come visit…
Phoenix26: You know I was. When can you come?
I instantly began planning all the things I wanted to do with her. Take the kayaks out, go whale watching. I wanted us to eat sandwiches at The General Store and go to Bell’s workshop at Second Chances. We’d have to do a huge barbeque so she could meet all of my friends.
Evergreenl3: I’m already here.
I glanced at the clock on the wall. It wasn’t even eight a.m. The first ferry didn’t arrive for another couple of hours, at least.
Phoenix26: Did you get here yesterday? Why didn’t you message?
Something was wrong. This wasn’t like E at all. She planned everything down to the smallest detail.
Evergreenl3: It was late. I just stayed at a little motel on Anchor. That’s the island closest to you, right?
Shelter was actually a bit closer, and it would’ve been easier for her to stay there instead of having to stay on the ferry even longer, but none of that mattered. E was here. Without warning. And that meant something was wrong.
Phoenix26: E, what’s going on? Where are you? I’ll come get you right now.
Evergreenl3: I can walk to the docks. That’s where you come into town, right?
Phoenix26: I’ll be there in twenty minutes.
I pushed to my feet, dumping my coffee in the sink. I needed to grab my phone and keys. Hell, it was something bad. E and I had become each other’s port in the storm years ago, sharing all the things we didn’t let anyone else in on. But I had started to let others in. Brody, my friends. I had a whole host of support now. I wasn’t sure that was the case for E. I might be the only one she trusted.
Evergreenl3: Thank you for always being there for me.
Phoenix26: Always.
I hurried to find a piece of paper and pen. I scrawled a quick note to Brody, telling him I’d gone to pick up E at the docks on Anchor and would be back soon. He’d be pissed I hadn’t woken him, but I knew Brody wouldn’t be crazy about me going into town alone. Better to ask for forgiveness than permission. I needed some time with E alone before I had her meeting a total stranger when she was obviously going through something.
I stuck the note next to the coffee maker where he’d surely see it and headed for the front door. I moved as quickly as possible down the trail, trying not to trip over any roots or rocks. As soon as I reached the dock, I realized my error. There was no way for me to get to the boat without signaling the alert linked to Brody’s phone.
I muttered a curse but hurried to the boat anyway. I’d just have to move quickly. I untied the ropes and jumped aboard. I started up the engine and pushed away from the dock. Hopefully, Brody wouldn’t be too mad.
I guided the Whaler away from Harbor and towards open water and Anchor. Picking up speed, I maneuvered the boat through familiar channels. Wind whipped my hair around my face and roared in my ears. The smell of the sea didn’t calm me like it usually did. I was too worried about E and nervous about how pissed Brody would be.
I didn’t hear a thing. Not until cool metal pushed against my lower back.
“Keep driving. Look straight ahead. Don’t move a muscle.”
Everything in me froze. My muscles stringing so tight they should’ve snapped. “W-w-what?”
“Keep driving.”
The voice was so familiar. I reached deep into my mind, trying to place it. But before I could, something sharp pricked my neck. I tried to bat it away, losing my hold on the steering wheel. I should’ve gone for the radio instead, tried to get off a distress call. But strong arms wrapped around me, halting my movements.
In seconds, I felt sluggish as if each of my limbs weighed one hundred pounds. “No…Brody…”
His name was the final word on my lips before I slipped under, and nothing but a sea of blackness surrounded me.
46
Brody
The beeping coming from my phone pulled me out of my deep sleep. I groaned as I rolled over, patting the nightstand for the device. My fingers closed around the cool rectangle, and I brought it to my face to see who the hell was interrupting the amazing dream I had been having.
The alert was from our dock cameras. I pulled up the feed, expecting to see our little seal friend using the dock as