<div style="text-align: center"><b><u>James Dameron</u></b><br/>
<i>Darling Estate</i><br/>​</div>James couldn’t help the smallest of smirks from pulling at the corner of his lips as Mr. Darling caused a singular stampede at Wendy’s razor sharp jab. A galore of sounds exploded from the man before he stormed off into the halls. He curiously watched Wendy as she started a monologue of questions, each time, or so it seemed to James, she was already convinced of the answer. They felt like statements to James only she twisted them into a knowing inquiry.<br/><br/><i>It’s not a dream, otherwise I wouldn’t need someone to watch over me.<br/>
<br/>
Like so many before you, you will fail in keeping me safe. Because you don’t understand.<br/>
<br/>
Let me show you what you’re fighting and who I am seeking.</i><br/><br/>Wendy had wit that, at the very least James would admit. It seemed only natural though, being administered under the close watch of doctors and psychiatrists year in, year out. Days overlapping into muddy blotches of time and space as needles and pills were forced upon her whenever one would be in doubt of her sanity. By any measure, James was surprised Wendy was as open as she was now. Did she mean to scare him away? To prove she was a lost cause? Or was she actually interested in reintegrating into a “normal” sociable life?<br/><br/>He was pulled from his thoughts by her weight shifting the springs in the mattress, a gentle push of her thigh against his. James leaned forward, his fingers pressing against his lips, stroking at his neatly trimmed beard as his eyes gleamed down at the book Wendy had collected. Her hands seemed to take a special care as they peeled away the layers of paper, as she revealed intricate drawings, first of a boy. He looked pure, innocent, slightly mischievous but otherwise harmless. there was an odd beauty to his features, one might go as far as to call him pretty. The sketches were made with an incredible attention to detail, each line deliberate, made with both realism and an artistic insight. These drawings, this book…. If he were to fail, if the Darling family didn’t pay for his services, these would be worth a fortune to<i>any</i>collector of the Darling mysteries.<br/><br/>Wendy lingered for a moment, her hand brushing across the page as she reached for the corner, almost as if she could feel his skin beneath the paper. The next page featured a man, a vicious scar, a sharp knowing gaze to his eyes, an air of evil hung around the portrait. Like it the picture itself was drawn by a completely different person, the styling was different, so much more emphasis on the rougher features, on the scar, on those eyes, on a hook where a hand should be. As she quickly reached to turn the page she muttered something beneath her breath, the word and the weight causing James to suck in a sharp breath as understanding seeped in.<br/><br/><i>Hook</i>. The reason her brother’s were missing according to the stories.<br/><br/>Her final question, again spoken in such a way that it could be twisted into a statement.<br/><br/><i>Fairies are real, you’ll see.</i><br/><br/>It sounded like a promise to James and he couldn’t help but chuckle at the notion. He reached forward and brushed his fingers across the pencil marked page, across the marks smudged over the girl’s cheeks and nose.<br/><br/>“I’m afraid not Wendy, I’ve seen a lot of strange things in my time, none of which however, ever led back to something supernatural or unknown. Something terrible must’ve happened to you and your brothers but somehow, I highly doubt Neverland was ever involved in any of it.” He answered, his voice hard, his eyes narrowed.<br/><br/>With that James slipped his hand around the back of the thickly bound leather book and pressed it shut in Wendy’s lap with a echoing<i>thump</i>.<br/><br/>“Your father was taken by greed while the rest of you were taken by grief, it’s unfortunate, but it’s how it is, your mother is gone, your brothers are gone, it’s just you Wendy, you and a father who’s heart seems to be working overtime just to keep him upright.” He continued as he pulled up to his feet, his fingers slipping across the spine of Wendy’s sketch book and slowly pulling it from her grip. He lowered himself to his haunches before Wendy and smiled up at her, trying to catch her eye and keep them locked on his.<br/><br/>“I think you’ve had enough doctors, medicine and other nasty’s take care of you, it’s time to move on Wendy, it’s time to<i>grow up</i>.” He said matter-factly. He offered up his free hand for her to take, that same calm expression still plastered to his face, trying to stay as warm and welcoming as he could. “Come, let’s get you dressed, let us walk, go outside, get some fresh air.” He offered.<br/><br/><hr class="bbc-hr"/><br/><div style="text-align: center"><b><u>Pan</u></b><br/>
<i>Somewhere in the City</i><br/>​</div>Peter couldn't believe his luck, he smiled broadly as the shimmer in the air before him called out to them. He hadn’t crossed in the longest of times, the gates had been kept shut, sealed, broken perhaps? Things had started to change so quickly, Wendy’s lingering shadow had slipped away, keeping dormant, hidden. Peter meanwhile could feel his power wane. Hook and his men had come upon the shores of Neverland for the first time in decades, the water’s finally calm, the churning storm on their shore slipped into nothingness. His Boys and their monstrous forms had shifted back into a more human form, much to Peter’s disappointment, he much preferred them in their raving and wild forms…. It just felt so much better, they felt<i>free</i>to Peter. He bounced excitedly on the balls of his feet as Tink stepped through before him her body lost to the shimmer, pulled and shifted into nothingness.<br/><br/>The waning power<i>did</i>bother him, he promised Tink they would go back into the mortal realm to right this wrong, to let their power grow again, to keep out Hook and his men, to remain as the rulers of Neverland. Peter their king, Tink their fairy queen. But there was another reason, another pull and he wasn’t completely sure if he could go through with the plan he and Tink had laid out, for he longed to see Wendy. She had<i>sung</i>to them, she had laid them to bed, tucked them in, it felt good to have Wendy in the tree and he<i>had</i>missed that. Missed it very much.<br/><br/>Peter stepped through and let out a shrill little laugh of disbelief as his feet hit the familiar surface of cobblestoned streets. the soles of his shoes tapping against the stone, the sound echoing across the empty walls as he skipped forward happily.<br/><br/>“We are<i>here</i>Tink! We are actually here! Back! Back<i>here</i>!” He exclaimed happily with a little jump, his feet hovering unnaturally long above the streets below.<br/><br/>He quickly pulled himself around Tink, his arm hooked around her shoulder, around her neck as he leaned in close a vicious smile to his lips, his teeth glinting in the yellow hue of the surrounding street lights flickering in the thick mist. His eyes hidden within the dark hollows that spread across his brows, touched the top of his cheeks. The grin seemed almost demonic as the tattoo’s spread and stretched, a technique they had stolen from the tribal folk deep within Neverland’s forests.<br/><br/>“We should get more boys! We should Tink! I want more, it would make it all so much easier.... Yes! We should explore, go on<i>an adventure!</i>” He announced<br/><br/>He nodded as he let his body drape against Tink, that smile never leaving, his eyes ever gleaming. He had set his mind to it, they would explore first, see if there was any fresh blood out there. If there were any adventurous enough to join them. It had been so long since he had lingered here, toyed with the people of this realm. He missed the mischief. He missed<i>Wendy</i>.