Author's Notes: I am finally on break and I am loving it! I have been writing nonstop ever since! This is one of the longest chapters I have ever written and I am not going to lie, I did struggle with it a bit... But I am so happy that you guys are loving this story so far! The response I got from the last chapter was AMAZING! Thank you to every one who left a review and made this story a favorite! Keep it up! I will do my best to keep posting great chapters regularly! Now on with the show!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the OUAT characters, however the story is entirely my own : )
Chapter 12
"Peter!" She turns in a circle, struggling to see anything through the dense fog. She trips on another tree root and manages to catch herself before falling yet again. "John! Michael!"
Wendy has been wandering in the Neverwoods for hours, but she cannot find anyone. She is tired of searching and she just wants to lie down and close her eyes. Surely a small rest could not hurt…
Her eyes land on a figure in the distant and she squints through the fog. She lets out a cry when she sees who it is. She would know those strong shoulders and tousled hair anywhere. She runs blindly through the forest, stumbling every few steps. But she does not care because he is right there. She yells his name again. "Peter!"
He does not turn around. She stops when she is only a few yards away, his back still facing her. She is gasping for breath and she wants more than anything for him to wrap her in his arms and tell her that everything will be alright. But he will not turn around.
"Peter?" she says hesitantly. She reaches out and touches his arm and instantly retracts her hand. His skin is ice cold.
Wendy steps back as he slowly turns around.
His eyes are completely black, the color of a starless night sky.
He smiles.
"... arling." She stirs. "Miss Darling. I do believe it is time for you to wake up."
Her eyelids flutter open. As her vision begins to focus, she immediately knows that she has left the clearing. She is now somewhere dark and damp. She can feel the moisture in the air and can make out rock walls behind the wooden bars of a… cage?
Wendy attempts to stand, but she hits her head. She looks up to see more wooden bars above her. She reaches out and grabs one only to find that it is incredibly sturdy and firm. It will not budge. She was in a cage and it was quite small. She sits up, careful of her head, and looks around.
Now that her eyes have grown accustomed to the darkness, she can see that she is in a large cave and her cage rests on a small island in the center. She glances over the edge and swallows nervously when she sees that her narrow rock island is so high above the ground, she cannot see the bottom, only darkness.
"I am sorry about this, Miss Darling, but my crew and I would like to go home." Wendy turns her head and sees that Captain Hook and the other men are on the island as well. To her surprise, he genuinely seems apologetic. As though he truly does not want to see her harmed.
Unsure of what to say, her eyes flicker to the men around her cage and she can see that they are nervous. But of what? It seems as though they hold all the power in this situation. She cannot imagine what they could possibly be afraid of. But as she studies the men closely, she can clearly see their anxious fidgeting and darting eyes and the beads of sweat trickling down their brows.
The only one who shows no signs of worry is Captain Hook. Instead, he looks determined, his eyes staring coldly at the entrance of the cave. Wendy does the same, although she is not sure what she should be looking for. She just needs something to calm her frantic nerves as a dreadful feeling settles in the pit of her stomach. How did this happen to her? She had done what Peter said and stayed in the clearing.
As soon as the thought crosses her mind, she wishes it hadn't. The mention of his name causes a sharp pain piercing her heart. He called her a foolish and ignorant girl. He left her alone with dozens of pirates roaming the island. He did not want her.
Before she can spiral any deeper into her depression, she catches movement in the corner of her eye and turns to see Captain Hook unsheathe his sword, the rest of the men following his lead. Before she can open her mouth to ask what they are doing, the captain shouts out, "I will let the girl go. In exchange, you will provide me and my men a way off this bloody island."
Wendy glances around the cave, questioning the captain's sanity. There is no one else in that dark cavern except for her and the crooked pirates! Just as she is about to demand they release her from the pitiful cage and bring her back to the Neverwoods, she hears a faint chuckle echo throughout the cave. It is cruel and mocking-there is nothing joyful about this quiet laughter. But her heart skips a beat. She knows that sound almost as well as she knows her own name.
