The Dark Days

Thirty-One.

I hear the door open and then close half a second later. Light footsteps come to the bottom of my bed.

"Kasey, wake up." Peter's voice sounds stressed and rough, yet excited. "Now."

My eyes flutter open. I blink twice at the tall figure in front of me. Then I slowly sit up, the quilt falling off my shoulder as I yawn. "What's up?"

His hands clasp the foot board. "It's time to get up."

I look at the clock. "Peter, it's five o'clock."

"In one hour I'm going to enact the curse."

I'm instantly more awake. "W-What?"

He grins wickedly and comes to sit on the bed, just a few inches away. I scoot an inch to the right; I don't like the look in his eyes. He doesn't seem to notice. "We can finally have Neverland back. I just need an hour to put everyone in their place."

I shake my head. "Please, Peter, don't -"

"Wake up."

I just stare at him, confused. "I am awake."

"Wake up," he repeats, and my eyes flash open. I sit up, looking around, confused.

The first thing I notice is the pile of clothes on the table by the bed. A red shirt and jean capris that would only reach the middle of my shins. I quickly put them on and then notice the note that was under them. I pick it up and read the neat handwriting in my head.

"Be ready by 5:20. Always yours, Peter."

I flinch. No. No, not yet. I crumple the paper up and throw it across the room as hard as I can. I run to the door and try to tear it open, but it won't come. I scream and start hitting it with my shoulder. It barely even shakes. I take ten steps back and run into it, only managing to hurt my shoulder even more. I continue to do that for ten minutes.

Tears flood my eyes. Edith, I've failed.

I remember her words as if they were just spoken yesterday: "Kasey," she said softly, taking one step forward. "I have to leave soon, but I have just enough time to tell you one thing: Pan loves you. Loves. And he would never do anything to hurt you. If you give him a good enough reason, he will listen to you."

Then I mentally slap myself. You still have time, you idiot! He's coming to get you! I nod. I need to convince him. But how? Suicide obviously didn't work.

Wait....

An idea that makes a dent in my heart comes to mind. I don't like it - but it'll definitely work.

I look at the clock. I still have about five minutes. I go to the end of the bed and sit heavily on the foot of it. My shoulder is throbbing. Tears start to sprinkle down my cheeks, but I don't notice them until they fall onto my knees. I stare at the spots. They quickly multiply.

Not even five minutes later, the door swings open. Half a second later, it closes. "What did you do to the door?"

I don't answer. I don't even acknowledge he's here.

Footsteps coming closer. "Kasey?" They stop just two short feet away. "I asked you a question. Are you... gonna answer?"

I still don't acknowledge him.

The boy I love comes and sits on his knees in front of me. "Kasey? Are you all right?"

"I can't."

He shakes his head, confused. "What?"

"I won't."

He reaches to take my hand but I jerk it back. "I'm not going to help you."

His eyes harden and he grips my shoulders. "You will. You will because you love me."