Chapter Twelve
Twenty minutes after the Chief and Chieftess’ meeting broke up, and after Peter and Tiger Lily gathered supplies, we took off in Wes’ flying machine. At any other time in my life, I would have been shocked by such a vehicle, but at this point, it wasn’t any more bizarre than anything else I had seen in Never Land. It reminded me of a blimp, but with several propellers lining both sides of the balloon, to propel it forward at great speed. Attached to the bottom of the balloon was essentially a ship like the other pirate ships of Never Land—except this was a ship that flew through the air.
As I stood at the railing and watched the Island of the Natives become smaller on the horizon, it struck me that I could have simply stayed there with the Natives, and waited for the others to return. But, really, I would have just gone crazy with worry, anyway, sitting there and counting down the minutes until I could get back to Tim. Plus, we were heading for a place called “The Island of the Fairies.” There was no way that could be dangerous. I hoped, anyway.
As a biting, howling wind whipped across the deck, I sat down and reached for a blanket, wrapping it around my shoulders. It was cold, and the night sky grew more raw and frigid the higher we went. At the front of the blimp, Tiger Lily stood with Peter, looking over a map and pointing to the north. Peter was arguing with her, insisting he knew the quickest way to the island. I shook my head. Whatever. As long as we got there and got back with Hook’s ship, that was all I cared about.
“Hey, Emily,” Wes said. “Mind if I sit with you?”
“Yeah, sure, go ahead.”
Wes sat down and let out a sigh.
“So, this is exhausting, huh?” he asked.
“Yeah. You can say that again. I’m trying not to think about it too much. I just need to get back to my brother and go home.”
“I hear you.” He thought a moment. “You know, it might not seem like it, but I’m a lot more like you than I am like them.”
He motioned to Peter and Tiger Lily.
“Why? Because you’re from another world?”
“Yeah. I find this place just as alien—and frustrating—as you.”
I thought back to what Wes had said at the Island of the Natives. “You’re from the same world as the witch who gave Hook his powers?”
“Yeah. Unfortunately, I haven’t been there in a long time, but that’s where I’m from. Then again, the shape my home is in now, maybe it’s best that I’m here and not there.”
“Why are you here? Why are you helping Peter?”
“The witch that’s aligned with Hook, she’s ruling over my land. And effectively destroying it, just as she’s always wanted. But now, she’s also spreading her rule to other worlds, and giving people in other lands magical powers, like Hook. I’ve been tracking these people down, traveling to the different worlds, to try and figure out why she’s doing this. As far as I can tell, it’s simply so she can effectively rule all of the worlds, using people like Hook to do her dirty work.”
“But that doesn’t explain why you’re helping them. Helping defend a place you don’t even know.”
Wes shrugged. “What else am I gonna do, leave them to face Hook alone? They aren’t prepared for that. Nobody on this place has ever seen magic before. They have no way of knowing how to face him.”
“You do?”
Wes laughed. “No, I don’t, actually. But, I figure I should probably help them find out.” He looked to the front of the blimp. “They’re good people, Tiger Lily and the Natives. Most of the Lost Boys, too. Peter, not so much.” He smirked. “But, the others are worth saving, at least.”
I laughed.
“I’m joking,” Wes said. “Mostly.”
As he looked off across the ocean, I studied him a moment. I figured he was only a few years older than Peter and me, but it made all the difference; he obviously had seen more, explored more, and knew a lot more about the world. He was still wearing the black pirate jacket he had been wearing at the train, and I wondered if that was his normal clothes, or part of his disguise.
“So the land you’ve been living in, New York,” he said. “What’s it like? It’s a large city, I understand?”
I looked at him, confused.
“What?” he asked.
“Is this you talking to me and trying to distract me from remembering how I’m in an insane place where my life is constantly at risk?”
He laughed. “Maybe. A little. But, I also want to know more about you. I’m wondering why you are here, just like you were wondering the same about me. You made a pretty interesting decision.”
“I only came here because I had to. Some creatures attacked my apartment, and I had no choice but to follow Peter to get away. But, thank you for trying to distract me. Basically nothing you say will work, but thank you.”
He laughed. “It really is remarkable, you know.”
“What?”
“That you’re so willing to dive in and help. When you know nothing about this world. It’s even more remarkable considering all you’ve been through.”
“Well, I don’t know it’s all that remarkable. I’m just trying to survive. That’s all I can do at this point.”
“That’s true. But, you could have just freaked out and lost your mind and demanded to go home. That’s what most people would have done, if they saw the things you saw, and were told the things you were told.”
“I came pretty close, believe me. And I still haven’t given up the idea of doing just that.”
“But you haven’t yet, and that’s what counts.” He patted my back and then stood up. “I’m glad you’re here, Emily. I’m glad you’re part of the team. And I know the others are, too.”
He headed toward the front of the blimp. It was strangest of all talking to him and Tiger Lily, because they seemed so normal. Much more normal than Peter.
“Hey, Wes.”
He turned around.
“When are you going home?”
He shrugged. “When the job is done, I guess. Honestly, I don’t have much of a home to go to, so I’m more useful to these people, anyway. How about you? When are you going home?”
“As soon as I can. I can’t—I’ll never forgive myself if something happens to my brother while we’re here.”
He nodded. “Do you think you’ll ever come back here, when this is done?”
I looked at him like he was crazy. “No. Why would I ever do that? This place is nuts. I’m going home and never looking back.”
He nodded. “Well, I’m glad you’re here for a little bit, then, at least. And I’m glad I finally got to meet you, after hearing so much about you.”
I watched as Wes walked to Peter and stood with him and Tiger Lily, looking over the map. He had heard so much about me? What had Peter been telling these people? And how long had Peter been watching me?
The more and more I thought about it, the more I realized that Peter was a creep.