Taylor ducked down but kept her head above the pontoon. Behind them, the horizon burned with the dying light of day while the helicopter closed in on them.
"We're not going to make it." She looked back at Kam. He stood with feet apart bracing the waves and weathering the raging storm. This was who he was—driven to lead, to protect, to face danger head-on. She didn’t know why he bore the guilt of Max’s loss, but she could see it in him—the heart of a warrior, steady and scarred.
The island crept closer, but all she could see were sheer cliffs diving straight into the sea. No place for them to land. Kam seemed to know where they were going and that was enough to calm her nerves. The Zodiac began to turn to the left. Was that the port or starboard? She could never remember the difference between the two.
The sound of the rotors grew louder. Taylor could start to make out the outline of a pilot, but the wanning light was making it hard to see far. A figure leaned out the side of the helicopter, gun raised.
"Kam." Taylor wasn't sure if he could even hear her over all of the noise. The sound of the shot echoed off of the blades, which distorted it. The bullet buzzed past her head. Taylor ducked her head down then turned to see Kam fall forward.
She was on her feet, forgetting about the gunman flying towards them. Blood was soaking his white shirt. How many hits could Kam take before he lost consciousness? She pushed him up and he let out a groan.
Taylor tapped his face. "Kam. Stay with me. I don't know where we are going. I need you."
"Dutch Harbor." His head lolled forward and he leaned into her.
"Kam." She push him upright again. "Where is Dutch Harbor?"
"On the other side of the island."
She maneuvered Kam so that he was leaning against the frame next to the helm then turned back to face the wheel and panel. She should have paid more attention when Davin had taken them out on his boat.
Kam pointed. "Throttle is next to the wheel. Keep it up until you get close to the harbor."
Taylor's hands shook as she gripped the cold metal. “Hold on!” she shouted, voice shredded by the wind. The Zodiac launched off a crest, slammed back down, and sent a spray of icy water over both of them.
If they didn't die from her driving or the bullets, they might die from hypothermia. None of those deaths sounded like a good choice to her. A prayer lifted from her as she stared across the darkening waters.Lord, guide me.
Another shot rang out. The pain didn't come, but that didn't stop the shaking of her body though. The cold had seeped through her bones as her wet clothes only amplified the chill. Her hands felt frozen to the wheel, but she couldn't let go; she was the only one who could steer this thing at the moment. They rounded the end of the island only to be faced with a maze of rock and fog, but somewhere out there lay the harbor. Finally, in the distance, its lights faint and flickering like stars called her to safety. If they could just make it past the point…
A flare burst behind them, painting the waves blood-red for an instant. She didn’t look back. Couldn’t. The engine coughed, caught again, and the Zodiac surged forward, cutting through the dark toward salvation. Her eyes began to droop as the wheel jerked from her hands. Taylor stumbled towards Kam.
"Kam, wake up." She pressed her fingers against neck. His pulse was weak, but there. "Come on, Kambre. You need to fight." Her words taunted her as her own body fought to stay alert. Her teeth chattered hard enough she wondered if she would break one.
A loud horn blared and echoed off the rock formations. Taylor tried to pull herself up, back behind the wheel.
"This is the United States Coast Guard. Identify yourself,” came a commanding voice on the radio.
Taylor fumbled for the receiver. "Mmmaydday," was all that she got past her chattering teeth.
"The Stratton will be to your location soon. Help is coming. Who am I talking to?" The voice oozed calmness into her. Help was coming.
Taylor peered over the sides of the Zodiac. She couldn't see any lights from the helicopter. "I-I'm FBI agent Ttaylor Ertz. M-my partner has been h-hit."
Her eyes wanted to drift shut. She was so cold that she couldn't really feel anything anymore.
"Taylor, what's your status?" That voice kept pulling her back to the living.
"S-s-so cold. Just n-n-need to close m-m-my eyes."
"Stay with me, Taylor. Keep your eyes open for me. Tell me about what happened."
"Escaped…" The shaking was slowing down and she felt almost warm. She needed to get back to Kam. She couldn't let him leave her again.
Taylor let the radio go and slid back towards Kam. The voice was yelling from the radio, but she couldn't really make out what they were saying. She hefted her heavy limbs over Kam's torso.Lord, don't let him die.
Taylor was vaguely aware of being lifted onto something hard. She reached for Kam or at least she thought she did. "Kam. Stay."
Someone shone a light into her eyes and Taylor tried to push them away. Gentle yet strong hands tucked her in a cocoon which felt nice. Her jaw started to shiver again. Would she ever be warm again?
