Neverland's Key

by R. V. Bowman

  Rommy’s eyes climbed from the shirt to her father’s face which was gray in the early morning light. His eyes were closed; his breathing was labored.

  Tentatively, she touched her fingers to his face. “Papa?”

  Hook’s eyes cracked open, and it took him a moment to focus on her face. “Rommy,” he said, his voice barely a whisper. “You’re...safe.” He raised a trembling hand to her face and cupped her cheek. “My...darling...girl.”

  Rommy closed her hand over his, tears brimming in her eyes. “I’m here, Papa. I’m right here, and you’re going to be okay.”

  A smile ghosted across her father’s face. “I...I...don’t think so. Not...this time.”

  His hand fell back to the sand, and he coughed violently. Horror seized Rommy when she saw a small trickle of blood leak from the corner of his mouth.

  Once the coughing subsided, her father pried his eyes open again, and she could see the sheen of tears in them. “I...love...you,” he rasped out, “don’t...ever...believe...I didn’t.” Each word came with great effort.

  Determination washed over Rommy, and she pressed her lips into a tight line. She could feel everyone’s eyes on her, but she didn’t care. Nobody was dying on her watch again, even if they all ended up hating her. She dug her hand into her pocket and pulled out the last remaining wish leaf. It was wet and drooping.

  Shoving Gentleman Jack’s hands away, she pushed the cloth off her father’s stomach. Blood gurgled out from a long slash.

  “No, you can’t do that,” said Gentleman Jack, trying to shove the cloth back into place. “He’s already lost too much blood.”

  “I can fix it,” she said and elbowed the dashing pirate out of the way. She placed the leaf on the wound and held it there with her hand, her father’s warm blood staining her fingers. She swallowed hard. Her mind whirred. She had to do this just right because if she didn’t...

  Closing her eyes, she spoke. “I wish the gash in my father’s stomach...I wish it would...stop bleeding and...mend itself...immediately.”

  The leaf became warm to the touch, and she took her hand off. Just like with Pan, light spilled out from the edges of the leaf. This time cracks spread up the stem and along the veins, and the surface of the leaf turned a dark red, almost black.

  Then her father’s body began to jerk. He let out a low moan of pain.

  Gentleman Jack made a move as if to snatch the leaf off, but Rommy grabbed his arm.

  “No, wait,” she said.

  A moment later, the blood stopped gushing and slowed to a trickle and then stopped all together.

  A bright pulse of light glowed out and the leaf dissolved into tiny particles. Like the last time, they drifted upward until they disappeared.

  Her father’s entire torso was smeared with blood, and she took the handkerchief that Gentleman Jack handed her and wiped it off as best she could. Instead of an open wound, a pink line marked her father’s stomach. It looked like an old scar.

  A heavy silence fell over the entire group. Rommy could feel everyone’s stares.

  She ignored them and watched her father’s face. His eyes were closed and he was still. Too still. Had she been too late?

  Then Hook suddenly took in a great, gasping breath and sat bolt upright, almost knocking Rommy over. His hands went to his middle, and he groped around for a moment, his shirt flapping open.

  “What...I don’t understand...” He looked from Rommy, down at his torso, and then back at her again.

  The tears that had been brimming spilled over her lashes and down her cheeks.

  And then she was in his arms, and he was hugging her so tightly she could hardly breathe. For just a moment, everything was right in the world.

  Rommy could hear everyone talking and the questions flying, but she clung to her father. Her tears flowing fast and thick, soaking his shoulder.

  “Oh, my dear,” he said, as he finally set at arms’ length. He cupped her cheek in his hand. “I thought I would never see you again. I thought I’d die on this cursed island, and you’d be left here...” his voice broke, and he ran the back of his sleeve across his eyes.

  She covered his hand. “But that didn’t happen, Papa,” she said, sniffling. “You’re all right now, and we’re going to leave here, together.”

  He reached out and crushed her back to his chest. “I was wrong, Rommy,” he said. He spoke into her hair. “I was wrong to stay here all this time, trying to avenge your brother’s death. You needed me, and I wasn’t there for you. If I had died...” he paused and cleared his throat several times, “you could have been marooned here forever.”

