Page 4 of The Curse Breaker

For so long she had wanted to find the island, and now she was here and suddenly she had more questions than answers.

How do I explain who I am? she kept wondering. She’d already explained that she went by Benny, not Everly, but that wasn’t even half of it.

Benny was Evelyn Terry’s great-great-great-great-great-granddaughter. And she’d come here following clues Evelyn left long ago; it was all part of a game Benny had to play in order to inherit the Terry fortune.

The will stipulated Benny had to find the island—which nobody could see, and which didn’t appear on any maps—by June 12, 2025.

Benny had done that, with the help of her friends Zara and Ryan (before Ryan tried to double-cross her, that is), and a cranky local fisherman (who she now knew was…an immortal pirate?).

She had also just figured out the real reason why her ancestor had set up the game: so Benny could save Evelyn’s friends, who’d been trapped on the island by a curse since 1825.

It was clear that they thought it was still 1825. Aggy had the “gift of sight,” and obviously knew more than the others. But two of the boys had just mentioned that their families must be worried about them. Then there was Gil.

“I still don’t understand. Where is Sparrow?” he asked, now for the second time since Benny had arrived.

Aggy, who stood at his side, whispered, “I promise, I’ll explain everything soon.”

Benny knew that Sparrow was Evelyn’s childhood nickname. She also knew, from reading Evelyn’s diary, that Gil had been one of her best friends.

Or…still was, sort of. Gil was standing right here after all. But Evelyn was gone. She hadn’t been immortal, like the pirate Kimble or her friends. That was why she’d had to send Benny here, all these years later. That’s why she’d set up the game…

Which wasn’t over.

That’s what the new letter in Benny’s hands said. First let me say, I’m sorry I tricked you, read the opening lines, written in faded ink. The game is far from over. In fact, it’s only just begun. Benny read those words aloud.

They were all quiet again: the five island friends, Captain Kimble—and Zara. Ryan was still lying unconscious in the sand where Kimble had set him down. Less than an hour ago, when the final clue had led Benny and Zara to the island’s entrance—a tunnel leading from Hooked Restaurant’s secret underground room—Ryan had tried to double-cross her and Zara to get to the island’s legendary treasure. Kimble had intervened, and in the ensuing chaos and flooding, Ryan had been knocked out by falling debris. But jerk or no jerk, the underground room had been filling with water, and she couldn’t leave him behind. Benny had insisted Kimble carry Ryan with them as they made their way to the island to finish the game.

Or so she’d thought, since it turned out the game wasn’t finished. What did Evelyn mean by that? What did her ancestor still need her to do? The questions were piling up and all she could hear was the wind whistling through the palm trees.

“Wow,” Zara said looking over at the new letter in Benny’s hands. “Evelyn is badass.”

“What is this game Evelyn speaks of? We have no time for games,” barked Axel Rudd, his eyes dark and cutting. Benny had only just met him, but he reminded her of Vivian Rudd, modern-day matriarch of the Rudd family. “We want to go home.”

Axel wasn’t wrong. Time wasn’t on their side. “I’ll explain everything after we get you all off the island,” she told them.

“Nope. Kid, they’re not going anywhere till I get that treasure Evelyn stole from the chest,” Kimble said.

“The chest?” Thomas said, looking worried.

“The one in the old fort?” Laurel added. She was willowy and looked fragile, her voice as soft as her hair, which whipped around in the wind. “The fort swallowed up the chest when we arrived. We haven’t seen the fort since.”

“What do you mean you can’t see the fort?” Kimble’s brow furrowed. He shielded his eyes and looked out over the island. “Why, it’s right there! Plain as day!”

“Where?” Thomas asked as the others started grumbling.

“I don’t see anything,” Gil said. “Do you?” he asked Laurel, who shook her head.

Benny stiffened. She could see the fort through the trees too. Why couldn’t the others?

Aggy spoke up. “Do not fear. Our coins have been returned to the chest for safekeeping, Captain Kimble.” Benny could tell this was a girl who carried the weight of a thousand secrets on her shoulders. “But Benny is right. We have more pressing matters to discuss first. Like Evelyn’s game.”

“I care nothing about some foolish game that insipid girl created!” Axel sputtered. “This is not folly! I am leaving. I’ve been stuck here long enough.”

“Axel, you don’t under—” Aggy started to say.

“Quiet, witch!” Axel thundered. “It’s your fault we’re all stuck here in the first place. Yours and Evelyn’s!”

“Don’t talk about Aggy or Sparrow like that!” Gil shouted, getting in Axel’s face now.