A scream cuts through the silence, then a sickly thud as a body hits the ground.
“I have to face him.” Hook slides a blade into my palm. “I’ll come back for you, lass. Sit tight.”
He runs out into the night and pulls his sword free as the cottage door swings closed again.
More screams and the sound of swords clashing gets me on my feet. I press myself to the wall by the window and peek out.
There are a handful of Lost Boys fighting with the pirates. Hook is after Peter, the two of them already locked in their never-ending combat. They duel with a ferocity that drips hate like venom from fangs. Each one wants to destroy the other, and I can only hope that Hook makes it out alive.
When a shadow passes in front of the window, I hold my breath. The chill of dread creeps along my skin when I realize it’s not justanyshadow. It’s Peter’s.
Slowly, I back away from the window and tuck myself between a wardrobe and the wall.
Something moves near the back of the room, and a cold sweat breaks out along my forehead. But when I turn my head just enough to get a look at it, I see it’s not Peter’s shadow. It’s another, one with bright red eyes and pointed ears. One of the fae that Peter drained. It has to be. It prowls from the house, and once outside, it lets out a scream that turns my stomach and makes my mouth go dry.
More screams answer it, dozens of them from all over the Fairy Village. Will they attack Peter, or will they kill anyone in their path?
My knees shake as I try to stay upright. I want to fight, to do something other than hide. But I can’t, not without being a liability for my friends. I’m too weak.
But I’ve realized something in the moments since I spoke with the Spinner: I’m not giving up. I can’t. My mother gave everything so that I could survive Peter. I won’t let her sacrifice be in vain. The pity party is officially over. I may not be able to kick any ass, but I’m not going to lay down and die, either. If this island wants me dead, it’s going to have to work for it.
With a new resolve, I take a deep breath and peer out from around the wardrobe again. Nothing moves in the house, and the shadow is gone from the window. That cursed version of Peter hasn’t caught me … yet. The sounds of battle continue, and I try to get a glimpse of Hook. He and Peter are past the arch now, the fight meandering back toward the sea. I can barely make them out, and something terrifying roars from the farmlands to my right.
I hear a cough near the window and creep out to look. I don’t see anyone, so I ease to the door and pull it open just enough. That’s when my stomach drops.
Yanking the door the rest of the way open, I rush outside and drop to my knees beside Nibs.
He gasps, blood running from the corners of his mouth. There’s a gaping wound in his stomach, and some of his insides spill out onto the mossy ground.
I look around for Skylights, for anyone who can help. But they’re gone. And would they help a Lost Boy? No. They’d free him. The same way I freed Slightly.
“Hey.” I scoot so I can cradle his head in my lap. “Hey, Nibs. Everything’s going to be all right.” I lie to him.
“Mommy?” he asks.
“Yes.” I nod. “It’s me.” I stroke his bloodied cheek. “You’re safe now.”
“I missed you so much.” Tears flood his eyes. “I missed you, Mommy.”
“I missed you, too.” I can barely breathe, can barely hold it together. Because when I look at him, I see a scared child. One Peter stole away and locked up on Neverland when he should’ve moved on to something better, somewhere he could find his mother and be happy again.
“I’m frightened of the dark.”
“Everything that’s there in the light is there in the dark.” I tell him what my mother always told me. “Don’t worry.”
He smiles a little, and I wonder if his mother told him the same. “That’s right.”
“Shh. Just rest now. It’s time for sleep. Close your eyes.” I keep stroking his cheek, and I wonder if he can hear the pain in my voice. “Everything’s all right.”
“Okay.” His chest spasms, but he closes his eyes.
“Just rest.” I smooth his hair back from his brow. “You’re a good boy, Nibs.”
His mouth moves, but he doesn’t make a sound. When his chest spasms again, he goes still.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t save you.” I lean over and kiss his forehead, my tears mixing with his. “Goodbye.”
I struggle to my feet, my heart in tatters, and lean against the house.
