

"I can't talk about this anymore." I lean back on his shoulder and snuggle up close to get comfortable.

For se reason, I begin to feel exhausted and I slowly shut my eyes, letting sleep evade me.

Minutes later, I feel him sweep me off the couch and into his arms. I squeal in my sleepy state and grab onto him.

Just moments later, he plops me onto his bed, putting me in the covers before walking away.

"Wait," I grab onto his arm. "Stay."

He stands still for a minute, a sad expression strung on his face, before joining me in the bed, comforting me from the depths of Neverland.

I don't care what Pan is or is supposed to be to me, I need someone right now. Some to pet my hair and whisper in my ear that 'everything is going to be okay' or that 'we'll get though this'. So I don't care. I need Pan to lay in bed and hold me close.