"Thank you, now I guess I'll start from the beginning, at least the beginning that I know..."
Wendy leaned forward, eager to learn more about Neverland, to learn more about–
Pan rushed through the door; eyes and dagger glistening. "Pirates...at the edge of the forest."
Those simple words caused a mad rush. The boys leaped from the table and raced after Petyr. Wendy waited a split second, and then followed. Outside she found the boys already carrying weapons: John carried a curved sword; the twins twirled steel-tipped staffs; Basil adjusted a series of throwing knives in holders at his waist; and Pip tested the stretch of his slingshot. "What are you all doing?" Wendy asked.
Pan seemed to just notice her, "We are going to hunt some pirates."
"Hunt pirates? But why?" Her confusion was giving way to dread, were the boys...going to kill someone?
Pan sighed, "We can't let them find out where our hideout is."
"Oh," her panic eased a bit, "Well, what should I do?"
Petyr shrugged, "Do whatever you want, just don't leave the treehouse." Then he took off over the balcony. The boys began climbing down ladders to follow.
Wendy felt a tug at her arm, she turned to find Pip grinning up at her, "I have some toys in my bunk. You can play with them while I'm gone."
Wendy imagined he was around Michael's age and her heart squeezed in her chest, "Thank you, Pip. Do please be careful." She ruffled his curly hair and he nodded before following the others down the rope ladders.
The treehouse was silent after they trooped off. Wendy felt odd waiting around for them, and not liking Petyr's dismissive tone, decided that she wanted to clean up. After searching about the tree, and finding nowhere to bath, she grabbed the clothes that Toby...or Tomas gave her and climbed down to the forest floor. It was still light out and sunlight streamed through the branches of the surrounding trees. She had thought she'd seen a pond of some sort nearby as they were flying to Hangman's Tree, she shook her head in disbelief, she still couldn't believe that she flew. Wendy began walking in the direction she thought the pond was and found fortune did favor her as very soon she came upon a shallow secluded pool. She gasped in wonder at the sereneness of the scene before her, beautiful did not begin to cover it. She placed her clothes on a patch of grass and crouched down along the edge of the small pond.
Wendy dabbled her hand in the cool, clear turquoise waters. The pure cream-colored sand on the bottom glistened in the sunlight. The pool was surrounded on one side by steep rocks, over which a burbling waterfall slipped, churning the waters at the bottom. On the sides, large ferns grew, their leaves dipping into the pool as if they too could not resist. Where Wendy crouched, was a small, sandy beach that gradually descended into the shallow depths. The perfect place to bathe. She stood and drew her tunic over her head, laying it over a rock to use as a towel later. Her ripped skirt, chemise, and underwear followed. The forest was quiet except for a few songbirds and she felt completely at peace.
She walked into the waters and dove under, splashing and paddling about like a child. The pool was shallow enough that she could still stand at its deepest part. Using a bit of sand from the bottom, she scrubbed her body, cleaning away the salt, sweat, and dirt. Michael would have loved this, her heart ached at the thought, he always did love swimming at the beach. As a family, they had gone on holiday many times. A few tears squeezed from her eyes, but she brushed them away and would allow no more. Once Petyr and the Lost Boys got back, she would demand he return her home. While Neverland was beautiful, Michael needed her.
Disturbing crashing sounds startled her and she twisted around towards them. She could see movement coming closer and she tried awkwardly running towards shore to grab her clothes but didn't make it before two men stepped from the ferns and right onto her secluded beach.
One was short and stocky, with greasy shoulder-length brown hair tied in a low ponytail. He leered when he saw her, revealing yellow teeth, with a few missing, "Oy Jeffers, looky what we have 'ere!"
The second was taller, his shorter hair and hidden under a black bandana tied about his head. "Is it a mermaid or a siren Wots?"
Judging by their clothing, loose billowing shirts, black pants tucked into knee-length leather boots, and wicked cutlasses and pistols dangling from their belts, these men must be pirates.
