Imprints
Wendy:
As soon as her mother closed the door, she rushed to the window and opened it. She gazed at the second star to the right, hoping to finally see Peter Pan.
Wendy had already heard the legends about the boy. She'd heard the stories of Neverland. Every night before she was sent to bed, she would tell Michael and John her own stories of Neverland, even though she'd never actually been to the place herself. She wanted so badly to go.
She plopped down on the window-side bench and looked at the sky. Please, Peter Pan. Please come tonight. One night wouldn't hurt. Wendy could risk one night away from home. Her parents would never know. Her brothers would never know.
She waited only fifteen more minutes. As the time limit wound down, she sighed disappointedly. She had the gut feeling that tonight would be the night, yet he never came. She hung her head and turned around. She stood quietly and made her way to her bed, leaving the window open. She climbed into her soft, feather bed and pulled the covers over her, for there was a sudden gust of wind. That's odd. Summer hasn't ended yet, Wendy thought to herself. Nevertheless, she closed her eyes.
It had been barely a minute, when her eyes flew open. She looked up at the ceiling, listening to the faint noise that had first startled her. There's someone else in here. Carefully, with the most minimal noise, she turned her head and looked at the window. Her eyes grew wide and she instantly sat up in bed, alert.
Wendy watched as the shadow slowly drifted in her direction. She couldn't look away from the piercing white eyes. It seemed to observe her. It hovered over the foot of her bed, offering a hand. It was as if it was asking Wendy to come. She didn't know what else to do, so she grabbed it's hand.
"Are you Peter Pan's shadow?" Wendy asked the shadow, almost hoping that it would say no.
She watched as the shadow nodded its head.
I can't believe it. I'm going to Neverland. Finally.
Wendy gasped when the shadow harshly took off from the bed and zoomed out of the window. Quickly, she brought her other hand up and clung onto the shadow. She clamped her mouth shut and closed her eyes as she felt the evening breeze whipping past her body and face. Wendy couldn't even capsulize in her mind the speed they were travelling at. She risked the option of opening her eyes. She carefully and methodically turned her head to look behind her. She let out a tiny squeak when she saw nothing but clouds. Wendy closed her eyes once more when she felt the shadow calibrating it's speed. Her heartbeat slowed as she felt them slowing down. She trusted her instinct to open her eyes, and when she did, she found herself drifting closer and closer to a truly blinding white light.
What is that?
She began panicking once more when the shadow began picking up the speed towards the light. Wendy truly began screaming. No. No. No. No. NO. The shadow was flying faster than it ever had.
She clamped her eyes tight as they collided with the light. Wendy instantly felt chills run through her entire body. Even with her eyes closed, she knew if she opened her eyes, she would lose her eye sight from the light.
But, as soon as the chills and the light came, it was all gone. Replacing it was the gentlest breeze. The shadow slowed to a manageable speed, giving Wendy the right opportunity to open her eyes. She gasped when she saw the tranquil waters slipping past, right below her. She gingerly lowered her left hand and ran it on the surface of the water. This is amazing. She brought her hand back up while she lifted her head to look at what was ahead of her.
It was like seeing an entirely new world (because it was a new world). The palm trees swayed easily on the beach. Mountains cascaded in the background, providing a breathtaking backdrop. The sand on shore was getting closer; it looked as if it was sparkling. It's overcast. It shouldn't be this pretty, Wendy observed. They reached the island, but flew right over it.
I'm in Neverland.
She couldn't grasp the idea as they flew over what seemed like an endless jungle. She didn't regain her focus until she noticed that the island suddenly got darker. She turned back to look behind her. She still saw the clouds, but it looked as if it was night time. She looked forward once more, but let out a scream as she realized they were headed for a tree. With only inches remaining, the shadow dropped her to the ground. Wendy cringed and held in a cry of pain as she made an impact with the ground. She blinked multiple times to keep the tears concealed within her eyes. The bottom of her night gown tore from the rough landing. Wendy looked down and found a gnarly gash that had been created at the bottom of her thigh, just above her knee.
I need to get up and find a safer place.
She took hold of a log that sat to her right, and used it as support to help her get to her feet. She was fine on her right leg, but as soon as she placed weight on her left, she immediately collapsed to the ground. Wendy began panicking. Neverland isn't supposed to be like this.
She tried once more to get up, this time being more than careful with her left leg. When she found the balance, she began hobbling towards a direction that was supposed to get her out of the dark place. She took only a few steps forward before the shadow came back for her.
Wendy felt the shadow sweep her off the ground. She felt herself collide with a tree trunk, except she wasn't falling now. She looked back up into the shadow's eyes. Slowly, but surely, she began to feel a pain coming from her chest. She wanted to cry out from the gradual agony she was being supplied with. She looked down and found that her shadow was slowly being torn away from her body.
Why is this happening to me?
She began feeling numb as the shadow continued to tear her own shadow away from her. She refused to scream out in pain, for she was not a weak person. But, all of the blood was leaving her body. The shadow was winning. Wendy felt her eyes beginning to close. The shadow was already at her lower body. Wendy gave up and closed her eyes, drifting in and out of consciousness. Her shadow was practically removed, but Wendy felt her consciousness returning when she felt herself once again falling to the ground. She could no longer feel any of the pain roaming through her body as she tried to move. She opened her eyes and found herself staring at a pair of boots. Slowly, she looked up to see a pair of bright blue eyes looking down at her.
Wendy felt like she was no longer controlling her motions. The boy offered a hand, and she took it. When he helped her up, she fell for the third time, no longer able to support her leg.
"What's wrong?" Wendy flinched at the boy's harsh tone.
"My -my leg. There's a deep cut, and I'm afraid it hurts too much to stand on," Wendy admitted. "Where did the shadow go?"
"It's gone...for now," the boy smirked.
"Am I going to be left here forever?"
The boy took a deep breath before deciding his next move. He crouched down. He placed Wendy's right arm around his neck before carrying her into his arms. Wendy flinched when the boy's arms made contact with her wound, but she made no comment. She simply bit her lip.
The boy saw all of this without her knowing.
"Where are we going?" Wendy asked.
"Somewhere safe," the boy sounded irritated, so Wendy said no more.
"Just close your eyes," the boy said.
"Why?"
"Just trust me."
Wendy didn't know what came over her, but she suddenly felt drowsy and sleepy.
"What's your name?" she asked as she once again drifted to unconsciousness.
The boy laughed, knowing she was barely awake. Wendy barely even heard his answer. "Peter Pan."
