a jolt of fear and dragged his gaze away. He’d escaped from the ship just in time. Now he could grow up and join his friends in junior high in the fall, and eventually in high school, like Rita. He didn’t care if it involved algebra and SAT prep classes, as long as he got to keep his friends. That was all that mattered.
He’d do a million math problems to keep Michael and John in his life.
That thought kept Barrie going, even as his arms burned from swimming and fighting against the waves. He finally reached the shore, climbing out and dragging himself onto the rocky beach.
His legs wobbled as he stepped onto the pebbles. It felt like he was still out at sea, rocking on the pirate ship, even though he was standing on dry land.
He climbed up the embankment and clambered onto the sidewalk, dripping a trail of water behind him. The marina was mostly deserted now. It was late. A thin sliver of moon hung in the dark sky.
He expected Michael and John to burst out of hiding and greet him. Now that he was safe, he was excited to recount his adventures battling Captain Hook. It was like one of their video games, except this was real.
He looked for Rita’s car, which should be idling by the side of the road. She’d be annoyed that he was late, but mostly relieved that he was okay. Not because she cared about him—but because their parents would definitely ground her if she lost her brother at the marina.
The last thing she wanted was to get grounded and not be able to smooch Todd.
But there were no signs of Michael and John, or Rita and her car, which was easy to spot due to its bright blue paint. In fact, the whole marina was eerily deserted. Streetlamps shone down, creating pools of light. The streets were empty. The shops were all closed.
How long was I on that ship?
Barrie racked his brain. He couldn’t be sure, but it wasn’t more than two hours. Right?
“Michael! John!” Barrie called, searching the marina. “I made it—our plan worked. You can come out now!”
But still nothing.
Where did they go?
He scanned the area again for any sign of his friends. Then he tried again. “Hey, I’m right here. You can come out now—”
Suddenly, a dark shadow fell over him.
“Kid, what’re you doing out here?”
Barrie whipped around, expecting Captain Hook. But his eyes fell on—
A security guard.
He breathed a sigh of relief. This was a different guard from the one who had been patrolling the marina earlier. He was tall and skinny with a bushy mustache and a Pirates baseball cap.
“Hey, kid, the museum’s closed,” the guard said, glowering at him. “You can’t be out here. Especially in this storm.”
Overhead, the sky crackled and rumbled with lightning and thunder.
“Sir, I’m lost…and my ride isn’t here for some reason,” Barrie said. “I need you to help me get home.”
The guard looked suspicious for a moment, but then he softened. “Okay, kiddo. What’s your parents’ number?”
Barrie recited their numbers by heart and waited while the guard tried them.
I was probably just on the ship longer than I realized, he thought. He had lost consciousness, after all. Most likely, Rita had taken Michael and John home before they missed their curfew. She’d come back and get him. But Barrie was freezing and soaking wet. He didn’t want to wait for her. He wanted to go home now. Nothing sounded better right now than his own bed.
The guard waited while the phone rang. Then, he lowered it from his ear.
“Kid, there’s no answer at these numbers,” the guard said, disconnecting the second call. “Look, I’m not falling for this prank again—”
“Sir…it’s not a prank,” Barrie stammered. “I swear I’m really lost. The storm probably messed up the phones. Look, please gimme a ride home.”
The sky was still thick with clouds. Lightning pulsed, illuminating the bay at random intervals, while thunder rocked the ground. Wisps of rain pelted the marina, whipped up by the wind.