Everland(36)

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.”

A groan rumbles through the crowd. Justice beams. Scout rolls his eyes, turns, and walks away, adjusting his weapon at his hip as he travels down a darkened tunnel.

Jack faces Pete, eyeing him sternly. “What’s this about, Pete? You can’t just take off with our best Scavengers. Do you know how long that will set us back? We’re already running low on supplies.”

Pete steps toward Jack so that they’re nearly nose to nose. “We’re going to Everland.”

A collective gasp echoes through the cavern.

“You’re kidding me,” Jack says, folding his arms. “This is a joke, right?”

Pete stares him down. “Do I look like I’m joking?”

Jack shifts uncomfortably. “You’re scavenging in Everland? That’s against the bylaws. Do you know how dangerous that is? No one ever makes it back from Everland.”

Pete doesn’t break his stare. “We will make it back.”

“You’re a fool!” Jack says, stabbing a finger toward Pete.

“Some things are worth risking everything for,” Pete replies, unflinching.

Jack throws his hands in the air and takes two steps back. “Whatever. You’re the leader. Completely mad, but still the leader.” Jack spins on his heels and starts back to the stock room, cursing under his breath.

“I’m going after Hook,” Pete announces.

A hush falls over the boys.

Jack abruptly stops. Slowly he turns. “Hook?”

Pete’s grin grows wide. “Hook has Gwen’s sister. We’re breaking into Buckingham Palace to get her back.”

The corner of Jack’s mouth twitches into a lopsided smirk. He pushes either side of his coat back, revealing a belt with an array of tools, buttons, and switches on it. “You’re right, Pete. Some things are worth risking everything for. I’m coming with you. I’ve got my own bone to pick with Hook.”

Pete nods, gesturing at Jack’s tool belt. “And that is why we call you the Jack of All Trades. Every great adventure could use a Lost Boy like you. Glad to have you along.”

Jack clasps Pete’s hand and gives it a firm shake. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ll go check and see how the boys are getting on with Blade.”

“Thanks!” Pete says, and pats him on the shoulder as Jack heads toward the weaponeer building.

Pete faces the rest of the Lost Boys. “Justice will be your interim leader while we’re away. I know you boys will show him the respect you show me.”

The boys cheer and slap Justice on the back.

“I won’t let you down, Pete,” Justice says, adjusting his goggles.

“I can’t think of a better suited Lost Boy than you,” Pete says. He leans in close to Justice’s ear. “Try to go with your gut, kid. Not by the rules.” Pete snatches the spiral notebook from Justice’s shirt pocket and stuffs it inside his own coat. Justice’s mouth gapes open, but he says nothing.

“Gabs, take Justice to the map room and give him a rundown on his duties. Everyone else, clear out! The party is over. Get back to work,” shouts Pete. The boys scatter, taking up their work posts.

“Sure thing, Pete,” Gabs says, tugging on Justice’s arm. “Come on, Justice. You’re gonna like the map room. It’s got this ginormous map that sort of looks like a treasure map only not really. Instead of where a treasure might be, X marks the spot where the Scavengers have been. He’s got a fan that spins when you pedal the footplates, but you have to pedal really fast or otherwise it doesn’t cool you off. And there’s an inkwell, which holds three different color inks, if you had ink to put in it. I like to squeeze my beets in there since I don’t like beets all that much. There’s also a …” Gabs stops and twists back toward my brother. “Well, aren’t you coming, Mikey?”