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The night sky.
If there’s a heaven, I hope that’s where it is.
Embedded in his skin.
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
NOLAN
Imove on autopilot.
Gripping rocks and swinging myself from reeds, I barely notice the scrapes and bruises forming as I slide and skid and climb my way down the bluffs.
I only have one mission in mind:
Get to him.
Rain and wind slam into me from all sides, making my descent even more slippery and treacherous than it would be on a clear day. I shake my hair out of my face and spit out water, skidding down another steep slope, caked dirt and grit kicking out behind me. My blunt nails get caught on one of the many crags—tissue splits and shreds—but I don’t stop.
When Skyler went under, I had about a split second to decide how I wanted to do this. Jump in after him…
Or climb down the cliffs.
The only thing that stopped me from immediately diving in after him from where the bridge snapped, was an image of Abby flashing across my mind’s eye—her gummy smile and big blue eyes and tiny, chubby hands reaching for me.
I couldn’t do that to her.
I couldn’t risk leaving her like that.
But I also couldn’t leavehim.
It just wasn’t even an option.
I’m coming, Sky. Just hold on. Just hold on for me.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity spent rappelling down the cliff, I hit a small beach area tucked in between the rocks.
My boots hit the sand with a wetthunk. I shrug off my backpack, my chest heaves, and I whirl around, looking wildly about the water, hoping to see a familiar dark head. A hand. Anything that indicates where he is.
“Come on,” I mutter, voice trembling. I shove my hair away, blinking through the downpour. My body arches forward with the instinct to just dive in, signs of life be damned.
Abby. Think of Abby. Be smart.
Waves crash into the inlet, and from the looks of it, the strong current seems to be pushing the water back into the cove.
He’s still in here… right? He didn’t get swept away already. I’m not too late…
My hands form fists at my sides as I whip my head toward the ocean, a choked sob rocketing up my throat. I’m shaking, adrenaline coursing viciously through my veins. If he’s already out there…
This can’t be the end.
This isn’t how his story ends.
Deep down, I know the odds aren’t good. I knew it the second I heard that firstcrack.For all I know, the impact killed him. This side of the island is littered with jagged rocks sticking out of the water like icebergs.
Where he fell looked clear enough, but that was on the surface. With the force with which he fell…the height…
The strength of the waves right now…
