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“Try them again,” Mike said. “Try the café number. It’s under Bliss.”
Beside him in the station wagon’s passenger seat, Daniel scrolled and pressed dial. “Engaged.”
“Still?” Mike was worried. “Can’t reach Morgan, can’t reach Rowena,” he muttered. The outskirts of the village flew by as he sped down the steep hill into Bannimor.
“Accident,” Daniel said abruptly, pointing to a car half off the road, pushed into the thick bush that covered the hillside. Mike slowed, but others had already pulled over to help. Rolling into Bannimor at the bottom of the hill they passed another accident. Again they slowed, but seeing the driver’s seat empty, kept going. They looked at each other. Mike blew out a short, exasperated breath, shaking his head. He was letting nerves get to him.
The roads around the café were unusually quiet. They found a parking space just a half block from the cafe. Mike locked the car, and with another look at each other, he and Daniel began to run. Mike didn’t know what he was expecting, but his hopes of normality shattered when they reached the café.
Bodies were strewn all over the floor. Rowena stood in the middle of the horrific scene, helplessly looking around. He recognised Ethan’s friend Amber near the counter, the cafe phone pressed to her ear. She was jigging in agitation. Her face was streaked with tears.
Daniel pushed past him to Rowena. Seeing him, Rowena’s face flooded with relief, and her eyes filled with tears as she stepped into his arms. Then without a sound her eyes glazed and she crumpled, falling against him. Daniel staggered under her weight. “Mike, help me!”
They eased her to the floor, and Mike felt for a pulse. He stared in disbelief at Rowena’s lifeless face, then looked at Daniel, shaking his head. Daniel stared at him in shock.
“No, Mike. No.” Daniel gathered Rowena into his arms, hugging her to his chest and rocked her, his cheek pressed to the top of her head. “It’s okay Rowena, I’ve got you,” he murmured through sobs. “You’ll be all right.”
Mike rose and strode to where Amber stood staring at Rowena, the receiver clutched in both her hands. “What the heck is going on here?” She blinked at him, clearly in shock. He pried the receiver from her fingers and lifted it to his ear to hear the disconnected signal. He hung up and dropped the phone on the counter.
“Amber?” She was staring blankly at Rowena again. “Amber.” He shook her by the arms until she looked at him. “What happened? What is this?”
“I don’t know.” Her voice shook. “Something’s happening. The beach...”
“Is Morgan here? Where is Skye? Are they here?”
Amber shook her head.
“Where are they? Amber, where are they?”
She pointed towards the waterfront. Then her eyes rolled up and she toppled forward. Mike caught her as she fell. He eased her to the floor and felt for a pulse, his heart thudding. No pulse. He swallowed, holding down nausea, and stood, turning back to his brother. “Daniel, I’m going to –” He froze for a split second, then threw himself to his knees at his brother’s side. Daniel lay prone, eyes staring sightlessly at him, Rowena still cradled lifeless in his arms.
Mike pressed his knuckles to his mouth, his eyes welling. Then he slowly rose and turned towards the window, staring across the empty road at the grey ocean under the sombre sky. He paced to the door and pulled it open. He hesitated in the doorway just a moment more, looking back at his brother and Rowena. Then he began to run, towards the beach, down the stone steps and onto the sand. He had no idea what he was doing apart from finding Skye and Morgan. He had to make sure they were safe. But now he stared in disbelief at the distant line of bodies and still standing figures. He took a step towards them before toppling, falling sideways onto the sand, his eyes open but seeing nothing.
