They rushed out through the French doors, past the paved veranda, and onto the pathway that led to the cliff.
Fortunately, the territorial goat from earlier seemed to have bedded down for the night.
The full moon shone spotlight bright, glinting on the silica in the rocks, glittering on the dark ocean before them. They’d been on Little Esau for only about five hours, but it felt like a whole lot longer.
Their group got all the way before they saw it.
An orange glow, bright in the dark. A narrow runway of flames stretched into the ocean.
Plum froze in shock. Sofia and Marlowe bumped into her.
“It’s on fire.” Plum stated the obvious.
“No!” Sofia wailed. “I was going to call my mom!” She gave a sob, then yelled in anger at the fire blazing in the darkness.
“Impossible!” Sean shouted. He shoved through the others and took off down the cliff path.
Warix stopped next to Sofia. He let out a laugh. “You gotta admire it.”
“Admire what?” Shelley asked.
“The game.” He turned back toward the house. “Whoever the killer is, they’re one step ahead of us. Go ahead and go down there. Try for a signal. It’s going to be pointless, but go ahead. I’ll be inside.” He jerked his thumb back at the villa.
“He’s probably right,” Cici said. “But I have to see for myself.” The petite girl started down the path cautiously, wobbling on her high heels. She looked improbably glamorous, given the setting.
Shelley waited a few moments to give Cici the space she wanted, then also started down the path.
“I guess we should just make sure.” Sofia’s voice didn’t sound hopeful. “That there’s no signal on the beach?”
“Maybe if we wade into the water a little bit, we’ll get one?” Plum offered, trying to cheer up her friend.
Sofia sighed. “Warix is probably right, but we gotta make sure.”
Marlowe nodded.
The three friends trailed the rest of the group, slowly going down the path.
The dock burned brightly in the dark, mocking them.
“Pyre Festival,” Jude called back sadly. “Set the night on fire.”