⊹ ۪ 𖥔 ˑ ִ ֗ ִ ۫ ˑ ⊹ ۪ 𖥔 ˑ ִ ֗ ִ ۫ ˑ ⊹ ۪ 𖥔 ˑ ִ ֗ ִ ۫ ˑ
( Ten - War of hearts )
CW : blood, mentions of the beach

PETER STARED INTO his mirror for what seemed the hundredth time.

It had been two whole months since Autumn fell into a deep slumber. That's millions of years in Neverland time. She fell into a slumber where the mind wanders between life and death.

His emerald eyes glowered back at him.

Peter never forgave himself for being so careless.

His knuckles were porcelain white, with so much pressure on it, beads of blood popped out. Veins meandered across the back of his hand. Peter could not look at himself any longer, for he accepted the fact that:

he was a monster.

Even Blythe no longer retaliated. He no longer addressed Peter as a beast that unintentionally took the life of his lover, Wendy. For on the day the most deadly battle commenced, it ended with a tragedy, Blythe realised, Peter was not in the wrong at all.

The way Peter helplessly sobbed into Autumn's blood soaked hair. And how the villain Hook cackled menacingly at the two, grinning proudly to himself. Blythe realised that the villain was not Peter but really was Hook.

Peter was completely broken that day and everyone could see it.

The state of his health was declining, the light within him that grew when Autumn was around, faded away. Grunting, he brought up his fist and punched at his reflection, shards of glass poked into his skin.

But all he could feel was numbness.

Just like the numbness he felt all before Autumn's arrival.

When Tink died and when Wendy died.

Why did it all happen to him?

Creating a racket, it caused the boys next to his tent to stir in their sleep. Many of them could not sleep, they hadn't for a while, not when their fellow lost girl could awake at any moment.

Being broken from his sleep, River rubbed his fatigued face. The floor was uninviting, cold to the touch. He didn't mind though, for it woke him up a little more.

Rushing into Peter's tent, River gave a little whelp, "Pan! Oh dear." He sighed when Peter continued to fixate his eyes on the wall. "Let's get you cleaned up."

Peter flinched away from him.

"Do you think I'm a monster . . . River?"

River eyes softened, "Of course not! Pan, you have to remember that it wasn't your fault." he crouched down beside him, and wrapped Peter's fist with a make-shift gauze with a handkerchief. "It happened so sudden, no one could have stopped it from happening," he said with certainty.

Blinking back his tears, Peter casted his mind back. Those words were the very same ones that left Autumn's mouth, when the two of them sat on the beach. Feeling the urge to thrust his fist into the wall again, he restrained himself, for it was too much effort to lift a limb.

The sky outside illustrated a firm grey, no stars could be seen. For, Peter lost all hope.

River was correct when he told Autumn that "hope was a dangerous thing to hold on to" on her arrival. As Peter was a perfect example, sadly, "his soul was completely shattered."

Silently leaving, great worry filled River's eyes, "Please get some rest soon Pan, we're all worried for you, truly." he clicked the door shut.

Thus he was alone once again. Peter was glad that Autumn was still alive, but with the lack of signs of her awakening, it tore at his soul everyday. No birds decided to squawk, not even butterflies. Bees paused in their daily honey making, and flowers stopped blooming.

Autumn was the greatest thing to ever come into Neverland.

Without Autumn, nothing was given the chance to grow. To start anew.

Swish.

"I have told you, Pan. She will be the end to all suffering." His shadow circled above his head, leaving and icy aura inside Peter's room.

Peter made the table wobble unsteadily from the impact of his hand, "Then why the Hell am I feeling the worse I have ever felt in a lifetime?"

"The storm will end soon, the calm will come, only if you start to listen to your heart."

"Listen to what?"

The shadow swooped low and entered his conscience, "Love is the only remedy that can break any curse."

Disappearing into the foggy winds, the shadow left.

"Love? . . ." Peter repeated to himself.

Taking in the new found information, he nearly toppled over as he stood up, due to not walking for a while. Oxygen felt fresh, relaxing even, in his lungs. He took large inhales, his body was grateful due to being cooped inside his room for far too long.

The leaves that decorated the skeletal trees turned into furious shades of: reds, oranges and yellows.

He had to get to Autumn.

Stretching his arms, he paid no attention in the changing surroundings. Ravishing plants began to bloom and grass tried overtaking the height of giant bushes, ones that were adorned with wild berries. The person who devoured Peter's thoughts was the girl who made Neverland feel like home.

Creeping under tangled vines and into the heart of the forest, there laid Autumn. Her hands were neatly crossed on top of her stomach. Clasped delicately around the stems of some flowers, ones that were meant to bring good luck, as River said.

Blanketing against the leveled rock was her hair. It cascaded downwards, some strands were highlighted tawny-brown from the glorious sun.

Slowly letting his unsteady hand make contact with her cheek, Peter missed seeing them bloom a bright pink. He missed how her angelical eyes would form into crescent moons whenever she heard a joke. He missed seeing her around, unexpectedly, near a flower bush and hear her humming along to the tune of their melody.

He missed Autumn's voice, how comforting she was when she voiced her thoughts, never missing a beat to spread kindness.

Peter thought of how he did not deserve such an innocent person in his life- he only hoped that the shadow was right.

Shyly connecting his lips onto hers, Peter gave her a hope filled kiss. With his blood rushing to his face, he didn't dare open his eyes, for he was nervous to see the truth.

Of course it wouldn't work, Peter thought.

Tracing his finger sub-consciously onto his mouth, he could still feel the softness of her lips. Peter tried to ignore the flitters that erupted within his stomach.

Sulking, he turned his back around and slumped onto the steps below. I've listened to my heart, what more do I have to do? Doubt circled his mind continuously. Picking up a pebble he chucked it across the ground angrily.

A familiar finger tapped his left shoulder.

"Peter?"