Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
James
As it turns out, Vera does indeed expect me to carry her the whole way.
I’m a little suspicious that she used the siren’s song to compel me, because I’m not sure how else I would agree to this. Now, I’d never admit it out loud, but Vera is not exactly light. My arms and legs and back are all burning by the time I make it out of the sandy beach to the jungle.
I clench my teeth to keep from grunting as I step over a fallen palm tree and enter the jungle line.
My plan is to just go in a straight line since I don’t want to risk losing my way.
The jungle is thick and makes passing through it in a straight line difficult.
Especially when you’re lugging a mermaid around.
Vera tightens her arms around my neck as I slide my arm up her back, trying to get a better purchase. My left arm is at an awkward angle as I try not to cut her tail with my hook.
“I really appreciate you doing this,” Vera says, her voice honeyed with false sweetness.
I’m not entirely sure what else I could have done. Outside of leaving her in the waters, which I considered only briefly before I decided I really couldn’t do that. No, we are sticking together no matter what.
I’m not facing an island of shadows alone and I wouldn’t make Vera do it either.
“Don’t mention it,” I manage to get out past my clenched teeth. To be honest, I really don’t want to be reminded anyway. I blow out a strained breath as I continue to clomp forward. The only saving grace is that Neverland did not appear to be a large island.
“Talk to me about something,” I say, desperate to get my mind off my aching arms. In the back of my head, I’m sure I can hear a distant ticking, and I don’t want to think about that. Nor do I want to test if Vera is right that the siren’s song will act as a buffer to keep us safe.
I certainly don’t want to think about that siren’s song and what I might be forced to do all because Vera claims it will keep me safe.
She doesn’t understand how horrible it is to have your body move without your permission and to do things that you would never want to do.
I think I would almost rather take my chances with the crocodile.
Ticktock.
Um… maybe.
“About what?” she asks after a moment of strained silence. I wonder if she hears the ticking too.
So far, the island seems to be completely quiet. There is no sign of lost boys or pixies and the only siren I have seen is in my arms. I wonder if everyone is keeping their distance because of the croc. That could work in our favor. Then all I have to do is keep one step ahead of the crocodile.
“Anything,” I say quickly. “Tell me about Captain Hook’s time on Neverland. What was his backstory again?”
Vera shrugs, not seeming to realize that the more she moves the harder it is to keep my pace up.
“What is there to say? Captain Hook was a lost boy who accidentally grew up. He swam too far and got lost at sea. He was rescued by the crew of the Jolly Roger which was a cursed ship trapped near Neverland with no idea how to get back. Eventually he grew up and Peter hated him for it. Hook, in turn, realized that Pan had imprisoned the lost boys. He only led them to believe that he had liberated them from adult responsibilities such as bed times and veggies while their real lives as his lackeys were much darker. So, when given the chance he saved Wendy and her brothers and snatched them from Pan’s clutches, but not before Pan cut off Hook’s hand and fed it to the croc.
Hook was able to wish upon the second star that himself and his crew could all escape Neverland, but he’s always lived in fear of going back.
And he hated everything that reminded him of Neverland which is why he picked up siren hunting.
Since the sirens are related to the ones in Neverland. ”
I nod and let out a strained, “Ah.”
“And he died, consumed by the crocodile,” Vera says quietly. “His last act was to wish upon that star. As he was being eaten, he wished to see Moira again.”
“But she was dead by then?” I press, trying to remember exactly how Moira dies. I think she was stabbed at least. By Hook?
“She was, but that’s still what he wished. Who knows, maybe they met up in bad guy heaven.”
“Bad guy heaven?” I ask with a snort.
Vera shrugs again. “I think you know the rest. Look, I’d much rather hear about James Pearson than some fictional guy.”
I feel my eyes widen slightly with shock. “There really isn’t much to say,” I mutter, glancing to the side. I feel my cheeks heat up which I blame on the strain of carrying her around.
“Do you have any siblings?”
I shake my head sharply.
“Lucky,” Vera says with a sigh. “I have four, and sometimes I think I’m invisible to my parents.”
“I’m sure that isn’t the case.” I step around a tree.
“You don’t know what it’s like to be a middle child,” she mutters darkly. She exhales sharply and straightens. “But anyway,” she says more brightly. “I have Snickers.”
“Snickers?” I ask. I’m talking more than I’d like, but at least it is working to distract me from how tired I am.
“My cat.”
“Oh, well then it can never work out,” I say with a snort
“What can’t work out?”
“Us. I have goldfish, your cat would just eat them.”
“Us?” Vera breathes, her breath washing over my cheek.
I stumble slightly as I realize my blunder.
I spoke without thinking. I blame the exhaustion, but suddenly I don’t feel tired.
I feel strangely abuzz as I realize just how close our faces are.
I turn my head slightly to see that we’re almost nose to nose.
The two stars shine down brightly, casting Vera’s features into a silvery glow.
I mean to laugh off the whole ordeal, but instead I find myself blurting out, “Yeah. Us.” If my hand were free, I’d slap it over my mouth. See, this is what I mean, I see a pretty girl and suddenly my ability to speak coherent sentences goes out the window.
I just wonder why it took me so long to realize how beautiful Vera is.
The corner of Vera’s mouth turns up slightly. “James, if we get out of here without both dying, I think we can figure out a way to make it so our pets don’t eat each other.”
I laugh and start walking again. “Don’t make it sound like there is a mutual danger. I hardly think my goldfish will try to eat your cat.”
We fall silent, but it isn’t a bad silence.
And I no longer feel so tired that I need a distraction.
Somehow, I have found an inner strength that keeps me putting one foot in front of the other as we head straight for the heart of Neverland so that we can make our wish.
Preferably before that siren’s song makes me do something I’ll regret, or I get eaten.
Vera places her hand on the side of my face. For a second I think she is just trying to give her arm a rest, but then she whispers so quietly that I’m sure I misheard it. Just like I mishear that ticking sound behind me.
“I kind of like the sound of us.”