Peter stood, his fists resting on his hips. Automatically, Wendy’s eyes went to the ground beneath Peter—but, of course, it was nighttime and they were standing in the middle of the woods. There wasn’t enough light to check for his shadow. Wendy’s stomach gave an uneasy twist, but Peter’s expression was confident.

“After what you did to it?” He waved a hand dismissively. “That shadow is too cowardly to try messing with you again.”

The air shifted, the tension easing with relieved sighs and slumping shoulders.

Benjamin, however, still had the same bug-eyed look of astonishment on his face as he stared at Peter.

“Ben—?”

“Are you Peter Pan?” he blurted out.

Wendy froze. She looked at Peter.

“Who?” He glanced around, pointing a finger at himself. “Me?” His head tipped back and he let out a sharp laugh. “Of course not!” Slowly, he lifted off the ground, hovering in mid-air. Hands on his hips, head cocked, and eyebrows raised. “Everyone knows fairy tales aren’t real.”

Benjamin stumbled back, eyes bulging.

Sounds of shock and amazement went through the group. Their faces lit up with smiles.

Peter threw Wendy a wink. A slow smile curved her lips.

“Hello?” A distant voice rang out, causing everyone to jump. Alex was suddenly latched to Wendy’s leg.

Far off, beams of light cut back and forth among the densely crowded trees. Voices bounced around the woods, accompanied by the soft thuds of footfalls and rustling underbrush.

“Is anybody out there?” another voice echoed.

“The search parties,” Wendy breathed with a sigh of relief.

Peter landed soundlessly at her side. “I can’t let them see me,” he told her.

“No—you need to go,” she told him, already pressing her hands to his chest.

Peter hesitated, a mixture of emotions flickering across his face.

Wendy felt it, too—the unwillingness to leave his side—but it was going to be a very long and complicated night, and Peter’s involvement would just make matters worse. Wendy gave him another gentle push. “Find me after,” Wendy told him firmly, her fingers gripping the front of his shirt.

It took another moment, but Peter sucked his lips between his teeth and gave a curt nod. His T-shirt slipped between her fingers, and he flew off into trees.

The flashlights got brighter, joined by more voices and footsteps.

“We’re over here!” Wendy called, waving her arm and squinting into the lights.

CHAPTER 22

Found

It seemed like only minutes before the entire clearing was filled with people. Their vehicles couldn’t make it all the way in because of the dense trees, but they pulled up to the nearest logging road. Paramedics and cops swarmed Wendy and the children, asking questions and checking to be sure they were all right.