"No, I don't think so Jeffers, look at those two shapely legs in the water. I think this is just a girl." It was then Wendy remembered that she was naked, her hands immediately went to try and cover the important bits.
Jeffer's eyes bulged and he gaped at her, "A girl? In Neverland?"
Wots leered at her again, snickering as she moved further into the water, "Looks like Pan's found a new un, Cap'n Hook'll wanna see 'er."
Jeffers grimaced, "Won't be much left after. Can't we–"
"I like yer thinkin there mate, nuthin wrong with 'avin a little fun." Wots then unbuckled his belt and tossed it aside. The cutlass clanked against the rocks and tumbled to the sands. Jeffers began to follow suit as Wots walked into the pool, advancing on Wendy.
Any pleas that Wendy might have given stuck in her throat. She cast about for something with which to defend herself. Grabbing a thick stick floating nearby, she raised it above her head. While it exposed her body beneath the waters, at least she had some resistance. "Don't come any closer!" she finally cried out.
Wots stopped as the water reached his calves, "Oy now missy, don't want you hurtin yerself."
"No, Cap'n Hook would like that privilege," Jeffers called out, as he started removing his shirt.
Wendy moved as far back as she could, her bare skin brushed the rock wall behind. "Don't...don't come near me..."
Wots narrowed his eyes, "Put down the stick and come on out, cus if I have to come in after ya, I won't be gentle."
"Neither will I," A voice, low and harsh, came from above them. Wots looked up, eyes wide. There was a flash of movement and he slapped his hands around his neck. Bright red sprayed from his fingertips and he gurgled loudly before falling forward into the water.
"Wots!" Jeffers yelled out. Pan landed on the ground a few feet in front of him. Jeffers crouched down and grabbed his cutlass from his belt and swung it out in front of him. "Pan! You bloody bastard."
Petyr's smile was all teeth, "So you want to fight then?"
"I'll gut you like a fish, you meddlesome runt." Jeffer's growled out, then he lashed out with his sword. The fight was fierce, yet brief. Pan was fast, ruthless, and with three swift thrusts, sank his dagger into Jeffer's stomach. Jeffers grunted and collapsed, but he wasn't dead. No, he wasn't dead until Pan gripped his head and twisted sharply.
Wendy watched all of it–paralyzed. The stick had slipped from her grip. She once again covered her now trembling body. When Petyr was finished he turned towards her. There were spatters of blood on his shirt and face. He wiped his dagger on his pants and resheathed it. His dark eyes locked with hers and he walked into the pool towards her. Then he was in front of her. She wanted to close her eyes, to shrink into herself.
"What were you doing?" His voice was soft–menacing.
"I...I..." she couldn't speak. He was too close, and her answer was inconsequential.
He scoffed. "If you are looking for ways to get hurt or killed, I can do that for you." His arms came up and she cringed away. But instead of laying a hand on her, he pulled his shirt up and over his head. Wendy got a glimpse of tan skin. He was sinewy and strong. Then he blocked her view by shoving his shirt over her head and pulling it down as low as it would go. His fingers brushed over her hips and outer thighs. Heat licked at where his fingers touched, then he drew back, taking the warmth with him. "Let's go. We need to leave in case any more pirates are lurking about." He reached out for her and again she flinched. He stopped. "Wendy," he sighed in frustration, "I'm not going to hurt you."
"I...I know..." she hated herself at that moment. Hated the weakness that sapped the strength and rationality from her body. Hated how this boy kept saving her, even though he did not seem to want to. She was simply a weak, broken girl.
His liquor-coated voice–the one that made her brain go all fuzzy– broke through her self-deprecation, "Hold on to me, I'll take you somewhere we can talk." He waited, waited patiently for her to make the first move. Her eyes flickered behind him, blood had begun to mix in the water and she felt bile rise in her throat. With tremulous hands, she reached up and hugged him. He tensed for a moment, then leaned into her. He wrapped his arms around her lower back and held her to him.
"Please, just take me away from here." She whispered.
Then they were bursting from the water and into the sky.
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