I claw at the cliff, my hands unable to grasp hold of the one thing I need to stay with her as I tumble a few inches down the side of the wall. Suddenly my foot hits a rock and gives me the stop I desperately need. I look up and see her clutching her chest in fear. With shaky hands, I start to climb my way back to her. Back to where I always belonged. By her side.

It takes me longer than it did the first time. My arms threaten to give out as I grunt out my pain through clenched teeth. The water, which was once refreshing compared to the hot flames of the fire below, is now nothing but an obstacle I can’t wait to be rid of. She urges me to keep going. To come back to her. Finally, my hands touch the grass at her feet, and I pull myself up quickly. She kneels, pulling me up by my arms and helping to drag me away from the cliff.

When I can catch my breath, I steal a kiss and pull her to her feet. Glancing behind me, I see Hangman’s Tree burning quickly to the ground as smoke surges up the waterfall and floats around our feet. A tinkling of bells can be heard in the distance and my vision goes black with rage.

“Tinker Bell,” I hiss.

“She won’t let you go without a fight.” Wendy shakes at my side. “Tiger Lily. The mermaids. They’ve all always wanted you for their own, Peter.”

“The only one who has ever truly had me is you, Wendy. Nothing they try to do can change that.”

“It’s not safe here,” she whispers, looking over her shoulder and taking a step closer. I wrap her in my arms and look around just the same.

“You’re right, but I can’t fly us back to Kingston Gardens. Not until I get my hands on more pixie dust. I used the last of what I had the night before last.”

The sound of bells grows louder, and I grab her hand, taking off running towards the mountains.

“Where are we going?” she yells behind me as my feet rapidly pick up their pace.

“Somewhere we can escape if we need to,” I yell over my shoulder. “Somewhere Tinker Bell can’t hide.”