"Blueberries!"

        I laugh as Kelvin hovers above me. "Blueberries?"

         "I found some! Come on!" He holds out his hand.

          I look at the sinking sun. "It is already getting late. Peter told me I should be in the lost boys place before dark."

          "This won't take long. I promise." Kelvin wiggles his fingers.

Blueberries..."

          "It takes more than blueberries to break me." I huff.

           Kelvin's eyebrow lifts. "More for me then." He shrugs and spins away. I leap into the air and grab his hand. His laughter fills the air around us as we fly above the tall trees.

        Apples are delicious no matter how often you eat them. But blueberries...blueberries are a rare treat.

        We drop down. I have never been this close to Neverland's ocean before. Where does the ocean begin and end? Where is Neverland, really? Is it in our world? In our universe?

        Magic messes everything up.

        It confuses logic and breaks every rule. Even though it can be beautiful and powerful, it is also dangerous.

        Maybe magic was never meant to be. But if there was a way to destroy magic, who would be willing to watch it die?

        My feet hit the grass. I am not used to such a view. The ocean splashes against the cliff we stand on.

        Neverland is the opposite of London. London is a city. A poor, dirty city crowded with desperation and hunger. Neverland has a clear open sky, tall green trees and soft grass. An ocean around it and lakes and rivers scattered through it. Flowers that are free, not confined to gardens or parks.

        London is still my home. It always will be. But Neverland is my dream. If there was no darkness, would I be willing to stay here? I am not sure. On the outside, it is everything I could ever wish for. Beauty and freedom and magic.

        But underneath it all-even without the curse-there is a sadness. Life wasn't meant to pause. Life was meant to change with each day and every moment.

        I want to grow up, but I also want to stay the same. But more than anything I want to have the choice. Even if I am not sure what I would choose.

        Kelvin pushes aside a curtain of hanging vines. Next to a small waterfall are the blueberries. I join him as our greedy hands pluck the small, ripe fruit. I push blueberries into my mouth, but my eyes stay fixed on the waterfall.

        The water shimmers in the dying sunlight. Rainbows reflecting off the pool.

        I am thirsty.

        An overwhelming urge to drink the water rushes over me. I drop the blueberries and stumble towards the pool.

        "Wendy?" Kelvin's voice sounds faint as I scoop my hands under the water and lift it to my lips.

        "No!" Peter Pan knocks my hands aside and pulls me away from the water.

        I fight him, my arms flailing, but he is stronger. Peter drags me past the hanging vines. My throat is parched and my eyes alight with fire.

        "What are you doing?" I push away from him. "I am thirsty!"

        Kelvin walks toward us, blueberries smeared across his cheeks. "Um, Pan?"

        "Kelvin." Peter growls. His eyes darken.

        I jerk my gaze up. Even though it is weak, the sun is still in the sky. But it won't be long before everything changes.

        "Never come back here again. Do not touch the water. It is the heart of Neverland."

        "I thought you were the heart of Neverland."

        Peter turns on me. "Do you want to stay here forever?"

        "As if you've given me a choice!" I yell. Anger burns my words.

        "Wendy, there might still be a way. But if you drink just one drop of that water, you will become a part of Neverland. You won't ever be able to leave the island without grave consequences." Peter lowers his voice, but his words aren't soft-they are heavy.

        "I-" I look at the vines. I was a second away from sealing my faith and losing all hope. Peter saved me. I should thank him, but he doesn't give me a chance.

        "I thought I told you to stay in the lost boys' room."

        I fold my arms. "It's not dark yet."

        "It is my fault, Pan." Kelvin winces. He brushes the blueberries from his mouth, but the juice hasstained his lips.

        Peter keeps his eyes on mine. His gaze sears my conscience. Tears moisten the corners of my eyes, but I will not let them fall.

        I will not be weak.

        I draw out my words, pausing between each sentence. "It's not Kelvin's fault. It was an accident. We didn't know." Our conversation in the meadow rolls through my head. Not my fault. Didn't know. Such familiar words, such an old excuse. But it is true.

        Kelvin straightens his spine, but his head still hits several inches below my eyes. "I will get her there, Pan. I promise."

        Two promises within the hour. But in a way it is the same promise and I know he will keep it. Days ago we met on the street and in that moment, we agreed without saying a word.

        We agreed to watch over each other and keep each other safe. It is a promise I will not break and I know he will keep it as well. But here night changes everything.

        Peter clenches his teeth. "See that you do, Shadow."

        "All right then, if you'll excuse us." I mock him with an exaggerated curtsey. Kelvin joins me as we dart into the sky, leaving Peter Pan behind.

        "He overreacts."

        Kelvin catches my eye roll, but doesn't return it. "He's just trying to protect you."

        "He could start by trusting me."

        "Look, that's not why I wanted to talk to you." Kelvin shifts his eyes away and wipes his hand on his pants.

        I lead him higher in the sky. Something isn't right.

        "This was never about blueberries, right?" I narrow my eyes. "What are you hiding from me?"

        "Don't think his name."

        "Hard not to now." I stretch my arms and look down on Neverland. Flying will never lose its ecstasy.

         Kelvin leans toward me. His eyes are wide and scared. "It doesn't work on me." His words fall quickly, lost in the wind. All thoughts of Peter Pan leave me.

        "I don't know how, but I can still control myself at night. Not much and not always. But I haven't lost the fight yet. I pretend. The evil has invaded my mind, but it can't fully control me yet. I am not sure how long it will last before the evil takes over. We can't enter until the moon is full, but you-you mean them no harm. They might let you in. During day you won't be able to see fairy dust. It is only visible at night. You will be able to warn them. If he attacks them, nothing will stand against the darkness. As soon as day flees Neverland, my chance will be gone. But until then I might be able to help you." Kelvin grabs my hand. "Listen carefully. You need to get to the Indian's place before sunrise."

        "Peter will expect that. There is no way he will let me. He knows everything."

        "Not everything." Kelvin closes his eyes. "Although he did hear that last part because you used his name."

        I flinch. "Sorry. I forgot."

        "It is all right." Kelvin measures his words and I wonder if the one who I mustn't name can still hear us.  "Only trust when the night is weakest." He points at the fading sun.

        Sunrise. Only trust him the last few hours before sunrise.

        "The battle-" He points at his head, his other hand covering his heart. "-is strongest the first few hours."

         I nod. If I say something, I might mess up again and ruin our one chance. I wrap my arms around my little brother. We are bonded not by blood, but by choice.

        "Tonight will be a busy night." Kelvin whispers in my ear.

        But I know that whether it is a whisper or a thought or a word, he can hear it. I can only hope that he didn't hear our conversation.  

        The sun slips into the ocean as we fly back down. We have no time to spare.

        I land in the clearing; the lost boys already gathered around the fire. With sweaty hands I pull open the trap door and slam it shut behind me.

        I slide down the tunnel, my heart in my throat as darkness falls over Neverland.