Peter's Lily (Sequel to Pan's Tiger)

Chapter 16: The painful truth

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Annabelle_the_reader
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I hadn't seen Oliver for many days now, Pan ordering a Lost Boy to keep watch of me at all times. Time was passing like the memory of watching Oliver run away into the distance with the pirates, his waving hand becoming a streak, becoming a silhouette, becoming a speck, becoming a boat, becoming a memory. I hoped that Oliver never had to think about anything the way I thought about him.

Without Pan beside me or his arms wrapped protectively around me and his body in a sleepy slumber, I let myself settle to sleep.

~

Not being able to handle it any longer, I hurried forward screaming at Oliver that I loved him. My eyes rose as my body was dragged from Oliver, still kicking and screaming and fighting the Lost Boy trying to restrain me. In dismay, I powerlessly watched as he was sailed towards the Jolly Roger.

I reached out, stretching my body as far as it would go to metaphorically touch his outstretched hand. His eyes were wide with fear, all the blood drained from his cheeks as he watched them separate us once again. His efforts were useless, we both realised and took one last silent look, knowing it may be our last for potentially many years.

'I love you!' I screamed after him, but I didn't hear if he replied. Part of me wondered whether he did or not, whether after that he could possibly still love me, I know I couldn't. And now Peter knew I loved him, so I had doomed him too. I wept bitterly, realising everyone I touched was harmed by Peter Pan.

I stood there in silence, watching the Jolly Roger, with Oliver on board disappear into the sunset. I was too sad and dehydrated for fresh tears to form in my eyes. I was leaving Oliver for good now, probably never to see him again.

I stood, my bare feet clenching and unclenching her toes against the sand, uncomfortable with the scars from the rough pieces, and stared at the spot where the ship was last seen. Fear was ridden in my eyes, laced through every breath I took.

Suddenly, a cloud of thick black mist engulfed me, releasing me from my senses and dragging me away from Oliver and the boats. I didn't scream or cry, because it was over faster than it begun. I stumbled to catch my balance, then looked around at my surroundings that appeared to be some kind of ghostly forest.

'Hello?' My eyes squinted into the darkness that surrounded me, trying to locate anyone through the thick mist that surrounding me, almost chocking me like a sweet poison. I aimlessly stumbled around, trying to get a grip on something, feeling my way across the trees, like a lost child. But in vain. There is nobody here to help me and nobody to hear my calls.

'Can anyone hear me?' My voice was broken, cracked with shaky breaths as I quivered with fear. There was no reply. My breathing quickened and shortened, inhaling and exhaling twice as fast as usual. But I kept walking, determined to find an exit.

I began to walk, occasionally calling out single words, pleas for help. I was beyond confused. Beyond boredom. Beyond fear. What if there was no way out? What if I was circling endlessly in a maze with no solution? What if it was meant to never be solved?

'Lily.' I turned and beamed, a smile spreading quickly across my face, almost delighting in Oliver's presence.

'Oliver.' I whispered, but didn't run towards him. I cautiously stepped closer, reaching out my hand and touching his torso, almost not believing I was truly alive. Almost not believing he was there, before me. Even in this cracked, uneven darkness, he still looked like a faint silhouette before me.