“We were told to pretend there was no man when you bring up his name,” she whispers. “But Harper, I saw him. We all did. He was taken by someone else, but I have no idea who, or why. I do know you’ve been recorded, and I think they want to see how you’ll get back to each other. Though I’m… I’m not entirely sure why, to tell you the truth.”
I take in a deep breath and release it slowly, trying to fruitlessly quell my rising nerves. I nod slowly. “I will tell you now. I promise you. If you help me escape, I will do my best to be sure you aren’t found out. And one day, as soon as I’m able, I will make this worth your while.”
She shakes her head. “I don’t need your money,” she whispers. “I just… God. My mother raised me to do right, and this isn’t right. I never should’ve come here.” But she’s lying. She fucking does need the money, and I know it. I will remember this.
“If you didn’t come here, how would I ever escape?” I say with a forced smile. She smiles back.
“I will help you,” she says. “Maybe that’s my purpose here. To help you.” Her brows furrow, and she shakes her head, little ringlets popping free and bouncing on her temples belying the severity of our situation. “It isn’t fair or right to treat humans like this. They made it seem so much different than it actually is.” Though her eyes fill with tears, her voice is stronger now. Determined. “We need a plan.”
I nod. After a few moments, her eyes grow wide and she glances at her watch. “I’ll be back,” she says, her voice dropping to an even lower register. It’s imperative we aren’t found out. “And I promise, we’ll come up with a plan. A solid plan that will get you out of here and… and home. Back with Cy.”
She squeezes my hand and promises, “I’ll be back.”
I nod and let her go. We haven’t formed a plan yet, and I’m eager to. My stomach’s twisted in knots at what she’s told me.
Who’s behind this? What have they done? Why?
With nothing better to do, I pour myself a glass of wine and lay back on the bed, drinking it. I can do nothing right now but make a plan when Lila returns, and then set the plan into action when we dock.
I close my eyes, and I permit myself the luxury of memory. Me and Cy, swimming in the watering hole on the island, the sunset casting shimmers of golds and pinks along the horizon, as if a giant dipped a brush in watercolors and stroked the sky. He’s splashing me and I’m laughing, splashing him back, but he’s bigger than I am, so he’ll win. He dives under the water and I lose him for a moment, and when he resurfaces, he’s only inches from me. His large, muscled arms encircle my waist and drag me under. I flail, water sputtering out of my mouth when I surface again, but before I can say a word, he’s kissing me, wrapping my body around his as if I’m a tree and he the roots, sturdy and inseparable, one dependent on the other.
I hear his deep, rough voice, feel his strong hands on me, see the flare of passion in his eyes. And I remember. I remember all the firsts. The first time I met him, when he killed the man who tried to rape me. The first time he kissed me. The first time he dominated me and split me open, excavating the soft recesses of my heart only Cy ever found. The first time we made love. The first time he told me he loved me.
I’m surprised to find my cheeks wet with tears again. I’m not a crier and never have been. There were times on the island I cried. Have I lost my strength on the island? Has it broken my tenacity?
Will I ever be the same?
No.
God, no. I won’t. I can’t. I won’t ever be the woman I once was. The hardened, determined woman with nerves of steel. The one who held herself aloof and apart from others, afraid of becoming vulnerable.
Afraid of being hurt.
I’m softer, now. More malleable. But I know in my heart I’m still the woman I’ve always been. I sit up and place my wine glass on the table beside me.
I overcame so much on that island.
I will overcome this. I will find Cy. I will return to Daniel. I will commandeer my life and make it my own again.
One brutal step at a time.
A knock comes on the door, startling me. I stand, not knowing who or what to expect. Relief floods through my chest when I see Lila. She’s smiling and carrying a tray laden with food.