She begins to rapidly scan the dark, rock walls of the cave, not entirely sure what she is looking for. A glimpse of golden hair. A flash of emerald green eyes. Anything. She could feel her hopes rising as the laughter continues, only growing in pitch and volume until it resonates throughout the entire space. It is filled with such cold hatred and Wendy shivers and exhales, startled when she can see her breath leaving her mouth.
She looks to the pirates who stand packed together, shaking hands clutching swords and their eyes darting all around. Only Captain Hook remains firm, his mouth in a grim line and his face revealing no emotion. "Enough of these games," he shouts over the dark laughter. "Show yourself, Pan!"
After a few moments of bated breath, all heads turn to the sound of footsteps at the entrance of the cave. Wendy is the first to recognize the person standing at the rocky ledge, several yards away from their small island. "Peter," she calls out, but he does not so much as give her a glance in her direction. His gaze is focused entirely on the man standing beside her cage with his sword poised and ready to strike.
"It's been a long time, Killian." It takes Wendy a moment to understand that he is talking to Captain Hook who remains silent as he gives Peter a cold glare.
"I'm sorry about the hand, mate. But even you have to admit that it was quite funny when I fed it to the crocodile." Wendy's eyes widen in surprise as she looks between the captain's furious expression to Peter's amused one as he twirls his dagger between his hands.
Captain Hook jumps into action. He flings open the cage and grabs Wendy's thin wrist, yanking her out of the small prison. She freezes as she feels a cold blade press against her throat, the dangerous edge biting into her skin. She can feel something wet trickle down her neck. Blood. The sword cut her.
She flinches as she feels Captain Hook's breath against her ear, his stubble scraping against her cheek. "I wish it did not have to come to this, Wendy. But you see, this is the only way." In a voice much softer and more sincere than she had thought capable of the captain, he whispers, "I am truly sorry for your loss." Before she can question what he meant by his last statement, she is shoved forwards and brought to stand at the edge of the island, plummeting darkness looming below her, the sword still at her throat.
Captain Hook shouts across the distance. "You will give me and my men safe passage off this island or lovely Miss Darling here will be walking the plank." A few of the men chuckle behind her at the captain's words but she pays them no attention as she looks down. She cannot even see the bottom. There could be sharp rocks or a raging river below. If she were to step forward now, she would surely die.
She slowly raises her eyes, careful not to move her head, and looks across the gap to Peter standing on the other side at the entrance to the cave. He only smirks at her, seeming to enjoy her terror. Tears gather in her eyes as he begins chuckling.
How can he simply stand there and laugh as she is moments away from death? Does he not care at all whether she lives or dies? She thought that through their time together, they had formed a connection of sorts. There were moments when she had felt something. And she was so sure that he had felt it, too. But looking at him now, smiling at her looming death, her questions were answered.
He did not care for her. Did not care if she lived or died. She is merely a toy to play with until he grows bored and replaces her. An insignificant speck in his infinitely long life. Their time together is meaningless to him. She is meaningless to him. Nothing.
As Wendy stands on the precipice of her demise, she comes to one unfaltering realization. She wants to go home. She misses her mother and father. She misses the peaceful mornings of coffee and jam. The joyous afternoons of laughter and games. And what she misses more than she ever thought she could, is the nursery window. The soft, white curtains billowing in the cool night breeze and the shimmering stars winking just out of reach as she perches on the window seat, imagining what it would be like to touch one.
As the memories of her home return to her in a torrent of sweet pain and bitter sorrow, a single tear slides down her cheek. That is all she allows Peter to see. One tear. She wants him to know that he is what caused the offending liquid to mar her porcelain skin. She wants him to know that he will no longer have any control over her, that she will no longer be his pawn or toy.
Peter watches the tear trickle down her cheek with complete disinterest. Her pain is of no concern to him. He just drags his gaze away from her to the captain who still has a blade pressed against her throat. "I commend you on capturing my little bird. There are very few who are able to take something of mine without my knowledge."
He glances around the cavern for a moment. "It was quite clever of you to come to the Cave of Echoes, Killian. You know that I cannot access my power within this place." A dark, sinister smile spreads across his lips. "But I am afraid you will not be leaving Neverland. I rather enjoy the thought of tormenting you and your crew for several millennia."
