Chapter 31
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
I t was true what Mara said. Keeping track of time on Dawnlin is difficult. The days and nights feel different than back home, and there is no way of knowing if the same time is passing here as was in our world. After days of searching with each of the Voyagers, I started to be very familiar with the island. The more comfortable I became, the more I was itching to go out on my own.
At first, I wasn’t prepared for the physical challenge that was searching the island, but I feel my body changing. I was already strong from years of training, but this is different. Climbing, running, and scaling trees are all things I never could have done in Blackwood. The more time I spend on the island, the more confident I become in these new skills. I am not afraid of falling or getting lost anymore and trust myself to do what I need to keep searching for the cure.
No one new has joined us since Fin, which means Dane didn’t have to leave. After the morning on the cliff, things were different, but still calm. I could tell Mara knew something had happened between us, but I avoided the topic with her completely. Dane agreed to keep any displays of affection between us, mostly for Mara’s sake, but it doesn’t stop him from a slight graze or pointed looks whenever he can.
The nightmares haven’t stopped. I shouldn’t be surprised after almost dying twice since I’ve been here, but I have barely slept. I know I need to, keeping up my strength requires it, but I can’t help but wake up gasping for air or to a scream. Every night as I lie awake after one of the terrors, I can’t help but worry about how much time is passing.
What is happening back at home? Does my father care that I am gone? Was Brynne punished? Or Edmond? None of this was either of their fault. It was my choice. When I come back with the cure, Father will understand that.
Tonight, I lay in bed after a particularly bad dream about the river monsters, contemplating how to go about searching when I am out on my own. I think about the years of study on war strategy and know that this could be considered the same thing. I need a plan of attack, and these plans always start with one crucial element.
A map.
The one thing that would help me accomplish my goal was the one thing Dane said I couldn’t have.
As soon as the decision solidifies in my head, I hear a faint rustle on the shelves behind my bed. I crawl over to them and can’t believe what I see. A small packet of parchment and a block of charcoal lays on the shelf, alongside a lit candle. I sit up and grab the packet, unfolding it to find it is blank. I look over my shoulders, around the camp and into the sky. It’s as if someone has been watching me, reading my innermost thoughts.
How does it know?
It doesn’t matter how it knew, the fact is, the island knew.
It knew what I needed when I decided I needed it, almost as if it granted me an advantage to help me discover the treasure it keeps hidden. Maybe the island does want me to find it? Maybe it is helping me. I shift on my bed, folding my legs under me so I can stretch the parchment out on the shelf. I pick up the charcoal in my hand and move the candle so the light illuminates the page.
Dane said maps weren’t allowed, but clearly Dawnlin doesn’t agree.
I will deal with him if he ever finds out, but I need the cure, and having this tool is the best way for me to do that.
What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.
I need a plan of attack, not just a haphazard way of searching as it seems that the others have adopted. Edmond always taught me to be methodical and purposeful, and that is what I am going to do.
I close my eyes and picture everything I have seen over the recent days. Once I determine where I need to start, I open them, put the charcoal to the page, and start to draw.
“Are you ready?”
I pull my focus away from Fin and his story to look toward the owner of the deep, gravelly voice. Dane stands over the table where Fin and I are eating a quick breakfast, the dawn still barely over the canopy of trees.
“Yes,” I say, brushing off my hands over my empty plate and swinging my leg over the bench. “Who am I with today?”
One corner of his smile turns up and I feel my eyes drawn to his lips. We haven’t kissed again since that early morning sunrise. He has been keeping his promise and not distracting me from the search, but I can’t help but miss the feeling of his arms around me, his tongue stroking mine.
“Lennox?”
My attention snaps back away from thoughts about his mouth. “Yes?”
He crosses his arms over his chest, smirking at me as if he knows exactly what I was thinking. “I thought it was time for you to do something different today. ”
“Okay,” I breathe. “Am I going with you?” Searching the island alone with Dane wouldn’t be a bad thing.
Focus Lennox. The cure is the goal.
“Nope. I think it is time for you to head out on your own. Are you up for it?”
“Yes! Absolutely. I’m ready.” I try to squash down my excitement and seem more serious than I feel. I am ready. I am prepared. I am stronger than I ever have been. I know how things work, and I have gotten out of quite a few difficulties since being here. I want a chance to do things my way.
The map that I shoved into my shirt, hiding it in my undergarments, burns against my skin. I worked on it until morning, drawing in every detail I could remember, including all the large landmarks of the island. I need to keep it on me at all times to ensure no one else sees it, especially Dane.
He nods. “Good. Fin?” He leans to the side to look past me. “You’ll be with Taril today.”
Fin is learning a lot in the time he’s been here, but he still needs some help before Dane decides the youngest of us all is ready to venture out on his own. Everyone is being so patient with him, including Dane, and helping him as much as we all can.
I reach over and ruffle Fin’s hair. “Stay focused out there, bud.” A few days ago, Fin told me I remind him of his sister, and since then I can’t get it out of my head. He might return to find her gone, his last bit of time with her stolen away in an attempt to help her. My vision blurs at the thought, and I look up at the sky to blink the tears away.
I don’t know what kingdom Fin is from, but I know it would hurt to not have him in my life anymore. I know he doesn’t come from much, and I wonder how I can find him after leaving Dawnlin. I will do everything in my power to take care of him and his family. Send them money, offer them jobs, whatever they need, if I can find them.
I may never have siblings, and if Fin is the closest I get to it, I don’t want to let him go .
“You too Lennox,” he says through a bite of eggs.
I giggle, ruffling his hair again before turning and heading out to the armory. Dane stands off to the side of the tavern in a deep conversation with Storm. He glances up as I pass and offers me a small wave.
“Be careful,” he grumbles, and turns back toward Storm.
My cheeks heat and I turn away, stepping out onto the walkway, quickly heading over to get my bow. It still feels odd having someone care about my well-being like Dane does.
I am going to be alone today, with no one else to rely on for help or protection. I’ve been traveling light, but now I feel the need to make sure I have a little bit more protection without weighing me down too much.
I pull on my bow and quiver and look at the selection of blades. I don’t want to carry a sword like Mara. I’m not great with one, and it would just weigh me down. Same with the axes. They can be helpful for survival if I get stuck somewhere, but I’m not prepared to use one for self-defense.
I settle on a long blade with a serrated edge. Gauge carries one, and it was useful cutting through branches and make-shifting any traps or warnings that we needed.
I wrap a leather belt around my hips and cinch the buckle tight, then attach the sheath with a snap. Sliding the knife in I make sure everything feels secure. I keep my dagger in the back of my waistband. It is a comfortable reminder that I still have a piece of home, a reminder of who I am, and a deadly weapon to use against any of the Castaways that want to hurt me.
This will have to do.
I close the doors of the armory and head to the elevator to let myself down. The tavern hasn’t fully cleared out yet, some of the boys pass me heading toward the armory as I go. I grab a pouch of water and a few pieces of fruit and sling the pouch over my shoulder before heading out again. I let myself down and make my way to the entrance of camp .
Today feels different than any other day. Today feels real, like I am no longer learning and am the one in control of my time here.
I take a deep breath, inhaling the sweet scent of the flowers and tropical trees on the other side of the portal.
I step through, feeling determination rushing through my veins.
This is it, Mom. I’m going to find it for you.