Peter Pan The Killer

Chapter 40: Peter Pan Loses A Bet

"I honestly feel like I can't do anything right," Gwen muttered. She stared at the ceiling, there were fine crack lines on it. The white plaster was yellow.

"I think I make bad decisions too," Peter said from beside her. His arms folded behind his head as they both rested on her bed, the ceiling more interesting than ever.

"Well, you seem pretty confident about the choices you make," she retorted.

"Yeah, but I sure as hell regret them later," he replied. Gwen laughed dryly.

"Name one time," she said.

His eyes flickered to hers, "The time I decided to make a deal with you, with the confidence that I would win."

Gwen was silent. She remembered that on this very day, thirty days have passed since the fateful bet. She swore to not go insane and capture him, but failed on both accounts.

"Today's the day.... I guess I lost," she said with a wry smile.

"What makes you think you lost?" he asked, turning to face her. Their noses almost touched.

She stared at his green eyes for a few moments, "Because you surely drove me insane," she muttered.

"I think the fact that I'm lying on your bed speaks volumes on how wrong you are," he replied in a mumble.

He sighed and continued, "I've... changed..." he struggled to go on, but Gwen's heart warmed as he tried to let her know how he felt anyway.

He lowered his gaze to the comforter, his eyes turned distant and cold, "When I killed, I never cared about the children. Not once," he said, his voice was low, reminding her of the times before, when he used to threaten her. Gwen knew he was letting out his deepest thoughts. She squeezed his hand urging him to continue, as much as she felt hurt by his words.

"I saw it as an escape. I wanted to be them. I wanted death more than anything. I saw myself in those children each time their eyes grew cold or shut forever," he sounded cold emotionless, maniacal even, but Gwen could feel his hand trembling. He was not okay. Could his crimes be forgiven? She didn't know the answer. Her sister was a victim. What did that make her?

He was silent for a long moment. His mind wandered to the dark recesses within, but then he spoke, in raw emotion, "I don't want to live forever," he said, his voice cracked as he did. Gwen felt tears well up in her eyes hearing the naked pain in his voice. She pulled him closer and hugged him.

"But then... Now, as I stand by those windows, I hear your voice," he mumbled, his deep voice resonating with her.

"I hear your insistent virtues play in my head, driving me nuts. Then I stop, I can't do it anymore. I can't..." he trailed off. Gwen felt a strange sense of achievement, she did have an effect on him. He did listen to her words. He did not have the heart to kill anymore. She was healing his broken mind, bit by bit.

"Why do my words affect you such?" she asked, her voice muffled as she pressed her face against his chest. His familiar woody scent filled her senses.

"I don't know... It just does... I feel... strange when you speak, my head sort of clears, but becomes a jumbled mess at the same time... But, it feels nice..." he said, trying to put his feelings into words, which proved hard enough.

"I kinda feel the same," Gwen replied.

They were both a jumbled mess and were learning to sort this out one by one. A name to these feelings was still a mystery and would take time figuring out, but Gwen was content with what she had.

"So I think I lost as well," Peter said.

"So we're both losers?" Gwen replied.

"Yeah," he answered with a small smile. Gwen returned it.

She huddled back into his embrace and laid there listening to the beating of his heart. Long before, she thought he was a heartless monster. Now the beast has laid itself bare before her, showing her its bloody wounds and scars. Monsters were just terrified animals, trying to protect themselves. With the right amount of care, they would retract their claws and purr.

"I can help you start over, Peter."

She glanced up at Peter and ran her fingers through his blonde hair. He leaned into her touch.

"Wendy," he whispered.

"Yeah?"

"You won't leave me... Like how the others did, right?"

Gwen's heart stopped beating for a moment. The child-like innocence in his eyes tugged at all her heartstrings. His eyes hiding no emotions, his mask had dissolved into nothingness. He looked genuinely concerned and worried, like a pet who did not want his owner to leave him behind.

"Never...," She tilted her head higher and kissed him gently, "I promise."

She almost thought she saw his eyes turn watery, but he did not cry. She believed he had not cried in a very long time, hence it would be hard to. The emotional night sunk into dawn; they stayed huddled in each other's arms, seeking comfort and reassurance.

The next morning, Gwen would confront Pauline, she would stop James and save Peter once and for all.

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A/N: Hey lost boys! Leave a vote and comment if you liked this chapter!