Page 64 of Caging Darling

Besides, tonight’s Victor’s shift to watch me.

We leave at half past two in the morning. Once we’re outside of the Den, Victor strays off our intended path.

“Where are you going?” I call after him.

He turns back, the wind making a mess of his unkempt black hair. “The boat. I’ll need to drag it from its storehouse to the beach.”

“It’ll be easier once we have Tink’s help,” I say.

Victor shakes his head. “We can’t afford to waste time. If you and Michael get Tink, I can have the boat ready by the time you get to the beach.”

My heart stutters, fear innervating my fingertips, keeping me bouncing on my toes. Intellectually, I know Victor’s plan makes the most sense. My anxieties don’t see it that way.

“Winds,” Victor says, nodding toward Michael. “We’ve got to get him out.”

I turn to my brother, examining the way he shuffles between the balls and heels of his feet, staring off into the dark canopy. He’s searching for the stars, though only a few peek through the leaves.

I nod, but by the time I look up, Victor’s already gone.

“We’re leaving tonight.”I shake Tink awake, Michael sleepily tugging on my hand. He’s been chanting Tink’s name ever since he recognized our path, thrilled to be going to see his friend.

I can’t blame him. I’ve been thrilled as well.

We’re getting out of here. We’re getting out.

There’s a part of me that feels guilty about leaving the other Lost Boys behind. But the last time I tried to get the other Lost Boys to escape…

Well, everyone who was there that night other than me and Michael are now dead. Simon. Nettle. John. I won’t risk Michael’s life for another hour on this island. Not even for Benjamin, Smalls, and the Twins. Even if I’m silently mourning them, guilt tamping my excitement about leaving.

Tink frowns at me, confused.

I don’t have time to explain to her why I can leave now. Nor do I think it would go over well if I explained.

When Peter told me that choosing him was doing whatever was necessary to keep myself alive, he’d unknowingly put me on this path.

The mark on the back of my neck is burning hot, has been for days now. We still have eleven months before I’m required togive Tink up, but as the days pass, the urge to get her back to the Nomad becomes ever stronger.

I don’t intend to hand her over. I don’t intend to betray my friend. But for now, getting Tink off the island and closer to the Nomad is working toward helping me fulfill my bargain.

The bargain that will kill me if I don’t deliver.

Peter hadn’t known it at the time, but by refusing to let me let myself die, he’d given me permission to leave Neverland.

“I’ll explain later,” I whisper. “Just pack your things and let’s get out of here.”

Tink laughs at me silently, then presses her hand to my palm. I help lift her off the ground, then read the tiles she gave me. “WHAT THING-S?”

As we racethrough the forest toward the beach, the shadows race with us. It’s John’s wraith who joins us first. “Slowpoke,” he jokes with me, nudging me in the arm.

He doesn’t take off ahead, like he’d do if he was alive. If he was really him.

I don’t mind.

Soft earth and moss absorb the sound of our footsteps, and John warns me of fallen branches hidden by the night. He keeps us from stumbling, from tripping.

At one point, Michael reaches out toward him, and John’s wraith flinches with surprise.

“Do you think he can see me?” John whispers.

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