Neverland's Key

by R. V. Bowman

  Rommy sat back on her heels, trying to absorb what just happened. Finally, she leaned forward to inspect the wound. It was still there, but the dark lines had completely disappeared. A prickling sensation made her lift her eyes, and she found Pan’s brown ones regarding her. He was still pale but had lost the gray tinge. They blinked at each other.

  “How are...”

  “You saved...”

  They both spoke at once and then stopped. Pan nodded at her.

  “How are you feeling?” Rommy asked.

  Pan moved his head from side to side and then closed his eyes. “Dizzy,” he said. “The earth is going ‘round in circles.”

  Rommy laid a hand on his shoulder, careful not to touch his wound which was still seeping blood. “Don’t try to move just yet,” she said.

  Pan’s eyes blinked open again. A half smile tugged at his mouth. “I...I don’t think I can...even if I wanted to.” His eyes fluttered shut again.

  A crashing sound made Rommy snap her head around.

  Through the trees, she could see Francie. Behind her were Finn, Alice, and the other fairies. She let out a long breath. Help had arrived.

  Chapter 16:

  To Stay or Not to Stay

  Rommy watched Francie lead the others closer and was startled when she felt a hand touching hers. She looked down, and Pan’s brown eyes were staring up at her.

  “Don’t leave me,” he said, his voice hoarse.

  “Don’t worry,” she said. “I won’t leave until I know you’ll be okay.”

  His hand tightened on hers until it was almost painful. “Don’t leave me here,” he said again.

  Suddenly, she realized he might mean more than this current moment. She gently pulled her hand away. Standing, she faced her friends and the four Lost Boys clustered behind Finn.

  She opened her mouth to explain what had happened, but suddenly Tinkerbell was in front of her, holding her glowing hands out at the advancing group.

  “Uh-oh,” said Alice, eyeing the fairy. “I thought she was on our side.”

  “I won’t let you hurt him,” said Tinkerbell. Her voice sounded wobbly, and her arms shook.

  Francie snorted. “That’s rich,” she said, putting a hand on her hip. “She’s the one that almost killed him, and now she’s ready to blast us if we come near him. Are you crazy?”

  Tinkerbell nodded solemnly. “Yes.”

  Francie’s mouth opened and then shut.

  Nobody said anything.

  After a long moment, Finn stepped into the awkward silence. “It’s okay, Tinkerbell,” he said. “We’re not here to hurt anyone. We just came to get Rommy.” He smiled at the fairy. “And maybe that key?”

  The fairy trembled. Then she lowered her arms. Slumping back onto the twig, she dug into the bag at her waist. She drew the green key out and held it on her lap as if it was too heavy for her to lift.

  Rommy held out her hand. “I’ll take it, if you’d like,” she said.

  Tinkerbell looked up. Her eyes had faded from the deep navy they normally were to a sea blue. Her glow was dimmer and even more green. Alarmed by the small creature’s appearance, Rommy dropped her hand and leaned closer.

  “Are you okay?” she asked the fairy. “You...you don’t look well at all.”

  Tinkerbell shrugged, her movement listless. A panicky feeling unfurled in Rommy’s stomach. Had the fairy accidentally ingested some of the poison meant for Pan? Her eyes met Finn’s. He raised both eyebrows. It didn’t seem like he knew what was wrong, either.

  “It’s me,” said Pan. Rommy turned round to see Pan leaning up on one arm. “We had a heart bond, and trying to kill your heart bond hurts you, too.” He paused and looked at Tinkerbell, his face sad. “It can kill you. You have to hate someone an awful lot to risk it.”

  The small fairy sniffled and refused to look up from her hands which were resting on the key. A breeze rustled the leaves, but nobody moved. Finally, Finn stepped up and gently took it from her.

  “Thanks, Tinkerbell,” he said. He turned and started walking away. When he realized Rommy was not following, he looked back. “Aren’t you coming?”

  Rommy looked from Tinkerbell to Peter Pan. He had collapsed back onto the ground, unable to hold himself up any longer. Guilt sent out wispy tendrils that squeezed her heart. The leaf should have removed the poison, but what if Pan still died? She couldn’t be responsible for anyone else’s death, not if she could do something.

