~A Long Hard Road~
Chapter 10
Wendy's POV
It frustrated Wendy that she couldn't figure out how long she had been trapped. She had tried counting the seconds and minutes before, but she always lost count. She was worried for Henry's sake. She didn't know how Peter intended to use him, but it couldn't be anything pleasant.
Over time Wendy learned of Peter's true plans. The Lost Boys would talk about it when they believed Wendy to be asleep. The more she heard, the more she worried for Henry's life.
Every now and then, Tink would come visit her. It wouldn't be a long visit, incase she got caught, but it was a pleasant change. They wouldn't talk about Peter or the Truest Believer. Wendy made it clear that those topics would not be a welcomed conversation. Sometimes Tink would just sit by her cage. They wouldn't talk; they just kept each other company.
Wendy wished she could sleep and find some peace. Tink was always good at helping her clear her mind and find sleep easily. She was drifting off when she heard noises. She thought them to be the Lost Boys returning to camp. But then she heard distinct voices, women's voices. She prayed to whoever was listening that these people could help her.
"Help!" Wendy cried out.
She heard footsteps coming towards her. Then from behind a bush, a woman came into view. She had blonde hair and a mask of worry on her face. The woman ran over to Wendy's cage.
"My name's Emma," the woman told her. "I'm looking for my son."
Behind Emma more adults appeared. Wendy thought it strange that some many grown ups were here, in Neverland.
One man stepped forward. "Wendy?"
"Do I know you?" The man knew her, but she couldn't recall ever meeting him before.
"It's Baelfire." He responded.
Emma looked between the two of them, "You two know each other?"
"Bae!" Wendy exclaimed. "Can it really be you?"
He didn't reply. Instead he grabbed a giant rock next to him and began hitting the cage with it. After a few strong hits, the door budged.
Wendy and Bae embraced. "I thought I'd never see you again." She said into his chest.
"What are you doing here?" He asked.
"I came back to save you."
"You'd do that for me?" He seemed shocked at her answer.
"I couldn't let you live without a family. Not after you said your parents were dead."
Another man that had been lurking in the background spoke. "You told her I was dead?"
Wendy looked at this man and realized it must be Bae's father. She couldn't believe he was alive. But his presence means Bae lied to her.
"It was easier than saying my own father had abandoned me." There was resentment in Bae's voice. One Wendy believed he had a right to have. She couldn't imagine her father leaving her.
After a moment of awkward silence, the three adults led her back to camp. She had never seen so many adults in one place in forever. She also saw Tink and Hook, who must be helping the adults. She was happy to see Tink again, not so much Hook.
Baelfire wrapped her up in a blanket and sat in front of her. "Wendy, have you seen my son? His name's Henry."
Wendy wanted to say yes, she had seen him. Yet the first thing out of her mouth was, "you have a son?"
"Yeah. Pan needs his heart."
"Has Pan ever said anything about the heart of the Truest Believer?" Emma asked.
Wendy was conflicted. On one hand, she wanted to help these people find Henry. But on another, she didn't want to give Peter's plans away. She had to be loyal to him to protect her brothers. She also didn't want to admit it, but she still felt…something towards him.
"No, sorry." Wendy responded. "He hasn't said anything about a heart."
The man, Bae's father, confronted her. "She's lying." Wendy tried to keep her face void of any emotion, but she could tell it wasn't working. She felt like this man would see through her, no matter what she said. "Where is he?"
He drew his sword and stepped towards her. Bae and a couple other adults moved to stop him.
"What are you doing?" Bae demanded.
"I've told enough lies to recognize their burden. She knows where Pan is."
All the adults turned to her. Bae looked hurt when he asked if it was true.
"You don't understand-" Wendy began.
"You're helping him?" A woman with black hair as short as a boy's asked.
"He's keeping John and Michael alive. Only if I do what he says." Wendy was near tears at this point. She held them in, not wanting the adults to see her cry. The last thing she wanted was for them to think she's a liar and a crybaby.
"Trust me," Bae's father started," Whatever Pan promised, he will go back on his word."
"Why should I trust a man who abandoned his own son?" She knew the words were harsh, but couldn't stop herself before saying them.
Another woman told her, "Because your brothers did. They helped a woman named Belle to give us a box that can trap Pan."
Bae sat down by Wendy again. "We will save your brothers, I promise. But right now, I really need your help. Please."
Wendy hesitated. She decided it was better for her, and her brothers, to trust a childhood friend over her nightmare. "Pan told Henry that he needs his heart to save magic. It's a lie. He needs it to save himself."
"What do you mean?" Bae asked.
"Pan's dying. He needs the heart of the Truest Believer to restore all the magic to Neverland. He will be immortal and more powerful once he does."
"And what happens to Henry?" The woman with the short hair asked. This woman must feel something towards Henry. It wasn't maternal, but more like Henry was a relative of some sort.
Wendy didn't want to tell them this last part. She didn't want to believe it and saying it out loud would solidify the truth of Henry's fate. "When Pan lives, Henry will die."