So a lot of people were confused by the ending of "Shattered" with the big question being "Who was it who showed up to meet Emma in the last chapter?" I assure you, that was intentional…because I'm evil like that ;)
Want to know the answer? Well here you go, the sequel to "Shattered".
Oh, and small bit of trivia. The title of this piece is taken from the song "Somewhere Out There" sung by Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram – no idea if they wrote it but that's the version I know.
Enjoy!
~The Last Ronin~
Of course this would happen – I hadn't expected Pan to let us off the island so easily. Still, it's frustrating to be in sight of the Roger – with what we came for – and yet be unable to reach her. I just want off this bloody island already – I've had enough of it for a dozen lifetimes. More importantly, I have a reason to get off; something to go back to that's infinitely better than revenge.
Pan's desperate – I can tell by the sheer numbers he's sent against us. But he's not here himself, nor is his shadow; the wound I gave him during our last encounter enough to put him out of action for a good while – even if it won't kill him. That coupled with how much we depleted his forces these past several weeks and the outcome of this battle is all but assured.
It's that thinking that causes us – causes me – to get careless. I glance over at Emma, briefly checking on her. She's fine, of course, fighting off several attackers, Henry behind her protectively. As I turn away though, I see the threat we missed and my blood freezes.
A chameleon, red eyes burning into Emma's back as its camouflage fades.
Time stops as I see the muscles in it's spidery legs coil, though I already knew what it was doing. One does not see a chameleon until it's too late. It's jaws split open, revealing a mouth full of needle sharp teeth dripping with paralytic, toxic venom. One bite will gradually paralyze the victim while scores of diseases kill them from the inside out.
The beast springs and a single thought blazes through my head: not her. What ever gods exist, please not her!
Vaguely I hear myself scream her name, my body already moving as I put myself in between her and the killer lizard.
The creature slams into me, the force pushing me into Emma even as its teeth sink into the back of my neck. Pain shoots through me but I barely feel it as she rests her hand on my cheek before leaning in to press a soft kiss to my lips. I can see the surprise in her face as she pulls back – such an open display of affection, in front of everyone no-less, is unusual for her. Already she's trying to put her walls back up and I want to reach out to her, to hold her and tell her that she doesn't have to be afraid – not of me.
But the chameleon's venom is already working and I can't really feel my arms and legs anymore. The creature's tail wraps around my waist and it tears off into the jungle, taking me with it.
Taking me away from Emma.
x-x-x-x-x
A sharp jolt wakes me from my sleep and I grab for my sword, drawing it halfway before I realize what happened.
"What the bloody hell do you want Crocodile?" I growl, re-sheathing my weapon as I glare at him.
"It's your watch," he snaps and stalks to the other side of the our small fire to sleep.
I grumble a few more curses but stand anyway and stretch. Absently I rub the back of my neck, the nearly healed wounds from the chameleon's bite burning slightly. Even after they finish healing the scars will burn on occasion, I know, but right now I can't be bothered to care about them. They're just a few more in my vast collection after all.
Looking up I scan the darkness for any signs that we're not alone. The night is quiet, save the noise of countless insects. On earth that would be a good sign but here in Neverland it doesn't really mean anything other than that there are insects about – most of them as deadly as any of the larger beasts that inhabit the island, and thus unafraid.
Even so, nothing appears out of place and I lift my gaze to the sky, taking some small comfort in the beauty of the stars. My thoughts drift for a moment and I wonder if, somewhere out there, she's looking at the stars too. I hope she is. I hope she made it back safely – the Roger is gone so I'm assuming she did. But more importantly, I hope she knows. She has to know.
"I will find you Emma," I swear quietly to the stars, "whatever it takes."