Wendy gasps as the blade presses harder against her skin, another thin stream of blood sliding down her neck, painting her clothes in a dark red. A hook brushes her cheek as gently as a lover's caress. The cold metal causes a shiver to race down her spine. "Not even for Miss Darling?"
Peter's eyes flicker to hers for the briefest of moments before returning to the captain. His face expresses one of boredom. "Kill her if you want. I've already had my fun." A knowing smirk appears on his lips. "Or you can keep her for yourself. I know how much your crew… adore young girls."
A low, rumbling chuckle sounds throughout the pirates and Wendy closes her eyes and focuses on not emptying her stomach's contents in front of all of these men.
Captain Hook sighs in exasperation. "Do not play games with me, Pan. I saw you with her in the Neverwoods. Even a blind man can see that you care for Miss Darling."
Wendy wants to tell the captain that he is wasting his breath. Peter Pan does not care for her. She is nothing to him and that is all she will ever be. Which is why she is more determined than ever to return home with her brothers.
Peter laughs. The sound is cold and empty, much like his heart. "She means nothing to me." His eyes darken, the emerald green almost completely gone. "However… you took her without my consent and attacked my Lost Boys. I cannot allow these things to go unpunished."
As he continues to laugh, Wendy can see out of the corner of her eye that the captain's hook is trembling. He is scared of Peter. Of what he could do. And as she looks across the wide gap, she feels for the first time, fear. Not of the blade at her throat. Not of the chasm in front of her. But of Peter. She is afraid of Peter and the power he possesses.
She remembers the night that seems so long ago. When his eyes had glowed golden and light had poured out of his hand, disintegrating a shadow without batting an eyelash. He had done something that night that was impossible. Seeing the dark look in his eyes, she is terrified of what he could do to Captain Hook and his men who wish nothing more than to escape this island, much like herself.
"Please, Peter." She is pleading with him, begging him not to kill these men, ignoring the pain in her heart. "Spare their lives. They just want to go home." As do I.
His cold gaze slides to her and remains there. "I'm sorry, Wendy, but they need to learn that I am king and no one goes against me-not unless they want to die."
Peter idly plays with his dagger, the threat obvious in the movement. "However, I am feeling merciful today and I will let you live, Killian. Your crew on the other hand…" Wendy can feel the blade against her neck quivering. Another thin stream of blood trickles down her skin.
Peter's eyes narrow ever so slightly, almost impossible to see in the dim light of the cave. "You have damaged my toy, consider yourself lucky that I am allowing you to walk away." Captain Hook removes the blade from Wendy's throat and steps away from her. She drops to her knees, the tension leaving her body. She gently touches her skin before raising the trembling hand to her face, swallowing nervously when she sees her fingers coated with blood. Her blood.
She lifts her eyes to Peter and they lock gazes. She expects mockery or disgust, but instead his expression is like nothing of this world. The absolute fury written on his face would make any man fall to his knees in fear.
Wendy quickly hides her hand behind her back, discreetly wiping off the blood on her already dirtied clothes. "I am fine, Peter. Truly. It is nothing more than a small scratch," she tries to placate him. But he is not listening to her. His eyes are fixed on the men behind her.
At first, nothing happens. Captain Hook and his crew shift nervously, their swords grasped tightly within their sweaty palms. Wendy is kneeling on the rocky floor, praying that Peter be merciful. And then, a small pebble drops to the ground right beside her knee. She stares at it curiously, wondering if someone had thrown it. And then she hears another hit the ground, and turns her head to see a pebble a few paces to the left of her. And then another. And another. And another.
Small rocks are falling around them and she can hear the alarm in the voices of the crew as they begin to notice. Wendy stands and looks up at the ceiling of the cavern, shielding her eyes with her hands. She then looks across the trench to Peter.
He does not seem to be looking at them. His eyes have lost all focus and his fists are clenched tightly together. His mouth is moving-muttering something-but no sound could be heard. Wendy hears a scream and whirls around and her heart stops.
