Drops of water

The once colorful bedroom was quiet, night wrapping around its occupants. As the creature of light fell into deep sleep, a shadow rose. A fairy can be tenacious. But a shadow is pacient, lurking at the edges of things. The somber form flies over to the bed. Wendy turns slightly, her bedsheets wrapped tightly over her. On her right, Tinkerbell sleeps curled on herself. The shadow hovers above the sleeping woman. A dark hand flutters above her brow, hesitation sizing it’s movement. Ever so softly, the shadow touches her.

Wendy’s eyes jerk open, awakening with dread. As her heart races, she appraises her surroundings. She’s not in her room. The scent of salt water and iron fills her nose. She’s on Skull Rock. She recognizes the platform where Peter taught her to wield a sword. Crates, behind which she once hid with him. Him.

Not where she wants her thoughts to wander. She assumes this is one of her dreams. The sea’s unruly waves, crash brutally against Skull Rock. Some waves coming close to the platform. The tide must be up. Dark clouds loom and Wendy shudders in her light bedgown. Shivering, she comes close to the edge in search of a way down. But the rocks from a deadly bed, one Wendy isn’t keen to meet. Form her recollection, her only option is to fly, or sail out of the damn skull.

Darkness pools at her feet, cast from the insides of the Skull. Should she enter ? After all this is her dream, what could she risk entering ? As no happy thoughts can be found, this way seems the only one available. She takes the small staircase leading inside the sinister rock. Her naked feet getting scorched by the wet harsh floors. The interior is slightly lit by the moon, that filters through crevices and the empty eyes of the skull.

Sounds of waves crashing against heavy chains, droplets falling on cold stone. Everyone of her breaths seems too loud. Echoing in the humidity. Something moves in the shadows. It is but a moment, but she catches movement. With the chilling feeling of being watched, Wendy stops at the end of the stairs. Her mind searches for clues. Did something lurk in Skull Rock ? No, from her memories it was abandoned. But something is here, with her. Taking a shaky step forward, eyes wide, she finally notices the small life boat attached to one of the chains.

Before she can move for it, she feels it. A warm breath behind her, a presence looming all around her. Fear grips her. Her gaze slowly lowers to the ground. And she sees a lean shadow behind her own. A shadowed arm grazes her own shadow. Almost with… affection.

Fascinated, she watches how her own shadow almost, responds to that soft shadowy touch. What should she do ? Then she notices details about the dark form. Curls adorning its head. Peter’s shadow.

« Peter ! » her voice breaks the atmosfere, echoing against the rocks. She pivots, but meets only darkness. And yet she knows its here. As she stares, heart hammering hard against her ribcage, a pair of glowering eyes open. She recoils, fear overtaking her. Those red eyes, they seem to devour her.

« You’re not Peter… » she says in a breath.

The red rimed eyes crinkle, a wicked grin almost discernible. And suddenly the shadow pounds on her. She screams, as the form overpowers her. And she falls in the water. The shadow keeping her under the surface. Wendy fights, trashes. Water fills her lungs forcefully. As she searches for air, the horrible eyes burn her. Their malignant glow illuminating the abyss.

« Wendy ! Wake up ! »

Wendy emerges, gapping for air. Micheal holds her, as she throws up water. Nostrils burning with bile, she struggles in her brother’s arms.
Tinkerbell gestures erratically above her. Her eyes burn with salt as she adjusts to the soft light of candles.

« Wendy ! For God’s sake ! Breath, you’re safe. » Micheal all but shouts above her.

« What happened ? » she asks in between rounds of cough. Her throat is painful, her voice a broken thing. Her hand reaches for her neck, pain shots through her.

« Tink woke me up, you had a nightmare. You were screaming, trashing and… You scared me so much, you were turning blue. » Her hair sticks to her forehead, sweat coats her skin. Micheal wipes her face with a wet cloth.

« You scarred me so much. » His eyes set on her neck. He rapidly pushes her hair out of the way, discovering angry red marks at the base of her neck.

