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In another minute, the pain subsided completely. I gazed at both men hovering over me and accepted the rest of the pod, determined to drink the bare minimum of it to keep the headache away. “Where’s Candice?” I asked, suspicion stealing control as I regained my senses.

“She’s alive if that’s what you’re worried about.” Travis wouldn’t meet my eyes.

Why wouldn’t he give me a straight answer?

“I’m so tired,” I said as my entire body grew heavy. I stared out at the blackness. The warped starlight undulated through the waves, the only indication of where the water started and the sky stopped.

Mason pulled me into his side, his injured leg stretched out before him, and I leaned into the safety of his embrace.

* * *

Bright lights seared through my eyelids, and I groaned. Someone squeezed my hand, and the scent of antiseptic finished waking me. Opening my eyes took an eternity, but everything came into focus.

I must’ve been dreaming. Mom couldn’t be smiling at me, holding my hand. I must have drowned and this was heaven. But then that would mean Mom…

“You’re awake!” Mom’s voice cut through the fuzz, and reality hit.

“Mom!” I reached toward her for a hug, only to realize how sore I was. That didn’t stop me though, and she laughed as I nearly tackled her, IV tubes and all.

I never thought I’d be the one on the bed in this scenario, but I was grateful. My body shook with sobs of relief as she stroked my hair.

“It’s okay now, baby. You’re safe.”

“What about—”

“Dad and Jackson are safe too. So are the others that were in those beds. And the two young men you were with.”

The question in her voice pried me far enough back to see her face. My mouth fell open but nothing came out. Mason is ok. Fresh tears sprang from my eyes.

“I don’t remember what happened,” I said. “After we called for help.”

“You were under a lot of stress. You can’t blame yourself, Sammie. You’re a hero. You saved everyone on board.”

Something wasn’t making sense. “What do you mean blame myself? For what?” The urge to spring out of bed nearly overcame me.

“For that woman drowning,” she said softly.

“Who drowned? How?”

“She opted for the open ocean rather than wait for capture and disappeared. It doesn’t matter, she was the one who did all this, according to the authorities. She was the one who had you hooked on those horrible drugs.” Mom’s voice cracked, and her eyes darted away.

How much did she know? “How do they know she drowned?”

“They gave up the search after a few days. There was no way she could have survived.”

“A few days? How long have I been out?” I asked.

Mom’s eyes closed as she drew a deep breath. “Three weeks. They kept you sedated to get you off the drugs safely. The man too.”

All words dried up on my tongue. Three weeks? Three weeks.

“Where is everyone?” I finally managed.

“The doctors thought it would be best if I was the first to see you when you woke up. I’m glad, because if they hadn’t, I would’ve chained myself to the bed.”

A feeble smile crawled across my face.

“I have something else to tell you.” Mom glowed. “I’m in remission!”