Neverland

Chapter Twenty-Five

When lightning isn't cutting the sky, I can see the small sliver of the bright moon. The color reminds me of the magic in Skull Rock. Oh, I would give anything to be back there. To be back there with... with...

The wall stopping my emotions break, and all of the good natures I have tried to hide flow in. The little piece of Tinkerbell inside of me buries itself, and the power of Neverland does not appear to be having an effect on me yet. I seem to be looking on my soul. A lot of it is black, but a portion is white. That white portion came because of her.

Wendy. Wendy Darling. When I find her, I will tell her how I really feel. If I find her. The more time that wears on, the less hope I have of rescuing the girl from London. The back of my neck prickles, it feels as if someone is watching me. This feeling is uncomfortable, but I stay focused on my purpose.

Maybe Hook has found Wendy. Maybe that's why I haven't found her. Wouldn't I have gotten a signal, though? I push the thoughts away. It's the magic here, it's making me doubt myself.

the air is colder when I stand still. I have mixed feelings about the blackness wrapping around me. Each step I take is slow, it's like some invisible force is pulling me down. I must be close to Wendy.

Surged with anticipation, I intently search the trees and sky with my eyes. Because of this, I don't notice the humane object until my foot steps down. It is a body lying on the stray leaves, dirt, and grass.

I fall on my knees to study the unmoving figure. The pale hair pulled back, the spring-colored tunic... it's Wendy. In the instant that my fingers brush her cheeks, her eyes snap open. I melt into the trees before she can really see me. Just in case of a trap, though I will not leave without Wendy.

Stumbling, she shakes herself awake. She turns wildly from side to side. What is she doing?

Tension is building inside of me. I can't take this any longer. I step out from the arms of the forest. Wendy flinches as I take slow steps to her, my arms held out assuringly. She remains still and silent, exactly the opposite of what I thought would happen when we would finally be reunited.

She speaks so quietly I can't hear. Unable to resist, I rush to Wendy. Our lips barely touch when Wendy pushes me away. It wasn't with hardly any force, but I feel like I have been slapped. Wendy takes a few steps back.

"Who... who are you?" she whispers. All the air has been sucked out of my lungs.

"Peter Pan," I say slowly. "We met in Neverland."

"Neverland? Oh no, how far am I from London?" How could Wendy not remember? "I'm sorry, but I haven't got the faintest idea who you are." It's then that I notice the bruises on her arms. She's shaking though there's no chill. Wendy's eyes are slightly unfocused. Jack has been torturing her. By the way that she looks at me, confused, I'd say that he also did something much worse. He's stolen her memories.

"No," I breath. Wendy bends to meet my gaze at the ground.

"Sorry, are you all right?" she asks. I can't answer her. She doesn't even know who I am.

Straightening, I say, "What do you remember?" I have to ask, even though I am afraid she really recalls nothing about Neverland. Her face breaks into a smile at the thought of remembering.

"I was back in London, not this strange place," Wendy tells me. "I was describing these beautiful creatures called fairies to Michael and John." I snort softly. She stops, her expression changing. "That's odd. I went to sleep..."

"And?" I press. There just has to be more.

"And I wake up here," she finishes. Oh, I can just feel the pleasure of ripping out Jack's throat.