  Her face was pressed against his shoulder, making it hard to speak. She gently pushed herself away and sat back on knees. “But you didn’t die, and we’re not going to be stuck here forever.” A smile broke across her face, and she swiped at her eyes. “The only person who will be stuck here forever is Pan.”

  Her father frowned at her. “Whatever do you mean, my dear?” He looked around the circle surrounding them. “And however did you manage to collect so many children in such a short amount of time?”

  So, she told him. She told him about their trip to the jungle, and Unilisi’s instructions. She told him that she had turned the key in the lock, and they all had until the next sunrise to leave or risk getting sealed here with Pan forever. The whole time she talked, Rommy kept her eyes resolutely on her father’s face. She could feel the others pressing forward, could almost hear the questions Alice was bursting to ask, but she ignored them. For now.

  When she got done, her father ran a hand over his face. “I should be angry with you,” he said and then shook his head. “But this entire situation is my fault. If it wasn’t for my stubbornness, for my insistence on revenge, you’d never have come to Neverland to begin with.” Then, he slapped his hands on his thighs and with one smooth movement, he rolled onto his feet. He extended his hook toward Rommy. When she grasped it, he hauled her to her feet.

  Her father looked around at the expectant faces that surrounded them. “It looks like we have our work cut out for us,” he said. When nobody moved, he snorted. “Well, what are you all staring at? Big Red, Max, gather something to start a fire with, and Smee, quit gawping and take Gentleman Jack to catch us something to eat.” Hook gestured at Finn and at the Lost Boys. “You lot keep out of the way.” A grin spread over his face, and he patted his stomach with his good hand. “Nothing like almost getting gutted to stir a man’s appetite.”

  Her father’s men scattered to do her father’s bidding, and Hook put his arm around Rommy again and hugged her to him.

  She tipped her face up. “I need to make sure these scalawags follow directions,” he said. He touched her chin with the edge of his hook. “Why don’t you get yourself cleaned up a bit. There’ll be time for plans once we get some food for this lot.”

  She smiled at him. Already she could feel the adrenaline draining away. Her legs felt watery, but she locked her knees. She needed to tell her friends about the horrible things she’d done without her father watching.

  “You’re right, Papa,” she said and dredged up a smile. “I’ll do that.” With a last squeeze, he let her go and strode off after his men.

  Rommy turned on trembling legs and almost ran into Alice.

  “Ya look like someone gutted you,” the little girl said, wrinkling her nose.

  Rommy looked down to see her father’s blood was smeared on the sleeves of her shirt. Added to the stains on her hands, she looked like she was the one with a deadly wound. Rommy stomach pitched at the sight of all that blood, and she swallowed hard.

  She pushed past Alice and stumbled toward the water’s edge. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I need to get this...this off me.”

  She fell to her knees in the surf and stuck her arms into the cool water up to her elbows. The waves washed away the red, until her hands were clean and her shirt sleeves had faded to a dull pink.

  Once again tears brimmed up in her eyes. She didn’t kno
w if she could face it, face them. They’d all hate her now. She knew that, but it had been worth it to save her father. She sniffed and lifted a dripping hand to wipe at her face.

  She felt a small hand pat her back and a bigger hand clasp her shoulder. “Are ya okay?” Alice squatted down next to her and peered into her face.

  Rommy squeezed her eyes shut and drew in a long, shuddering breath. Then she pushed back to her feet. She turned toward the other girls and Finn. The Lost Boys were huddled behind him. They all looked worried.

  Francie moved to put an arm around her shoulder, but Rommy stepped back. She could hardly bear to look at them, but she made herself look into each face. “I suppose you’re wondering what happened, how I did that,” she said.

  “I’ve never seen anything like that,” Francie interrupted, her eyes alive with excitement. “What kind of leaf was that anyway? You should take some of those home with us!”

  “I can’t,” said Rommy. “That...that was the last one.” Her lips trembled and she pushed them together. “Unilisi gave me three leaves, wish leaves.”

  “Wish leaves?” asked Finn after a beat of silence. “Why didn’t you say anything before now?”

