Christine ran as fast as she could back down the main street, her heels loudly clacking against the pavement. Her arms were wrapped tightly around her waist, her eyes closed as she continued blindly back to her house. Her stomach was churning wildly; she couldn't get the voices of those people out of her head. What they saw and what her brother's said wasn't what she would really do. It was all her brothers' fault, it always was! As if the day couldn't get worse a loud rumble roared out in the sky and soon rain began to shower down on her. She quickly slammed into a nearby light pole to catch her breath, her eyes frantically searching to see how close she was too her house. All she wanted to do was go home, lock her bedroom door and throw herself onto her bed. She hated her brother's, hated her mother and at the moment she wanted to forget everything about them, possibly even forget they existed. Soon her eyes caught onto what she was looking for; her street sign.
"Please be unlocked," she begged before continuing to run. When she finally got to her house she found the door locked but luckily remembered her father stashing a spare key in the planter. She fished around through the mushy soil before her fingers wrapped around something cold and metal. After shoving the key into the lock and pushing the door open, she slammed it behind her and quickly locked it again. It wouldn't keep her family out of the house but it would slow them down. She then ran upstairs and threw her bedroom door open before locking it tightly shut; this lock would keep them out. A few minutes later, after she finally caught her breath, she slipped out of the tattered dress and into a t-shirt and shorts. She sat down onto her bed and gently ran the fabric through her fingers like she had done when she first found it on the chest. It was still a mystery from where it did really come from, the idea of her dad buying it for her fading the more she looked at it. The more she stared at the blue color of the dress the heavier her eyes lids grew and after a few minutes she curled up against her pillow and let sleep take over.
Her dreams though didn't let sleep last very long. Images of her brother's began to surround her again, that mischievous grin upon their faces as they both held up a pocket knife.
"Let's have some fun, shall we?" Billy questioned. Christine got to her feet and began to run but her legs were moving as if she was in slow motion. Her brothers easily caught up with her and grabbed her arms but it felt like hundreds of hands were holding her down, her brothers seeming to be even taller as they stood over her.
"Time to get that dress off," Zeke chuckled. Suddenly Christine sat up in bed, her scream echoing around the house. She was trying to catch her breath as she looked in a panic but when she found it was a dream, she relaxed back into her pillow. When she glanced at her clock she realized she had been out for at least an hour which meant her parents were home and probably in bed. She knew they would sleep through it and that her brother's would enjoy the scream so she didn't have to worry about getting up. Her head was still throbbing but at least her body stopped aching. As she stared up at the ceiling though a rustling sound from outside caught her attention and caused her to snap up again. Immediately she thought it was her brother's trying to make her night even more of a nightmare then when she was asleep.
"Zeke, Billy? Are you out there?" she called as she stood to her feet and walked to the window. When she looked out she expected to see her brother's, but instead she saw nothing but the wet streets.
"Hello? Come on you guys this isn't funny," Christine said. Then it happened; a flash of bright light flashed in front of her eyes causing her to shout out and stumble backwards onto the floor. She somehow managed to catch herself before getting hurt but when she looked back to the window she saw nothing. No light, not even a star, just the rain and clouds.
"What the hell was that?" she cursed softly to herself. Before she could get to her feet though the bright light flashed in front of her eyes once again and once again she collapsed back onto the floor. This time when she opened her eyes again the light was still there but it had a shadow friend standing next to it. Christine began to slowly scoot herself away.
"W-who are you?" she demanded shakily. The shadow stayed silent and motionless as it watched Christine crawl across the room towards the door. When she reached it she slid up the wall, her fingers brushing against the light switch.
"Gotcha!" she exclaimed before flipping the switch. When the light flooded into the room and over the shadow Christine froze where she stood. She couldn't believe her eyes even though she knew she was actually seeing, him.
"P-peter?" she whispered softly. It was true; the blonde haired, green eyed boy she had seen in her room that night was back. Everything about him was exactly like the doll the Darling family had left behind.
"Did I scare you?" he asked with a slight smile. Christine barely heard his words as she stared at him. He was finally back but the only thing she could really do was stare in confusion. The bright light from earlier flashed in front of her eyes again and broke her concentration.
