Happily Ever After

Chapter Ten-Baytown

I walked off, trudging through the underbrush, determined to get a place to stay before the rain would eventually start pouring. I can't believe we were near the ocean this entire time and I didn't even notice?! I mean, I was walking for like miles today, not hearing anything but birds and the wind. Now, it felt so close, I could even smell the salt in the air.

And I couldn't get Peter Pan out of my head. That jerk just left! Like, all he did was just annoy me to death with his stupid questions of "why" this and "why" that, then his pixie bit me! That just made me feel beyond crappy and stupid.

Now, I'm angry at him and desperate for a roof over my head. All these emotions seemed to have made me pick up my pace, since in a matter of minutes I reached Baytown. I stood on the forests line, inspecting. It was a cute little town with like ten ports and docks that contained several boats and ships. Candles were being lit and the sky was ever darkening. So, I walked into the streets.

Few people were out and about, most of them seemed locked up inside. Where I wish I was. Some few stray dogs ran past, barking, shaking me a little. I walked, hesitantly, down the streets.

The place didn't look so friendly now, with all the creepy men sneering at me from shadows. I tried to ignore them, but they seemed to be everywhere. I noticed that there weren't many women, and the ones I saw seemed drunk, making out intensely with some dude. Ugh, the last thing I need is to draw attention to myself. I was the only one around here that even seemed to have clean clothes.

The streets were quiet, except for some hollering from some bar that I really wasn't goin' near. I walked quickly at every sight of some man passing me. Most wore just rags and were dirty beyond my words. Gosh, what type of town did Peter bring me to?!

I looked at every building and house I pass, but none seemed to be a hotel of any sorts. I thought of asking somebody for a place to stay but now, it didn't seem like a good idea.

As I passed a garbage infested alleyway, I noticed two men fighting. Interested, I stopped. I only stopped because one of the men was hunched over and seemed old. I couldn't tell for sure since a cloak covered his entire body. A younger man, with rather nicer clothes than most of the people in this town, was pointing at him, ranting.

I stepped closer. This old man obviously needed help. The younger one pushed him then, making him stumble to the ground. I widened my eyes and ran over.

"Hey!" I shouted, getting in between the old man and the younger one. "What's your problem?"

He looked at me, then at the old man, and smiled. Something flickered in his eyes, like familiarity, but I couldn't be sure. "Well, my apologizes, Miss. But this man has made a deal to me and he has yet to fulfill his part in it."

I noticed that when he smiled, he had a golden tooth near his incinsors. "That doesn't give you an excuse to hurt him." I said, tersely.

"Hah, believe me, this man has hurt more people than you could imagine. One punch wouldn't hurt." He said, getting closer to my face. He was so close I could smell his horrible breath.

"Whatever this man did, doesn't mean you have to punish him for it."

He laughed. "Well, darling, no one is innocent and everyone deserves something. This man deserves just a little more than others." He, then, grabbed my left arm, bringing me closer. "Now, will you leave us alone so we can do our business, or will I have to take you down with him?"

He let go of me and I defiantly walked away. But there was no way I was letting him hurt that old man! I ran back, pulling out my dagger. I was just about to cut him on the neck, knowing that was all it took to kill someone with this thing, when his hand came up and grabbed my wrist. I looked at him, shocked. He smiled.

"Oh dear, you are a feisty one, aren't you?" He asked, mockingly.

I pulled away from him and ran, terrified. I knew he was coming after me, since I could hear footsteps loudly running behind me. I pushed past people as I ran down street after street. The one time I looked back, I saw him and like four other men by his side. Great, he has friends.

I took a left, then a right, then another left. Turn after turn, I ran, totally out of breath but pumped with adrenaline. I ran to my left only to find I've reached a dead end. I looked up at the wall of houses, trying to see if maybe, by chance, there's a way I could climb up. But there was nothing.

"Well, well. Look like you hit a dead end."

I turned around to see that man and his friends, all smiling like evil villains from a Power Ranger movie. He walked closer to me, his friends blocking my exit.

"Do you want to know what I do to people who get in my business?" He asked, mere inches from my face. I shook my head, frightened

"Well, I didn't think so." Then he got closer and whispered into my ear. "Wendy."

I looked at him, confused. How on earth does he know my name? It's creepy but also making this situation ever more terrifying.

Then out of no where, the man got pushed away and I felt arms around my waist lift me up. The next thing I know, I'm standing in another street. I was about to scream in terror of what just happened, when hands clamped over my mouth. I looked around, frantic as to who hands were these. I really don't need any more men harassing me.

"Don't scream. That'll only alert them to where we are." Peter said. "Now, I'm going to take my hand off your mouth and you're not going to ask me any question till we're out of here, okay?" He came from behind me, standing now in front. I nodded, eager to get out of this horrible town.

He took his hand off my mouth. He looked around the street, cautious. When he wasn't looking, I leapt up and gave him a hug. I, honestly, was scared out of my mind and being in his arms felt so safe. He, hesitantly, hugged me back. I started crying and he just stood there, petting my hair and trying to soothe me. Today was just a mess, and I don't know what came over me, but crying was all I could do. I wanted to go home, I wanted my parents and Riel here, and I hate here already!

"Over here!"

We both looked up to see a man, pointing in our direction.

"Come on!" Peter said, letting go of me and grabbing my hand. We started running. I couldn't help but feel the flutters in my stomach from his hand in mine. It just felt so right....

We ran and ran, hearing the footsteps behind us grow fainter by the minute. We didn't stop till we got out of that bloody town.