  Rommy opened her mouth, but Alice jumped in. “You had them wish leaves when we was leaving the jungle?” The younger girl’s face scrunched up in confusion.

  Rommy nodded, and then she answered the unspoken question that hung in the air. “I could have saved Lobo,” she said, her voice catching. “I could have saved him, but...but I forgot I had them.”

  A stunned silence fell over the group.

  Rommy didn’t want to see the disappointment, the disgust, and she dropped her eyes to the sand. Tears began flowing down her face.

  “I...I’m so sorry,” she said. “I...I came out of the grove, and...and I had to run...before the guardian trees closed...the opening.” A sob rose up and choked her. “By the time...Pan...killed Lobo...” She was crying now so hard she could hardly speak. “I forgot...I had them...until Little Owl...she gave us the stones.”

  Rommy wrapped her arms around her middle, trying to keep herself from flying apart. “It’s all my fault...he’s dead,” she said. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I could have saved him, but...I didn’t.”

  She covered her face with her hands as great sobs shook her body. Finn was the first to move. He stepped toward her and put his arms around her.

  “It’s not your fault,” he said. “It’s Pan’s fault. He’s the one that shot Lobo. Not you.”

  “But..but...I had the leaves...and,” Rommy gulped in air.

  Finn pressed his cheek into her hair and he rubbed a hand along her back. “Everyone makes mistakes,” he said, “even you. We know you loved Lobo as much as me and Alice.”

  Alice tugged at her arm, and Rommy pulled away from Finn to look at her. “How many of them leaves did ya have?” Alice asked.

  Rommy had to clear her throat twice before she could speak. “Three, I had three of them.”

  “And you used the last one on the Captain?” asked Finn.

  Rommy nodded her head. “I used one to take the poison out of Pan’s wound, and I had to use one to get the key turned the final time. This was the last one I had.”

  Alice slipped her arms around Rommy’s waist. “I loved Lobo,” she said, “and I know you loved him too. But iffen you had used one of them leaves on Lobo, maybe you wouldn’t have had any left to save yer old man.” Alice sniffed. “I know Lobo wouldn’t have wanted that.”

  Francie grabbed Rommy’s hand. “I don’t know who Lobo was, but I know it would have killed you to watch your father die on this beach,” she said. “Maybe you were supposed to forget so you’d have one left to save him.”

  Rommy wiped at her red, swollen eyes. She squeezed Francie’s hand. “Thank you,” she said. “I never thought of it like that.”

  Finn put his an arm around her shoulders and she leaned her head against him. The cold ball of dread that had taken up permanent residence in her heart slowly began to dissolve. Her friends didn’t hate her after all. They had not only forgiven her, but they made her see things in a different way. She would always be sad that Lobo died, but Francie was right, too. What if she hadn’t had any way to save her father? She shuddered at the thought.

  Rommy blinked tears out of her eyes and met Finn’s gaze. He winked at her. “Next time, though, maybe you should have a little more faith in your friends,” he said. “You don’t have to carry everything all by yourself all the time.”

  Rommy thought back to what Little Owl had said, how part of her strength came from her friends. Her smile was a bit wobbly.

  “I won’t,” she promised.

  Chapter 27:

  Going Home Just Got Complicated

  Big Red built a roaring fire on the beach while several of the other men caught enough fish for the entire group. Smee, who had beached the small boat the crew had used to reach Mermaid Lagoon, carefully cooked the fish over the fire, while Max went off to forage for some fruit.

  After the big reveal on the beach, Francie decided Max needed help finding enough fruit for everyone. He didn’t seem to mind, from the way he was grinning at her, his blond-streaked head bent toward her. Soon the entire group, both pirates and children, were gathered around the fire, eating a breakfast of roasted fish and cloud berries which grew along the cliffs. Rommy sat next to her father, her shoulder touching his. It still shook her to realize how close she’d come to losing him. Glancing around, she realized the fairies were nowhere to be found.

  After taking the last bite of her fish, Rommy wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. She wrinkled her nose. She hoped she’d have the opportunity to get cleaned up soon. The ocean had washed off the slimy mud from the salt marshes, but now her clothes were stiff from the salt water. She eyed the others. Of course, nobody else looked much better.

