94 DAYS UNTIL THE AUTUMNAL EQUINOX
“Followed?” Skye’s body twitched as she fought the urge to look behind her. “By what?”
“Not what. Who. I think it’s a person. Maybe Lana. Maybe more than one person. I don’t know. My guess is that they’re scared and keeping their distance until they figure us out. I just wanted you to know, okay?” I fought the urge to grab her and run, even though there was nowhere to go.
Eyes everywhere, I thought. Mine stayed wide open.
I kept my hands to myself. Instead, I winked. “Once your wingman, always your wingman.”
Zane coughed. “Okay, lovebirds, let’s get a move on before something decides to make us a snack. I’ll feel better when we hit the City.”
“Echo that.” Thad nodded once then turned to me. “You’ve got the rear?” he asked, his eyes sharp. He was really warning Watch your back. He knew we were being followed too.
I nodded.
We climbed single-file down the south cliff, toward Black Bay. Narrower than South Beach, Black Bay lounged between two steep cliffs, like the ocean had scooped out a massive arc of rock, leaving a curved beach arching inward and lined with trees. At the heart of the bay, the scrub thickened. Trees gathered in awkward clumps, perfect places for things—both deadly and docile—to hide.
Without discussion, we hugged the water. In the fading afternoon light, coal-black sand glittered in the surf. Larger rocks littered the bay, visible through the clear water, their black tops repeatedly painted with froth. Black on black, the bay was a dark place, especially at night.
Thad strolled beside and slightly behind me. He kept glancing at the trees to our right.
For my part, I kept a close watch on our back. We hadn’t lost our invisible shadow yet. I still felt him—or her.
My money was still on Lana.
“Thad’s almost as observant as you,” Skye said quietly, and sighed. “He’s really struggling. He’s been away from Nil for so long. I can’t imagine what he’s thinking right now.”
“My guess is that he’s thinking about Charley. He met her here. On this beach.”
“I didn’t know.” Sympathy flashed through her eyes, and understanding.
I shrugged. “No way you would. Before your time.” Skye knew so much about Nil, more than I did, that sometimes I forgot she didn’t know everything. That there was a past here she didn’t live, didn’t read. Didn’t know.
Up ahead, Paulo, Zane, and Kenji walked a few meters apart from one another, not talking. Everyone seemed lost in their own heads. Or maybe that was just me.
Nil air wrapped around us, cool and salty. Even our breath came at Nil’s mercy.
Three months, I told myself. Ninety days.
Merde.
So much time, too much time. So much could happen in one day. It already had.
Look around. Pay attention.
All I could see was Skye; all I could feel was Skye. Beside me, in my head. In my soul. Talk about an epic blind spot. Shaking out my fists, I worked to control my breathing, knowing I needed to get my head clear or I’d get us both killed. Or miss something important that could help—or hurt—us later.
I wrenched my head back into Nil’s game.
Skye was still watching Thad walk alone.
“I feel terrible that he’s here,” she said. “Even though I know it’s not my fault, it feels like it is.” She sighed. “And I think he’s still upset with me.”
“No, he’s not. He’s in shock. At being here, being back. But he’ll get over it soon.” I thought of his clear eyes back at the tube-side grave after he’d pulled himself together, and the way he now methodically swept the trees. “I think he already has.”
“Really?” Relief mixed with curiosity in her tone. “How can you be so sure?”
“Because Charley’s safe.” This answer poured out without thinking.
Thad’s worst-case scenario hadn’t come to pass. But mine had. Skye was here, and I couldn’t protect her. Nil had driven that lesson home, hard.
“It’s going to be okay,” she said confidently. She didn’t have to read my mind to know my fear. “We’ll make it.”
Of course she believed that. She was as optimistic as her dad, but this was Nil we were talking about. Plus, this Nil was more cruel, more vicious; Paulo had said so himself. And it was this crueler Nil that had pulled her back.
I spun toward Skye, taking her hands in mine, needing her to listen.
“Look, Skye, I hate that you’re here—”
“I know—” Skye started, but I kept talking as if she’d never spoken.
“—but you are. We are. And as much as I hate to admit it, I can’t protect you, not here. Not against Nil. God knows I’ve tried, but I can’t. So I’m only going to ask you once. Please don’t do anything reckless, or alone. Think about things before you do them, okay? Come to me. We’ll do this as a team. Seriously, don’t do anything stupid.”
“Like drink deadsleep tea?” She raised her eyebrows.
“That was different,” I said flatly.
“Was it?”
“Yes.”
She crossed her arms. “I promise I won’t drink deadsleep tea if you won’t.”
Her fierce gaze held mine.
“I really do think it’ll be okay,” she said quietly.
“I know you do.” My tone was flat. Beneath it roiled emotion too strong to let out. “I just hope you’re right.”
Leaving the black sand, we threaded through the trees, making for the shortcut through the cliff. A black slice marked the entrance, an opening dusted with diamonds and light.
I paused at the entrance. A shadow shifted on my right, at the edge of my peripheral vision. Tensing, I turned.
Nothing was there.
No one, no thing.
Still, the sense of being watched clung like a shadow. Person, thing, or animal, Thad had questioned me earlier. Person, my gut said. Animals wouldn’t stalk this far. My gut also said that Lana had followed us after seeing us fly past her cave. Then again, it could be anyone behind us. But whoever they were, they were hesitant. Skeptical, maybe even suspicious. Probably a newbie, unsure of us and our motives.
Which basically were to stay alive.
I turned around and addressed the trees and open air.
“Lana, if that’s you following us, it’s cool. We’re going to the City, a place where you’re welcome to stay or just visit if you change your mind and want some company. But just so you know, there is no you and us, no dividing line. We’re all islanders now. All just people, fighting to survive long enough to get home.” I paused, hearing the bitterness in my own voice, feeling a Nil déjà vu from a similar argument with Maaka. “And if you’re not Lana, if you’re someone else following us, that’s cool too. You’re welcome in the City anytime. We have food, information, and a plan to get home, all of which we’ll share with you. But word of warning: we don’t appreciate raiders or thieves and we protect our own.” I fought not to look at Skye.
“And stay away from the meadow,” Skye added with extra sweetness. “Until the crescent moon rises over the heart of the island. Then we’ll see you there.”
That’s my girl, I thought. A clever way to let whoever was watching know that she knew as much about the island as they did—if not more. A warning and a lifeline, wrapped in one.
“Come on.” Skye grabbed my hand. “Everyone’s already gone. Let’s go meet Paulo’s new friends.”