Helping Neverland

. going back in time .

Third POV

Elliot got up and stretched his arm above his head, leaning back until he heard a satisfying crack.

"Time to get to work," he mumbled to himself. He started walking around the mansion, looking everywhere for Isabella. She was the only connection to Tira that wasn't being blocked by some kind of demonic... promise that she made. But was it even possible? She did specify forgetting all her memories, but her sister -- twin sister -- seemed to still be able to say her name. Does this mean that there was some sort of clause that's in effect that let's Isabella remember Tira, but not the others?

Once Elliot found Isabella he notice she was reading a book. It looked super weird and a bit old, obviously well-read. He walked over and read along with her, a name catching his eye.

"Kieran?" Wasn't that the name the other kids called Tira? How come that was okay and not her actual name? He groaned, closing his eyes. If only it were possible, he would go and talk to that demon king himself.

"This isn't the time," he muttered. With a tentative hand -- he wasn't sure if this was going to work since it's been a while -- Elliot went to tap Isabella's shoulder. Before his ghostly hand could even brush up against her, Isabella's head snapped over, her violet gaze piercing into Elliot's very own. He froze, watching as she snapped the book closed and got up, not moving her eyes from him. Could she see him?

"Is someone here?" She asked. Elliot didn't move a muscle. For the first time in a long time he felt...

Scared.

He was a ghost of gods sake! What would he be scared of?! Some holy water? That just burned him a little before turning into vapor! Dissipating into nothingness! But that glare coming from Isabella felt deadly, as if she were looking at an actual demon. He couldn't say that they weren't real anymore. How Tira acted and what she told, it was too detailed and consistent. Was this some sort of superhuman ability that they developed after living in such a world? To be able to sense spirits?

"Think about it later," Elliot told himself, shaking his head. He took a step forward and touched Isabella's shoulder, the familiar — yet foreign — feeling of being sucked into a vacuum before getting shocked awake to realize it was a bad dream. He opened his eyes and set the book down.

Possession successful.

Taking a deep breath his imaginary hands reached for past memories from Isabella. It had been a long time since he did something like this, so he was out of practice. The memories would slip and fall between his fingers, an almost slimey consistency. Once he did land a satisfying grab onto a memory he peered into it.

It was recent, at least as recent as within the past few years. He watched as Krone and Tira ran in front of him before Tira skidded to a stop, turning around. He stopped, staring at her as Krone reached the wall, climbing up.

"Tira!" He shouted, his voice coming out more feminine. She glared at him.

"Isabella, you promised you wouldn't hurt them. Let. Them. Go," she demanded. His mind and heart felt like it was about to rip into two. Which one would he follow? His heart that told him to let them leave and be happy for them? Or his mind that tried to tell him it was only rational for them to stay?

"They're cattle!" He shouted, still feeling conflicted.

"Isabella listen to me!" Tira shouted. He shouldn't be here. He shouldn't be standing here listening to her talk! He should be over there, trying to recapture all the cattle. So why wasn't he? Was his heart really going to win this irrational and improbable battle of letting them leave and find their way back to humanity? His eyes narrowed, trying to sort out these emotions.

"You said you wanted them to feel love right? You want them to live happy right?" Tira asked, her eyes softening. He did. He really did. But it wasn't possible. This was the only way he could keep a few of them safe.

"Of course! I love them," he declared.

"Then let them go. Let them live their life
Isabella." They both stood there simply facing the other. Rationally, they wouldn't make it. Out there in the world ruled by demons and a demon god, there was no chance. Not even he dared to venture outside without the proper knowledge! But...

They were different.

They were the smartest kids he had ever raised. There was also Norman, Ray, and Emma there too, not to mention Krone. Don and Gilda weren't a force to laugh at either, successfully stealing her key from her.

If anyone could make it, it was them. It was this batch of kids.

Tira was the first to move, turning to face Norman who was still waiting on top of the wall, coat hanger in hand.

"Norman go now!"

"What about you Tira?!"

"I'll be fine! Besides I'm a ghost right?" Tira said with a smile that said everything. Elliot sighed, knowing this was his defeat. His heart won, despite it never having been before.

"Go now!" Norman looked down at his feet for a moment before jumping, sliding down the rope and reaching the other side safely. The children seemed to have a conversation before looking at them. Elliot smiled as they jumped down and ran into the forest.

"Stay safe everyone," Tira whispered.

"I love you," he whispered alongside her. They both turned to each other, a pleasant smile filled with endearment and platonic love on both their faces. They hugged each other tightly, or so tight as they could. Elliot pulled back, the colors of the sunset reflected in Tira's slowly dissipating form.

"Thank you Isabella, remember that I love you okay? Goodbye!" After saying that Tira bursted in sparkles and disappeared. Elliot hugged himself and teared up. The bitter feeling of melancholy, which then becomes real as he found something important and yet lost it just as quick. It hurt, however he was simply glad he was able to see her again, one last time.

"I love you too Tira. Goodbye."

Elliot opened his eyes, feeling a slight dampness to his cheeks. He roughly wiped them away with the back of his hand. Taking a shaky breath, he stood up and walked over to the window. He sat down at the bench and closed his eyes again for the second time, reaching towards a much more recent memory. One before they came here, one where they were still in the demon world.

One where they were finally able to cross over.

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A/N: OMG HI YEAH STILL ALIVE XDXDXD BUT WOW THIS CHAPPY WAS SUPER DUPER HARD TO WRITE UMU I was totally stuck UMU BUT IT'S OKAY BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN AND TO WRAP THIS ALL UP NOW UWU SEE YOU WHENEVER I NEXT UPDATE XDXDXD SEE YOU ALL SOON (hopefully) ~~~~~~~