  “Now,” said her father, slapping his knees, “tell me again how much time is left until the Neverland passage is closed?”

  “Until the next sunrise, Papa,” said Rommy.

  Big Red grunted. “And ya say that iffen we don’t go with ye now, we’ll be stuck here, forever?”

  Rommy nodded.

  “If you closed the passage, isn’t there a way to reopen it?” asked Gentleman Jack.

  “That tree person said you can’t,” said Alice and shrugged.

  Rommy added, “I’m not exactly sure why, but from what Unilisi said, it seems the passage can only ever be opened once and closed once.”

  Her father raised an eyebrow. “Unilisi is this, this...tree person?”

  A smile tugged at Rommy’s mouth. “I don’t know that you’d call her a person exactly, but she is the island’s source of magic.” She shrugged. “I’m not sure how it all works. All I know is that we had to get the key and go to the Cave of Sighs and turn it in the lock. Now that that’s done, we have until the next sunrise to leave. Whoever is left on the island won’t be able to leave—ever.”

  “I suppose we can’t leave immediately because of Pan?” Hook asked.

  “The idea is to seal him here, while we leave,” said Rommy. “He knows what we’re about, so he could try to get off the island, too.”

  Tiger Lily spoke up for the first time. “Peter will not want to leave Neverland,” she said, “not permanently. His magic will fade in your world, and he will get older, eventually dying. Peter has a great fear of death, and he’s been so long with magic, I don’t think he could survive without it.”

  Rommy met her father’s eyes over the flickering flames and an understanding flowed between them. “I believe he’ll try to stop us, to somehow keep us here,” said Hook. “We’ll need to stay long enough to ensure he doesn’t leave the island, but we shouldn’t cut it too close. It’ll be a delicate balance. We’ll need to make sure the crew is ready to go at a moment’s notice.”

  “But...But...Captain,” said Smee. “You can’t mean we’re going to leave the island?” The small, round man tugged at the wis
ps of hair on the sides of his almost bald head. “This is our home now.”

  “Leaving is exactly what I mean to do, Smee,” said Hook. “And this cursed place is most certainly not my home. If you like it so well, feel free to stay here.” Hook’s lip curled as he spoke.

  “But Capt’n,” said Big Red. “Beggin’ yer pardon, but I think some of the crew might agree here with old Smee. I don’t know that they’ll all cotton to leavin’ the island, not forever anyways.”

  Hook’s eyebrows lowered, and he glowered at his crewman. “Just what are you saying, Big Red? I would hope I do not have to question your loyalty, too?”

  The big man swallowed and shook his head, looking away. Gentleman Jack jumped into the awkward silence. “Captain, of course, we are with you, but be fair. Some of the men have prices on their heads back home or nothing to go back to.”

  Her father waved his hook. “Then let them stay here with Smee,” he said. “I won’t force them to leave.” He took another bite of his fish.

  Gentleman Jack cleared his throat. “Well, Captain, there is the small issue of the ship,” he said.

  Hook narrowed his eyes. “It is my ship, so I’m not sure wherein the problem lies.”

  Gentleman Jack tugged at the collar of his shirt with one finger. “Of course, it’s your ship, Captain.” He gestured toward the other two pirates. “None of us would question that, would we, boys?”

  Max and Big Red shook their heads in unison.

  “But some of the other men, well, they might, that is to say...”

  “Quit tripping over your tongue, Jack,” snapped Hook. “Out with it.”

  Gentleman Jack swallowed hard and then lifted his chin slightly. “Captain, I’m afraid there are some men who would want to stay that might mutiny if you tell them we are leaving with the ship and never coming back.”

  Hook leaped to his feet, a snarl on his face. The Lost Boys shrank back behind Finn, and Rommy heard someone whimper. Hook ignored the younger boys, his glare full force on Gentleman Jack who was holding up both his hands.

  “Now, Captain, you know we’re loyal to you, and so’s most of the men, but there are a few who are, shall we say, opportunistic.”