Gwen had a plan; as she so confidently proclaimed to Pauline. Perhaps not well thought out, and could pose several terrible consequences. First, there was only one other person who knew of Skul and his potential crimes, James. Second, they needed manpower to save Peter and prove Skul was the criminal here. If she wanted justice, she needed the so-called 'good guys' on her side. It only made sense to ask James for help. She threatened him nevertheless.

James agreed far too quickly. For all the trouble he put them through, and his dismissive behavior since the beginning, he was strangely compliant. Perhaps he was guilty he almost killed Peter. Gwen's naivete wanted to believe deep down, he still thought they were friends. From the way he looked at her when she proposed them working together, it seemed more so. Despite everything, James was not a bad person, just misguided.

Peter, James, Belle and Crocker truly helped her realise there was no such thing as evil people. Only those who were misguided, or had ideals that did not align with her own. The same would be the case for Skul. He might have some absurd reasons, but they were reasons nonetheless. She banished the idea she had moments ago to kill him. She was too overwhelmed then. Now with her thoughts collected, she could see clearly.

One girl could only do so much. She was probably too young and unintelligent to decipher Skul's ideals. Though she had no capabilities to help Skul, she had enough to save Peter.

She would do as much as she could.

"There are six exits, four leading into the jungle, one to a helipad and another underwater," Crocker explained.

"The security system must have already been alerted. He has already made his move."

Belle had wired her computer into a security panel and was analyzing the security pattern.

"There are several traps along the way. I'll try to deactivate them, but if anyone gets shot, that's not on me," Belle stated, her hands flying across her keyboard.

They left Pauline and Belle with several men above. James promised if Gwen's allegations were true, they would alert the mainland officers. They entered the tunnels with Crocker and seven others. Belle's analysis was an understatement. The tunnels were riddled with traps. Without James and his men, they could have easily been taken down. James informed he had been to Skul's old lair in Lambeth once before. Judging from the uncomfortable look on his face, it was not a glorious experience.

Gwen was thrown to one side, as one of the operatives pushed her out of harm's way. A pulsating beam cut across her the air. They disarmed the lasers with precision shots. The sound of firing ammunition and the choking scent of smoke and fire filled the once empty and dank tunnels. With Belle's skills, Crocker's inside knowledge and the skilled team of special ops, they managed to avoid fatalities, although, Gwen had a nasty burn across her thigh from a merciless pulse beam.

Skul really enjoyed being extra.

"I believe he would most likely take the underwater exit. Seems below radar," James suggested. Crocker frowned.

"Maybe, but the submarine requires a longer startup, leaving him in an enclosed space for longer than necessary. An easy target," Crocker speculated.

The jungle would allow him to get lost easily. However, some men stayed back above ground. Stepping foot on the shores to hop on a boat would be suicidal. Unless he was planning on staking out in the forest, the operatives would still find him, eventually.

"We split into groups of four," James decided.

Splitting up would be the best option. They could never predict what Skul had in mind. However, Gwen had a nagging thought, the man was a sucker for theatrics. He would make this rescue dramatic.

"Crocker, and I will go to the helipad. You can come too, James, and bring one of them," She motioned to the ops.

James nodded and Crocker took off, leading the way to the helipad while the other men split into teams and went for the other exits.

Gwen's blood was pumping violently, her head cleared of all thoughts but one. Save Peter. They spiralled up an extensive set of stairs, Gwen almost missed her footing several times. Her injured ankle throbbed, but adrenaline propelled her forward. The stairs stopped at a door, which was already open.

The men readied their guns. Crocker burst through the entrance first, the rest of them followed. The wind was mercilessly blowing across the helipad, the sound of helicopter blades cutting the atmosphere was deafening.

"I knew you would find the right exit, Gwendy!" Skul exclaimed, peering from the pilot's seat.

Peter was beside him, unable to disobey his benefactor. The metal band on his neck gleamed. The helicopter was an inch off the ground. Without thinking, Gwen was running forward.

"Gwen!" She heard James shout.

Behind her, footsteps followed. The helicopter was two feet off the ground when she leapt into it, crashing into the seat. Her landing threw the helicopter off balance, it tilted and several briefcases smashed into her and her head smacked into the door. Her skull throbbed.

The helicopter tilted the other way in another jerk. It was at least five feet off the ground, but Crocker was hanging from landing skids. He pushed himself into the cockpit.

