Everland(69)

“It doesn’t explain why you stayed here,” my sister says angrily. “You abandoned us! Why didn’t you come for us?”

My mother closes her eyes and covers her mouth, holding back a sob. “At first, I tried everything I could do to escape,” she says. Another flash of pain erupts across her pale face. She shakes her head, taking in a breath, and her eyes meet mine. She is calm and composed now, setting aside her own emotions. Just like in the days before the war, she is the image of stability, strength, and fortitude. Everything I have tried to be.

“I only discovered the secret room and tunnels six months ago. By then I knew my best chance of finding you was to stay here. Hook was bringing a dozen children in every few days. I hoped it was only a matter of time before you would show up. If I had left to find you and Hook captured you, I would never have known.”

Unable to take my stare off the emblem on my mother’s lapel, a profound ache ensnares me. “What about Dad? He never came for us either,” I say in a soft voice.

My mother refuses to meet my gaze. “I haven’t heard from him since the day he was deployed. I can only assume that he’s … that he didn’t make it.”

My heart splinters into tiny, searing shards. Although I knew the truth, something, a fragment of hope inside me, willed for him to be alive. But if my mother believes he’s gone, what hope is there that he made it at all? Joanna turns her head into my shoulder and weeps.

“I think we should go now,” Pickpocket says, gently patting my sister on the back. “We’ve got the girls back and the Professor. Let’s get out of this hole.”

“Agreed,” Pete says. “We need to start back to the Lost City.”

Pete starts to turn toward the infirmary and we follow him, but my mother does not move.

“Mum?” I ask.

The blood drains from her face.

She covers her mouth. “Did you say the Lost City?”

“Yes, that’s where we’re from,” Pete says, gesturing to Pickpocket. Pete’s brow furrows as the alarm in her expression seems to register. “What do you know?” he asks urgently.

My mother closes her eyes tightly and shakes her head. “The Marauders have captured the Lost City.”

“No, that’s impossible,” Pete argues.

My mother’s hands tremble. “Hook has apprehended someone who knew the Lost City’s location. They took everyone they could find and now they’re burning down what’s left of Everland so that there is nowhere for anyone to hide. The Lost Boys are locked in the ballroom, and he’s gathering all of us in the courtyard to leave Everland tonight.”

The muscles in Pickpocket’s face harden, his cheeks flushing bright red. “No one knows where the Lost City is. Who could have told him?” he asks through clenched teeth.

“I don’t know,” my mother says. “They didn’t tell me anything else.”

“It doesn’t matter who told him,” Pete says. “We’re getting those kids back.”

An icy chill races up my spine. I feel like I’ve fallen into the Thames during the dead of winter. I place a hand on Pete’s arm. He turns to me, his gaze sizzling with anger.

“Mikey,” I say, his name catching in my throat. You look after my brother and I’ll keep my eye on yours. Dozer’s words come flooding back to me. I briefly hope that Dozer and Mikey escaped, but then where would I begin to search for him?

“Mikey’s here with the others,” my mother says.

“What are we going to do? How are we going to get him back?” Joanna asks, worry lining her doll-like face.

Pete sheathes his dagger. “We are not abandoning any of the Lost Boys. Pickpocket and Mole will come with me. Lily, you take everyone else north.” He faces me, his jaw rigid. “I’m rescuing all of the Lost Boys, Mikey included.”

“I’m coming with you,” I insist.

“As are we,” says Doc from behind us. He watches us, weariness mixed with steadfast determination masking his face. Behind him, Mole smiles next to an ashen but alert Bella. I feel my jaw drop, and I’m astonished by her sudden burst of energy. I wrap my arms around her, burying my nose in her hair.

“Bella?” I ask. “You’re okay!”

“I’m much better than a half hour ago,” she says, snaking her arms around my waist.

Lily steps toward Doc. She glances at Bella’s hands. Each finger is neatly wrapped in thin bandages, allowing Bella to slip her medicated gloves back onto her hands.

“Nice job, Doc,” Lily says, smiling shyly at him.

Another grin grows on Doc’s face. “Fortunately, Bella’s received great medical care. I merely followed up, although I haven’t ever seen her bounce back so quickly. I think this new formula with Gwen’s antibodies is the real deal, but we never would have been able to help her if you hadn’t kept her alive.”

Lily drops her stare to the floor and she blushes. “It was my pleasure.”

I see a flash of admiration in Doc’s eyes as he smiles timidly at Lily. My heart swells with hope for the brokenhearted Lost Boy. Since he has loved and lost once before, I wonder if another could mend his heart. Another like his first love, Gabrielle.

Pete, noticing the flirtatious exchange, glowers at Doc as he helps my mother to her feet. She looks resolved.