Peter shrugs. “Do you want to go find the lost boys? I am sure they will start another fire within an hour or so.”

        I clear my face of the many emotions whirling inside me. “Okay.”

        We drift a foot or two above the forest. I finger the sleeve of my blue dress and wonder how my whole life could change in only two days.

        Once magic has touched you, everything is different.

        The lost boys have already gathered in the small clearing. The sun dips toward the horizon. The sky seems to darken faster than it did before. Didn’t Peter just say that it was only late afternoon?

        He looks up at the sky. “We must hurry. The darkness is getting stronger.”

        We land a few feet away from the fire. The sunlight is hazy, but I can still see its rays dancing in his green eyes. I’ve always loved eyes, but there is something especially enchanting about green ones. I don’t know what it is. But every time I look into his eyes, I see the forest. I see life and magic. And I don’t want to look away, because then I might wake up.

        “Pan!” one of the lost boys cries out. I jerk my head down and turn away from him. I thought I’d still have several hours here, but now it looks like I’ll be leaving even sooner than expected.

        Felix appears at my side. “It is a shame you’ll never return. It doesn’t seem fair.”

        I step away from him. “I know, but Peter says it is dangerous.”

        “If it’s so dangerous, than why is he letting Kelvin stay?” Felix turns toward me, fire sparking in his eyes.

        “I don’t know.”

        “I think I do.” Felix shakes his blond hair out of his eyes. “You’re a girl, and Pan doesn’t think you are strong enough.”

        I grit my teeth. “No, that isn’t true. He said that there was some sort of curse, the darkness-”

        “Curse? What curse? Besides, isn’t there darkness in England too? I would think…” He leans toward me. His eyes narrow as they run over my face. “I would think that it would be dangerous for a young girl to wander the streets alone.”

        “Stop it, Felix. Leave me alone. Peter Pan knows what he is doing.” My hand slips into the pocket of my new dress. I curl my fingers around the acorn. “I trust him.” At least I think I do.

        “You trust the boy who you just met. The boy with many secrets. Have you already forgotten what he said this morning?” The tall boy walks away from me, his steps slow and sure. “I thought you were smart, Wendy.”

        How did you hear our conversation? There is a boy I will never trust, but it isn’t Peter. It is him.

        I stand alone as the sun dips past the trees. They will send me away any minute now. I will never see Kelvin again, never see any of them. The question strangles my thoughts. Can I trust Peter Pan?

        He stands in the middle of the boys and doesn’t look at me. He grins, the firelight slanting over his face. I don’t know what to do. Is Felix right? I may not like him, but what if he is telling the truth?

        “Wendy?” Daine separates from the group. “Are you all right?”

        “Yes. I am fine.” I try to smile, but my lip trembles. “Thank you for coming over.”

        Daine puts his hands in his pockets. “Don’t you want to join us? You probably only have a few more minutes.”

        I open my mouth, but no words come out. Everything is wrong. I’ve ignored my uneasiness all day, trying to forget broken glass and red blood.

        The boy’s green eyes smile at me. “I’llmiss you, Wendy Darling.”

        “And I you, Daine-I don’t even know your last name.”

        “We don’t use them here.” He shrugs.

        I tilt my head. “But Peter-?”

        “Here.” Daine pulls something out of his pocket and presses it into my hand. “You’ll be safer in England, Wendy-bird.”

        I wrap my fingers around the small wooden object, but don’t look away from his eyes. “What about you? And Kelvin? And Bert? What about all of you?”

        “It may not make sense, but we belong to Neverland. We are safer here. Don’t worry about us.”

        “How can I not worry when you all won’t tell me what is going on? I might be able to help.”

        Daine runs his fingers through his dark hair. “No! No, you can’t help us.”

        I fold my arms. “Why not? Because I am a girl?”

        “Why should that make a difference?”

        “Felix said-”

         Daine narrows his eyes. “I don’t care what Felix said. Although, in a way he is right. You have to leave because you are a girl. Not because you are weak or anything like that. But because you are a girl, you will be able to help us in a way that may destroy us.”

        “What are you talking about?”

         Daine nudges my arm. “You do not want to be a part of our mess. Don’t believe Felix, believe me. Trust Peter Pan, and go home.”

        I still don’t understand, but as the sky darkens and the stars appear I look up into Daine’s face and don’t see a lost boy or even a woodcarver. I see a friend.

        Before he can step away, I hug him quickly. “Thank you.”

        Daine smiles at me, but there is loneliness in his eyes. I want to hug him again, but my time is dwindling away. We join the crowd around the campfire.

        Peter’s eyes flicker between Daine and me. “We should be leaving now, Wendy.”

        We? “Are you taking me back?”

        “No.” He jerks his head toward Kelvin. And raises his voice. “I no longer leave the island.”

        The lost boys fall quiet. I realize I only know a few of them. I wish I had time to learn every name and hear every story. “Thank you all.” My thoughts scatter and I blurt, “Goodbye.”

        Kelvin walks toward me and grabs my hand. “Ready?”

        I am not ready. It is too soon. Will my adventure really end like this?

        “Wait!” Bert lurches around the fire. His grin widens. “Wendy, you can’t leave yet.”

        “Night is almost here.” Peter snaps. He tightens his jaw and doesn’t look at me.

        “I know, but you haven’t played for her.” Bert’s voice is loud and hurried. “Before the curse, Peter Pan was the one who found the children. We can only try to imitate his tune. You have to hear him play.”

        Peter glares at Bert. “I don’t play anymore, that isn’t my job.”

        “Please, Peter. I want to hear your music.” I step forward. The sun is almost gone, but a few stray rays still fight the darkness.

        “If I play, will you promise to leave and never return?”

        I smile and choose my words carefully. “I promise to leave as soon as you are done.” But if I can, I will return.

        Bert hands Peter his flute. Peter rubs his finger across it, the dust floating away from the simple instrument. “Oh, all right, but it has been a century or so.”

        No one responds. All the lost boys are silent, their eyes locked on their leader. Felix scowls, but doesn’t leave. Kelvin bounces slightly, trying to hide his excitement.

        Peter takes a deep breath and the music begins, and I forget those around me.

        I am not sure how long he played. It was probably less than a minute, but an eternity could fit in those few notes. It is a beautiful, haunting tune.

        The first few seconds I stand still, an acorn in my pocket and a wooden object in my hand that I have forgotten. But then the song picks up. The spell doesn’t fall away, but it does change. The boys laugh as they swarm around the fire. I pull out my braid and shake out my curls.

        I twirl around and pull Kelvin with me. Throwing my head back, I laugh and watch the stars spin above me. The night sky is beautiful.

        Night sky.

        The music cuts off, the melody breaking into jagged notes.

        “Go!” Peter cries. “Get out of here.”

        The lost boys stop jumping and laughing. Daine narrows his eyes and takes a step toward me. Kelvin yanks me into the sky. Someone scream but I am not sure who it is.

        Before I can turn and look down at Neverland for one last time, light blurs around us and Kelvin drags me into our own world.