“They chose this path Adaline. We won’t let them be forgotten, okay?” Cooper says and I nod. Cooper clears his throat before adding, “There’s something else.” I hear his voice tighten in his throat. I can’t get myself to speak so he continues. “Molly is starting to get sick.” My mind races and words fumble on the edge of my tongue. Inaudible words break in my throat and Cooper tries to calm me down. “She’s fine, Adaline. Essie has been keeping an eye on her. She just says her throat is sore and she’s more tired than usual.” Cooper’s explanation does little to calm me. I’ve seen enough people die in the prison from what started as a small cold. If it’s untreated it can get out of hand fast. Cooper knows this and says, “We’re keeping a close eye on her.” I give a forceful nod and we continue to walk down the coast.
I see Albert is walking along the shore pulling up wooden pieces of our boats that have floated to shore. “He’s hoping he can somehow put the boats back together, but he knows it’s going to take more than just labor. He’s going to need your help,” Cooper says and meets my eyes. “But not until you feel that you are strong enough to use your gift,” he quickly adds.
“I don’t feel weak actually,” I add. “I mean I’ve literally been resting for almost 24 hours, not doing anything. I’m definitely getting stronger with it.” I look out at where Albert is sitting on the beach waiting for the rest of the boat to wash in. I can see the pieces of wood bobbing around in the waters. I watch as I wash them into shore. Albert runs out and scoops them up and looks over to me. “It’s like it can recharge itself, if that makes any sense,” I say back to Cooper.
“Well I would save it up for when we need you to magically build us some boats,” Cooper says flatly. We continue down the coast between the sand and line of trees when I see Zavy and Alexander up ahead. At the sight of me, I see the muscles in Alexander relax. He’s been worrying himself sick over me and I can tell he’s gotten very minimal sleep.
“Glad to see you’re on your feet again,” Zavy says and embraces me in a tight hug. “Have I thanked you yet for saving my life once again?” she adds.
“You don’t have to thank me. Anyone would have done it. We’re all in this mess together,” I say tightly.
“Where’s Toby?” I ask her and before I can fear the worst she smiles softly.
“He’s helping James hunt some more,” Zavy says. “You were smart to picture us the night we left Leo’s because we have what little weapons and hunting gear still with us.” I nod agreeing that what we have is minimal but better than nothing.
“We did lose the spears in the crash though. We tried to repair them, but the bow and arrows work better anyway,” Cooper adds.
I move and hug Alexander and he whispers into my ear, “Thank goodness you’re okay, Adaline.”
“You can’t get rid of me that easy,” I say back lightly. Since our talk on the boat the first night everything with him seems to finally be like it’s supposed to be. The awkward heavy air is long gone and I feel as though we are working toward a true, genuine relationship. Though I know it’s unlikely to become anything more soon, at least I have him as my friend. At least I have someone I can trust and depend on.
“Cooper, did you tell her?” Alexander asks and I nod. “I’m sorry, Adaline. I wish we could’ve saved everyone.”
I just nod because nothing we say will bring them back. It’s sad to say it, but I’m starting to get used to losing people. People are in my life and then they’re gone, and it seems to get easier and easier to just let them go. I turn to Cooper and ask, “So do you know where we are going?”
“Not at all. Instinct tells me there’s got to be some kind of river or freshwater source running on this island, we just have to find it,” Cooper responds, and with that, we all turn and head deeper into the forest.
Chapter 28
“I think I can see a clearing up ahead. We can break there,” Cooper says from the front of our line. We’ve been hiking through tangled vines all morning and it has to be nearly noon. We are all dripping in sweat and are parched, but we are far too scared to take a sip of what little water we have left. This island seems to be much more humid than Dather. The air is extremely thick and my clothes are soaked.
Cooper continues to swing his sword in and out of vines to clear a path for us to walk. Finally, he slashes the last few out of our way and we step into a clearing. We all freeze and scan the area at
