Peter by day, Pan by night

Chapter 25

        “You can’t destroy Neverland.” I gasp and step towards her as an uneasy sensation spreads in my stomach. “Peter Pan is Neverland. If you destroy Neverland, will he die?”

        “Yes. We knew he was under a curse, but we didn’t know he would ever get this close to cursing the entire world with darkness. Magic-at least the magic pertaining to this world-is at stake. If we don’t destroy Neverland, his evil reign will never end. Time will never return.”

        Kill Peter Pan.

        The idea is drastic. Preposterous. Horrifying.

        “But how can you even destroy Neverland? If you destroy it, Peter will die. They are connected. But if we kill Peter, does that still mean that Neverland will be destroyed?”

        “Yes. Peter Pan is the life force of the island. There were beings on the island before Peter Pan, but the island wasn’t Neverland then. It was just an island with magic in its air. Peter Pan is the one who banished time and changed the rules. But only the fae were meant to live forever, and no one was meant to live in one moment for all of time. This mortal world will cave without time and order and light. You must save it. Even if it means killing Peter.

        “I can’t. I’ve never killed or hurt anyone. And I will never do that to Peter.”

        “You may have to, to save him. To save us all.”

        I pace in front of her, my fingers massaging my head. “No. There must be another way.”

        “There isn’t, Wendy Darling. There is no other way.” The queen waves her hand. “Is your head better now?”

        The ache is gone, but the chasm in my heart widens. “Thank you.” There has to be something we are missing. Some other way to fix this. I spin on my heel and stop at the tree. I rub my thumb over the mossy bark. “What about the pirate?”

        “Captain Hook?”

        “Yes. He might be able to help us. I know he is Peter’s enemy, but from what I know, he was a powerful man.”

        “Hook is not human. Besides, he disappeared when Peter Pan banished him. He cannot be found, but I can still sense his presence. It is very strong.”

        I won’t kill Peter Pan.

        Sadness slips through me. It quiets my thoughts and settles over my soul. I won’t.

        “Would you really chose him over your world?” The fairy queen erases the space between us and lifts my chin. “You must make your choice. You are the only one who has seen past his mask.”

        “Brokenness.” I swallow. “That is all he hides. Not malice, not hatred. He’s broken.”

        The queen withdraws her hand. “If there is any other way, I know you will find it. Do not give up hope. But you must prepare yourself.”

        She pulls a dagger out of the folds of her dress. “Gold and fairy dust.” She presses her lips together and nods.

        I reach for the knife, but promise to never use it. Another promise. Promises are easy to make, but hard to keep. “I am not strong enough.”

        “Killing someone isn’t being strong. Many times, it is being weak. But sometimes, life gives us no choice. In a battle or a war, every soldier has to make a choice. To fight strangers, maybe even to kill them, for a greater cause. For their country, their beliefs, their homes. The people they love.”