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I replay the words, how they were said, the emphasis.
Iamhere?
No.
I amhere.
No.
Iam here.
Thisis me.
A sick feeling settles into my gut.
“Now you remember,” the voice says. “You remember the oath.”
Jayla turns my way. Kit only gives me a sidelong glance, as if a straight-on look might seem like an accusation.
Before I can speak, the thing continues, speaking through Garrett and Sadie together in that reverberating voice that is everywhere and nowhere at once. “Did you not wonder why no one has stayed on this island since before you were born?”
“It was bought by a company,” I say. “They couldn’t find a buyer.”
The thing gives its mocking snarl of a laugh. “For all that time?”
“It’s a remote island. People—”
“You are not the first to live on this island,” it says. “It has been here forever. I have been here forever. People have come since you humans first emerged, toddling infants barely able to communicate. They came, and if I wished, they stayed. I would sleep, and I would have peace until they were gone, their firefly lives snuffed out. Thenmore would come, and I would say no. No, you are not right. No, you may not stay. No, you may not have my island. There are many ways to stop humans. To send them away gibbering in terror, or to make sure they never return, their bodies never found… or if they are found…”
A thump from both sides of the house as Garrett and Sadie slam into the glass as if they are puppets. As if they are props, making a point.
The entity continues, “Fear is the most powerful weapon I have against invasion. The fears whispered from mother to child, brother to brother.Do not set foot on that island. There’s something wrong with that island. Stay away from that island.That is why there was no one here. People came. I said no.”
“You frightened them off,” I whisper. “No one told us that. They made up explanations and excuses for why no one lived here.”
“Of course they did. I have been here for an eternity, and I have watched you humans. I have slid into your bodies, into your thoughts. Someone sold you a dream. That is the word, yes? Sold it to you? An exchange of goods? One must never let a silly superstition stand in the way of the exchange of goods, whether it is animal furs or shining coins.”
“Why didn’t you frighten us off, when we visited?”
“Because you brought him.”
“Brought…” I think back. “Nate?”
Kit nods. “Nate brought us out the first time to show us around. I knew his family once owned the property, and so I asked to talk to him— Well, I was trying to talk to his father but ended up speaking to Nate. He met with us and brought us out.”
“Yes.”
That’s all the thing says. Yes. The word sets my mind racing as Kit continues.
“Ibought the island,” Kit says. “This is on me.”
“It is hers, is it not?” The entity doesn’t let him answer. “It has always been hers. A dream bought for her, and an oath made by her.”
Now Kit turns to me, and in his eyes, there’s no accusation, just understanding. “The construction problems. We came out to investigate… and then it stopped.”
“Wait,” Jayla says. “What construction problems?”
“Accidents and issues,” I say. “Tools disappeared. Wood caught on fire. A worker nearly drowned. It was endless. Workers started joking about curses. Then they weren’t joking—they were threatening to quit. Kit and I came out to see what we could do. While he was talking to the crew, I wandered around the island and…”
