Paul checked his phone,
the signal blinking monotonously. It hadn’t moved since midday, but now appeared to be travelling inland.
‘How long?’ he asked Chakrit.
‘Soon, soon,’ the man replied sleepily, reclining on the deck and smoking another cigarette. ‘Half hour or so.’
‘It looks like they’re on the move,’ said Paul.
He nervously scratched the fat neck of the pug. Docile, chubby and constantly craving attention; it reminded him of Ana.
The moonlight cascaded across the rippling sea. Under different circumstances it would be beautiful. Rachel would be taking photos for her Instagram and cooing over how lovely it was. Ana would be whining about putting their phones away and enjoying it with their eyes.
‘When are you ever going to look at those photos again?’ she would say. She was a real pain in the arse sometimes. But she was Rachel’s sister, so he had to put up with her. The trip had been his idea. He had planned it to get away from Ana and her melodrama. So she couldn’t handle the
pressure of being an adult. Big deal. Sink or swim. She had tried to kill herself. So what?
‘Look, she needs professional help,’ Paul had suggested to Rachel. ‘Taking her on holiday with us is just going to be a drag.’
They had a huge fight about it, the kind that ended in Rachel storming out of the house, telling him she was going to stay with Ana. Paul had been pissed. So pissed, in fact, that he called his ex and spent the night with her. Just one more indiscretion that Rachel was unaware of. Silly cow. He decided there and then to dump her when they got back to Scotland. They had been together almost a year now, and that was more commitment than Paul was used to.
Still, think of the sex he would get tonight for rescuing her. She wouldn’t be able to say no to anything.
‘You smiling? Happy?’ asked Chakrit.
‘Just passing the time,’ he said. ‘Just passing the time.’
‘You think Paul will come?’ asked Ana. She was out of breath and stopped for a moment to lean against a tree, spreading her legs slightly to ease the pain where her thighs rubbed. Rachel stopped too, happy to rest for a while. They had been hiking uphill for what felt like hours but really could only have been thirty minutes. The jungle was an oven, the trees refusing to let the night chill enter their domain, and the ground underfoot was treacherous. Marshy terrain gave way to streams, which in turn led to knotted roots and razor sharp grass. The worst thing was the light, or lack of it. Moonlight occasionally muscled its way through the leaves, but mostly they were walking in pitch black. At
any moment they could step off a cliff edge and not know until the inevitable.
It was why Ana had insisted Ricky go first.
‘He’ll be on his way,’ said Rachel. ‘Thank goodness for that tracker app. Knowing Paul, he’ll have commandeered a cruise liner and he’ll be standing at the front in a sailor’s cap and smoking a pipe.’
‘Yeah, then he’ll be all “I rescued you Rachel. Now bend over and let me fuck up the arse. You owe me this much.”’
‘If he can get us off this island, he can fuck me anywhere he wants.’
‘Fair enough,’ agreed Ana. ‘I bet he’s thinking the same thing right now.’
Rachel launched into a spot-on impersonation of Paul. ‘You know Rach, anytime we’re apart, just look at the moon, and you’ll know I’m looking at the same moon and thinking about taking you up the shitter.’
‘And I thought romance was dead.’
Rachel smiled. It felt good to do so. She took her sister’s hand. ‘I’m scared, Ana. I’m fucking terrified.’
Ana squeezed her back. ‘Me too. But if I had to be stuck on an island, I’m glad it’s with you.’
‘What are you two doing back there?’ shouted Ricky.
‘Fuck off,’ Ana shouted back, hearing him fighting through the undergrowth. ‘I’m sorry for what I—’
Rachel put her hand to Ana’s parched lips. ‘Don’t. Don’t apologise for anything. I’m the one who’s sorry. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you. I’m—’
‘Guys, seriously, come on! I’ve found a road!’
Rachel sighed and Ana pulled her towards her and hugged her tight. ‘I love you,’ she said.
‘Love you more,’ said Rachel. ‘Come on, let’s see what that asshole is talking about.
’
They tramped their way up through the vegetation until they caught up with Ricky, his neon paint catching the moon’s rays. He stood by the remains of a track, only noticeable by the way the trees parted to allow access. Once upon a time it had been used by vehicles, for the middle section was completely overgrown, but on either side was a deep groove that bore traces of wear and tear.
‘There’s only one place this could lead,’ announced Ricky.
‘How’s your arm?’ asked Rachel. He held it up for them to see. The blood had stopped at least. It had coagulated around the wound, forming a crusty red shell. ‘Is it sore?’
‘Hurts like hell.’
‘Then let’s get moving. You first.’
‘I knew you’d say that.’
Ana listened to the easy-going banter between them and once more debated internally whether to tell Rachel about Ricky. She decided now was not a good time.
Let’s get off this fucking island first.
She looked out to sea from their new vantage point. She thought she could see something in the distance, near the horizon. A light?
‘Ana, come on. We can’t be far now. It’ll be quicker if we stick to the track.’
‘Okay,’ she said, only half-listening. She glanced back, but the light was gone. It must have been her imagination.