The small island that they are standing on is beginning to tremble and quake. Cracks appear on the very ground that they stand on and the tremors are causing rock to break off from their platform. A misfortunate pirate standing on a precarious ledge cries out, alerting the other men near him as he begins to fall towards the dark abyss. The men reach out to try and catch their friend from such a tragic death, but it is too late. He is gone.
Wendy stares wide-eyed at the empty space where the man was just standing not a moment ago. All around, more and more pirates are falling from the island, there screams becoming lost in the rumbling of the cave collapsing all around them. She turns to Captain Hook.
His face has gone pale and a thin sheen of sweat lines his forehead. "Captain," she screams desperately. "Do something! Please!" But the man is not listening to her cries. His eyes stare off into the depths of space, lost within his own mind as his men die around him. Meanwhile, the island is growing smaller and smaller and more pirates are falling off. Their shrieks pierce her very soul and she cannot stand it any longer.
She looks across the growing chasm at Peter, still mumbling under his breath and his eyes unfocused. "Peter!" she shouts. She receives no response and another pirate plummets to his death. She tries again with the same result. Before she can call his name for the third time, the rock underneath her begins to quake and she loses her balance, stumbling towards the edge. She lets out a shriek and squeezes her eyes shut, bracing herself for her imminent death. But the weightless sensation of falling does not come.
A hand wraps around her waist, firmly dragging her back towards more stable ground. She looks behind her and sees a grim-faced Captain Hook. "Th-thank you," she gasps out. He does not respond to her. He releases her and looks away and she follows his gaze.
The two of them are the only ones left on the island. Every other pirate has fallen to their deaths. She looks to Peter. He is no longer mumbling under his breath and his eyes are focused on her. A small smirk appears on his lips and he glances around the cavern, his smile widening. The tremors have ceased and everything is eerily silent.
She looks from his smug smile to his knowing eyes and remembers what he had said earlier. Peter promised that he would let Captain Hook live, but made no such promise for the others. She looks around at their significantly smaller island, only the captain and herself have survived. Wendy's eyes widen at her realization.
Peter did this. He killed these men. And he is satisfied with it. Shock, disgust, fury and many other emotions that she cannot put a name to, crash down upon her in waves. How can he take so many lives without a moment's hesitation? How can he stand there looking pleased with himself? And how could she have ever cared for him? The disgust she feels for Peter was nothing compared to the disgust she feels for herself.
She let herself fall into his trap. Let him seduce her with searing touches and burning gazes. She had fallen for his arrogant smirks and carefree laughter and now she was paying the price. Wendy's fists clench tightly as she looks to Peter standing across the chasm where over a dozen pirates fell to their deaths. I will not fall for his tricks ever again, she silently vows.
She turns to the captain, still appearing to be in a state of shock. She pities him. He had lost his entire crew in the span of a few minutes and now he had no one left. Wendy holds back the tears threatening to spill from her eyes. Even though they had been her captors, the pirates did not deserve to die. She would mourn for them later, but now she needs to figure out how to cross the chasm that stands between their small island and the entrance of the cave where Peter is, looking amused at their predicament.
She glares at him quickly before asking the captain, "How do we get out of here?" She receives no reply. Captain Hook is not paying any attention to her. He stares at the rocky ledge, peering down into the abyss where his men most likely are. Dead. He shakes his head, rubbing his one hand through his disheveled hair and down his face. A chuckle escapes past his lips. The sound is hollow. Empty.
Ignoring Miss Darling, he turns to Pan. He looks upon the child that has been his enemy for the past several centuries. "You win," he concedes, his voice filled with exhaustion and resignation. "A brave man surrenders with honor."
"It's been fun playing with you, Killian. And don't worry. I will let you wallow in your own misery for a few decades before allowing you to replenish your crew." Peter's grin widens significantly, but there is no joy in the smile. Only cruelty. "And then we can start a new game."
Captain Hook closes his eyes, bracing himself for what he is about to do. He takes a deep breath and looks to Miss Darling. "I am truly sorry for your loss."
Wendy once again is puzzled by the captain's strange words, but he continues before she can ask what he means. "You are an incredibly strong and brave young lady." His eyes flicker to Peter's briefly before saying, "And you deserve so much better than what he can ever give you."
