Chapter 43
CHAPTER
THAD
My dreams were twisted, full of mazes and screams, packed with wild cats and hunters with no faces. I woke at dawn, restless and edgy. From my dreams, and from the day’s reality.
It felt like a turning point. I was on the backside of the mountain now. Flying too fast, maybe out of control.
Charley’s eyes were closed, her breathing soft and even. I knew if I lay here much longer, my head would explode or I’d twitch, waking her either way. I also knew Charley needed her rest.
Careful not to wake her, I slipped out. My first order of business: check in with Rives.
I’d no intention of mentioning Charley’s latest discovery or her fascination with the carvings.
For me, yesterday’s find was solid confirmation that each of us had a bull’s-eye on our back and Nil held the gun. End of story.
I found Rives on the beach, eating a mango.
“Sweet news on Nat,” he said, thumping my shoulder.
“Definitely.” I grinned. “So what’s the report?”
“Johan’s team came back two days ago. Never saw a gate, Raj saw the tiger on night two, and on day three, their camp was hit. Food stolen, weapons too. Even extra clothes. Gone.”
Animals don’t steal weapons, people do. And naked people steal clothes. “Did they see who?”
“Two boys. Skinny, young.”
“But no one got hurt.” My statement held a question.
“Right.”
“That’s good.” I wondered if the raiders knew about the gates and the time limit. And I wondered if they were the ones who had hit the Shack.
“That’s not the good.” Rives smiled. “The good is that Quan didn’t go renegade, the knives are back, and we have another newb. Sergio. He’s Italian, and get this: his dad was a carpenter, and he can make anything. With wooden nails.” His grin grew.
“Handy,” I agreed. But I was still thinking of the knives. Their return said it wasn’t raiders; it screamed inside job. All that matters is that the blades are back, I told myself.
Rives was on a roll.
“I’m thinking animal traps. Maybe a new glider. We could make oars, shore up Julio’s cracked A-frame…” Rives spoke as fast as his missing twin, Natalie.
I clapped Rives on the back. His to-do list felt oddly remote. “Sounds like you’ve got it. Let’s run, eh?”
Rives looked at me. “Yeah. Let’s run.” He didn’t mention his projects again.
I ran intervals with Rives as long as I could, but my legs were beat from yesterday’s hike, and I bailed early. Plus I was starving. And I missed Charley.
By the fire, Jillian was tying Charley’s hair into twin ponytails.
“Morning, you two.” I grabbed a hot wrap and sat beside Charley. Her shoulders were relaxed, her head slightly tilted as Jillian gathered her hair into a thick roll and held it tight.
“Okay, Charley,” Jillian said, reaching for a piece of twine, “don’t move.”
As if Charley would. I smiled to myself. Charley loved it when I combed her hair. Watching Jillian, I felt a stab of envy.
“Just so you know, Jillian, that’s my job.” I shot Charley a lazy grin.
Jillian laughed. “So you’re a hairstylist now?”
“He has hidden talents.” Charley’s tone was serious.
“Geez, I’d say get a room, but you two already have one.” Jillian smirked. “Done.” She shifted her feet and winced.
“How’s your ankle?” I asked.
“Better,” Jillian said. “Just stiff. I’m guessing I can run in a week or so.”
Julio and a new boy passed by, their arms stuffed with green leaves, the kind used for wraps.
I guessed the new kid was Sergio, then with a start I realized it was Dex.
Dex, who had looked like a strung-out vampire when we’d left.
He looked like he’d gotten fresh blood or a dose of Nil sun.
His skin no longer glowed pasty white; he actually looked alive. But his ears still looked weird.
“Huh,” I said, watching Dex.
“What?” Charley asked.
“Dex. It looks like he’s joined the land of the living. No more vamp camp for him.”
Jillian nodded. “It took him a couple days to snap out of it, but he’s actually a decent guy. Handy, too. Dex’s been on his own since he was fifteen, so he knows how to cook. And unlike some rookies, he was smart enough not to get totally fried his first week here.”
I nodded. More than one new contestant had gotten sun poisoning, and it was never pretty. The sickest one in a long time was Bart.
Bart. He was currently on Search, supporting Miguel.
“Did you hear that?” Charley said, craning around.
Tuning out the ocean, I listened. Then I heard it: a high-pitched wail. Faint and human. I jumped to my feet behind Charley. Jillian stood and immediately faltered on her ankle.
“Stay,” I told her. “Better yet, find Rives.”
Charley was already running toward the sound. Taking off after her, I heard the cry again. A thin scream, shouting a name. I didn’t recognize the voice, but I recognized the name.
Rives.