Peter felt the force of the impact as the shot hit his body. Widening his eyes, shock and pain immediately sent him into a tailspin. His happy thoughts slipped away - and Peter dropped like a stone into the depths.
He felt a searing pain like a sparking fire in his chest, making every beat of his heart heavy and fiery. The chilly wind tugged at him; his body twisted around and around. Then he crashed into the treetops of the Never Jungle. Palm fronds and leaves struck him in the face; then he crashed onto a branch and the forest floor. Although the leaves and earth caught him, the force squeezed all the air out of his lungs.
Gasping, he fought the paralysis of his lungs, retching and tasting the metallic nuance of his blood on his tongue.
"Pan!" The star grabbed his shoulders and turned the fallen hero onto his side. Blood poured from the bullet wound, drenching the leaves green in ruby-red drops.
"We must ... quickly ... leave ...," Peter pressed out as the star's bright fingers groped for his chest. "Or they'll kill us!" His blood smeared the alabaster white skin, and worry stained her fairy-like features. The wound looked nasty. Though Peter pressed his hand to it, blood oozed between his fingers, wetting skin and clothing.
The roar of the pirates now sounded from the beach. They heard Hook yell 'GET HIM, YOU DIRTY WORMS!' Then leaves and branches rustled, cracking under the ruthless force of bodies slamming into the thicket.
"Come, quickly!" Peter's voice resonated harshly and breathlessly to her ears as he grabbed her hand and pulled the star into the first step.
"But you're wounded!" she returned, but Peter did not listen. He didn't want to - or he couldn't. Instead, he pulled her relentlessly forward into the darkness of the jungle.
The pirates were in pursuit, their angry shouts ringing in her ears as they ran faster and faster, determined to escape with their lives and treasure.
And they run together. Faster, swifter. Were they leaping, ducking under a branch along the forest's edge, and arcing in, only to hook again because something was blocking the way - or to confuse the pirates? Her fingers were in the firm grip of Peters's larger hand. Huge leaves were pushed aside, branches whipped together behind them, and great grassy growths rustled, complaining about the wild escape amid the nighttime soundscape. In the denser forest, the moonlight and stars only squinted and strained through the gaps in the treetops.
The star nearly tripped over a branch but caught herself again and quickly returned from the brief spin to the hurried pace. Her lungs soon complained, her breaths became greedier and shorter, and her chest began to burn. Were they still being pursued? Had they outrun the pirates?
As the sounds approached, Peter pulled the star on a straight path into the forest, and he didn't seem to choose their path haphazardly. The wind rustled through treetops, blurring even more, the sounds of footsteps or branches pushing them aside on their way leaves tumbling to the ground, and animals leaping to the side. Still, the hunted feeling lurked within, propelling them both onward.
As a star, she had never liked the night. But now, trapped in this vulnerable body and on the run, every rustle was alarming, driving her pulse even higher. Soon they were out of breath and had to slow down. She wanted to take a break ... but Peter shook his head gravely.
YOU ARE READING
When Stars Fall
Fanfiction** When a wish brings devastating consequences, Pan must join forces with a fallen star to stop the walking dead before Neverland sinks into eternal darkness. ** "We can sail away tonight on a sea of pure moonlight We can navigate the stars to b...