Wendy ignores the chuckling from across the chasm, her eyes focused on the grieving captain. But Captain Hook is no longer looking at her. He is staring at Pan, still laughing at the entire scene playing out before him as if it is all a game to him. He takes a step closer to the edge.
"You know nothing of this world. You, who has lived longer than any being in any realm. " He takes another step.
Peter stops chuckling, growing quiet at the captain's words. "You do not know friendship." Step. "Or family." Step. "Or love." Step. "And I pity you." Step, step.
Captain Hook is now teetering on the edge, the tips of his leather boots dangling over the yawning chasm below him, promising death to all those that plunge into its abyss. His eyes are cold, his jaw is clenched. He stares defiantly into the eyes of the child that has tortured him for centuries. "And I will gladly die knowing that there is a special place reserved for you in hell."
Before Wendy can even comprehend what the captain is saying, he takes one more step, and falls over the edge, tumbling into the darkness. She lets out a cry, trying desperately to reach him, but it is too late. Captain Hook is lost to the chasm, joining his crew in death.
She stares in horror at where the man had stood not a moment ago. The silence in the cave is deafening, that is until Peter sighs in exasperation. "Well, that was rather dramatic." Wendy stares at him, ire rolling off of her in waves. "I didn't think that he would actually go and kill himself, but I suppose I can always just bring more pirates to the island." He places his hands on his hips and shakes his head. "What a waste."
Wendy can hardly believe what she is hearing. How can a person be so utterly callous and unfeeling? Captain Hook was right. Peter knows nothing of love or kindness. But she believed that he could. She convinced herself that deep within the pits of his cold heart, a small part of himself cared for her. But she has never been more wrong in her entire life.
He stood there and laughed as a sword was pressed to her throat. As a gleaming hook brushed down her cheek. As the cave walls came crumbling down around her. He laughed. Her life was nothing more than a joke to him and it took her almost dying for her to realize that.
She straightens, attempting to brush herself off. She must look like a mess with blood, dirt and goodness knows what else coating her skin right now. But she doesn't particularly care. She wants to get out of here. And she is not just referring to the cave.
"How do I get out of here? Can you fly?" Her voice is cold and unfeeling and Peter gives her a peculiar look before shrugging. "Despite being complete idiots most of the time," Wendy grits her teeth. "The pirates actually had a clever idea. This place is called the Cave of Echoes. It is the one part of Neverland where I cannot access my power."
She crosses her arms over her chest, skeptically. "Then how did they manage to place me and themselves on this island?"
He smiles. "There is only one way in and out of the Cave of Echoes. You must voice your deepest, darkest secrets and desires. Things that you have never told anyone else. Only then will a pathway be built for you to walk safely across."
"How do I know you are telling me the truth?"
Peter raises his eyebrows. "Do you not trust me?"
She hesitates only a moment before answering. "No, I don't."
The words have barely left her mouth before there is a rumbling deep within the cave. The island that she stands on begins quaking and she flings out her arms for balance. More rocks come crashing down from the cavern's roof, colliding with her small platform, making it even smaller. Another minute or so goes by before the quaking subsides and she can stand normally again.
"What," she breathes heavily, her blood pounding in her ears, "was that?"
Peter's smile widens as he glances around the dark space. "The Cave of Echoes knows when your lying. And so do I. Everytime you share something untruthful, that will happen again and again until there is nothing left of what you stand on." He gestures towards her smaller island. "So I suggest you start being honest with yourself, because it doesn't look as though you can afford many more lies."
Wendy glares at him. "Then can you at least leave so I can be done with this?"
Peter chuckles and shakes his head. "A secret stays a secret if no one is around to hear it. I'm afraid that you have to tell me your darkest hidden desires." Wendy knows he is not sorry at all. He is enjoying every moment of this.
"Fine," she says, her voice biting. She thinks for a moment. "When I was younger, there were times that I would skip going to church in favor of playing with my friends in the park." She glances around the cave, not sure what to expect. But when nothing happens after a moment, she looks to Peter, standing amused on the other side of the chasm.
