I’m drawn forward, my feet moving even though the rest of my body constricts. I want to help her, to save her, to do anything except watch her die.
With a vicious swipe, he slices her arm. She yelps, but she swings again, almost catching him at the throat. He dances back, jaunty as always. “Not quite as skilled as you used to be, princess.”
“Skilled enough to end you, boy.” She lunges for him, catching him in the leg.
He shoots backwards and looks down. “These were my favorite pants.” With renewed vigor, he comes for her, his blade falling again and again as Tiger Lily fights him off.
I lean one hand on the wall as the fighting rages all around me, but I can’t take my eyes off Peter. He’s the nightmare, the monster under my bed. He’s the one who haunts me, willalwayshaunt me.
Tiger Lily’s strength is failing, and he manages to stagger her with a hard blow that sends her sword flying to the ground.
“Too bad it had to end this way.” He grabs her by the hair and yanks her head back, baring her throat. “But you’ve always been a problem, haven’t you?” He presses his blade to her neck.
“Peter!” I scream.
His head whips around toward me. “There you are, darling.”
Tiger Lily punches him right in the crotch, and he howls and releases her. She scrambles for her blade, then backs toward me.
A few others line up with her, all of them standing between Peter and me. Shiner glances at me, one side of her face bloodied.
I brandish my sword. It may not do much good, not when I can barely hold it, but I’ll fight beside the Guardians.
“Just give her to me.” Peter, still gripping his crotch, hobbles up.
Dozens of Lost Boys swarm behind him. Bodies litter the ground here and there, and Peter steps over one of his own to face Tiger Lily.
“We don’t have to do this. No more of your people need to die. Just hand her over.”
“No.” Tiger Lily stands tall, her head high.
“She’smine.” Peter gnashes his teeth. “My boon!”
He speaks of me like I’m a toy, one he carved his name into even though I never belonged to him in the first place. The hate I have for him is unrivalled.
“You will not take her.” Tiger Lily points her sword at Peter.
He straightens and gives her that charming smile of his, all boyish good looks and dimples. “Are you certain, princess? This time, I’ll have your head.”
“Come and take it.” She turns to the side a little, adopting a defensive stance.
Peter rolls his eyes then waves his Lost Boys forward. “Kill them all.”
The melee begins anew, and Tiger Lily engages Peter once more. Bunk moves in front of me, his massive size a deterrent to the Lost Boys who converge on me.
He swings a double-bladed axe, mowing down everyone who comes close as the others fan out and fight for their lives.
Valinx darts out of the kitchen and dumps a pot of boiling oil onto a pair of Lost Boys. They scream and drop, and the cook brandishes a pan in one hand and a cleaver in the other. He joins the fray, and I lose him in the mass of bodies.
Bunk keeps swinging, cutting down a few more Lost Boys before the others realize they can’t get to me. Not with Bunk in their way. Shiner drops back to his elbow and wipes blood from her face. Somehow, I know it isn’t hers. She pulls the bow from her back and nocks arrow after arrow, firing rapidly and taking out Lost Boys, giving her people a chance. Even with the skilled Guardian fighters, the numbers aren’t looking good. More Lost Boys rush into the battle, and Peter and Tiger Lily are in the thick of it. I can’t see her anymore.
I lean farther out around Bunk to try to find her, but that’s when the hair on the back of my neck stands on end. I know what’s coming for me before I even turn around.
“Shiner!” I let out a terrified scream as I whirl to find Peter’s shadow on me, its arms wrapping around me as it drags me backwards. My sword hits the floor, and I kick and throw my elbows back, but it doesn’t deter the shadow.
“Get off her!” Shiner drops her bow and pulls her knife as she rushes toward me.
But when she strikes at the shadow, her knife simply goes through it as if it’s made of nothing. It doesn’tfeellike nothing. The thing is strong, its arms crushing me as it continues pulling me through the round house and toward the back hallway.