  She spread her arms out. “I can’t,” she said. “They both need my help. I can’t just leave them here. Who knows what horrible thing might try to eat them.”

  “Rommy, are you crazy?” said Francie, tossing her curls over her shoulder. “I know you feel sorry for him, but you can’t stay here.” She turned to Finn and placed a hand on his arm, rolling her eyes. “Rommy has a bad habit of feeling sorry for people who don’t deserve it. Back at school, Primrose Beechwood made her life miserable, but what does Rommy do? She feels sorry for the girl, and the last thing that prig needed was anyone’s sympathy.”

  Rommy felt a snap of temper, and she lifted her chin. “Well, what would you have me do, Frances Hyde? You haven’t been here very long, but let me tell you, everything around here can kill you, including the plants.”

  Francie made a face and quickly stepped away from the tree trunk she had been standing next to. Alice snorted a laugh, and Francie glared at her.

  Alice moved over to Rommy and looked down at Pan. “He don’t look like he’s playing,” she said. She poked at him with her foot. He grunted and cracked an eye. She edged away. “He looks awful.” The little girl turned to look at Finn. “Maybe we should haul him out of here and back to his ole tree hideout.”

  Finn nodded his head. “That’s a good idea, Alice,” he said. He winked at Rommy. “As much as I don’t want to admit it, I’d hate to see Peter eaten by something too.”

  A wheezy chuckle came from the boy lying on the ground. “That’s...truly touching, Finn.”

  Finn rolled his eyes. “I’ll carry his front half if you girls grab his feet.”

  Francie wrinkled her nose. “I still don’t think he deserves any help, but if it will get you out of here...” She stepped over and gingerly picked up one leg.

  Alice pushed up next to Rommy. “I’ll help you, Rommy,” she said, pointedly ignoring Francie.

  “You can go ahead, Alice, and help us with anything that needs to be moved,” said Finn.

  Together the three of them hoisted Pan up and, with Alice leading the way, started toward his hideout. It was a long, slow walk through the forest. Once they got there, Rommy twisted to look at Finn, at a loss as to how they’d get Pan inside. Surely, they couldn’t just shove him into the tree stump and let him shoot into the hideout.

  Finn directed Alice to the tree and within a moment her hand had found a knot in the wood. At Finn’s instructions she pushed, and after a moment, part of the tree trunk scrolled back, revealing an opening. Alice went through, and then Finn backed through after, with Rommy and Francie following, still holding Pan’s feet.

  The inside of the tree hideout was much bigger than it looked from the outside. Rommy squinted in the dimness and saw a large circular living area. Off this main living area, small openings led to alcoves. Each held a nest of sorts that served as beds. Finn made his way to one of the bigger ones. He laid Pan’s top half into the opening and then supported his body while Rommy and Francie tucked his legs inside.

  Alice, watching the proceedings, dusted her hands together. “There ya go,” she said. “It’s more than you deserve, so I hope you ‘member we done ya a good turn.”

  Pan moaned a bit before answering. “Sure, Lost Girl,” he said. “I’ll remember.”

  Rommy turned to go, but he grabbed her hand again. “Don’t leave me,” he pleaded. His nut-brown eyes were large and held the sheen of tears.

  Rommy felt a pang of guilt rush through her. He was all alone, and by the looks of it could barely sit up. She had no idea wh
ere the other Lost Boys had gone or when they’d be back.

  She smiled at him. “We won’t leave you alone until you’re better,” she said.

  Finn’s face tightened and his hands balled into fists.

  Seeing his reaction, Rommy shook her hand free and stepped toward the entrance. Tipping her head, she said, “Let’s go outside.”

  Without a word Finn, Francie, and Alice followed her outside the tree to where the others were waiting. Finn hit the knot again and waited until the door slid back into place so the tree once again looked solid.

  Then he crossed his arms. “What do you mean we aren’t leaving him alone?” he said.

  “He almost died only a few minutes ago,” said Rommy. “It would be cruel to leave him here all alone when he can barely move.” She looked around at the surrounding forest. “Where are the other Lost Boys, anyway? Shouldn’t they be here?”

