Images of Broken Souls

Chapter Seven: Faded Faces

7/18

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Secrets, life would be boring without secrets, don't you think?

- M. Night Shyamalan

Several days and a thousand adventures had passed in Neverland since Nicole's return, or so it was thought around the island. In truth only 657 adventures had happened during those days. But it was several days that were cram packed, and she was only now going to get a chance to see John and Tiger Lily. As she saw the others off with a smile, before going on her own venture, she couldn't help feeling a pang of jealousy. Mandy had essentially become a Lost Girl, the first in all Darling-known history. But there was something more than that. To them Mandy was Mandy, nothing else.

As Nicole set off, the Rictors and Carmichaels were about to meet. Though they'd met on a few previous occasions the couples didn't really know each other. Or so one would assume. But that idea wasn't completely true, not for all of them at least. It was decided that Bell's husband, Alex, would be in attendance considering he had seen Peter those six years before, and thus believed in Neverland's existence. Plus, he'd probably have the best chance convincing his sister of whatever cover story they came up with for Mandy's literal inaccessibility.

They were meeting at a quiet café. It was small, secluded, and hopefully the atmosphere would help remove the edge that they were all on, so that they could talk easier and the necessary information would be exchanged without difficulty.

Mandy's aunt and uncle arrived first, but only by a few minutes; they lived nearby.

When the Rictors entered they immediately walked over to the only other people in the building that knew Neverland was real. "Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Carmichael," said Janet, calmly, as they sat down. Lee was silent.

"Hello, Mrs. Rictor," Alex replied, "How are you doing?"

The two exchanged the polite pleasantries in a courteous manner, while neither of their spouses said a word. It is interesting that the four gathered to discuss a place, and the only two present with real first-hand experience about its location were the ones not speaking.

Seeing that his wife was starting to get annoyed, and that if she sat through two more seconds of small talk she was liable to blow a gasket, Alex moved to change the subject.

"Let's cut to the chase." And was beaten by Mrs. Rictor. "Six years ago Peter Pan showed up at Nicole's window; she became the new Wendy. However, three years ago he stopped coming. We didn't think he'd ever return. It's a foolish sentiment, I know, but we're not even closely related to the Darlings.

"If he didn't remember her, very likely after three years, maybe he'd be drawn to the home of one of your," Janet indicated to Bell, "relatives back in England." She paused, her cool facade flickering for a moment.

Taking a deep breath, the brunette woman finished her explanation. "But as I said, it was foolish. Last night, after Lee and I had left for a business dinner, Peter showed up. And now, my children and Mandy are in Neverland."

"Here's the letter," Lee added, as he took it out of a pocket and slid it across the table.

Both Carmichaels read the letter, and both believed it. But Bell didn't want to.

She didn't want to believe that her cynical niece had traipsed off into a land of magic, and might prefer it. Or that after returning she'd have completely forgotten Neverland within weeks and would be more contemptuous on the subject than ever before.

She didn't want to believe the implications Nicole having known Peter six years ago meant. That he and the island could be at least part of the reason for Nicole's, on occasion, extremely forlorn mood set; the one always especially apparent in the spring.

She didn't want to believe that Ian was at risk of being a Lost Boy, regardless of the fact that he never ran away nor was he abandoned by his family.

And she especially didn't want to believe that this might possibly all be true just because she never had a dratted daughter!

"This is ridiculous," she said coldly, handing the letter back. "That letter was probably a hoax so you wouldn't know what they were really up to. Consider children-"

"Don't you dare talk about my kids that way," interrupted Janet. A steel-hard look was forming in her eyes, and the only thing that kept her from verbally smashing the other woman to pieces was Lee taking her hand.

He was taking over.

"Come on, Bell," he said sharply. "You know better than that. And for some reason I'm remembering that you never actually told me why your mom named you after Tink."

Recognition dawned in the older woman's eyes. "Oh my god."

Seeing that she wasn't going to try and deny it anymore; Lee backed down. "Did you honestly think you telling the girls those stories was the only thing that made Nicole stand out so much that Pan was drawn specifically to her." The dark, yet sad, look in his eyes was now clearly apparent. "Now, the reason we need to talk to you is to find a way to cover for the fact that Mandy's gone."

Back in Neverland, Nicole had just reached the tribe's camp. Questioning an elderly woman that was nearby she was helpfully pointed to John and Tiger Lily's teepee. John looked up as she entered. Both he and his wife appeared to be in their mid-forties; it was the thing that had initially cemented the altered time flow of Neverland in Nicole's mind. For while he may not know how far beyond his time it was in London, and only fuzzily remember his age and the year of which he had returned to his love; that information was not lost upon those who only ever briefly visited a place that is second to the right.

"Nicole, what are you doing here," he asked pleasantly, and with only a small degree of curiosity. It was hardly uncommon for her to visit after having finished a good percentage of the cleaning she came to take care of. "It's nice to see you again. I thought you might have forgotten about this place by now."

"It's good to see you too," she replied with a smile, sitting down. "And I'm not sure I could ever forget Neverland."

He nodded with understanding. Wendy had held the same regard for the island, though all their brothers had forgotten, even Michael eventually. "You still haven't said what you came by for," question John. "Do you need help with boys, or Peter? Did someone break something? Or did you just drop in for old stories or talk?" He was always amicable with her; he'd tried to be with all the Wendys, but some were harder to get along with than others.

"Kind of a mix between stories and talk," Nicole answered. "I can feel that something's wrong back at the house, but no one will tell me what it is. I tried talking to both Walker and yesterday Tink and neither would say anything besides a couple cryptic answers to try and appease me; nothing substantial. I didn't ask the other boys. They're so young and probably wouldn't no much of anything about whatever it is." Her voice was growing agitated as she said this. Taking a deep breath, the girl turned pleading eyes toward him. "I need to know what's going on. I'm not the only person who came this time. Both my little brother and best friend did as well. If something is wrong, which I'm being led to believe there is, I need to be able to protect them."

It took a few moments, as he tried to figure out what to tell her. "I'm not sure who would be endangered by what's going on; if anyone would be. But your brother is likely to be seen as another Lost Boy, and thus not in danger. I believe that you are safe and with good reason. You're possibly even safer than the previous times you've visited. And since you are here I doubt your friend is in any danger either."

Seeing her annoyance at his not telling her what it was that was going on John continued. "I fear that telling you what has changed will harm you." In his mind he added that it might make her seek it out. "But I will warn you to keep yourself and those who came with you away from the pirates. I'm sorry that I can't tell you."

She nodded in understanding, even though she didn't really understand at all, and moved to leave. As Nicole stood she saw Tiger Lily, still beautiful, in the entrance and smiled in greeting. But the smile was weak, and the princess exited the teepee with her. "If you should find out what has changed please come back," said the brave. "I fear you will be very angry, at all who have hidden it from you. But we have reasons, that can then be explained. And John and I will tell you then what we know of what transpired; I promise that. Go now, the boys are probably on their way back to your camp about now."

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AN: Eek! I'm really sorry about the delay. There were holidays, school projects, essays, exams, and a massive writer's block involved. But the story wasn't dropped, just delayed. Apologies, again. And as always: please review, it really helps.