“How do I get past the gate and onto the ship?” Barrie said, following the guard’s movement back and forth in front of the museum. “Without him noticing?”
The guard was positioned where he was sure to notice anything awry by the marina. From his vantage point, he could keep an eye on both the main museum and the ship.
“Okay, it’s just like that time we snuck into the skate park after dark, remember?” Michael said. “We’ll distract the security guard, then you can jump over the gate.”
“Oh right, the old ‘our parents forgot to pick us up; we’re helpless lost kids’ routine?” Barrie said, remembering how it always worked like a charm on security guards. They wanted nothing more than to prove they were useful. They loved helping lost kids.
Barrie smiled at his friends. All three had slipped back into their Lost Boys mode. This wasn’t the first time they’d snuck into a place where they didn’t belong.
“Yup, it’s genius,” John said. “Don’t tell me—you invented it?”
“Yup, sure did,” Barrie said. “It was my idea the first time we tried it.”
“Jeez, I still don’t remember you,” Michael said. “But I sure missed you.”
“Yeah, glad you’re back,” John said. “When you notice the guard is distracted, vault the gate. Just move fast. Not sure how long we can keep his attention away from the ship.”
“But only if you tell us first…” Michael added with a wicked grin. “How badly do you want to kiss Wendy Derry?”
“Shut up,” Barrie said, smiling in spite of himself. “I don’t like her.”
They all laughed.
Barrie waited while his friends approached the guard. He could see John even working up some fake tears to sell their “lost boys” story. He watched while concern spread over the guard’s face. He turned his back away from the pirate ship. This was his chance.
As soon as the security guard turned away from the marina, escorting Michael and John toward the main museum building’s entrance, presumably to help them contact their parents, Barrie leaped out of his hiding spot. Of course, Michael and John wouldn’t give him t
heir real names or phone numbers. Eventually, the guard would catch on—and be very unhappy.
But it should buy Barrie enough time to get onto the ship. He sped up to the gate, then clambered up the metal bars before flipping over the top and landing in a crouch. All those days perfecting tricks at the skate park were good for something. Not to mention all that time spent sleuthing around like the kid detectives in his mystery books, pretending to solve cases.
Barrie glanced back toward the main museum. The guard was still occupied with Michael and John. He’d pulled out his phone to call for help. But Barrie had to hurry; as soon as their parents didn’t pick up the phone, the guard would catch on to their prank. And Barrie would get busted.
He bolted away from the gate and down the gangplank. It swayed under his feet. Suddenly, his sneakers slipped on the wet wood. He plunged toward the side. He grabbed onto the rope railing. It seared his palms. His face was only inches from the water.
Tick-tock. Tick-tock.
That strange noise echoed up from the water.
All of a sudden, a dark shape darted past. It had a long, spiny tail.
Barrie tried to scramble back from the water, but his feet slipped again, almost sending him overboard. The wood was too slick. His heart hammered. He was terrified of the ocean.
Tick-tock. Tick-tock.
The shadow was still circling under the gangplank.
Finally, Barrie yanked himself back to his feet, using the rope railing. That was close. He still didn’t know what was lurking in the water—and he didn’t want to know.
One thought shot through his head.
If I get through this, then I’m spending the rest of my life on dry land.
With his heart pounding in his chest, Barrie sprinted the rest of the way down the gangplank, stowing away aboard the pirate ship. His feet pounded against the slick wooden deck.
Overhead, the masts loomed like wooden spikes, while the skull and crossbones on the black flag stared down at him. He passed the plank that jutted out over the ocean. Just looking at it gave him chills. The ocean seemed hungry beneath it.
He could hear Captain Hook’s voice in this head.