Immune. I inhale deeply as the term spills from my lips. As if uttering those two syllables breathes life, truth, and hope into a word that once tasted bitter on my tongue. Immune: a word that once was degrading, but now encompasses the fate of this boy, the fate of all of the Lost Boys, and possibly the rest of humankind.
Pickpocket gazes at my unblemished hands, turning them over and inspecting them as if they were a priceless work of art, a Degas in the midst of nursery-school finger paintings.
“I can help you,” I say, with a confidence bubbling in my voice that surprises me. “But I need your help, too. Together we can find a cure, for you, for Bella, and for any other sick Lost Kid.”
“You’re really an Immune?” he asks. His voice is flat, devoid of emotion.
“That’s what Doc says,” Pete interjects as he leans against the fountain.
I place a hand on Pickpocket’s arm. “Look, I know what it’s like to lose family. I’ve lost my father and mother to the war, and now I’ve lost Joanna not only to Hook but, if I don’t get her back soon, to the virus. We don’t have to lose anyone else.” I point to a group of kids playing a game with Bella. Her wings flutter and the boys mimic her, waving their arms in the air. “You don’t have to lose any more family.”
Pickpocket watches Bella float above the Lost Kids, a pained expression crossing his face. He glances down at his blistered hands.
Taking his hand gently, I peer into his dark eyes. “You have my word. I will help you.”
Pickpocket pauses, peering at his fingers and then at Bella. “I’ll help you find your sister, but not for me. For Bella.”
“Me too,” says Mole. “I’d do just about anything for Bella.”
“I suppose I’m in as well,” Pyro says. “I don’t want to be the only prat who says no.”
The smaller boys cheer and break into imaginary sword fights. “Take that, Hook!” Gabs shouts, jabbing another boy with an invisible knife. The other boy dramatically feigns death, grunting as he collapses on the ground.
“Then it’s decided,” Pete says, raising his voice above the chatter. “You guys head over to Blade’s place. Arm yourselves with the best weapons Blade has.”
“You comin’, too?” Pickpocket asks, jerking his glove onto his hand, seemingly still annoyed with me.
“We’ll be along shortly,” Pete says, his face emotionless.
“Suit yourself. Let’s go, Lost Boys,” Pickpocket says, leading Mole and Pyro toward the weapons armory.
Enthusiastic, I turn to Pete. His grin is wide as he walks toward me. “They’re going to help!” I say with excitement.
“Nice job, Immune,” he says, giving me a fist bump. “I couldn’t have done it better myself. Well, I probably could have, but batting my eyelashes like you did wouldn’t have worked as well for me as it did for you.”
“I didn’t bat my eyelashes!” I protest.
“Hey, Pete, is Jack going to be the leader while you’re gone?” Gabs asks, fidgeting with the ends of the dirty scarf wrapped around his neck. He leans in and whispers, “He can be awfully bossy when you’re not here.”
Pete’s face twists into a grimace and quickly fades into a reassuring smile. “Jack is complicated. He’s a good guy. Troubled, but good nonetheless. Don’t you worry, Gabs. I’ve got it covered.”
Pete ruffles Gabs’s hair and the anxiety slips from Gabs’s expression.
“Lost Boys, line up!” Pete shouts.
Chattering with excitement, the boys queue up in two straight lines, jockeying for position according to their height. Mikey sneaks from his hiding spot and sidles in between two kids. I join him, taking him by his small hand. Pete strides between the two rows, scrutinizing each boy.
Jack, suddenly noticing the crowd of boys, joins Pete in the center. “What’s this about?”
“You’re getting your wish,” Pete mutters.
Jack squints, confusion marking the sharp angles of his cheeks and jaw.
Pete holds his hands up, grabbing the attention of the hundred or so boys.
“Lost Boys, today has been an eventful day, with the recruitment of Gwen and Mikey to the Lost City.” Pete clutches his hands behind his back, pacing as he speaks. “And it’s no secret that girls are scarce and an important part of our society. Integral to our survival. They are more rare, more valuable than any other item we can scavenge.”
I wince, listening to him speak about girls as if we were objects, priceless treasures.
The older boys elbow one another, raising their eyebrows. I roll my eyes, imagining what shallow comments the older boys are making to one another.
“Today I will be taking a team of our best Scavengers with me on an important task in order to recover something stolen from our newest citizen, Gwen.” Pete gestures toward me. “My team is with Blade as we speak, arming themselves for the battle that lies ahead. This will be the most dangerous scavenge we’ve done yet.”
“Pete, what are you doing?” Jack grumbles.
Pete ignores the question. “While I’m away, Jack will be the primary leader and Justice the second-in-command.”