“Billy,” Slightly whispered to his friend across the chess board. He and Billy had learned to play while he convalesced in the brig. He liked it, but right now his heart wasn’t in the game and he only went through the motions.

“Hmm?” Billy glanced up after he moved his knight.

“Is there another key to the brig?”

Billy looked at his friend sharply. “No, Hook’s wearing the only one. He got rid of the copies a long time ago, since the men kept getting tricked into opening the doors for Pan.”

“I suppose Tink could pick the lock, if she got loose,” Slightly mumbled and absently moved another piece. “She’s good at that.”

“If she got loose,” Billy glanced around. “Cully, what are you thinking?”

Slightly smiled. “I’m thinking that I don’t care about myself anymore, but I do care about my friends down there. I won’t live with myself if I let them die. Hook will kill me if I let them loose. I’ve made my choice.”

Billy sighed, “You’d better make sure they take you with them when you go.”

“I’m not going,” Slightly replied.

Billy almost dropped his rook, “Why not?”

“Peter can’t fly. Even if Nibs can handle Peter by himself, Curly’s not strong enough to carry me. He’ll most likely need to help Nibs anyway.”

“Pixie dust,” Billy reminded, “The fairy’s here.”

Slightly shook his head, “I don’t think I’ll find a happy thought. I can’t feel much of anything right now, which is why I haven’t killed both Hook and Peter yet. It’s safer if I don’t feel anything for now. If I can do it, I’ll fly away, but I’m not counting on it.”

“How can you turn your feelings off like that?”

Slightly looked up and stared at Billy, and the deadness of his eyes made Billy’s heart skip. “Jason had lots of practice, and I’m remembering more of who I was once. Peter saved me from that, so I could live and be happy again. That’s why I have to help him. He’s been a total ass lately, but he saved my life and my soul once long ago. I owe him this much. I don’t want you to help me. I don’t want anyone else I love to get hurt. Make sure Hook knows you’re on deck the whole time.” Slightly moved his queen, “Checkmate.”

Hook heard his name being called and turned around. Jason stood behind him, nursing a bloody nose. “What happened to you?” he asked in surprise.

“Billy’s a sore loser,” Jason muttered, glancing back.

Hook looked at Jukes, who was sitting on the deck, holding his jaw. “Did he lose twice?”

Jason nodded, then his eyes crossed and he passed out. Hook knelt down by the boy. “JUKES!” he yelled, “What’s going on?”

Billy ran up and looked down at Jason. “He cheated, and I said so. He sucker punched me, so I hit him back. He knocked me down and went running to you. He’s being a brat… is he going to be alright?”

Hook called for Mullins to take the boy below. “He’ll be fine when we leave Neverland. He’s been under too much stress. Let him sleep for now, it’s his big day today.”

Slightly opened his eyes a crack when he heard Mullins leave. Once he verified he was alone, he sat up and climbed out of the hammock. Billy had done a better job of busting his nose than he’d hoped, and it throbbed painfully. I’m lucky he didn’t break it, I guess. Slightly had needed a reason to be left alone below, and this was the best he’d come up with. Finally, something went right. I hope my luck holds; I’m overdue for a good streak.

Quietly, Slightly slipped down the corridor and soon made his way to the brig. He grabbed a crate and pushed it under Tink’s cage, then climbed up and plucked it from the wall.

“Slightly?” Tink whispered. “What are you doing?”

Slightly didn’t answer. He broke the small lock on the cage with Billy’s knife and opened the door. “Can you pick the lock on the cell door?”

“I’ll try,” she replied and flew over to the cell. She reached inside the keyhole and began moving the mechanisms, muttering to herself.

Slightly stood nearby and looked into the cell. Nibs and Curly were sitting up and staring. Peter was asleep again, and he looked worse. With a muffled cry of delight, Tink sprang the lock. Slightly pulled the door open and quickly went to the two in the corner. Soon, both boys’ ropes were cut and the gags removed.

“Slightly! Thank you!” Curly gasped and reached for the boy.

Slightly jumped back and brought the knife up. “Don’t touch me. Help me with Peter.”

Confused, Nibs and Curly shrugged to each other and did what Slightly asked. Slightly made quick work of the ropes and they gently lifted the injured boy from the cot.

“You’ll have to carry him. Go straight to Chief Big Little Panther. He’s still bleeding inside, his stomach is swelling up. Panther can help him.”

“You’re coming with us,” Nibs insisted.

“No, I’m making sure they don’t shoot you down while you escape. Tink can dust me if she wants, but I don’t think I can fly.”

Nibs stared at Slightly, wanting to say something, to come up with a better idea to get them all away. But he saw what Slightly saw: there was no way they could carry both Peter and him. “Find another way to get off this ship. No one on the island will harm you now. Well come back for you, in case you don’t get away.”

Slightly shrugged, “It doesn’t matter, but I’ll try. Follow me.”

With Peter’s arms around their shoulders, Curly and Nibs followed Slightly to the step leading up to the hatch.

“Wait here. Hook’s wanting a party tonight, so everyone is cleaning or cooking,” Slightly instructed. “No-one should find you down here, not for awhile. Wait here for my signal, then fly for Peter’s life.”

Before either boy or Tink could ask what the signal was, Slightly climbed the ladder and stepped out on deck. Without looking around, he crossed the deck and headed for Long Tom. Billy’s gonna hate me. Along the way, he snagged the bucket of mop water that Smee was using. Without pausing an instant, Slightly poured the dirty, soapy water down the mouth of the cannon.

“By Blackbeard’s barnacles, what do you think you’re doing?” Hook bellowed when he saw Slightly foul the cannon. He dashed towards the boy, who took off running away from the hatch. “Catch him!” he yelled, and every man began chasing Slightly.

“FLY!” Slightly yelled when he ran out of room to run.

Hook heard the cry and realized his error. He spun around just in time to see the two boys fly up, Peter hanging limply between them. “NO!” he screamed and took a step towards the cannon. He stopped an instant later, remembering that Slightly had just rendered it useless. He turned back to face the boy and saw Tinker Bell hovering over the child, throwing pixie dust on him.

“Go, Tink,” Slightly said softly as he strained to lift off the deck. “I’ll swim if I can. Go to Peter.”

Tink nodded and flew after the other three boys. Slightly gripped the railing and pulled himself up. Before he could jump over, someone grabbed him and yanked him back onto the deck.

“Well, shit,” Slightly muttered when he was lifted to stare into Hook’s smoldering eyes. He’d never seen the man so angry. “I’m dead.” He wasn’t terribly upset at the thought.

“Yes, you are,” Hook growled, shaking with anger. “After all the consideration I gave you, Mr. Slightly, you repay me like this. I had Pan, wounded and caged, completely at my mercy. Why did you assist him? After all he’s done to you, why?”

“I died a long time ago. Peter gave me life,” Slightly replied as he began searching for that far-away place.

“And I’ll give you an exquisite death,” Hook promised. “Any last words?”

Jason’s eyes dulled and his face became stone as he sought the words to drive Hook beyond rage. “Checkmate.”

End Chapter 13