Page 40 of Dance Practice, Marooned: Part 2

There are restrained bodies against the wall, and the stink of blood, and a world of danger still waiting on the island. But in this moment, with him pressed up against me, the universe contracts down to just us, and I know—if we live, if we get out—I won’t ever let this man go. I don’t think I could. I don’t even want to.

I want him with me for as long as he’ll have me.

He steps back, and it looks like it pains him to do so. “Let’s get this done. Then you can thank me later.”

I exhale and follow, feeling the aftershock of him everywhere.

The next door is the engine room. It’s hot and noisy, but empty, just a mess of pipes and slicks of oil everywhere. Beyond that, a ladder leads up top, and as we climb, an icy spray shoots past—the tide is coming in harder. Above deck, I see a light on the beach: the pirate camp. And I realise Zeke is out there, depending on us to finish what we started. Ace takes stock of the weapons. “Two guns, full mag each. We wait for Kellen’s signal, distract them, grab Zeke, and get out.”

I nod, and for the first time, I really believe we might make it. Because all the stories about pirates and monsters and survivors? None of them could ever have predicted us.

We were going home.

I can feel it.

“THEY SHOULD BE HERE, Ace,” I whisper, rubbing my hands together to try and keep from shivering.

The wind is cold and eerily silent. I don’t like it. It’s as if even the trees know something very bad is happening. We haven’t seen anyone else since we cleared the ship. Instead, we have just been sitting here, waiting for them to arrive like we planned. Kellen creates a distraction, the pirates go to check it out, he gets Zeke and meets us here. Aggie, Tati, Rachel and Adrian are already here and on the ship. They got as many things as they could.

Ace has locked the men in the room where he tied them, to ensure nobody comes near them.

“I know,” Ace murmurs. “I know, but I don’t want to leave because if I do, and they arrive, then we’ve got another problem.”

I bite my lips, glancing around. “How long do we leave it before going and getting them?”

“Fuck,” he murmurs, running a hand down his face. “I don’t fuckin’ know, honestly.”

“Hey,” Aggie says, climbing down the ladder and landing as quietly as she can. “Anything yet?”

I shake my head. “No. Nothing. They’re not here yet.”

She presses her lips together. “Do we go and find them?”

I shake my head. “No, we were just talking about that. We don’t want to risk Ace getting tangled up if they’re already on their way.”

She nods. “Makes sense. Well, Tati and Rachel are busy scrubbing like mad in there. Tati said she would rather sleep on the barnacle rocks than in that ship, but considering we have no choice, and it might be what saves us, we just have to do what we can.”

The ship is disgusting, but it’s our way out so none of us are really complaining.

Not yet anyway.

We fall silent again, just standing, waiting.

Ace gives me a look that says he’s two seconds from doing something reckless. I know it’s not for dramatic effect. He paces the shore, gun pressed against his thigh, and every now and then his gaze flicks to the tree line. Each time, I see his hand tighten, then relax, the little twitch of his fingers a tell for his nerves. Aggie stands with arms crossed, quietly.

“I have to go check,” Ace finally says, voice low.

“If you’re going, I’m coming with you.”

He spins on me. “Not happening. You stay here, Gracie. We can’t risk—”

I don’t let him finish. “No. I’m coming because if something happens to you, I will be the only thing keeping the people on this ship safe. Nobody goes out alone.”

Aggie doesn’t say anything, but I feel her approval.

Ace’s jaw works. I can see the argument on his face, but he’s already lost. “Fine. Aggie, you hold down the fort. You see anyone but us, you fuckin’ shoot.”

She cocks her head. “With what?”