Neverland

Chapter 30

"Socks?" I asked, at a loss for words. I couldn't imagine why he could possibly be here, but as I racked my brain a terrible thought struck me, what if something had happened to Peter?

My heart sped up in my chest, and a lump formed in my throat. "Socks...?" I said hesitant, struggling to breath, "Is... Is it Peter?... Is something wrong?" Socks shook his head, he looked at me with a seriousness way beyond his years. At the news that Peter was alright, my heart slowed and the lump blocking my windpipe thawed.

"I know that you're leaving the island."

I stiffened at his words. So it was final then. I fought back the urge to cry. I wouldn't show weakness. I deserved this. I deserved to be sent away. That knowledge, however, did nothing to mitigate the pain.

"Kate." Socks brought me back to reality. "You can't leave."
His words held so much finality it took me by surprise. "You cannot leave the island."

I sat down next to the boy and looked at him with sympathy. "Socks," I said gently, "Peter wants me to leave, and you know that what Peter says goes" Socks drew in a deep, agitated breath. "since when have you ever followed that rule?" I knew he was right, but I had seen what happened when I denied Peter, and I wasn't ready to got through hell like that again. "Peter's right. I... I need to leave."

"Kate," said Socks again, putting his small hands on my shoulders so I'd look him in the face. This gesture, so small, so natural, made me want to cry. It was exactly the way Elijah used to talk to me when he wanted me to listen.

"Everything you did... It wasn't you. It was Sloane. You can't keep blaming yourself for things like that. It wasn't your fault. You deserve to be here just as much as the rest of us. Pan thinks you'll be safer if you go, but the safest place for you is with him. You'll be in too much danger if you leave. Kate you HAVE to stay! Pan can't beat Sloane without your help."

I frowned at him, he didn't understand. I didn't want to leave Neverland or Peter, but I had to. I couldn't face what I'd done, and, though it would crush me, it would be easier to leave than to risk becoming that... That monster again.

"Socks," I said "I... It's just... Maybe Peter's right. He can handle Sloane by himself."

Socks drew back looking as if I'd slapped him. "Why does no one listen to me?" He shouted. By this point I was permanently flabbergasted. Never in my time on the island had I heard Socks raise his voice. He was always so tranquil and quiet, and the change was quite shocking. He took another deep breath.

"Listen. I know Pan can take care of himself, but that's not what I mean. I mean he CANNOT WIN without you! It has to be that way. It always has."

With that he stood up and walked out the front door, slamming it behind him and leaving me to work through my shock and ponder his words.

Pan's POV

I didn't sleep that night. I stared at the roof of my tent and awaited sunrise with growing dread. All I could think about was wishing that Kate were here next to me, so I could tell her that I wanted her to stay, but that I cared to much about her to see her hurt like that again, and knowing me, I would hurt her again. It was only a matter of time. I had to shut myself off again, focus on defeating Sloane, and not let myself be distracted by anything else.

And yet still, my mind was filled with longing for her, wishing that she were here by my side, wishing that I could hold her close and never let her feel pain again.

I closed my eyes and waited for the eternity before sunrise to pass.

When the first rays of light did begin to creep into the tent, I sat straight up, and hurried to the shore, there, I used some major magic to crest a large, comfortable boat that would sail itself, and set it on course for a place I knew she'd be safe, but as I did this, another thought struck me, and so matched back to camp, throwing open Felix's tent, where I knew the other girl was staying, Felicia or whatever her name was.

I was not wrong, and while Felix sat up, stuttering, she cowered at the sight of me. I rolled my eyes. "You, girl, looks like it's time for you to go home."

"What?" Exclaimed Felix, "but Pan, why? What's she done?"

"She's a girl, for one thing," I started, "And I still don't know how she got here. I sort of know how Kate got here, but you?" I turned to the frail, terrified thing, "not a clue. And that makes me a bit uneasy, as you can understand. So, up, up, up! you'll be going with Kate."

Felix stood up before she could, and looked at me with pleading eyes, "Pan, Izzy hasn't done anything wrong. Please, just let her stay. If she cause any mayhem, or mishap, you can let her go, but just let her stay until then."

He was begging now.

"Please, Pan... I... I think I love her."

I breathed in deeply. Recent experience had taught me that love was dangerous, but I also knew how love could make you feel, and Felix was my best friend, my most loyal lost boy, and how could I take this away from him? At the same time I saw how love can corrupt, and it left me worried. So I settled with leaving the girl be for now.

"I need some time to think about this," and with that I walked off to go find Kate. It was time for her departure.