Peter's Lily (Sequel to Pan's Tiger)

Chapter 12: Consequences

Raw panic raced through my veins as I zoomed through the dense fog hovering over the forbidden forest, dodging trees as they appeared, my breathing ragged and my eyes wild. I didn't even know if I was going the right direction. I didn't even know where my destination was.

Adrenaline urged me to put as much space between Peter Pan's wrath and myself. Pure survival instincts amplified the fear of death and spurred me onwards and away from him.

I couldn't die. I wouldn't let him beat me like this.

'You can't run from me, Tiger Lily!' A voice cackled in a sing-song voice, using everything in his power to both mock and terrify me, 'I'll get you sooner or later! Peter Pan NEVER fails!'

Unfortunately, I don't think he was lying.

My breathing hitched as I chanced a glance behind me, pupils dilating, and saw Peter shooting towards me at top speed, dodging trees with incredible accuracy, as if he had flown here many times before. Two jets of fire were seeping from his fingertips as he grinned at me maliciously.

My heart dropped to my stomach, momentarily forgetting to beat at the same time my lungs forgot to breathe.

A small whimper of fear escaped my lips as I pulled my gaze back to the obstacles in front of me, and almost flew, head-first into a twisted tree that then gave way to the cliff edge. Gasping, I whirled to my left, losing some air, but more importantly I was losing speed fast.

I felt the heat of the fire before I saw it. I went vertical, shooting skyward as the fire crawled past my feet, lapping at my ankles. A quick glance over my shoulder allowed me a swift view of Peter's unrecognizable mask of fury rocketing towards me.

I dived off the cliff edge, plummeting towards the water below me, allowing gravity to grant me speed, before pulling into a horizontal position, stretching my arms in front of me as if it might help.

Screaming as a release of fear and delight, I pulled myself into tight turns and sharper twists around the rocks. I used my legs to kick off the pointed, juddering rocks I passed, gaining speed and accuracy the farther I went, trying to distance myself from Peter Pan.

The glare of glowing flame suddenly reflecting in my peripheral vision and my eyes widened. It was larger than all those I had seen before and the channel was long. He wasn't just shooting small jets, but long, javelin sized flames.

I screamed, surprised so much that I barely had time to move. I ducked hastily, but it caught the rock beside me and the force of the explosion against the cold sea sent a blast of air that had my falling body to drop like a stone. In horror, my eyes widened as I plummeted towards the water below me, finally accepting inevitable death.

Everything about my physical body seemed to stop in the time after that. It was as if each moment of my long, happy and fulfilling life was on a slowing down process. It was as if this moment was the destruction of all moments before, like it was banishing all of my happiness and memories and impact on other people's lives away in an instant.

I closed my eyes, instantly feeling weightless. I felt like I was floating gently, easily into the ocean, sliding downwards in a painless manner. But then, the water hit my fingertips, which climbed up and took my shoulder and head and then the rest of my small, light body.

Pain.

The salty, freezing water seemed to snap me back to reality. Unfathomable pain engulfed my senses. I wanted to gasp, to cry out, to grit my teeth, but instead I felt myself being swallowed whole by the ocean.

I fought with the water as I made my way back up. Each time my right arm reached above me in order to push apart the thickening, heavy mass of water above my head, I curled away. It hurt so much.