“Do you think he’s okay?” I whisper to Jess.

“He’s okay, he doesn’t come in usually, not until he’s got an answer, at least.”

“I hope something hasn’t happ…”

I’m cut off because GG yells out, “Here he is!”

We turn, and see Hendrix come through the dining room door. He’s soaked and he’s shivering, likely from a mix of adrenalin and cold. He walks over to us all, and he quickly scans the room. His eyes fall on mine, and our gazes lock, before he lifts his head and announces our plans. “We’re close enough to get off, but it won’t be easy. Buddy up; we’re going off the left side. Take something each, a blanket, a bag, a tent, I don’t care, just take something. The ship is close enough for us to anchor, but we’re going to have to wade through some water. We have ten, maybe fifteen minutes before the storm hits the island, if we’re lucky. I’ve managed to get south of it, for the moment. GG, you’re taking the prisoner.”

I feel Eric stiffen beside me. “I’ll take Indi, she knows me.”

Hendrix spins to him, and the look on his face is that of pure rage. “You’re not in any position to argue with me, boy. The girl comes with me.”

The girl.

The girl.

That burns. Why does it burn?

“I’ll go with someone else, I’m not doing anything with you,” I say, my voice wavering.

Hendrix storms over, leaning down and meeting my gaze. “We’ve danced this dance before, inocencia,” he murmurs. “It’s time for some new moves. We don’t have time for this. You’re coming with me because you’re safest with me. Your little hero over there will drown you in a split second.”

He lifts his head, leaving me struggling for calm. “Move!”

The pirates scatter. Drake takes Jess, GG takes Eric, and they all buddy off and rush out. Hendrix takes my arm, and he pulls me out of the dining room. We power down the halls, him dragging me and me concentrating on making my legs move in time. He stops by his room, grips a rolled up sleeping bag from under the bed, and throws it over his shoulder. Lightening crackles in the background, and I begin to tremble.

“I’m afraid,” I cry suddenly, before I can stop it.

Hendrix stops, and turns. Surprising me, he reaches down and grips my face. “You’re just fine with me, okay? Just do as I ask. You’ll be okay.”

I nod, chewing on my bottom lip like a maniac. He turns and pulls me up on deck. As soon as we step out, the rain crashes down over us and soaks us to our cores. I am shivering in seconds, and dodging people as Hendrix drags me toward the exit. I can hear tree branches snapping as the wind whips through, and I know we’re right on the island. Hendrix pulls out a flashlight, and flicks it on. It’s obviously waterproof because it doesn’t flicker off.

He leads us over to the side of the ship, and I can’t see anything. All I can do is listen. I hear waves crashing against the side of the ship, and it’s rocking angrily. Pirates are climbing down the ladder and wading through the water, and I’m almost sure I catch a glimpse of Eric. Hendrix wraps an arm around me, and before I know what’s happening, he pulls us over the side of the ship. I try as best I can to keep up with him and follow his instructions, but it’s near on impossible.

The wind is too strong.

The waves are too deadly.

We hit the water with a crash, and somehow Hendrix manages to keep his arm around me. I cling to him now. I no longer care about acting strong. I wrap my arms and legs around him. The water is beyond freezing, to a point that it burns my skin, like someone is sticking me with tiny little pins. The salt burns my eyes as the waves crash over our heads. We surface, and I’m coughing so violently I’m fairly sure I’m about to lose a lung.

“Good girl,” he yells over the wind. “Hold onto me.”

I do.

I hold on as tightly as I can. He wades through the water, pulling against the waves. All I can think about is the fact that, any second, lightning could hit the water and kill us all. It’s like I’m counting down the minutes, my chest seizing with fear, only I don’t know if and when it’s going to happen. My tears mix with the salt, and my lungs burn from the amount of water I’ve inhaled. I’m so cold I’m shaking, and the wind is so loud I can hardly hear anything over it.

“Nearly there, good girl,” Hendrix says into my ear, in a soothing tone.

He’s soothing me.

Oh, God. He’s soothing me.

When I feel the sand beneath us, I drop my feet only to put my foot down on something sharp. I cry out, lifting it back up. A burning pain shoots up my leg, and my foot begins to throb.

“Shit, did you cut yourself?”

“Yes,” I cry.

“Just keep your legs around me, don’t put them down Indigo.”

I lift my legs back up around his waist, and he continues fighting the wind and the rain until we’re finally on the sand. He doesn’t stop. He runs up toward the trees, the flashlight in one hand, the other hand hooked around me. I don’t know why he still has the sleeping bag over his shoulder; it’s no doubt soaked. He weaves through the trees, and I hear the sound of voices ahead.

“We have a cover, boss, a cave,” someone calls.

“Thank fuck,” he yells. “Is everyone here? Shout out your names.”

One by one, they all call their names. When I hear Eric’s, my entire body goes weak. I can hear the crunching of boots, and I can see a faint light ahead. Every now and then I catch a glimpse of a face when Hendrix flashes his light. There’s still a few running towards the cave.