Everland(30)

“Right,” Pete says. He gazes at me with concerned eyes. “Of course it would be her decision.”

I drop my chin to my chest and plop onto the closest cot. “I’ve already agreed to help. Let’s just get this over with so we can go get Joanna.”

“Who’s Joanna?” Doc asks.

“Joanna’s my sister. Hook has her,” I say. “Pete agreed to help me get her back and in exchange I agreed to helping you find an antidote for Bella.”

“He did what?” Doc asks, glaring at Pete. “Pete, do you know the risks you’re taking? There is no way you and Gwen will make it past Hook’s men alone. You might as well march right up to the palace doors and surrender.”

“You’re right,” Pete says. “Alone we wouldn’t get within a kilometer of Hook’s bunkers without being caught. That’s why I’m taking a team.”

“A team? You can’t be serious,” Doc says. He places his fists on his hips and watches Pete with a stone-cold stare.

Pete crosses his arms, undaunted by Doc’s rebuttal. “Sous is packing rations for us, and Blade is preparing our weapons.”

“Pete, you of all people know how dangerous this ludicrous plan is. No one has ever come back from Everland. Ever! They always end up in Hook’s lab. It’s one thing when you put your own life at risk, but are you really willing to risk the lives of other Lost Boys? Or Gwen’s? She’s the first healthy girl we’ve seen.”

The impact of his words strikes me hard, and the guilt is overwhelming. How could I endanger the lives of any of the Lost Boys for a problem that is all my own? It is my fault. I should never have left Joanna and Mikey alone with the Marauders so close to our hideout.

“Lost Kids,” Pete says smugly.

“What do mean, Lost Kids?” Doc asks, eyeing Pete.

“Bella is coming with us,” Pete says.

“Bella?” Shocked, I shake my head. “No, Pete, she’s much too sick to come with us. She should stay here where Doc can continue to treat her.”

“If I leave without her, she’ll just follow us anyway,” Pete says, sighing as he sits on the cot next to me. The springs creak in protest. He leans his elbows on his knees and gazes down at his calloused hands. “We’re family; we saved each other. She lost everything, everyone important to her, and I lost the only person important to me. Bella means everything to me. She’s my little sister. There’s no way she’d let me leave her behind.” Pete shoots Doc a glare. Doc looks away, unwilling to meet his gaze.

I’m surprised by this display of raw emotion but decide not to press him further.

“It’s true. She can be stubborn,” Doc says, rubbing his chin. “All right, I guess that means I’m coming with you. I’ll pack up my medical kit and stock up on her medicines.”

“No way,” Pete says, sitting straighter.

Doc scowls at Pete. “You think you can go gallivanting into Everland with a handful of kids and still care for Bella? She’s my patient. If she goes, I go. Someone needs to give her medications to her. I’m not going through the trouble of trying to find a cure for her only to have her die on a crazy mission with you.”

“You were not invited,” Pete says through gritted teeth. “You haven’t been outside of the Lost City in months. You have no idea what lies out there.”

Doc kicks a chair, sending it crashing to the floor. I jump, startled by the sudden outburst. He marches up to Pete and shoves him. “Blast it, Pete! Do you think I don’t know what’s out there? Do you know how many bullets I have pulled from those boys? How many wounds I have stitched up from the Marauders? Have you any idea how many boys have exhaled their last breath here in this very office? Don’t you dare tell me that I don’t know what lies beyond the walls of the Lost City!” Doc turns and opens a medicine bag, shoving supplies into it.

An awkward silence hangs heavy in the air.

“Look, just take your sample of Gwen’s blood and work on the cure while we’re gone. We’ll be back soon enough,” Pete finally says.

“Pete!” Doc roars. “A cure is no good if Bella dies.”

Pete grimaces, as if talk of Bella’s survival, or lack thereof, sears every cell within. “Then you should prepare a new medication for Bella before we leave.” When their eyes meet, Pete nods toward me.

Doc grunts. “I suppose you’re right,” he says. “That is, if Gwen is up for it.”

My hands shake. I sit on them, hoping to hide my terror. “I have to warn you, I am not fond of needles. My mother was a doctor, and she was always obsessed with vaccinating my siblings and me.”

“Vaccinating?” Doc runs a frustrated hand through his hair. “That could be why you’re not showing any indication of being infected with the virus.”

“That doesn’t explain why her sister is showing symptoms. If both of them were vaccinated, why is Joanna sick?” Pete asks.

“Your sister is showing symptoms? That doesn’t make sense.” Doc taps the glass lenses on his goggles. “Unless …”

“Unless what?” I ask.

Doc turns to me. “When was the last time she vaccinated you?”

“I don’t know,” I say. “She was giving us shots all the time. I guess the last one was just before the war started, right before my fifteenth birthday.”