Howdy guys, apologies for how long its been. But anyways, here we go...
Please R/R. Thank you for all the lovely compliemnts and so forth. Sorry for any grammar and spelling errors, but I don't have a beta reader and as a dislexic I do struggle with that side of writing.
The angels closed in, faces rent with fear and hope. They gathered slowly, hundreds of them pressing together as they moved forward. Wendy and Peter stood still, back to back with each other, Peters back pressing into Wendy's spine. She could feel him trembling, seemingly scared witless of the ghosts. Did he see them as a cruel vision of his own future? Or perhaps something more, a savage reminder of what death truly was, that had managed to suck all the joy out of Pans world.
The angels continued to advance, clustering together, hollow arms sliding through hollow bodies as they closed in on the pair in middle. Wendy slipped her hand into Peters as they drew closer, his ghostly touch providing little reassurance. She could see the expressions on the faces of the dead; a sad remorse covering every face, with no spark in dead eyes.
They where children, everyone a child with dead eyes and dead hands, nude in the grey light that came from Neverlands sun. She observed them as they closed, seeing the folded wings that protruded from ill-adjusted backbones, causing each angel to stoop slightly under the weight of fresh bone.
And then she felt the touch of the dead for the first time and realised the horror that John had cried about. A small ghostly arm swept through her midriff and she felt suddenly plunged into a freezing hellfire, every ounce of hope and sprit swept out of her at once. She felt like collapsing to the floor at the vision that suddenly presented itself too her, crying and begging for forgiveness for every sin that she had ever committed. It was only Peters presence beside her that stopped her from doing so; his fire seeming to glow ever brighter as the dead closed in.
"Peter," She said and turned towards him, "Please, let's go, lets fly away." She felt another touch peice her side, and again the sadness threatened to overwhelm her.
But Peter was standing still, glowing with such ferocity that Wendy struggled to look upon him. "Wendy." He said, "Don't you see? They don't want to hurt us, they just want love." HE held two of the dead in his arms and as Wendy watched they too slowly began to glow and age, wing unfurling as they did so.
Wendy turned back towards the dead and felt another stab through her heart, she looked down and saw the cause, one of the youngest angels was clawing at her, attempting to gain a hug from the girl. His hands just passed through Wendy's midriff and then he attempted again, each attempt slowly sucking out more of Wendy's soul. "Please," She gasped, "I can't give you any more." The boy seemed not to understand and tried once more, the horror forcing Wendy too her knees.
"Please," She said, looking into his eyes, "No more." He backed off slowly, standing a good meter away from her, his eyes on level with hers. He was small, and so sad that Wendy just wanted to bundle him into her arms and hug him tight. But she couldn't and instead she observed him, trying to calm him with quiet words. He was small, maybe 4 or 5 years old with a great scar that ran from his right ear to his chin, making his face seem strangely lopsided.
Wendy stood and looked at the dead who had stopped advancing, now standing in a ring around the pair, about a meter away. The two angels that Peter had revitalised stood with them, their golden glow illuminating the clearing. Behind the ghosts the sun was slowly rising, casting a palled view over the scene, and showing yet more angels slowly floating down from the heavens towards Neverland.
Peter stood tall at the centre of the scene, his golden eyes surveying each of the ghosts in turn. "Look," he said, his voice containing joy and mirth once more, "You cannot come any close, we would love to hug each one of you, like your mothers once did, but I 'm afraid we don't have the power or the wit." He looked out as this message filtered back through the ghosts; watching as it seemed too knock there sprits further. The entire crowd seemed to wilt, hope suddenly vanishing from their eyes.
"However," Peter said, "I think we can help. There is no reason why we can't turn Neverland into a place of joy once more, and there is no reason why we can't free your souls, if that is what you wish." A murmur went through the crowd, carried thinly on the wind as a thousand voices hissed back at him, each as insubstantial as snow.
"Yes."
Peter nodded, "Some of you can stay here, if you so wish. Neverland is a good place so long as it has a Pan to defend it. If you wish for something else, something beyond the existence you now find yourself in I can take you to the edge of the universe, and show you what lies beyond."
"And what then?" The host responded,
Peter shook his head, "I don't know. It has never been revealed to me, but I know that it will be an end to your current pain." The host began to murmur once more, a subtle hiss that barly carried on the wind. The angels voices where no more substantial than air, a mere whisper on the wind.
"Peter," Wendy said, turning to the boy, "What are you doing?"
Peter turned to look at her, sorrow glazing his eyes once more. "I have no choice, Wendy" he said, "I am a Pan, and I will always be a Pan. The mantle may pass, but the duty still remains. Why do you think I'm not like them? I have a duty to these children, to take them as far as I can. John can't do it so I must."
"And what then Peter, what then?"
Peter shook his head, "I don't know Wendy. I'm dead. Maybe I'll have to follow them into the abyss, maybe I'll be allowed to return here. I don't know. But I must do my duty, its the only thing left too me now, my love for you and the duty." He gestured towards a small group of children who had sidled away from the main group, "Look after them. Help them blossom, look after them and try to bring the children back to Neverland."
With that he kissed her again, his lips brushing against Wendy's, his arm curling behind her back. It was insubstantial and perfect, and was as quickly over as it had begun. Peter stepped back and smiled, love shining from his battered features. "I'm glad to have met you Wendy Darling." He said.
"And I you," Wendy said to him, her voice quickened and passionate.
"I'll take my love to the end, even if the universe dies around us I'll never forget." Peter stated and then, like the west wind, he took off like a golden arrow. Hundreds of angels followed him, powerful wings pushing them into the sky in a never ending grey stream, leaving Wendy alone with her disciples.
Sorry for such a short chapter, the next one will also be short followed by a longer finishing chapter (or possibly two). Anyways, hope you enjoyed this one, and as I say thanks for the reviews.
Thanks
BrooklynRed x
