Chapter 36: War Games (Peter)

Peter landed silently as a bat. Perfectly balanced, he hunched over the tombstone like a vulture. Eyes flicking back and forth, he searched the graveyard. The black of his irises blended into the darkness, save for a manic glint

"Wendy…" Peter crooned, rotating over a flexed ankle. He smirked like a joker. "Come out, come out wherever you are …"

Nothing.

A smile smeared over Peter's face. So…she wanted to play games.

Peter snaked off the tombstone. He levitated over the burial ground, weaving through the shadows like a specter. Spinning silently, he looked behind each broken tombstone.

Petrified Forest. This was an ancient, evil place. Black tombstones littered the forest like decaying decapitated heads.

Once a burial ground for ancient rulers, the Petrified Forest had been sacred. A holy place. Kings and queens were laid to rest and their spirits bled life into the forest.

But, according to legend, all that changed in the last war, thousands of years ago. The enemy brought Fantasians to the graveyard for slaughter. It was said that the slaughter was so atrocious, Fantasian souls were petrified…too petrified to escape the forest graveyard. Forever.

Peter shuddered. He didn't know the exacts of the legend, but could almost hear the screams as he passed each grave.

Engrossed with the story, Peter lingered on a large grave. The tombstone was comforting– a sword in a stone. Peter imagined the tombstone belonged to an ancient king – not the empty grave of a slaughtered Fantasian.

"Nice place for playing hide and seek." Peter's voice was dulled, as if the graveyard were already trying to suck away his vitality. "Very nice. You know where we are, Wendy?"

Nothing.

Peter revolved around the sword in the stone tombstone.

"They call this the Petrified Forest. Know why?"

Something blue caught Peter's eye. Pushing off the tombstone, Peter glided over to investigate.

"Fantasians were killed here. Slaughtered. Men. Women. Childr –"

Peter's chest lurched. The blue – which he'd hoped was Wendy's blue bow – was a frozen student. Unclenching his chest, Peter peered closer.

It was Eilonwy. Her back was arched over the black cauldron she'd receive from the Wishing Star. One hand clutched her heart. The other hand was pointing to the grave – the sword in the stone.

Eilonwy looked…well…petrified.

Attempting to laugh at the irony, Peter turned. Inexplicably, he sagged a little from the air. Shaking his head, Peter tried to dislodge the unsettling image of Eilonwy from his mind.

"Legend has it…." Peter continued, ignoring the tremor in his throat, "That the slaughtered Fantasians never totally died. And they come back!"

Again, something snagged Peter's peripheral vision. Squinting his sharp eyes, Peter edged toward the blue something concealed behind a tree.

"They eat through the dirt and worms half rotted and hungry. Oh very hungry, Wendy. Hungry for the flesh of little girls."

Peter smiled. A blue bow. Slinging forward like a viper, Peter snatched the blue ribbon and grinned triumphantly at…

…a branch.

Then Peter heard it. A noise behind him.

Snap.

Ears pricked, Peter squeezed the bow.

"Clever…"

Snap. Snap. Snap.

Peter turned.

"Clever girl, Wendy."

Snapsnapsnapsnapsnapsnap!

Peter kicked into the air. Murky light rippled over his body like a fish.

There!

Peter caught a flash of blue eyes as Wendy ran. Her trick gave her a head start, but the girl was hindered by panic of the chase and fear of the Petrified Forest.

Peter dove, swerving through gravestones after Wendy.

"SO!" Peter thrust back his arms, propelling himself through the air. "So! You want to play games?"

Passing Eilonwy, Wendy stumbled over a gravestone. Delighted, Peter attacked. Relentlessly, he lunged at Wendy, making pretend swipes at her head. Laughing, he corralled the terrified girl until her back was pressed against a tombstone.

Realizing she lay over a grave, Wendy scampered to the side.

Peter growled. Viciously, he pouched. Hands slapping on the tombstone, he trapped Wendy with his arms. Slowly, he lowered.

Peter was so close to Wendy, their breaths touched.

"Little kiss?" Peter sneered, drowning himself in Wendy's blue eyes. "Before I freeze you over a zombie's grave?"

Wendy exhaled. Suddenly, she snatched for Peter's chest.

Peter jerked back. She tried to tag him! More impressed than annoyed, Peter rose into the air. Hovering over Wendy, he itched his fingers like an evil magician.

"So you do want to play games. Fine."

Peter grinned at his reflection in Wendy's wide eyes.

"I love games." Peter drew back. He was taut as an arrow, ready to spring.

Peter dove. Wendy covered her face. "I love to win!"

"ME TOO!"

Crack!

Sticky, warm blood poured from Peter's nose and mouth. Dripping blood onto his hand, Peter shook his head, orienting to someone yelling, "Wendy! Run! That way! To the finish! Run!"

Anger burned through Peter like fire. Rat Tail.

Biting back the pain, Peter sliced upright. Snarling, he exploded after Wendy as she disappeared into the forest. With a second growl, he slammed to the ground as Jim tackled him from mid air.

"She'll never make it!" Peter yelled as Jim punched his bleeding lip. Rolling sideways, Peter cracked Jim's skull against a tombstone. Vaguely, he glanced up. The sword in the stone.

Invigorated by the sword's powerful presence, Peter wrenched Jim forward then slammed him against the tombstone. "You're little girlfriend is dead meat!"

"She is not – " Jim roared, seizing Peter by the throat, " – my girlfriend!"

Peter choked. Stone cut into his ear as Jim severed him against the tombstone. "But I swear to god if you hurt her – "

"Oh I'll hurt her!" Peter kneed Jim's ribs. Teeth pink with bloodstains, he grinned. "I'll have her little heart screaming and begging for more – "

"Fucking asshole!"

BANG!

Peter and Jim shouted. Burned and bleeding, they were pitched from the sword in the stone gravestone. They crashed, rolling away from blue and green flames licking the Petrified Forest.

Then the flames subsided.

Peter and Jim looked up.

And they saw…monsters.

Two of them.

Slinking over the sword in the stone tombstone like snakes.

One was a horned lady.

The other was an immortal corpse, half dead half alive, his body gnawed by blue flames.

The immortal grinned at the boys. The blue flames turned black. "Boo."

Peter and Jim ran.

The horned lady laughed.

sultal's note

ONE MORE WEEK OF FINALS! Let it be known - I will be working on other stories TOO! Thanks for all the reviews and support! Special thanks to ThatGirlOnMars for being my wonderful helpful beta! So excited to be working with you!

keep writing everyone and have a great week!