  Finn shrugged. “Who knows where they’ve gotten off to. Everyone tends to scatter unless Pan has some scheme or other.”

  “Well, we can’t just leave Pan here. He’s really sick.” She paused and swallowed. “I think Tinkerbell really did almost kill him.”

  Finn threw up his hands. “We brought him to his hideout,” he said. “He’ll be fine. Pan’s too mean to die, anyway. And the boys will be back by nightfall at the very latest.”

  “But he needs somebody now,” said Rommy, lifting her chin.

  Finn took her hand and dragged her away from the others and lowered his voice.

  “We can’t keep everyone here,” said Finn. “If the other Lost Boys come back and Pan perks up, what then?” He shook his head. “It’s too risky.”

  Rommy opened her mouth, but he held up a hand. “The Lost Boys that’s left, well, they want to go home, but they’re scared. They won’t leave without me, and it would be stupid to leave any of them here for Pan to talk back around. So, what, are you going to have your friend Francie or maybe Alice stay here with him?”

  Rommy crossed her arms. “Don’t be ridiculous,” she said. “I can stay with him.”

  Finn opened his mouth, shut it, and then let out a loud groan. He spun away from her and started pacing back and forth. “He’s looking for a way to keep you here. Why would you make it easy for him?”

  Rommy grabbed his arm, and he stopped and looked down at her.

  “I’m not an idiot, Finn, no matter what you think. I don’t want to put myself in danger either. But he’s still weak from whatever poison Tinkerbell used,” she said. “If we leave him here and he dies,” she paused, “I just couldn’t live with myself.”

  She met his gaze, and the temptation to tell him her secret was almost irresistible. If only he knew maybe then he’d understand why she couldn’t risk Pan dying. She bit her lip. His gray eyes were searching her face with a mixture of concern and exasperation. No, she couldn’t. What if he couldn’t forgive her?

  Finn blew out a breath “He could be playing you, Rommy,” he said. “He’s slicker than a singing eel.”

  Rommy shook her head. “I don’t think so. You didn’t see him.” She shuddered. “Those black lines were so close to his heart.”

  Finn ran his hands through his hair until it was standing on end. “I can’t make you go, and I can see your mind’s made up,” he said. “But promise me you’ll be careful. The first time he starts to look the least bit better, hightail it out of here.”

  Rommy nodded. “I will, I promise,” she said. She put her hand on his arm. “Thanks for understanding.”

  He shook her hand off his arm and shrugged. “I still think it’s a mistake, but there’s no budging you.” He shook his head again. “Whoever said you ain’t like your old man is blind as a bat. You’re both a match when it comes to stubborn, that’s for sure.”

  His words stung. Rommy was silent for a long moment before she finally said in a quiet voice, “Why don’t you take everyone back to the camp then? I’ll just stay long enough to make sure he’s not going to die.” She lifted her chin. “After all, if I wanted to kill him, I could have taken those berries Unilisi offered me.”

  Finn sighed. “I just don’t want anything to happen to you,” he said. “We’re almost out of this place.”

  Rommy softened. “I know, Finn,” she said, “and I’ll be careful.”

  He gave one quick nod. “Okay,” he said, “but if you’re not back before sunset, I’m coming back for you. I don’t care if Pan is still half-dead.”

  He turned toward the group who had been watching them.

  Seeing their conversation was apparently over, Francie separated herself from the others and bounded over. She looked between the two of them and laid a hand on Finn’s arm. “So, what’s the plan?” she asked and wrinkled her nose. “You aren’t letting Rommy play nursemaid to the crazy boy, are you?”

  Rommy felt a spurt of annoyance. “Nobody is letting me do anything. I decided I’ll stay back with Pan—just until he’s better—and Finn will take the rest of you back to camp.”

  Francie blinked at Rommy’s sharp tone. “O...kay then,” she said. Pressing her lips together, Francie tightened her hand on Finn’s arm and pulled him toward the others. “I guess we have our orders.”

  Rommy felt a knot in her stomach as she watched them walk away. She didn’t know why Francie was suddenly getting on her nerves, but she could tell she’d hurt her friend’s feelings just now. She sighed. Another thing she had messed up, but she didn’t have time to worry about it now, though.

