VILLAIN

Chapter 9

I only flew until I saw land, eagerly dropping down out of the sky and onto dry ground as soon as I was able to. I wasn't sure how much longer I could've kept up my happy thoughts. My mind was exhausted, and the side of my face was still throbbing from the several gashes that now decorated it. I took comfort in the pain, because in some small way I was thankful I too was hurting. I deserved it. I had been very careful not to let myself think about Peter while I was flying, but I couldn't stop the assault of thoughts that followed my landing.

My heart constricted, and tears welled up in my eyes all over again. I tried to reason with myself that it had been for the best, and that I wouldn't rest until I found a way to bring him back. But no amount of logic could erase the truth. When faced with an impossible choice, I had chosen to save my own life. And now, because of my choice, I was alive and Peter wasn't. The thought made me sick to my stomach. I pushed the feelings down again. It wouldn't help Peter for me to grieve or regret. I needed to find an antidote.

I walked briskly through the forest, not even really sure where it was that I was going. Assuming my potion had worked correctly, the only antidote was a kiss of true love. But who could be Peter's true love? I racked my brain. He had said that Tinkerbell was hopelessly in love with him, right? It felt like so long ago now, and my tired brain could barely think. I begrudgingly admitted that I wasn't going to be able to do this by myself. I needed someone to help. I needed James.

I quickly assessed my surroundings. If I was in Neverland, that meant I needed to go north to get to Evermore. The only problem was, I was surrounded by forest in all directions, and I had absolutely no idea which way "north" was. I might have been able to use the sun's position to find my way back, but in my distress I couldn't remember what the rule was. Did the sun rise in the east and set in the west? Or did I have it backwards?

I sighed, stopping in my walking. If only I had something that could tell me...

I gasped. Mirror! Of course. How could I forget?

I reached into the back of my nightdress to pull it out, convinced my problems were solved. But, oddly, when I tried to grab it, there was nothing there except skin. I reached farther, getting a fistful of nightdress. Then I patted both my pockets, even though I already it wasn't there.

I began panicking, my suppressed emotions rising again. No, no, no. I couldn't lose my mirror too. Where was it? Had I dropped it when I'd fallen? No. In my distress, I couldn't even remember when I'd last had it with me. I tapped my forehead to jog my memory, but it didn't help. I groaned, thinking as hard as I could.

Where was it? Had I left it on the pirate ship? Had it fallen out of the back of my nightdress as I'd been walking? Had someone stolen it while I was being interrogated by Blackbeard? I had to find it, but I had no clue where to start.

And with that realization, all the emotions I'd previously been holding back burst forth, and I crumpled into a pathetic heap on the ground. I groaned, tears streaking down my face, unsure whether I wanted to be angry or sad or scared or just plain exhausted. As a solution, my body decided to feel all four at once. I ripped grass up bitterly, burying my head in my hands. I had just been forced to murder the closest thing I had to family, and now on top of that I had lost the last gift my mother had ever given to me and my only hope of saving Peter. I was lost, alone, and hopeless. Or at least...I thought I was alone.

Suddenly I heard the crunching of leaves, and a smug voice said, "Looking for something?"

I whipped my head up from my hands, the motion briefly blurring my vision. After it cleared, I almost wished it hadn't. Standing about six feet away from me was a very angry-looking Maximus Quarterly, and in his clenched fist he held a little, silver hand-mirror.