Burning Road

Boiling Point- Part VI

The flames receded, leaving the party a dimly lit attic bedroom dominated by a metal framed bed and an enormous toy chest overflowing with stuffed animals and colorful costumes. Through the room's sole window, smoky city air buffeted thick lace curtains. It was nighttime, moonlight poured into the room to cut the thick evening shadows. Khouri recognized the London clock tower, Big Ben, looming over the city.

His mind took in the details even while he contemplated his ancestor's role in the kidnapping and banishment of the small child who looked so much like Mimi.

Prince hardly noticed the little girl sitting on the windowsill, looking out on the gas light dotted London skyline. On the bed sat a blue sprite with hair hair down to the floor, wearing a nightgown two sizes too large for her. Gossamer wings extended from her shoulder blades. The sprite was the same size as the girl, barely larger than Mimi.

Khouri took a shaky step, hoping to get a better look at the two, but nearly collapsed. His body felt sapped from his mind's battle with the Burning Road. The others looked no better. Cyril leaned against a wall cluttered with empty picture frames. Mimi sat on the floor beside Golan. He stared at her with tear filled eyes while she cradled the troll's hand in her lap. Drained, Khouri knelt and tried to marshal his strength. A herculean feat at that moment in time.

"Not this, don't show this!" Pan shouted. "No one cares about her! She's long gone and forgotten. No one even remembers her name!" The shadow slithered along the walls raging at the will of the Burning Road.

"Peter, are you there? I thought I heard your voice," the little girl whispered to the darkness.

"Shutup!" Pan shrieked.

Both human child and sprite looked around the room, hearing Pan's angry words but unable to see him. The shadows around the bedroom door darkened and took form. The shadowy shape of a house cat moved lazily over to a stuffed doll, and seamlessly assumed the shape of the toy. Under the shadow's coercion the doll climbed out of the chest and did a playful dance across the room. The child clapped her hands in excitement and sang a song, to which the doll did a humorous jig. The sprite tapped her foot and sang along. At the song's end the doll took a deep bow and the two girls clapped.

"I told you he was coming, Wendy," said the sprite.

"You did, Belle, but it's been weeks... I feared he'd forgotten about me."

"Did you, Peter? Did you forget about your precious Wendy?"

"No, never." Whether going by the name Peter or just Pan, the shadow's voice hadn't changed a bit. "How could I forget about you, Wendy? You are my best girl. What would make you think otherwise?"

"It is just... you took my brothers to the other world and you never came back."  The child blotted her tears with the sleeve of her nightgown.

"I offered to take all of you. You declined."

"I was scared, Peter!"

"Calm down, Wendy. Your aunt might hear you." The doll took a few steps closer. "You said you were afraid. Does that mean you've conquered your fears?"

"I have, Peter."

"That's my best girl!"

"My aunt says, if they can't find my brothers, I will be the one sent to the factory to work. I can't stay here anymore." Wendy stood on the wide windowsill and looked out upon the city. "Belle has been telling about the other world, The Under. It sounds scary, but I can handle it... as long as I'm with you, Peter."

The sprite tittered.

"She's ready for you to whisk her away, Peter," Belle said, her words thick with sarcasm.