Across A Town Line

Chapter 7: Just a Dream?

Ana's POV
I don't remember when I got to the edge of town, but that's where I woke up. The only thing I remember was being too tired to run any longer, too confused to think any harder. I was lost, bewildered, alone...My whole life was a lie and everything I thought was real, wasn't. I sat up, fresh tears on my eyes, and inspected my surroundings, pushing away the many bits and pieces that that filled my skull. I rubbed my eyes, trying to get rid of the fuzziness, when I heard hushed and excited voices nearby.
"We found her!" I heard one of the voices say. I traced the sound to the shrubs where a white rabbit with a clock sat talking to two identical, tall, lean teenage boys with hazel eyes and light brown hair, and dimples so dimples so deep they were present even when they weren't smiling.
"Oh god, not this," I groaned, the lost and lonely feeling returning to my insides. The Rabbit and the boys jumped at the sound of my voice.
"A-Ana," one of the boys started, staring at me in disbelief, almost as if he wanted to avoid false hope.
"It's you," the other the other finished, the same guarded expression reflecting on his face.
"Of course it's her!" hissed the White Rabbit. "Dimwits," he muttered under his breath, "Any who, you need to come with is. Hurry! Hurry! Time's running out!" he said rapidly, pointing at his clock.
"Do I have a choice?" I asked, although I knew I didn't. Their stoic silence answered my question, making me sigh. "Lead the way," I relented. The Rabbit and the Tweedles started walking, almost running, with me following close behind until we got to a spot in the woods that seemed familiar. It took me a while to remember, but when I did, it was as clear as day: it was where I had arrived with Jefferson all those years ago.
"Ana," he started carefully. "Your mom wanted me to bring you here so that she could talk to you." My mom, Alice... I gulped, trying to let that sink in. "Are you ready?" he asked me. I braced myself and nodded, thinking, as ready as I'll ever be anyways.
"Ana?" I heard a familiar voice say behind me. It was the sweetest, gentlest voice I had ever heard, yet it was full of sadness. I turned around slowly until I was face to face with Alice, my mother, and saw the same beautiful, loving face from my memories. "My, you're even more beautiful than I remember. But then again, it has been a long time my dear," she said softly, her voice cracking and her eyes beginning to water. I took a step close to her, still not daring to utter a word; fearing my voice wouldn't work. Involuntarily, my own tears began to flow down my cheeks, making me feel a void I never felt before. That was when I realized all I wanted was to hug the person that had been ripped away from me. I lunged for Alice to hug her, to feel her motherly warmth, but was only met with the hard, dirt floor. "Oh, my beautiful Ana, I'm afraid I'm not all here," Alice said remorsefully, her eyes filled with sadness. "But look for the Golden Key, and maybe then we will be reunited again," she said, her image beginning to fade, her features becoming fuzzier by the second.
"NO!" I screamed, getting up and running towards Alice. However, I felt someone pulling me back, keeping me from flowing her. "LET ME GO!" I shrieked with all my might, fighting to get out of the tight grasp I was in.
"And they say we're mad," remarked Tweedledum, one of the people holding me back. The Tweedles gently brought me closer to them, encasing me in an unexpected, but warm, hug and disregarding the many kicks that hit them.
"We missed you," whispered Tweedledee, tenderly into my ear, but I barely heard him over my screams and cries. I kept fighting, trying to escape their firm grip, until my throat was raw and my eyes were unable to produce more tears...
"Wake up, bloody hell, wake up!" I heard as I resurfaced from my entranced state. When I opened my eyes, I found myself in someone's arms, but when I looked up, I found out it wasn't the Tweedles. No, instead, I was met with a pair of big, green, glowing eyes that were filled with a tinge of concern and some tussled dirty long hair. Peter Pan.
It probably took me longer than it should have to react and fight off his embrace once I realized who he was, but his arms were surprisingly strong and his hug unexpectedly gentle. I sat there, frozen, unable to take my eyes off of his. I stayed there, almost unwilling to move out of his grasp. A split second later, however, I came to my senses, remembering who he was and the situation we were in.
"What are you doing?!" I screamed flustered, while I wrestled out of his firm, almost protective, grip. Finally getting out of his arms, I rolled onto the floor and quickly scrambled onto my feet. I inspected my surroundings hastily, realizing we were in my hotel room. However, I had no recollection of getting there, much less with his help.
"Calm down Ana, I was just trying to help," he said, and for once, his smirk wasn't present.
"Whoa, how'd you know my name?" I asked, shocked. I knew that I hadn't divulged that information to him.
"How do you think I was able to get you here?" he asked me sarcastically. I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms, refusing to let his remarks get to me.
"Why ARE we here, anyways?" I shot back. "And why were you hugging me?" I felt myself blushing as I said that last part, but was relieved when his own pale skin took on a red shade.
"Look, I found you unconscious in the woods and figured I would do something nice for once, so I brought you here," he said defensively. "As for your other question, you were having a nightmare. You were thrashing and screaming, I was just trying to calm you down," he explained, looking down at the floor.
"Oh," I said, unable to think of a better response. Honestly, I didn't expect such a sweet gesture from someone as snide and conceited as him.
"And this is why I'm not a good person," he said as a sad chuckle escaped his rosy lips. "Well, I'll be leaving now," Peter said as he turned around and walked towards the door.
"Peter," I called out just as he reached for the door knob. He stopped, but didn't bother to turn around. "Thank you," I half whispered, hoping he heard me.
"Call me Pan," he said, a dark tone embedded in his voice, and walked right out the door. I stood there, replaying the whole conversation in my head, so entranced I didn't hear my friends come in.
"Ana! There you are!" Nina screamed, bringing me back to my senses. That and the pain that shot through my right arm from where she punched me.
"We thought you were lost!!" shouted Lilibelle, smacking the back of my head. They both hugged me and I felt all of my remaining stress melt away as I hugged them back. That's then I noticed Zac and Hunter standing be the door.
"What are they doing here?" I asked playfully as I pulled away from my friends.
"Standing," replied Nina sarcastically.
"Do you really think we're going to let you change the subject that easily?" asked Lilibelle, cocking her eyebrows, her eyes playful-serious behind her glasses.
"Yea, hoe, we're not that self-centered!" said Nina jokingly, taking my arm in hers and leading me downstairs, where we talked until there was nothing left unsaid; until the afternoon sun set and the bright moon emerged.

A/N: Hey guys! Well, here's another long chapter... I hope you guys enjoy/are enjoying the story. Thanks for reading loves. Please don't forget to vote and comment, I honestly appreciate it so much!