James scoffed.
“Hey, man,” Grant said, pulling a sly grin. “I don’t agree with it. I’m just the messenger.”
“Yeah, sure,” James said. “Well, if you’re not going to be of any help, then tell me where I can speak with someone who is with the festival. I want to give my statement to them.”
“Be my guest,” Grant told him, as if he was inviting James to go for a swim. “They have a tent near the main stage where we’ve been told to report any incidences to.”
James turned without another word to Grant. He got as far as the corner of the dormitory building when he decided to include the names of the security guards in his report who were “just following orders.” If the island reps wouldn’t listen to him, the internet would have a field day with the mishandling of this whole situation.
But when he rounded the corner to head back north and looked toward the woods, no one was standing there anymore. James entered the forest, expecting to see the first guard standing just inside the trees. However, he didn’t encounter anyone for several yards.
Maybe they’re both in there with the body now,he thought, shuddering at the idea of seeing Ryan’s body in the bright lights of day. Rather, he wanted to rile up whatever drama was necessary to get the kind of reaction he felt was appropriate for this whole mess.
In daylight, James actually enjoyed walking the trail. The vegetation lacked the malice of night time, and instead embodied the natural beauty of the Bahamas. The cabbage trees hushed in the wind like crepe paper streamers. Alongside the trail shrubs shone like succulents James cared for back in his apartment, and larger bushes of green leaves with red veins grew alongside plants with tiny purple flowers that opened up like fireworks to reveal their tiny yellow stamens.
The heat of the day rose the temperature of the rock clearing ever so slightly, giving a deeper earthy smell to the warm rocks splattered with water. He could clearly see the whole area of the waterfall and the stones below it, and it was completely empty now. No guard stood near the body to prevent tampering—and no body lay below the water.
What was the first guard doing here, then?James thought.Was he really just preventing people from coming in here? Then why was Grant in here?
He spun around, recalling in high definition the details of the night before. Walking just to the right of the path, he found where he’d been standing next to Cassidy after his date for the night got boring. He relived overhearing Cassidy talking to Apricot about the video, trying to take the same steps he’d taken last night. Then, he remembered, she’d stepped past him, and he’d turned to follow her gaze. In turning now, he saw blue skies above the waterfall, but last night in the darkness he’d seen Ryan’s form emerge from the shadows. And then, Ryan’s foot caught on something, maybe a wet rock or his own ankle, and he fell. James winced, reliving the moment so vividly that he once again saw bits of bone and brain burst from Ryan’s head. None of which remained on the rocks now.
James rushed to the spot where Ryan’s body lay the night before, slipping on the rocks himself, and nearly falling on his ass. The rocks showed no trace of blood or bone in their crevices. Even following the weak stream for a few feet didn’t reveal any dark pools or white matter.
A cold chill washed over James as he realized with dreadful certainty what was happening here. His head turned so quickly to look over his shoulder that his entire torso twisted in the direction of the woods and then the trail, fearing he’d been spotted by whomever was behind the cleanup. If someone was watching from the woods, there was no way he hadn’t been seen.
With complete disregard for the slick rocks, James took off down the trail and back to the beach. No one awaited him on the warm sand, and for that, he was thankful. He sprinted until reaching the dormitory again and then pressed his back against the warm brick.
Had he been seen? Who was he running from? Where should he go? His head swam with questions.
Maybe no one was in there. Maybe they left to tell whomever that someone wanted to make a report and is stirring up shit, but they didn’t get my name and they don’t know who I am.
Then a thought birthed in his mind, beautiful and sudden as opening an oyster and finding a pearl inside.
And someone with the kind of information I have could really stir some shit up here. I came to this island looking for a way out of the magic game. I think I just found my exit.
“CanIgetyouladies a drink?” asked a voice from behind the bar. Edie lowered her menu, ready to ask for a black coffee, when she stopped short.
“Good morning. They’ve got you working harder than a donkey here, don’t they?” Edie asked. Austin’s smile faltered only slightly.
“What’s that?” he asked.
“Well, you were here yesterday afternoon and now they’ve got you back here again in the morning. Not much time off during the festival, is there?”
He laughed and shook his head.
“No, not really. But, if I’m being honest,” he leaned on his elbow and lowered his voice conspiratorially, “I would do this for two weeks straight for what they’re paying me.”
“Really?” Rose asked, setting her menu on the bar.
Austin stood upright again, smile taking up his whole face as he assessed the women.
“Man, I love both of your accents! Let me guess where you’re from.”
Rose eyed Edie over her sunglasses and began messing with her cell phone to signal her annoyance.
“That won’t be very hard since we played this game yesterday,” Rose said.
“We did?” Austin asked.
