The Devil in the Mirror

Rose's POV:

The forest is a void of darkness, light unable to penetrate the thick canopies above. Or maybe it simply isn't light out yet, after all, there is no time here. And maybe that's what keeps me here, the thought of never going forward or back, simply staying exactly where I am for all eternity, maybe that's what makes it appealing in the first place. A land where no one ever grows old, where time and life seem to have stopped. A place where you can watch the world and your loved ones pass through time and space, unable to slow down, as they continuously move closer to death with each passing second. Maybe that's why I like it here, why I never want to leave, even though i will eventually. All children have to eventually leave.

I wander through the veil of darkness, weaving in and out of the trees, occasionally peering over my shoulder to see if he is following. I smile to myself when i see that he is, although he remains mostly hidden by shadow, i can feel his presence, drifting behind me. He never was one to stray too far from me, something about wanting to protect me, oh the irony.

I smile and repress the urge to giggle as i quicken my pace, dashing between the trees until the tree line evidently halts, stopping at the shore. I skip across the smooth sand, my bare feet brushing up against the silky grains as they glow in the moonlight. I approach the splashing water soundly, bunching my skirts up to my thighs as I dip my toes into the cool surf. I let out a relaxed breath, wiggling my toes gently as i step further out into the water.

Just as i'm about to take another step, a pair of lean arms lock around my slim waist, abruptly hoisting my out of the surf, and over their shoulder. I giggle despite myself, and hastily tug my my dress down, the white, torn fabric barely grazing my ankles.

My captor sets me down on a small sand dune closer to the trees, and shakes his head at me, chuckling lightly to himself. I prop myself up on my elbows, biting my lip as i glance at him through my lashes, making him indiscreetly suck in a sharp breath.

"Something wrong?" I question innocently, sitting up slowly.

His eyes follow my every movements as he offers me his hand, hauling me to my feet. I brush off my skirts quickly before meeting his intense gaze. he has yet to respond and it's killing me waiting. I press my body closer to his, hoping to sway his mood; he is known to have a bit of a temper.

Eying me as I indiscreetly press my body against his, he finally complies, and wraps an arm loosely around my waist, making me smile. I trail my fingers lightly down his jawline and his neck, dragging them sensually across his shoulders and collarbones, which causes for his breathing to hitch suddenly. He wants me just as badly as I him.

"I've missed you," he finally admits, touching his forehead to mine, making me heart swell in a delicious way.

"I've missed you too," I confess as well.

"why can't you visit more? You used to when you were younger," he trails off. I know he usually doesn't open up like this, and the idea that he feels he can around me makes me so happy.

"I know, I've wanted to for awhile. But i haven't been able to. forgive me?" I plead with him, knowing I'll be crushed if he pushes me away.

And he does. Releasing me from his affectionate hold, as he takes a step away from me. Even though he is still easily within arm's reach, i feel like he is miles away. I unconsciously reach for him, but he simply bats away my hand, breaking my heart a little.

"Please, i know I've been meaning to visit soon, I've just been too caught up in-"

"that's just it, isn't it?" He interrupts, whipping his head around so our gazes meet. I'm unsurprised to see that his are stormy, "you never have ever intended on staying. Truly calling here, your home. Because you want to grow up, isn't that it? You want to fall in love, get married, have a family. And even though you claim that you love me, you know that i cannot, and will not give you what you want. Ad that's why you never come here anymore."

Tears well up in my eyes; this is not what i expected our reunion to be like at all. i knew he'd be angry with me, but I never expected him to resort to this, using what i want and have dreamed of against me. He can be so cruel at time, and I am stupid to have forgotten so quickly how he can be.

"Hell, maybe you never even cared about me, about this place. maybe you were just looking for an escape from your home, where no one even cared enough to love you," he hisses angrily, making me flinch away.

I know this isn't him. he's just angry. He'll be back to normal soon, I know he will be.

i swallow the knot in my throat and look up at him with glassy eyes, "why push me away then? why bother waste your anger on me, if I'm supposably just using you? How could even you be so cruel to do that?"

He's taken aback by my outburst, and for a silent moment, he considers me words. Letting them sink in. Back before, I never defied him, i never argued or fought back. But that was then, this was now. I'm not the same girl anymore.

I stand when I see it in the distance. I didn't actually expect it to appear, but I suppose it makes sense that it would. I begin to briskly walk towards the surf once more as the large ship nears the shore; my ticket away from here. As I pass him, he grasps my wrist, a silent plea for me to stay. I smile despite myself, despite the cruel things he has said tonight, and every other night.

"don't go," he whispers , bringing me into his arms.

i comply, and snuggle into his chest, breathing in his familiar earthy scent. Oh, how i will miss him. "i have to" i murmur.

He nods and presses his lips to my head, squeezing me before letting me go.

I turn away, preparing to walk away from him again, but something holds me back. The need to be near him as always, tugs me back in. Usually, i fight it, knowing I can never stay here, no matter how blissful it seems, girls don't belong her. Children don't belong here.

I rush back to him, and wrap my arms around his neck, softly pressing my lips to his, something I have never once done, but always dreamt of doing. He responds almost instantly, holding me by my hips to him as we kiss passionately for what i hope isn't the last time. When we pull away, gasping for air, he presses our foreheads together, a silent goodbye.

he's never been a fan of 'goodbyes', saying that goodbye means leaving, and leaving means forgetting. I however, always opposed him on that, saying that a goodbye is a promise of seeing you again. Tonight, I win.

From the deck of the rickety ship, I catch his gaze, watching me longingly as i fade away. i can already feel myself beginning to obliterate into nothingness, but i can tell from the hard-set of his jaw that it is far more painful for him than me. I blow him a quick kiss as I fade away, the darkness of his green eyes haunting me until I next return.


I always hated leaving this place as a child, but always knew at the same time that i didn't belong there. Girls didn't belong there, a rule the boys made clear from my first visit all those years ago. But children certainly don't belong in Neverland. Only I am no longer a child.

Notes

I had to write this, as confusing as it may be, it really had to be done.
in case anyone was curious, the boy was Peter Pan, and not the Disney version. If any of you have seen Once Upon a Time, it's the Peter Pan from that, who i think is unimaginably gorgeous!! (link of him here)
so yeah, I kinda loved writing this chapter! also, Rose is dreaming, again., so yeah.

Thank you all for your birthday wishes!! :)