“Hook,” Stella said and wiped the back of her hand across her runny nose. Then she stared down at her bloody, dirty arm. A black line of soot clung to the cut. “I-I killed him.”
“What?” Jack asked as he gripped both of her shoulders and made her face him.
Percy squatted next to them. “You killed who?” Then he looked to Jack and pointed up. “A man fell from the second floor, and then he... disappeared.”
“He didn’t disappear,” Ariel argued. “He exploded into dirt.”
“Ashes,” Stella said, sniffling. “Hook attacked me, and when I defended myself, he ran into the sword, and then he tripped, and...” She shuddered. “I was going to save him, but then he... he—”
“It’s okay,” Jack said, pulling her against him and rubbing her back.
“Who is Hook?” Percy asked.
Ariel huffed. “Captain Hook fromPeter Pan,” she said as though it should be obvious. “He’s been terrorizing the library after he came out of his book, and now... I don’t know what happens now. Is he dead?”
Jack shook his head. “No. He’s back where he should be. This is what happens when characters die near the source.” He pointed to the ashes around them.
“Ick,” Ariel said, standing up and brushing Hook’s remains from her knees.
“Has everyone here lost their minds?” Percy said, standing again and shoving his hands through his dark curls. “I have no idea what’s happening.”
“Should we tell him?” Ariel asked Stella. “Will Arnie be okay with that?”
Stella closed her eyes and hung her head. “The more the merrier.”
Jack lifted Stella’s arm gently. “This needs to be cleaned. Stay here.” He rushed off to the bathroom and returned with two handfuls of wet paper towels.
Stella wiped her face and body. Jack removed a first-aid kit hanging on a wall nearby and pulled out supplies, then sat down beside her and cleaned the wound.
Peroxide bubbled on her skin, and Stella clenched her jaw and winced. “Is it bad? Do I need stitches?”
Jack shook his head. “Antiseptic and maybe a few bandages. It’s not deep.” He wadded up the soiled paper towels. Then he dabbed antiseptic ointment on the deepest sections of the cut before covering the wound with bandages and medical tape. “He’s not really dead, Stella. He’s gone back into his story where he will always be alive and roguish. I’m sorry you had to experience that, and I understand that it’s upsetting, but you didn’t really kill anyone.”
Stella nodded, but she had unintentionally killed a man, fictionalor not. There was a trace of comfort knowing Hook wasn’t permanently dead.
Percy paced the floor. “It sure as hell looked like someone died,” he said. “I’ve never seen a body do that. Explode into dust like that.”
“That’s because real people don’t do that, Percy,” Ariel said. She helped Stella to her feet.
Jack stood. “I’ll clean up the floor.” He pointed toward the sword. “And I’ll clean that and return it to its case in the archives. Why don’t you head on over to Arnie’s? Get some rest.”
“No one is going anywhere until I get some answers,” Percy said. Two angry lines formed between his brows. “Speaking ofthat”—he pointed at the bloodied sword—“a manwith a swordin his chest fell from the balcony anddied—”
“He’s not dead,” Stella corrected.
Percy pointed to the second floor as though they needed clarification. “You were in a fight with him up there? Andyoustabbed him? With asword?”
“Percy,” Stella said in exasperation. Her temples throbbed. “If you give me a minute to clear my head, I’ll explain everything. First I need to lock up the library.”
Jack grabbed the sword and walked off. Percy continued to stare, seemingly uncertain what to do next.
“Tell me how I can help,” Ariel said as she followed Stella to the circulation desk. While they walked, Ariel touched Stella’s arm. “I want to ask if you’re okay, but how could you be? Things have escalated drastically, but at least... at least Hook’s gone.” She grimaced. “Too soon?”
Stella wrapped her arms around herself. “I know it’s not real, but itfeelsreal,” she said, her voice still quivering.
“What was he saying to you at the end?” Ariel asked. “It sounded like he was talking, but I couldn’t understand him.”
Stella felt the prickle of tears again. “That he was proud of me.”