« Jesus ! Wendy you’re bruised ! » he screams, searching her for more damage. « You better explain this Tink ! What is happening to my sister ? »

Micheal remembers. Not only that but he doesn’t seem shocked by the tiny fairy that hovers energetically about the room.

« Micheal ! You knew Tink was here ! How dare you lie to me ! » renewed anger seamers through her. « I asked and you lied ! » Micheal gets up from the bed, seeking refuge from the inevitable wrath awaiting him.

« Now sister, I didn’t lie, I just… withdrew information ! I’m truly sorry, oh dear and forgiving sister ! » Innocence and remorse plastered on his face, his favorite tools he would use as a child, making Wendy gullible and forgiving indeed.

« You dare call me sister ! What sort of brother lies ? How long have you known ? No lies ! » If looks could kill, Micheal would certainly already be five feet beneath ground.

« Here we go again, with the dramatics ! » Tink huffed. Her intervention set a heavy silence. Wendy sat back on the bed, resting her weight against the headboard. Calming herself. If Micheal had lied, she knew he didn’t take any pleasure in it. For as close in age as she was with John, she never had that relation with him. Micheal had been glued to her ankles, from the moment he could walk on his adorable feet. John had been eager to grow, to become this serious adult. Just after their return form Neverland, he had volunteered to be sent to a boarding school. To which his parents agreed with much enthusiasm. They tried sending Micheal. But the little menace would never agree to be apart from her. He scarred Mrs Darling to death, with a hunger strike that put the matter to rest, permanently. Micheal would never hurt her, that was certain.

« I’m really sorry Wendy, I didn’t know how to tell you. » he muttered, remorse written all over him.

« Alright, I’ll accept your apology. For now. » With a sigh, Wendy tried to find a comfortable position. The bruised skin tightening painfully at her every move. Micheal gave her a glass of water, helping her drink. Swallowing was a struggle.

« I had a dream. » she starts, trying to put words to her experience. « I’ve been dreaming since the ball, maybe for longer. I dream of Neverland. » The admission makes it real. Somehow she always thought it a figment of her subconscious. But it is real. If the bruises on her neck were anything to go by.

« I would wake up in my tiny fern house. You know the one ? Made of moss and leaves. » he gave her a nod, brows furrowed in concern. « Well, I thought it was just a dream. But Tink confirmed that it’s real. » The fairy flew over, perching herself on Wendy’s shoulder.

« Tonight was diferent. I ended up on Skull Rock. And something was there. » she shivered, remembering the cold, murderous eyes. « A shadow, I thought it was Peter’s… »

« You are right. It’s his. » Tink whispers, her voice a small tingle.

« How could it ? It tried to drown me, and nearly succeeded ! » Wendy retorts in outrage. She might be cross with the boy, but she knows in her heart, Peter would never do this.

« You’re hiding something Tinkerbell, aren't you ? » Micheal interjects, his gaze unmovable on the small creature.
Tinkerbell feels the weight of his gaze, cheeks heating. Seems like a good time to evade. She just remains silent.

« How are you hearing her ? » Now that Wendy thinks about it, that doesn’t make sense. « Did you make him hear, like you did for me ? »

The fairy fidgets uncomfortably on her shoulders.

« Actually… No. I didn’t. » she lets out, her bluebell eyes focused on Micheal. « He just hears. When you started screaming, I tried waking you. But you wouldn’t and I woke Micheal. » her small frame rises on Wendy’s shoulder. She pats Wendy’s neck with care, her touch a bit cool against the abused skin. « You both should go back to sleep. » Micheal opens his mouth in protest.

« Don’t worry, I will keep watch. The shadow entered by my fault. I got distracted, I promise it won’t happen again. » She swore, her eyes still set on Micheal.

« We’ll discuss it later. » Micheal said in a definitive tone. Wendy felt her eyes close, heavy with tiredness. « Thank you Micheal, you’re the best little brother in the world… » she mumbled, exhaustion taking her to a sound sleep.

TInkerbell straightened the bedsheets on her form, carefully tucking her in.

« Don’t think I’m not on to you little fairy. » he said before leaving the room.

Tink felt the deep rumble of his voice go through her. She sat down on the headboard of the bed. Things where about to become interesting.