Peter by day, Pan by night

Chapter 5

        I scream, flapping my arms helplessly. “Peter! Help me!”

        He only laughs. “Fly, Wendy-bird.”

        I am going to kill him. The ground zooms up quickly. There isn’t even a tree to break my fall. Is this how I will die?

        “PETER!”

        “Believe, Wendy.”

        I close my eyes as wind rushes around me. I hate him.

        I focus my thoughts; knowing that my seconds are disappearing quickly. Parasols and tea cups. Orphanages and city streets. Big Ben and gray clouds. Felix and Kelvin and stars.

        The wind around me slows. I keep my eyes clenched shut.

        Neverland. Magic. Flying.

        I gasp and hold out my arms.

        Peter Pan. I believe.

        I open my eyes and see blue sky all around me, the ground far below. I am flying!

        I look around and see a boy in green laughing. I clench my teeth and cross the space between us. “Peter! I could have died!” I push him.

        He chuckles again. “You know I wouldn’t have let you die. You were already flying when you were holding my hand, you just thought you weren’t.”

        “I still hate you.”

        “Hate is a strong word.” He raises his eyebrows.

        I roll my eyes, but then twirl in the empty sky around us. “Catch me if you can.” I laugh and shoot away from him, adrenaline pounding through my veins.

**

        “Can I come back tomorrow?” I set down my empty bowl. For the first time in years I actually feel full.

        Peter wipes his hand across his mouth. “That isn’t a good idea.”

        “Why not?”

        He looks around the crowd of lost boys encircling the fire. Kelvin is in the center of them laughing the loudest and the longest.

        Peter’s gaze flickers to the sunset tinting the sky above us. “See, it’s already getting late. You need to go back.”

        “Why?” I ask again. He ignores me and stands up, but I grab his arm. “What aren’t you telling me?”

        “Nothing.” He shakes off my hand, but sits back down. “It just isn’t safe at night.”

         I wrap my arms around my middle as the wind picks up a little. “There is almost no one else on this island. You can protect us, right?”

        Peter swallows hard. “No, I can’t. You don’t understand.” He leans forward. “There used to be fairies and mermaids and even Indians. We all freely wandered this island. But then...the darkness came. It drove away the fairies and mermaids. The Indians stay in their hideout, a spell protecting them from the evil.”

        “What evil? Is it that pirate that Bert told me about?”

        “Hook?” Peter laughs. Felix’s head whips up. He catches my eyes as his lips curl into a smirk.

        I shiver.

        Peter continues, “Hook is no more. I destroyed him and his men long ago.”

        “Then why is the island dangerous?”

        “It is only dangerous at night.” Peter’s face changes. A shadow slants his features. He clenches his fist. “Because of a curse. Now, you need to go. Kelvin!”

        Kelvin disentangles himself from his friends and crosses over to us. “Yes, Pan?”

        “Take Wendy home now. They showed you how to return to your world?”

        “Yes.” Kelvin grins at me. “I mean, yes sir.”

        Peter nods. “Then take her there and return after you drop her off.”

        Kelvin lifts his head and stands tall. “Thank you, sir.” He holds out his hand, “Shall we go?”

        “Wait!" I turn towards Peter. "He can stay and I cannot?”

        “Kelvin is a lost boy. It is different. I can’t stop him from returning. He belongs to the island now.”

        I shake my head. “That’s not fair. I don’t understand.”

        “Wendy Darling,” Peter’s eyes narrow. “It is dark, you need to go home now.” His words are measured and slow. I see anger flicker in green eyes, but I am not sure why it is there.

        “Peter Pan, I want to return to this place." Doesn't he know this is a dream come true for me? Neverland no longer scares me. I love it. And I don't want to return to the dark alleys. "Why can’t Kelvin bring me back tomorrow morning?”

        “No-”

        “Please. I promise not to return at night. I want to see the fairy circle you told me about. I want to find the Indian’s hideout. I want to fly again. I need to.” I stare up at the darkening sky, then meet his eyes.

        Peter bites his lip, then jerks to his feet. “One day. I will give you one more day.”

        “Thank you!” I practically shout, then blush and stumble back. Hopefully I will be able to convince him one day at a time to let me stay longer. London already seems so ordinary and distant. Once you have tasted magic, you will never want to return to the normal world.

        All the lost boys stand up. The firelight dances over their faces that have become strangely serious.

        “Get out of here!” Peter snaps.

        Kelvin grabs my hand and we fly into the sky.

        I look back. Peter has to be wrong. There is no evil at night. Just a gang of lost boys and their leader standing around a tiny fire.  

        The last I see of Neverland is the sun disappearing over the horizon, leaving the island in darkness. Silver light explodes around us as we pass the stars.