Peter gazed across the College campus at Wendy Darling. The one he had chosen to be his bride.

She had a book bag slung over her shoulder and a coffee in one hand.

He watched as she laughed at something her friend said. And he smiled. She really hadn't changed much since their first encounter. Her brown hair fell in gentle waves over her shoulders, and her light brown eyes sparkled.

She still seemed childlike and carefree.

Though Pan knew she wouldn't be for long.

Peter meandered through the edge of the forest, blending into the green shadows.

He watched as she suddenly stopped, and pulled her ringing phone out of her pocket.

"Hullo?" She answered, then her face fell. "Oh, hey mum... what's wrong?"

Her friend stopped walking as suddenly as she did. Concern spread over Wendy's friend's face.

"She what?... No... Oh no... Yes... of course I will... I-I love you too." Wendy's eyes glazed over.

The phone beeped as she hung up.

"Wendy? What's wrong." The friend frowned.

"My grandmother... she's. . . gone."

"Oh! Wendy." the girl exclaimed, pulling Wendy into a much needed hug.

Peter's hand tightened around the branch of the tree. The bark bit into his hand. The pain grounding him.

"We had to do it, you know we did." The voice asserted.

Peter cast his green eyed glare to his other half. The shadowy form pulled away from the darkness, and into the light.

"You had to do this. For your kingdom." The voice continued.

"Well unlike you... Shadow. I'm not going to enjoy it..."

"I am you." His shadow reminded him childishly, skulking back into the darkness of the forest.

Pan looked back across the field, to where Wendy had crumpled to the ground, sobbing loudly, and he had to turn his back on her. It hurt too much to see.

"Come on Peter. Let's head home." The shadow coaxed.

Peter didn't need to be told twice.

He followed his shadow into the fairy ring and home again.

- - -

Wendy's POV

I sat in the back of the car, my Father's brows furrowed as he watched the road. My mother sat in terse silence. Ever since Gran had passed. The tension between my parents had doubled.

Which is why I had encouraged my brothers to ride up to Gran's with our Aunt, when she had offered.

Looking back I'm really glad I had.

I was starting to have suspicions, that there was something of a financial problem going on.

Many an evening consisted of Father in his office, looking over official papers morosely.

That's why I had jumped at the chance to get out of the house, when time came for me to go to college.

Speaking of. I still had that paper to work on. English degrees wait for no woman. As I worked on my paper the scenery changed about me. We drove onto the car ferry and I took a break to gaze out into the lovely water.

"How's your paper coming dear?"

"It's going fine thanks Mum."

I felt Dad looking at me in the rear view mirror. I looked up to meet his eyes.

"I love you Wendy girl."

"I love you too. Both of you." I replied with a sad smile.

The sun set just as we entered the wooded area that I vaguely remembered was close to my grandmothers house.

My heart seized. I wished I had gone to visit her more often. Mind you I'm not sure how well that would have gone, considering the falling out my parents had had with Gran the last time we visited.

I remember it vividly.

I was out playing in the garden. Gran always had a lovely garden. Colorful flowers grew in bright sections amongst the natural green grasses and patches of clover.

Gran always had a love for the outdoors and that showed. Her garden was the fairest in the town. She even had a wall dedicated to the ribbons she had won. Year after year, for her prized Butterfly-bush.

Gran let me play out in her garden. Under only one rule.

Never. Was I ever allowed to open the back gate.

The last day I saw her... I did just that.

Now I know what you're thinking, but it wasn't my fault!

To this day I still don't know what came over me. Or even remember what happened on the other side of that wrought iron fence.

All I remember is Gran's horrified face as she entered the yard from her back door.

Then suddenly she was screaming. Words I didn't understand.

I've come to the understanding that it was probably Gaelic cursing. I knew a bit of Gaelic at the time but I was too young to know the swear-words.

She rushed forward flinging salt at me and grabbed my hand dragging me into the house.

At this point I was crying.

I was so young, only eight years old! I still don't know whatever possessed her to scare me that badly.

Gran dragged me into the house and shut the door, and locking it behind us.

She took a moment to breathe, inspecting my hands and face carefully.

When her gaze fell on my neck, tears began to fill her eyes.

"I only had one rule! I only asked one thing of you! And you broke that rule!! Do you understand what you've done child??? Now you must leave." She reprimanded.

I was so scared, I wasn't sure how to respond.

Her hand once again grasped mine, nearly crushing it. And she pulled me towards the nursery.

She released me and I stood helplessly in the middle of the room as she rushed about. Locking the windows, drawing the blinds. And then in a flurry of movement she left the room, the lock clicking sharply behind her.

"GRAN!" I sobbed rushing at the door. I jiggled the handle but it wouldn't budge. Finally I collapsed to the ground, sobbing.

...

And then I heard a scritching noise coming from the chimney. I sniffled and crawled towards the white brick fireplace.

There was a rustling noise and coal dust fell down the chimney, splattering all over the white carpet. I gasped.

Then something equally as black, but definitely not coal fell down the chimney. It looked like... a person.

"Hello!" The person greeted me, in a voice distinctly male. "Are you alright Wendy?"

"W-who are you?" I stared in wide eyed terror.

"I'm Peter. Well... Peter's shadow!" The creature replied bouncing on it's heels.

The shadow man cocked his head at me.

And then I heard yelling, the lock clicked again, I looked at the door, and when I turned back. I was alone, the only trace of someone else having been there, the coal dust on the carpet.

My parents burst into the room, worry covering their faces.

"Wendy!" Mother exclaimed.

They took me out of the house, and the last thing I remember is Gran weeping on the porch as we drove away.

- - -

Now my therapist and I have discussed that story at length. I was a very imaginative child. It just... all seemed so real.

I'd always had a penchant for seeing things. Strange things.

That's why I didn't cry out when I saw the four eyed neon deer on the road.

Mother screamed.

Father swerved, the car rolled.

Then everything went black.