“We have to look at the positive. That boat, we could use it. We could fix it up and get the fuck off this island, do you see that?”
I blink the tears away, staring at him. “We can?”
“That is a big boat, one sturdy enough to get us safely through the ocean. If we can fix it up using the lifeboat, and whatever else we can find on this island, we might be able to leave. It could take a while, but it’s hope, Grace, and it’s all we have.”
I nod, swiping away more tears.
“You gotta get it together.”
He’s right, I do.
“What about him?” I whisper, jerking my head towards the boat. “What...”
“Kellen, Zeke and I will deal with that. Let’s just get back and let them know what we found.”
I nod quickly.
“Hey,” Ace says again, taking my face in his hands. “You got this, Gracie. You know you do. We will figure this out. You have to pull it together.”
I take a deep, shaky breath. “Let’s go.”
“Atta girl.”
He helps me to my feet, and we begin our walk back to camp.
We make it back to camp in record time, branches clawing at my shins and raindrops flicking off the leaves as we push through the tangled paths. I almost run, wanting to be as far from the dead man as possible, outpace the memory of his twisted body and the sunken darkness where his eyes once were. Ace lets me lead, but keeps close, his hand sometimes on my back like a reminder that he is there, always.
We reach and everyone is there. Zeke and Rachel are building the fire back up, Kellen drags large logs out of the way, Aggie is hanging blankets up to dry and Tatiana is perched on a rock close by, trying to sew something together out of palmfronds. They all look up as we approach, and the moment they see our faces, concern washes over theirs.
“What happened?” Kellen asks, dropping the log he was dragging. “Look like you seen a fuckin’ ghost.”
“I mean, we kind of did,” I murmur.
He looks confused.
“We found a boat,” Ace tells him.
Even Rachel perks up at that. “You did?”
“Is that a good or bad thing?” Zeke questions, crossing his arms.
“It’s a good thing,” Ace continues, voice so calm you’d think this was just a routine report. “It’s been there a while, it’s in rough shape but it looks solid and I think we could do something with it to get off this island.”
Zeke grins, and it transforms his entire face. “Fuck yeah.”
“There’s a catch.” My voice comes out rough.
Aggie, who has now joined us, frowns. “A catch?”
“There is...well...ah, there is a body stuck under there,” I tell her.
Her mouth drops open and Rachel gasps.
“Well, someone had a really bad day,” Adrian mutters, crossing his arms. “Man or woman? Decaying? To what degree? Are we talking murder, or mother nature?”
“Adrian, do you ever think before opening your mouth?” Aggie shakes her head.
“Fuck you,” he mouths to her, literally mouths it.
