Second Date

Chapter 33: Juliet

Chapter 33: Juliet

"Wendy? My darling. Please open the door."

"Wendy? Wendy you want Teddy Bear?"

"Heavens Wendy, mother's right! Please. Come out."

"Ruff! Ruff! Ruff!"

"Young lady! This is your father! Open this door at once!"

The Darlings rattled the doorknob and banged the panels. Nana even pawed the threshold, whimpering to be let inside. But the nursery remained silent, and they began to wonder if Wendy was listening.

No doubt, they supposed, she was asleep. Peter Pan had drained household's constitution with his riff raff mischief, and poor Wendy had been the target. She ought to sleep, Mrs. Darling said. She ought to sleep and forget whatever trouble Peter Pan had caused her.

So, charging Nana as sentry, The Darlings departed for bed.

"Sweet dreams." Mrs. Darling wished through the door. "Good night. My darling."

Wendy heard every word. She heard her father's commands. She heard her mother's pleas. She heard her brothers beg. But nothing unfroze her. She had locked the door, covered the window, shut her ears, and closed her eyes; but Wendy was buried inside her head, the most dangerous place of all. Her thoughts were cruel and anesthetizing. They made her completely numb.

Peter Pan had ruined her, played with her like a toy. She was worthless. Worthless for his care. Worthless for his love.

And she couldn't heal the pain.

Wendy closed her eyes. She dropped in and out of nightmares as a magical wind unfastened the nursery window, and carried Captain Hook inside.

"But soft..." Captain Hook floated from the sill. "...what light through yonder window breaks?"

Wendy did not react. Motionless, she ignored Captain Hook's shadow as he crossed the starlit room.

Captain Hook stepped lightly, exploring the scene. He prowled like a shark, searching for the point of entry where it would hurt the most.

Wendy was curled on the floor. She'd taken refuge in a dark corner, furthermost from the window. Her forehead touched the wall. Both arms crossed her heart, almost like she was holding it in place.

Suddenly Captain Hook paused. He smelled lavender. Lavender soap. Searching, he quickly identified a porcelain pitcher and white water basin nearby. The carpet was wet, stained with soap. A linen was crumpled inside Wendy's hands.

Captain Hook smiled: She'd been washing! She felt unclean. She had tried to wash away the sin; the sensation of hands on her body, the feeling of another's touch. And likely...the smell of Peter Pan.

His smile widened. How terribly funny. Uproarious! Because...it was all a lie. A lovely little lie. Captain Hook congratulated himself. Goodness. He was evil.

Kneeling, Captain Hook completed The Evil Queen's poem, "Why, tis fair Juliet...heart soaked with heartache."

He waited.

"Wendy?"

Nothing.

"Little Wendy?"

Nothing. She did not move. But she was awake. Her eyes were open. He could see the blue.

Captain Hook reached inside his breast pocket. Withdrawing the silver thimble, stolen from The Darling's front steps, he dangled the necklace.

"To Wendy. With love..." He jingled. "...from Peter."