Saving Peter

Chapter 26: Wendy

I spend most of the morning working through the riddles on the map. I think I understand them now. Or at least enough to hopefully be able to figure it out on the go. I start carefully making my way through the trees to what I assume is supposed to be the starting point. I follow the directions as best as I have worked them out and I find... nothing. 

There's nothing here! Nothing! Just more trees and leaves and rock. There is absolutely nothing here. Nothing! Absolutely nothing! 

I scream in frustration. How?! How can there be nothing here? Did I get something wrong? Is the map lying? Did I miss something? How is this possible? I just don't understand. I followed the directions in the riddles carefully. There should be something here. I'm not exactly sure what I was expecting to find, but there should still be something here. There can't be nothing! Every map leads somewhere. It can't lead nowhere. 

I growl in anger and frustration. I fight the urge to throw or destroy the document in my hands. I stomp back towards the beginning, or at least what I assume is the beginning. I try again. And again. Each time I go through the directions a little more carefully and each time I come up empty handed. I even tried making some different decisions. There were a few riddles that I thought might have more than one answer. But still, the result is the same. Nothing. 

I let out a piercing shriek of pure anger. A few birds and critters scatter in an attempt to escape my wrath. Not that I was directing my fury towards them in particular. But I'm sure that it must have been a shock at the very least. I take deep breaths, my heart pounding and my blood boiling . 

"Okay, okay." I brush my hair out of my face, trying to calm myself down at least a little bit and regain my composure. "Obviously I got something wrong. Maybe I need to change my way of going about this." I take another deep breath and a passing thought catches my attention. 

"Or maybe I need another head to help me solve this riddle." I whisper this revelation to myself. It should've been obvious. But at least I've thought of it now. 

I roll the map back up and tuck it back into my sash. I gather my bearings and draw a map in my head before striking out again. This time I have a new destination. 

I head straight for Peter's camp. I know that he doesn't want to see me after what happened with the mermaids and that pirate captain. He blames me for that, and I have no idea why. Sure I might have given them the idea to do that, but how would he know that? Even if that meddling fairy told him, she would have no proof. And even if I gave them the idea to go, I don't control them. I didn't make them attack the pirates. They did that all on their own. Besides, what does it matter now? his precious little pirate girl is fine anyway. I don't see why he got so bent out of shape for. 

Either way, I'm not going to the camp for Peter. No, it's time for a family reunion. Not Michael. No, that little wimp has served his purpose in getting me to Neverland. I need John. He is smart. He is able. He might just be just what I need. And I know how to manipulate and control my brothers. I've been doing it my whole life with great success. That's how I got here after all. Well, technically I got here by strangling my youngest brother and manipulating my other brother and Peter, but those are just details. The exact details aren't important anyway. As long as I achieve my goal. 

It will be a bit of a trek to the camp which will give me time to figure out how to get John alone so I can talk to him when I get there. I will have to be careful to try to not draw attention to myself. 

"This is getting more complicated by the day. Nothing I can't handle though." I remind myself and smile slightly at the affirmation. I'm glad there is still a decent chance for me to figure things out and get this finished. John should be able to at least point me in the right direction. Proving he is still of some use to me. 

I still don't know what I'm going to do once I find the door to the Fae realm. But I'm sure I will think of something that will be both very creative and beneficial to me. I'm sure it'll be very fun no matter what I do. I smile a little just thinking of the possibilities. Yes, it'll be very fun. I can't wait to see how it unfolds. 

Besides, with the magic that exists there, not even the pirate or the princess will be able to stop me. Not that they stand a chance right now. But still, I should take advantage of every opportunity that crosses my path for a better outcome. And the power will definitely be a bonus. After all, the Fae are supposed to be extremely powerful. Thought to be made up of almost pure magic. If I can have access to that, I wouldn't just be immortal, I would be invincible. I could rule over Neverland forever. 

I feel my mood lighten and I even develop a little spring in my step as I continue on my journey towards the camp. My spirits are lifted slightly compared to the eternal frustration I was feeling before I came up with this idea. But I am only slightly optimistic. After all, overconfidence can be a killer. I remind myself that every time things start to look up for me that I am often handed another obstacle. So I do my best not to get my hopes too high and in the back of my mind I try to think of alternative plans. This way no matter how things go with my brother, I will still have a way to proceed with my plan.