Consciousness lapped gently and benevolently at the edges of Wendy's mind. She felt her awareness float up from the deep recesses of her being. She didn't want to move, for fear the pain she knew she should be feeling would drive at her full force and cripple what little cognizance she had. She lay still, taking stock of bits of her body: a toe, a finger, her nose, an eyebrow. If she did it one small piece at a time, then maybe it wouldn't hurt as much.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfr26ZneSfc
    Her first real thought after finding each of her limbs intact was that she did not expect Heaven to be so warm. She decided to try her voice.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4Wdn533tW
    "Maybe I'm in hell." It was rough and scratchy. Heat coated her and she was sweating profusely. She felt a bead of sweat drip from her forehead, sliding down her hairline towards her neck.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXD6znip6I
    "No...you're in Neverland." A smooth, liquor-infused voice answered. A figment of her imagination, one that she brushed away like cobwebs.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AEbDwNc5o
    Wendy's eyes fluttered open, bright white light instantly seared her corneas and she blinked back tears, raising a hand upwards to protect her vision. She sat up steadily and tried to get her bearings.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2Sop6HyOb
    Once her eyes adjusted, the view drew a gasp from her lips. She was sitting on a white, sandy beach, looking out over a turquoise and gem-studded cove, the waters winking brilliantly in the bright sunlight. It was more beautiful than anything she had ever seen. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOHzYK5thx
    "This can't be hell..." she tried again, her voice beginning to go back to its normal cadence.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNexeUgZ5v
    "Like I said...Neverland." The voice said again.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrA2RnQY07L
    Wendy turned to her right and found herself staring into swirling, dark, spruce green eyes. Eyes that she recognized, but could not fathom their appearance here. The eyes belonged to the face of the boy...or man...she could not tell his age. This time she was able to take in more of him. He was crouched in the sand next to her, a little too close for comfort. His tan face was angular, with a strong solid jaw. His nose had a slight bump as if it had been broken at one point. Dirty-blond hair was tousled and spiked and he kept running a hand through it, making it stand on end even more.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6xcNSac4A
    "You...you're the boy I saw looking at me through the window at the cafe," Wendy swore she saw him blush, but it was also hot so she couldn't be sure. He uncurled his limbs and stood, then reached out a hand. She accepted hesitantly and he pulled her up easily, she watched with reluctant interest the play of his muscles along his forearm. He was a few inches taller than she and wearing a different outfit than the one she saw him in at the cafe; at least, she thought he was. His white tunic was rolled up to his elbows and tucked into a pair of tan pants. And he wasn't wearing shoes. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizhRlNn7XU
    "Where am I? How did I get here?" She tried to remember the events from what she thought was last night, but she had no idea what day it was, much less where she was.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXz9Tou5JC
    "Why did you jump off the cliff?" His blunt question took her off-guard.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGE2bMAk4T
    "I didn't jump. I fell."469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGQEZEm5xO
    He rolled his eyes and gave her a pitiful smirk which made her bristle, "I don't care that you wanted to die, I was just want to know why."469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXnC3vLaVI
    "But I didn't!" She stamped her foot, feeling childish and out of sorts. She wasn't used to this direct line of questioning, wasn't used to the way he was staring at her, or how close he was getting. "I was running away from someone and I took a wrong turn, then the earth simply fell out from under me." She tried to take a step back from him, but he merely mirrored her move. "Could you...could you please..." she fumbled clumsily with the entreaty.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUdYEaNk8m
    "Please what?"469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0GogI39XY
    Wendy cleared her throat and stood straighter, "Could you please back up sir, you're crowding me."469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOES7btBQF
    He tried catching her eyes, but she looked down at her feet and waited. Finally, he took a small step back and the breath she didn't know she was holding whooshed from her lungs. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tXNZRhgxX
    They stood in silence for a few moments.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsGUtGMMPp
    "So...you didn't jump..." He finally said, deliberating over each word.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLm4nWT1WNQ
    "No, I didn't." She wrapped her arms around herself. Even though it was unreasonably warm on the beach, she was starting to shiver. She was so afraid and confused.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMncwUaGaRT
    "What is the matter with you?" He asked, watching her curiously as she tried to tamp down the emotions welling up inside her.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kxwwjTTKh
    "I don't know where I am...or how I got here. I don't know–"469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HGmjP4mU8
    He snorted in disgust, "I told you. Neverland."469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4MgzEv0mP
    "Neverland?" She rolled the name over her tongue, "I've never heard of it. Is it an island somewhere?"469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lDW5EU87b
    He swept his hand across the beach, "It is the name for the archipelago as well as the main island."469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxv4cd5PW4B
    "Near England?"469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yjxZR8ubh
    He laughed, "No, not near England."469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUBolKmRyA
    "Well, then how did I get here?"469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmURZFYK6pR
    His smile was dazzling, it made her blush, but only for a moment until he opened his mouth and answered her.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hVlc7C195
    "We flew."8964 copyright protection465ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSbVz2C4yJ 維尼

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