"James is dispatching the other helicopters. You'll be surrounded in minutes. Surrender and land," Crocker said, pointing his gun right at Skul's temple. His eyes however glazed over. Gwen realized Skul had locked him into his hypnotic trance. Peter too was quite affected.

Skul was grinning from eye to eye. "You've decided to leave me as well. What a pity. I'm guessing you need a dose of this too," Skul reached into his breast pocket.

"Hands where I can see them," Crocker warned, digging the gun further into his temple. He struggled to break free from Skul's hypnosis. He could not move his body.

"But you know shooting me would have no effect," Skul said, pulling out a syringe filled with pale yellow fluid. In fact, Crocker could not shoot him. His finger was frozen under Skul's trance.

Gwen rose to her feet, using the walls of the helipad for support. Skul was not manning the craft, it was on autopilot. The wind from the open window was driving her hair wild, obscuring her vision. Thankfully, Skul's hypnosis bubble excluded her. She was not in eye contact.

"Crocker, don't let him jab you with that. It's a toxin," Peter warned. He spoke through gritted teeth, as if in pain. The lights on the neck band were blinking. Sweat beaded his forehead.

The needle was already pointing at the flesh on his hand, Crocker forcefully tugged the gun away. But Skul was never aiming for Crocker all along. The second the gun left his head, he tilted his hand and went for Peter's neck.

Gwen saw the entire ordeal unfold in slow motion. Sounds muted from her ears.

It reminded her of Anna. The night she rushed to her apartment, everything moved too slowly. Her legs wading through mud. Two seconds too late.

Now again, she was a mere two feet away. Her feet were moving too slowly. She clenched her fists.

Not again. Never again.

Her blood roared in her ears, she screamed and threw herself between Skul and Peter. Time flowed once again. The deafening sounds of the helicopter filled the void.

She felt a prick on her skin.

"No!" Peter shouted.

There was a burning sensation coursing through her veins. It felt as if her body were turning inside out, her vessels collapsing. Her body thrashed violently. She let out a gurgled scream.

Skul's hypnosis broke. Crocker tackled Skul off the seat and manually brought the helicopter down. It lurched violently and made a harsh impact on the ground. The special ops had quickly surrounded Skul the moment they touched ground, grabbing him from the cockpit and handcuffing him, all guns pointed and ready. Crocker grabbed the neck band controller and smashed it to bits.

Peter pulled Gwen out of the cockpit, resting her on the ground. Breathing was painful, her entire body was on fire. Tears were streaming down her face.

She realized she was dying.

"The antitoxin! Where's the antitoxin?" James asked.

Skul smiled, "Let me go and I'll tell you."

Gwen, despite the pain stuttered, "D-Don't..."

Peter glared at him. "Screw you, Skul. There isn't an antidote is there?" Skul's expression did not waver.

"What if there is?" James said, desperate.

"D-don't you dare, l-let him g-go," Gwen hissed, blood trickling down her lips.

Peter looked frantic as he racked his brain for a solution. Suddenly, realization dawned upon him.

"Healing...," he muttered.

"Crocker, in the blue briefcase, hand me the vile!"

Crocker rushed into the helicopter and pulled out the briefcase. He shot the lock and within the case were five syringes, nestled safely within the cushions.

Skul barked out a laugh. The guns pressed deeper into his throat. "Would you really do that to her, boy? Share your eternity of suffering with her?"

Gwen let out a painful gasp. PXDST. Those vials contained PXDST.

Uncertainty wavered in Peter's eyes. Gwen's breathing was so slow, the corners of her vision darkened. She stopped feeling pain, numbness encompassed her muscles. She could barely move her mouth, but she forced herself to.

"D-do, it..." She managed.

"Wendy..." his breathing hitched, his eyes were glassy with tears.

He held the needle in his hand.

She weakly touched his forearm. If she died, what would happen to him? She would fail. Fail her goal to be by his side. Gwen swore to never break her promise. And that meant living. No matter what it took.

"As long... A-as we're t-together, I could d-deal with an eternity. A-all we n-need is faith, trust..."

"And pixie dust." A tear dropped from his eye as he plunged the needle into her neck. She gasped.

Her vision grew dark. What if it was the last time she closed her eyes? A sudden urgency overtook her. She held his gaze and said the words he stopped her from uttering the last time.

"I love you."

Peter vanished from her visions into a cloud of darkness, but she could hear his trembling voice, a mere whisper.

"I love you too."

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A/N: XD XD!!! The final stretch, let's go Lost Boys!! Leave a vote and comment!! Next update is coming soooon!