Wonder [R.K.]

Chapter 40

"Aria." I open my eyes to stare right into dark green ones.

"Pan?" I question. I look at my surroundings and can't figure out where I am. Large prickly bushes with purple berries are at my side while everything else is trees. The sky is dark and we're all alone. "Where are we?"

"Can't you see, you foolish girl." He spits. "We're at the end. Time is up." I furrow my brow in confusion.

"Time isn't up, you still have 7 more ticks. We have time to cast the spell!" I rush out, but Pan shows no emotion as he shakes his head. He looks lifeless.

"We have no more time, Aria. Let me go." My breathing accelerates at the possibilities of what he could mean.

Suddenly, he grabs a purple berry off the bush next to me and squeezes the berry in the palm of his hand. Dark black lines begin starting on his hand and make their way up his arm and onto his neck.

He looks at me one last time, what ever green left in his eye has now turned black, before consuming what is left of this poisonous berry.

His body goes limp and he falls to the floor as the deadly lines move up his body and adorn his face. I fall to the floor and hold his dying body in my arms.

His eyes blink slowly and I know he won't last any longer.

"What do I do! What do I do! How do I save you Pan?" I cry out as his breaths get shorter.

"Nothing, there's nothing you can do. I told you to let me go." He chokes out with whatever strength he has left.

"I can't let you go, I can never let you go! I need you Peter Pan!" Tears stream freely down my face as the black lines take over his entire body and he begins to go cold.

"Goodbye Aria."

I shoot up in green sheets. My breathing is uneven and sweat drips from my forehead. My hands grip the sheets at my side as I replay my nightmare in my head.

I try and close my eyes to relax my mind, but all I can see is black lines on the dead face of Pan. A small tear falls out of my eye, but I'm quick to wipe it away.

I flinch a bit when I feel a warm hand on my back. I turn around and look into the now green eyes of Pan.

"Why are you awake?" His British accent is deep and rough in his state of slumber.

"Bad dream." Is all I can manage to say.

"Tell me about it. " He rubs his hand up and down my back, soothing me. I relay the nightmare to him and by the end a few tears have fallen. He pulls me back down on the bed with him as he holds my aching body in his arms.

"Aria, it's okay, we are going to make it through this. We always do." He kisses me forehead and I'm flooded with relief from his words.

I manage to sleep a little while longer before I must wake up again.

I open one eye as Pan gets out of bed. He begins to get dressed as I still lay in bed, lazily.

"Are you going to get up sometime soon, missy?" He raises an eyebrow and I roll my eyes before tumbling out of bed. I force myself to get dressed even though I want to do nothing more than go back to bed.

I look at myself in the mirror and I can't even recognize who I am anymore.

Dark, black circles rest under my eyes, making it noticeable that I can't and don't sleep.

My blue eyes, that used to sparkle like the sea, have now faded to dull grey. They no longer shine, instead they scream for help.

My lips have crusted into a permanent frown.

Overall, this island has fucked me over. And I hate who it's made me become.

But, I would hate for everyone else to know my true feelings, so I try my hardest to put on a decent smile and I walk outside with Pan.

I can tell he knows something's up with me from the way he looks at me from the corner of his eye.

"Alright boys! So today is beach day, so head there and practice your swimming, I'll meet you there in a bit. " Pan's voice booms across the clearing to the boys. The lost boys quickly move themselves and soon enough, they disappear into the forest.

"What're we doing?" I ask slowly.

"We are going to collect the dream shade. " Alex walks up and answers for Pan. My heart beats a little fast and I nod my head slowly.

Pan notices the tension within as he rests his hand on the small of back. I breath out as we begin walking into the forest.

When we reach the large bush, and I get visions of my nightmare, but I quickly shut it down. Pan looks at me worriedly but I focus back on Alex.

"So we have to extract the poison without touching the berry or any of the thorns on the bush, it will not look pretty if you do." Alex pulls a small glass bottle out and Pan takes a step forward.

"Let me do it. I can get it out safely." Pan says quickly. My eyes go wide and I feel like my nightmare is coming true. Pan rolls up his sleeve and moves his hand with the glass bottle in it towards the large bush. The bottle scoots under the purple berry and Pan shakes his hand trying to drop the berry in the glass.

My heart races as I notice his hand almost prick a thorn. I quickly pull him back and he looks at me with wide eyes.

"What the bloody hell was that for?" Pan says a bit harshly.

"Let me take over," is all I reply before taking the bottle. My hand shakes as I place is back under the berry. I shake it a bit before the berry falls down into the jar and I smile with excitement.

I move my hand back, but a little to quickly and I prick myself with a thorn. I look at the back of my hand in pain.

Black lines begin forming from the small cut on my hand. I look up to Pan in fear as he stares at me with glossy eyes.

Not again.