I don’t look at who's holding me. I don’t worry about who stole me away. I can feel the magic. The magic I always dreamed of. With just one touch, I know I’m safe.

My eyes stay locked to the scene unfolding in front of me as the shadow darts back and forth, moving quickly towards us as Jake follows. In an instant, I am lifted up again in the air, floating above the madness. Taken away. Escaping, when I desperately need to.

Feeling loved, cherished, when I’ve never known, never felt the true meaning of the words before.

The shadow tackles Jake, muffling his call for help, and forcing him to the floor with so much strength I can barely believe my eyes. Gently, I feel myself being lowered back to my bed.

“Good work,” the boy at my side says next. “Now, make sure he never comes back here again.”

The shadow nods and pulls Jake upright, wrapping his hand over his mouth and pulling him backwards towards the door of my room. The boy releases me, and I instantly feel cold without his touch. Stepping forward, all I can see is his back as he gives the shadow more orders.

“I want you standing guard every day, shadow.” I blink repeatedly, unable to believe what I am seeing. What I am hearing. “I’ll be here by nightfall. No one comes in,” he slashes his arm through the air, and it’s then that I see his hand gripping a blade. “Understand?”

The shadow nods as he tightens his grip on Jake. I watch the man who was dead set on bringing me harm wince with pain. The shadow pulls him away easily, his strength is unmatched as his head falls back in a quiet laughter a moment later, when Jake tries to escape and fails miserably. The door to my room closes just as a tinkling of bells enters the room.

The boy turns to the twinkling light and puts his hands on his hips. “Tink, you stay with the boys. Give Wendy some rest.”

He knows my name. But, how?

The bells grow louder, almost angry in tone.

“Tinker Bell,” the boy insists in an authoritative tone. “You gotta take orders!”

My mouth falls open as the light twinkles its way out of the room, tinkling on and on in an irritated way but, nonetheless, obeying the boy in front of me. When the boy turns, my eyes land on the most charming face I have ever seen. In awe, I sit, my mouth agape like an idiot, only one thought running through my brain.

How does he know my name?

He bows, and my heart soars. Giggling, I hide my blush as his head lifts, and he gives me a smile. Still bowed over, he winks, and I bite my lip.

“Hello,” he smirks, as if it’s all a game. As if we’ve always known each other.