Page 58 of Lost Starlight
I nodded. Even though her family had caused her many problems, Michael was there, and he supported her. He’d make sure she was safe.
We finally reached the shore, and I pulled out my stash of pixie dust. Shadow and Stone were with us.
“You two can fly, right?” I asked them both again.
“Yes, the pixies showed us last evening, so we can,” Stone said, shoving Shadow’s shoulder.
“I did it once, but I find holding onto a happy thought difficult.”
“What are your happy thoughts?” I asked. Shadow was the loner of the lost boys. He was called Shadow, I’d realized, because he always stayed in the shadows. He reminded me a bit of Gwen in that way. He was timid, too.
“Cake. I remember eating strawberry cake once,” Shadow said, kicking sand.
“Oh yes, that is a good, happy thought.” I nodded. “You know, I am sure you could grow your own strawberries here, and make one.”
“What?” Shadow asked, his eyes surprised.
“Yes, my friend William loves fruit. I am sure he has some seeds we could leave with you all; that is, if you do not wish to leave this place. We could take you all away from here and back to a normal life if you want.”
“No, I wish to stay. But I do want the seeds.”
“Perfect. You fly with us, help us rescue the boys, and I will give you the seeds. Now, is that not even a better happy thought?” I asked with a smile.
Then, for the first time, I saw Shadow smile.
“That is a very good happy thought.”
Stone smiled at his friend. I sprinkled the pixie dust over the boys, and myself, as Dominick approached us.
“So, you just sprinkle that on yourself, and you can fly?” he asked.
“There is a little more to it. But essentially, yes,” I said, picturing Gwen, and I began to rise off the ground,Stone and Shadow following after. “Let’s defeat Captain Hook!”
“Let’s.” Dominick grinned and ran back to the shore where his men were waiting to pick him up.
Shadow, Stone, and I all flew across the sea to Captain Hook’s ship.
We flew up into the low clouds, trying not to disturb the crew. Peeking down, I saw Meria in the water. I looked to see if there were any shark fins, and realized that we were in the clear.
I moved down, flying to the boom of the central mast and stood upon it. Shadow and Stone were on either side of me. Looking down, I saw five boys locked in the cages that Shadow and Stone were going to unlock while I distracted the crew. With all eyes on me, I couldn’t unlock them. I hoped that after Dominick arrived, I would be able to track down the pixie and save it.
“Go to the cages and get to unlocking them while I distract these pirates,” I said to the boys. They nodded silently and made their way just out of sight, ready to work on the locks as soon as I had drawn attention to myself. Moving closer to the deck of the ship while still near the mast, I leaned too far forward, and before I knew it, I was falling, no happy thought in sight.
“Peter, huh?”
I awoke to a snicker, and my head hurt. Someone kicked me, and that’s when I remembered that I’d fallen, our entire plan was ruined by my stupidity. I was kicked again and took it; I deserve to suffer the consequences for my foolishness.
Someone pulled me up by my hair, and I winced.
“I asked, Ye name bePeter?”
I looked to see a man with a curly grey beard, long matted hair, and wrinkled, filthy skin. His teeth were black, yellow, and gold, and he had a hook where a hand should have been at the end of his left arm. It was Captain Hook.
I answered his question. “In the flesh,” I said with a smirk.
“The pixies have been buzzing about a ‘Peter.’ Ye come for the boys? They be mine.”
“They arenotyours—and you will surrender them to me.”