  Suddenly, she frowned and looked around. “Where is Tinkerbell?”

  Balo, who had been hovering nearby, buzzed closer. “She flew off somewhere,” he said, flapping a hand. “And good riddance, I say. We have the key. We don’t need the crazy fairy, too.”

  Rommy felt guilty for the relief that flooded through her. While she hoped the little fairy was okay, she couldn’t help but be glad that Tinkerbell couldn’t tell anyone about those leaves.

  Chapter 17:

  Everybody’s Got a Story

  When Rommy returned to Pan, his eyes were closed. He appeared to be asleep, so she started looking around until she found a small pail. However, when she started to leave to fill it with water, his eyes popped open.

  “Where are you going?” he asked.

  Rommy turned in surprise. “I think you need some water,” she said. “I was going to go find some for you.”

  His eyelids drooped, and he mumbled, “Water’s good.”

  She left the tree and found a small pool of water not too far from the chestnut. After peering into the water for any sorts of creatures—the memory of the water nixie made her shudder—she dipped the pail in and filled it to the top.

  Once she was back inside, she looked around. There was a basket of some kind of fruit and various types of roots so she wasn’t too worried about what Pan would eat. Now that he had water, Rommy decided she’d just stay for an hour or so to make sure he wasn’t suffering any permanent effects from the poison. She sat on a big cushion made of some kind of moss and leaned back against the inside of the tree trunk. She felt her own eyes getting heavy.

  The sound of her name jolted her back to wakefulness. She could see one leg hanging out of the alcove where Pan had been resting. She blinked the sleep out of her eyes and pushed to her feet. She walked toward him warily. She didn’t know how long she’d been asleep, and she wouldn’t put it past Pan to try to trick her.

  She needn’t have worried. Although he was sitting up, his slumped posture told her he was still weak. He looked up at her, relief spreading over his face.

  “You’re still here,” he said. “I thought you had left, too.”

  She gave a half smile. “No, I just dozed off, I guess,” she said. She stopped close enough to see him but far enough away that he couldn’t reach her. “Did you need something? I can get you some fruit or some water.”

  Pan shook his head and looked at her from half-lidded eyes. “No, I just...I didn’t want to be alone is all,” he said. His words sounde
d a bit slurred, and his face looked flushed.

  Rommy moved forward and gingerly put a hand on his forehead. It was hot. Now what was she going to do? He must have seen the alarm on her face because he smiled. “You’re worried about me,” he said, rolling his head toward her. “I knew you cared.” His eyes started to drift shut. She hurried to get him some water.

  When she got back, she shook his shoulder until he opened his eyes again. She put the cup to his lips until he took a drink, some of the water dribbling down the front of his tunic.

  “I think you’ve got a fever,” she said. “You need to drink water.” She hid the panic bubbling up. She had no idea what to do for a fever on this stupid island. Back home, she could have given him some birch bark tea and someone could call a doctor. But here—she had no idea. Suddenly, she wished she had just gone with the others and didn’t have to deal with another problem.

  Pan reached out and grasped her hand with his hot one. She flinched, but he held on. “It’s not a fever,” he said. “I shouldn’t tell you because you’ll leave.” He let out a rusty-sounding laugh, not at all like his usual high-pitched one. “It’s the the effects of the poison leaving. I’ll be okay in the morning.” He looked up at her. “Thanks to you,” he said. He squeezed her hand. “You’re the one that took out the poison, weren’t you?”

  Rommy gently tugged her hand away and nodded. “Just because I don’t want to join your band of Lost Boys doesn’t mean I want you die,” she said. Unsure what to do, she began to move briskly around the interior, tidying things up. There were pieces of clothing, sticks, and other items strewn throughout the living spaces and hanging out of the alcoves.

  A dreamy smile crossed Pan’s face. “She used to do that,” he said. “But she’d always sing or hum while she worked.” He turned his eyes up to hers.

  “Who was she?” asked Rommy.

  He gave a long sigh but instead of answering the question, he said, “I thought she was happy.” His mouth turned down. “And then she left.”