Page 182 of Johnny

facts. But something Johnny told me back inside? About those migrant camps? If he’s right, then what

I’ve been doing is just so much worse.

And I get it. Just the first part of that is bad. If Johnny’s right and the Way is using populations of

displaced people to test anti-aging drugs that I had a part in making, That’s evil and I’m still

responsible.

But it’s an innocent kind of responsible because my part wasn’t intentional.

This other project was one hundred percent planned, and plotted, and intentional. And if this new

information turns out to be true then… then I’m not Wendy at all.

I’m just Mrs. Captain Hook.

And when I tell him this—because I will have to tell him this eventually—what will he think of me

then?

I don’t know.

And maybe I’m just like him. I don’t deserve love, or trust, or anything good whatsoever. But what

kind of human would I be if I didn’t at least try to get some of that? And what kind of future do I have

if I just give up on the fairytale ending now, just when it presents me with this perfect partner in

crime?

The justification is weak. I get it. But here’s the other thing… if you don’t at least try to be happy then you might as well just jump down into that black hole of despair and get it over with. Just check

out and be done.

Choose your weapon and walk to your death on your own terms.

And I’m not quite ready to be done just yet so I’m gonna keep my mouth shut for now.

We take our time swimming around the back of the boat where there’s a submersible ladder to get

back on board using the swim platform. The dolphins are gone. Maybe we scared them away with our

evil midnight confessions or maybe they just found us boring and moved on, but the plankton is still

cool. The night is still magical. The future still bright.

Sort of.

He gives me hope, at least. I need a partner in crime. I really do. Because while I can take it, that’s

about survival. I don’t want to take it. I don’t want to be evil. I don’t want to be left in dungeons to

starve and die of thirst. I don’t want to kill people.

But like Johnny said—every story needs a villain and if you’re stuck playing that role, you might as

well embrace it.