"What went wrong? I shared a secret and it was the truth. Nothing is happening." Peter chuckles, shaking his head. "I told you to share your deepest, darkest secrets that you have never told anyone before. That secret was neither deep nor dark."
Wendy sighs and throws up in her hands in exasperation. "I don't know what I am supposed to say! I have no 'deep and dark secrets.'" The answer she receives is a low rumbling and a small quaking of the rock underneath her. Peter raises an eyebrow and glances around before looking to her. "I think you do." He takes a step closer to the edge. "So tell me Wendy, what are you hiding in that innocent heart of yours? What plays inside your dreams every night? What are your darkest desires?"
She hesitates. She knows what she needs to say. They are the very thoughts that have eaten away at her ever since she came to Neverland. The feelings that she refused to acknowledge. The desires she denied existing. But the thought of having to voice them in front of him, it was mortifying.
Wendy sighs and clenches her fists. This is the only way she can get out of the cave. She just has to say it quickly and then she can leave. Before she can think better of it, the words fly out of her mouth in a single breath. "I want to go home."
She avoids Peter's narrowed eyes as a rumbling echoes throughout the cave. At first, she thinks that it is another quaking and is about to protest that she told the truth when something strange happens. A small rock platform seems to grow from the edge of the small island she stands on. It is only a couple of feet long and she hesitantly taps her foot against the rock, testing its stability. When she deems it is safe enough, Wendy steps onto the platform, standing above the chasm. She wills herself not to look down.
She frowns when she sees the long distance she still has to go. How many secrets do I have to share? She sucks in another breath. "I want to go home," she repeats. "...But not because I want to grow up…."
Nothing happens and she bites her lip. She was hoping that that would be enough. Apparently not.
"Why do you want to leave?" She raises her head and looks at Peter. A sharp pain pierces her heart. The disappointment in his eyes squeezes her throat until she can barely breathe. He looks genuinely saddened by the thought of her leaving. But the look is gone again, replaced with anger.
Her fists clench by her sides. "Because… because I am afraid."
"Of what?" He demands, his tone incredulous.
"You!" The word flies out of her mouth and Peter's eyes flash with pain before returning to their cold fury. It was so sudden, but she knows that she hurt him in the only way she can. Another foot or so of the rock ledge has appeared and she takes another step closer to Peter.
"I am afraid of what you can do. Of what you have done. You hurt others with no reason. You kill effortlessly with no remorse. You do not know compassion or kindness, only cruelty. And I feel sorry for you." With every word she utters, more and more of the rock path forms and she continues to walk closer and closer to Peter, her eyes never leaving his. She knows she is hurting him. She can see it in his eyes.
"Please, go on. Tell me what else you find repulsive about me." His tone is biting, but she can hear the pain behind it. Can see it in the crinkling of his brow. In the clenching of his hands.
"You are arrogant, prideful, compulsive, reckless, and you cannot control your own emotions. I am afraid of the darkness that I see inside of you and I am afraid that one day you will be completely consumed by it."
Peter scoffs at her last remark and rolls his eyes. "Is there anything else you want to say? Because I-"
She cuts him off. "But mostly, I am afraid of myself."
Several feet of rock forms in front of her, but she remains where she is. Peter has grown silent. He stares at her with an intensity that forces her to take a deep breath before continuing. "... I am afraid of who I am becoming. You are… the most horrible person I have ever met and yet…" She looks deep into his eyes, willing him to understand without having her to say the words aloud. She is not sure she can voice such depraved things.
But he has never made things easy for her. He stares expectantly at her, daring her to finish. She clasps her fidgeting hands tightly in front of her. "I can't help the way my heart skips when you smile at me. Or the way my breath stops when you touch me… "
Wendy battles with herself on how much more she should reveal. The rock platform has stopped growing and now she is about halfway across the chasm. She is not sure how much she can say before she breaks down and tells him her darkest secret that resides in the deepest recesses of her heart. The very thing that she has suspected all along, but denied ever existing. Because if she did acknowledge the existence of it, she knows that her resolve to leave Neverland would be dust in the wind. And Wendy knows that she must get her and her brothers back to London. To their parents. But it just might be the hardest thing she has ever had to do.
