Chapter 9: Honor Before Pride
Author's Note: In this chapter, if you don't hate him by now, you'll loathe Uncle William. You've been warned.
Wendy wasn't sure when Peter would return to her, or if he'd ever tell her he loved her. She knew he did, he'd just never let himself believe it. And so it was the end of the day, and though Wendy didn't want to, it was time for her to return home. She prayed her uncle wouldn't be there.
"Aunt, I'm home!" She cried as she entered the Bacher household.
A voice emerged from the drawing room. "Your aunt is at your parents with William and Slightly."
It was her uncle. The last person in the world she wanted to spend time with.
"I'll be in my room," She told him.
"A word, please."
Wendy's feelings of dread intensified. She was NOT going to be forced to forget again. If he took one step towards her…
She looked around for a weapon, and seized the glass candle sticks her parents had given Aunt Millicent as a wedding present and entered the room.
William Bacher was seated on the sofa, his legs crossed, his expression fierce. "Now," He said, eying the candle sticks. "What are those for?"
"You," she breathed, "if you take one step towards me."
William laughed. "You're a vile girl, Wendy Darling. I'm merely attempting to help you."
Wendy roared, and pulled up her sleeves to reveal her battered arms. "Help me? Like this?"
He said nothing, but pulled out something from behind his back. It was a torn vine, the one she had found under her bed. Peter's. "I found this in your room. It's clear my previous attempts haven't worked. But oh, when you're to the point of unconsciousness, perhaps you'll drop this act!"
Wendy's eyes flashed. "You will not lay a hand on me!"
"And who is going to stop me? Your aunt? She believes in our sessions."
"If she knew what you were up to, she'd drop you like a bad habit."
He laughed again, and got to his feet.
She backed away.
"She'll never find out. No, she'll never believe your silly stories. Do I really have to chase you?" He advanced on her, and Wendy swung. The candlestick connected with his knee, and he howled with pain.
"WENDY DARLING!!"
Wendy turned and found Aunt Millicent in the threshold, her parents behind her, their expression a mixture of fear and astonishment. Wendy dropped the candlestick. She knew she was done for.
Wendy sat in her bedroom, condemned. They had locked her in as if she was mad. She knew it was only a matter of time before her uncle came after her. What was she to do? Where was Peter when she needed him? Wendy lay in her bed, and soon fell into a fitful sleep.
It may have been an hour--- or several hours, but she heard a key in the lock, and in walked her uncle. "Thanks to your scene downstairs, you're a signature away from being sent to boarding school. But we're not going to let that happen Wendy, are we? Because we love each other, don't we?"
"Don't you dare speak to me!" She screamed.
"Oh Wendy, I've been thinking, and I know where I've been making my mistakes with you, and I'm sorry."
Wendy stared at him.
"You need TOUGH LOVE." He said, and a cruel grin spread over his lips. He walked to her, pinning her in her bed. "Give us a kiss, Wendy." And he lowered his mouth onto hers.
"GET OFF OF ME!" She screamed, shoving him back.
But he was much too strong.
Then there was a bang, and miraculously, her uncle was pulled off of her. She looked up, and saw Peter throw her uncle out the open window. He gave a satisfying nod when he heard the thud below. He then turned to Wendy, shaking like a leaf on her bed.
"Wendy," He said softly. Her nightgown was hanging off of her shoulders, and she was covered in bruises. "He's done this to you," He said. "Why didn't you tell me?"
Wendy gave a small sob, and circled her arms around Peter's neck. "Take me far away from here, Peter, please. I don't want to be here when he wakes up."
He nodded, scooped her up, and flew out the window.