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“They found us,” I murmur, a rush of relief flooding through me.
We look at each other, and in that moment, I see the same joy and disbelief in her eyes. We’re still exposed, vulnerable, here in this secluded pool—but the reality of our situation hits me now. I look around for our clothes, abandoned and haphazardly strewn about the rocks.
“Get dressed!” I urge, my voice low but firm. The excitement and panic cause us to scramble and grab our clothes. The fabricof the shorts feels foreign against my skin. After the intimacy of the water, my hands tremble slightly as I tug them on.
I can’t help but steal glances at Rachel, too. She’s hurriedly putting on her clothes, and my heart is racing. It’s hard to focus on the task at hand when her eyes flit open, and she looks flushed and beautiful. The reality of where we are hastens us both into action.
She ties her hair back and asks if they might be looking for us.
“I hope so,” I reply, pulling on my shirt and glancing back toward the shore. The voices are louder and more distinct, as is the sound of footsteps on the sand.
“Let’s go!” I say, my heart beating with the excitement of hope and anticipation. Back at the shelter’s entrance, we step out of the water, the cool breeze catching our damp skin.
Continuing through the foliage, I catch a movement on the beach. I see figures in the distance, framed against the rising sun. Their silhouettes leap across my heart.
“Over there!” I point, and Rachel’s eyes follow. I see wide-eyed smiles exchanged between us, adrenaline coursing through us.
“Could they help us?” she asks, her voice a mix of excitement and doubt.
“They have to,” I reply, feeling a surge of hope. “We’re not going to be stuck here.”
We march together toward the voices, closer to the laughter and shouts getting louder. With each step, it feels like a leap toward freedom, and I can hardly believe rescue is within reach. The weight of the last few days—days of isolation, fear, and uncertainty—begins to lift, and I can feel relief coming.
As we approach the shore, I can’t get this feeling that everything is going to change. We’ve been on the island for days, and our time here has changed us. It’s forged a connection between us that I can’t deny. I look at Rachel, her eyes wide with excitement and fear, and I know that no matter what happens—or doesn’t happen—we can’t pretend that what happened was an accident.
The voices grow louder, and I am able to see the figures now—search and rescue teams with equipment in hand, scanning the area. I feel relief, but I know that the world we’re coming back to has things of its own to deal with.
I take Rachel’s hand in mine and say, “Let’s go.”
Under her skin, the warmth against my palm is a promise and a reminder that whatever is out there, we’ll face it together.
Chapter twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-Five
Rachel
We step onto the beach, and the warmth from the sun feels brighter than I remember. The thrill of rescue fills the air, and I’m still clasping Vaughn’s hand. As we approach the group of search and rescue workers, I can hardly contain my excitement.
“Rachel!” One of the rescuers rushes over with a wide grin. “Vaughn!”
I laugh—a sound that feels strange but freeing after days of tension and uncertainty.
Questions fly around us, but I can only feel relief as they surround us. Finally, I’m free from the island. Vaughn is grinning, his eyes sparkling at the thrill of our escape, and I look over at him. It’s a simple moment of pure joy, releasing all the fear and worry we’ve held for what seems like an eternity.
“Can you believe it?” I say, turning to Vaughn, who hasn’t let go of my hand. “We’re going home!”
His expression is serious but warm. “Yeah, we made it.”
I revel in the excitement, but even as I do, a nagging thought comes to mind: what happens next? I look over at the rescue team. They’re filled with energy and purpose, and I can’t help but think of how this will affect us. I can feel the weight of our shared experiences hanging in the air. We’ve been through so much together.
Following a moment’s celebration, Vaughn turns to one of the rescuers, a rugged man with a weathered face and kind eyes. “We need to get her medical attention as soon as possible.”
“Right away,” the man replies, nodding.
Vaughn’s demeanor shifts, becoming more intense. “I have to get to Australia, and I need to do it now,” he says, his voice steady. “I’ve got work to do.”
His words twist my stomach in a strange disappointment. “Wait, what?” Confusion clouds my mind, and I blurt out, “You’re leaving already?”