"Tink!" Peter scolded, the bright fairy returning to his side. Christine cleared her throat before her fingers nervously twitched.
"Why are you here?" she asked. Peter sighed before he slowly began to approach her.
"I was actually looking for Jane or even Wendy. Do you by chance know where they are?" he asked. Christine nodded slowly; she hoped he would be able to take it well.
"They left a few months ago Peter. Wendy went to live with Denny and Jane moved in with her husband," she explained. She watched as a sense of sadness filled his face. It must have been years since he last saw them and coming back to find out that they had moved on must have been difficult. The room was silent for a few moments before Christine finally stepped forward.
"The Darling family told me all about you and about how long it's been since you last saw them. In fact I know where Wendy and Denny are living," she said with a faint smile. When she saw Peter's face brighten up her smile widened even more.
"You know where they are?" he asked, Christine nodding. She quickly went to her bed and slipped the book Wendy had written from under her pillow. When she opened the cover she pulled out the yellow book page with the Darling's new address.
"It's not to far from here but walking-"she stopped herself when she remembered Peter didn't exactly walk.
"You'll make it and I know they will love to see you," Christine said as she held the paper out to him. Peter took it from her, his green eyes meeting with her own and nodded.
"Thank-you," he said before turning to the window. Christine's heart sank as she watched him walk away. Her adventure with him faded farther and farther away the more steps he took.
"Hey, would you want to come with me?" Peter suddenly asked. Christine sharply gasped in as she looked at him in complete shock.
"You mean it? Oh yes please! Just let me get my shoes on," she said in one breath. She then bolted for her closet and practically leaped into her shoes. It may have been just a flight to Wendy's, but it was still with him! As soon as she slipped her last shoe on though, there was a loud knock at her door. Her heart skipped a beat as her eyes widened in horror; the only people who knocked on her door like that were her brothers.
"Christine, open this door up right now!" Zeke shouted. Christine whirled around to where Peter was standing, his eyes glued to the door.
"Dammit Christine we hear voices in there!" Billy roared. Christine didn't take a second chance and rushed over to where Peter and Tink were standing.
"You have to hide! If they see you they will tear you apart," she begged as she grabbed his arm and dragged him to the window. She gently pushed him out, her eyes looking at him.
"Please stay out here and stay out of sight. They can't see you, understand?" she begged. Once he was outside she shut the window doors and rushed to her bed. Just as she sat down, the door was kicked open and Billy and Zeke stomped in.
"Alright where are they? We heard you talking to someone now where are they?" Zeke demanded. The two of them began to rummage through her closet and tear through the things under her bed. When they didn't find anything they once again turned to Christine. Billy grabbed the front of her shirt and lifted her from the bed, Christine gripping his wrist as she struggled to get free.
"Let me go, there's nobody here!" she grumbled. Billy's grip tightened as he held her up higher.
"Tell us now or else you will be in the worst pain of your life!" Zeke shouted. Christine's eyes glared up at Billy.
"Yeah like you haven't done enough in the past few weeks, tonight being the worst! I should turn you into the police for abusing a minor," she growled. Billy's eyes filled with hatred and in a single toss, Christine was thrown across the room. She shouted out in pain as she slid across the floor and slammed into the wall.
"I told you not to screw with us," Billy growled.
"You knew consequences would come if you disobeyed our rules," Zeke reminded her. Christine's head was throbbing but by some miracle she staggered to her feet.
"I'm tired of listening to you two. You're not my parents and at the moment you're not my family! I hate both of you and I wish you were never born!" she screamed. She was quickly silenced when she felt a heavy hand come across her cheek, the force sending her crashing into the dresser. With that she heard another loud noise and then a voice she didn't expect to hear.
"Hey leave her alone!" Peter shouted. Christine gasped in horror but when she tried to rush to him, Billy and Zeke stood in front of her.
"Who the hell are you?" Billy asked. Christine's heart was fluttering in a frenzy; what were they going to do to him? Peter had no chance, she had to do something!