“More than what, Captain?” Smeeth asks.
I turn my gaze toward my ship, the Jolly Roger, the only gift from my mother, but so undeserved. She is right. She’s always been right. I owe her, but my debt is too large to pay. I will forever be indebted to her unless I finally rid myself of her. “To be more than just a bandit, destroying and stealing, like a thief … like a ruthless pirate,” I say, the word leaving a foul taste. “My mother’s pirate!”
But Smeeth is staring past me with a curious expression on his face.
I spin, searching for whatever has drawn his attention. A bolt of lightning races through the night sky. Across the tall, grassy field, beneath the haze of smoke, the shadow of a person clings to the base of the palace, her long hair flapping in the wind. On the roof above her, another figure leans over the ledge. The slight glint of gold flickers on the face of the wall as the sky pulses with electricity. Something in my gut stirs, and I know that the figure on the wall can only be Gwen.
“Smeeth,” I say, pulling my night-vision goggles over my eyes, “it appears we have ourselves a few more guests. Take as many men as you need to the rooftop to greet our new arrivals.”
“Yes, Captain,” Smeeth says before hurrying off.
I clench my fists. The cure is so close I can almost taste it.
Moments later, my soldiers and I head for the ballroom. Footfalls on the stone floor echo through the dark, dank room as I inspect each diminutive cage stuffed with Lost Boys. Small shadows whimper and sniffle behind the cold steel bars. Torches cast a dim light on a group of boys huddling together in the last cage. A guard opens the metal door, the hinges shrieking my arrival. The oldest of the boys lifts his chin, releasing a tearful child from his arms. He lunges toward me, but two large soldiers stop him.
“Let us go!” the boy named Dozer growls.
I ignore his words. A glint in his gaze sparkles when it falls on the smaller, crying boy. I grip the dirty teddy bear in my hand.
“Aw, now, now. There’s no reason to cry,” I say with sarcastic sympathy in my voice. I hold the bear with an outstretched hand. “Dry those tears, Mikey.”
“Stay away from him!” Dozer wriggles in the soldiers’ grasp until one guard slaps him across the face and flings him to the ground. Dozer howls as he lands on the floor. Holding his arm, his face etches with pain. “Bloody pirate,” he says, spitting through a cut on his lip.
“You Lost Boys try my patience,” I say, nodding to a soldier. “Bring the Professor’s boy.”
Picking Mikey up, the guards follow, slamming the door behind them.
“No!” Dozer says, racing to the door and gripping the steel bars. “Leave him alone!”
“Let me go!” Mikey whines.
The Lost Boys erupt, shouting for Mikey’s release.
I address the boys in the cages. “Don’t worry, Lost Boys. Once I have the girl, I will leave Everland and you can return to your happy hollow.” Turning toward the exit, I take a few steps before pausing. “Or at least what’s left of it.”
The ballroom door slams shut like the lid of a coffin as I leave behind the noise of protests.
Pain shoots through my cramped and bloodied fingers as I grasp the ledge of the palace. My feet slip. A scream threatens to escape, but I grit my teeth as I dangle precariously from the wall. Two tiny hands wrap around my wrists. I turn my gaze toward Bella and blink away the light sprinkles of rain.
“Come on, Gwen,” Bella grunts. “Get your feet underneath you.”
The sky lights up in a brilliant white flash.
“Right there,” Bella says, pointing to the wall. “Put your foot on that stone.”
A pile of Bella’s gold dust sparkles on a small crevice. I swing my leg, wedging the lip of my boot into the crack, and stand wobbling before catching my balance.
“There you go. You have it. Now pull yourself up,” Bella whispers.
I prop my elbows on the ledge and heave myself onto the roof. Tired and breathing heavily, I roll over onto my back and stare at the sky, willing my heart rate to slow. Clouds and smoke span the night, except for one small break barely large enough to reveal two twinkling stars. The irony strikes me, and I decide there is only one thing to do. I wish on the dual stars: one wish for the safety of my family and the other for Pete and the Lost Boys.
“You did it, Gwen,” Bella says in whispered enthusiasm. She helps me up; the glow of the rooftop gas lanterns cast dancing shadows on her face. “You really did it.”
“I did, didn’t I?” I say, still relishing the moment.
Bella nods, her expression bright with excitement. “Just like a true Lost Girl.” She reaches in her pocket and holds her hand out to me. “Take this. You earned it, and you’re probably going to need it.”
Bella pours glittery powder into my open palm. Carefully, I put the dust in my pocket.