Peter’s shadow jumps down right in front of me, as if it had been on the roof watching the whole thing.
“No!” I scream as it reaches for me. I’d rather die than let it take me.
It swallows me with its black mesh, choking me as it drags me away toward the farmlands. I reach for the blade Hook gave me. It comes free from the belt at my waist, but when I swing it at the shadow, it goes right through it.
“Let go!” I kick, but it only grips me more tightly, a boa constrictor around my throat.
I still have the knife. It won’t work on the shadow, but it will work on me. I pull it closer to me and clench my eyes shut. This isn’t giving up. This is refusing to give Peter what he wants. This is my final stand.
But do I have the courage to do it?
“Be brave.” Hook’s voice is in my head, in my heart.
I can be brave for him, for the people I love who are right now fighting for their lives. If Peter takes me, he’ll use me up and wipe them out. I won’t let that happen.
I send a silent goodbye to my vicious pirate, even if he never really was mine. Then I straighten my arm and aim the knife for my chest.
With all my strength, I swing it inward, right to my heart.
Chapter
Fourteen
“What are you doing, you idiot?” A shrill voice like a broken bell stings in my ear, and the shadow releases me.
Tinker Bell flutters around it, then moves faster and faster, encircling the shadow in golden light.
I throw my arm up to ward off the intensity of it, but I can still see when the shadow begins to break apart.
It screeches and morphs into Peter’s form, his hands clawing at his throat as bits of the shadow lift and float away like ashes from a roaring fire.
I kick away, scooting back as Tinker Bell continues her circuit, creating heat and light where the shadow cannot hide. It screeches again, a dying wail as it completely disintegrates and floats into the sky and toward the Silver Mountains.
The golden glow ends suddenly, and Tinker Bell stands in front of me, her hands on her hips as she gasps in air. Her own golden glow has dulled, her eyes no longer sparkling.
“Are you okay?” I get up.
“I’m great, dummy.” She straightens, but wobbles on her feet.
I catch her under her arm. She’s so light I think I could carry her.
She leans on me, and it’s no heavier than a fluffy scarf. “That took a lot,” she admits. “Too much.” She groans and wipes her forearm along her forehead. Golden sweat comes off, and she shivers.
“I’ve got you.” I grip her waist.
“I always hated that shadow.” She makes a face. “Nasty piece of dark magic.”
“Thank you. You saved my life. Again.”
“The one thing I don’t want to make a habit of, and here we are.” She groans and takes a step back toward the village but sways against me.
“You’re still rude, so don’t worry. I won’t assign any warm feelings to you for saving my life.”
“Small miracles.” She coughs. “Come on. We have to get to the beach.”
“Are you sure you should?—”
She gives me a death glare.