She looks to Peter who has kept silent. His face reveals absolutely nothing. She cannot decipher what he is feeling in that moment. Probably revulsion at my sentiments, Wendy thinks, but she forces herself to keep going. "... I want to go home because I am afraid of what will happen if I stay. I am afraid of what I feel when I'm with you. Of what I want… when I'm with you."
Several feet have grown on the rock platform, but she still has a ways to go. "I-I can't, Peter," she cries out. "I can't say anything more." She pleads desperately for him to do something. Anything. She has one more secret, but she cannot give it to him. Not yet. Not in this way.
Peter says nothing. There is no emotion in his eyes, no hint of what he feels. He takes a careful step, coming to stand right before the edge that overlooks the dark abyss. He looks down at his dagger as he plays with it mindlessly. Without any preamble, he says, "I remember my old life. Before Neverland."
Wendy stares questioningly at him, but then a rumble resounds throughout the cave. A rock ledge forms in front of him and he steps onto it. Moving towards her. "None of the Lost Boys remember, but I do. My father was the King of the Fae while my mother was an ordinary human. She died giving birth to me and my father followed soon after. I guess he was heartbroken with her death." Wendy gasps, both at the revelation and his tragic past. Peter merely shrugs.
"I stayed with the fae until the day they told me to leave."
"Why," she whispers.
He raises an eyebrow. "Well, if you happen to see one, you can ask them yourself."
Wendy remains silent, mulling over everything she has just heard. His father was the King of the Fae. It explains how Peter is so powerful. But, if his father died, than that would mean that Peter is… she glances at him. He does not seem to care that he is next in line for the throne. He would much rather be self-imposed King of Neverland than true king of the people who cast him off.
Peter continues, his voice bitter. "Everyone I care about leaves me, one way or another. Since the day I was born." He looks to her, his eyes cold. "I guess nothing has changed."
Her stomach twists painfully. "Peter, I-"
He cuts her off before she can offer some explanation for her wanting to leave. "I don't want you to go."
She sucks in a breath at his confession as the last rock forms, merging their two bridges together. They stand still, neither daring to move. The atmosphere around them is charged with something that Wendy cannot put a name to. She bites her lip, unsure of what to do.
"I want you to stay." She can see the flickering hope in Peter's eyes as he speaks and it pains her to know that she will have to be the one to snuff it out.
"Is that all you want?"
She can see his confusion at her question. His brow scrunches together and his fists clench tightly. A plethora of emotions rage across his features, each one battling a war within his own mind. She desperately wants to reach out and grasp his hand. To run her palms down his shoulders to ease the tension in his body. But this thing between them is too delicate. Too fragile. She is afraid that the slightest movement on her part will cause it to break. So she waits patiently for him to answer.
"... I-I don't…" His voice is raw with emotion and she can see the conflict behind his eyes. She does not need to think about what she is about to do. Her body moves of its own accord. Towards him. Before he has time to react, she throws herself onto him, wrapping her arms fiercely around him, clutching him to her.
She can feel Peter tense beneath her and briefly wonders if he has ever been hugged properly before. She burrows her head into his shoulder, inhaling his scent deeply. Evergreen. She has grown accustomed to his smell and it comforts her more than it should. Her heart is pounding frantically as she presses against his rigid body and she swears she can hear his breathing quicken.
The two stay like that quietly for several minutes in the darkness of the cave, standing over an endless abyss. When she feels arms slowly wrap around her smaller frame, she smiles.
Author's Notes: What an emotional rollecoaster! I want to start off with thanking everyone who left a review and favorited my story! The support has been incredible so far and I am pleased to say that I have hit the halfway point with this story!
I am sorry to everyone who is a Captain Hook fan, but fear not! He might be making a reappearance! I hope you guys all enjoyed this chapter, it was one of the hardest ones I had to write! Let me know what you guys think about the story so far! Your reviews really push me to make this story the best it possibly can! Keep reading and reviewing! I will try and post another chapter before the New Year (hopefully)! Until next time!