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CHAPTER SEVEN

ELLIOT

I shove my hand in my pocket, reflexively looking for my phone for the millionth time today. When it’s still not there, I punch the side of my leg while I scramble along the rocks.

My feet hurt. My legs ache. The breeze off the sea is chilly, and I keep slipping on wet rocks.

Even the beachy parts of the island are covered with poky stuff, shells and sticks.

Wind whips. I shove a couple violets in my mouth and keep going.

Thank god Hank recognized the flowers. They aren’t filling me up, but they’re something. And his idea to climb a tree was low-key brilliant, too.

I’d be royally fucked without him.

When I reach instinctively for my phone again, I let out a frustrated groan. Needing to vent, I bend and grab a smooth rock instead, which I hold in front of me as I continue toward the lookout spot that Hank identified.

“Hey, Taylor,” I say, pretending that I’m on a video call with my roommate. “Sorry I didn’t make it home last night. You’ll never guess what happened.”

I walk under some giant evergreens. After a second, I pitch my voice up a bit and slow it down to match Taylor’s. “ Damn, Elliot. We were worried about you. ”

I let out a low hum. “I’m okay. But I got lost at sea and stranded on an island with an accountant from my dad’s firm.”

How the hell did that happen?

I scoff. “It’s actually so ridiculous. There was a thunderstorm. Terrifying waves. We crashed into rocks and the raft got ripped to pieces. I’ve only eaten wildflowers.”

What kind of wildflowers?

I pop another one in and chew. “Violets. Navy blue violets, specifically. I think. They taste like perfume. Hank found them for us.”

He must be the only accountant on the boat who knows edible wild foods.

“Yeah, we’re making it work,” I admit.

You’re probably in serious danger, Elliot.

“I am.” I make my way up some rocks, not wanting to think about danger, although my subconscious is trying to insist on it. “How are you?” I ask, searching for a distraction. “I’m probably not going to make it to see your DJ set tonight.”

I don’t go on until after midnight. Maybe I’ll be lucky and you’ll return in time. I’m locked in my room spinning techno today to get ready.

I mange to smile as I picture my friend with her headphones on, bobbing her head as her long hair falls from side to side. It feels like she’s a million miles away, in a whole different universe, but imagining her lost in her passion gives me a boost.

I have a full life waiting for me, and I’m not about to let it end here. He’ll, I’m only halfway through my twenties.

“I should let you get in the zone. I’ve got to finish getting rescued anyway.”

Good luck.

After a quick call with Marko, too, I try to put the rock-phone in my pocket, but it doesn’t fit, so I tuck it under my arm instead.

As I scramble up the incline, I notice a large boat in the distance.

An airplane passes, too, and I wave at it, although I know that’s useless.

It’s so high in the sky. As far as I can see from here, the island itself is nothing but trees and birds and fish jumping in the water, no sign of civilization.

Hank’s side must be different. There is no way an island this beautiful is just sitting off the coast, totally untouched.

And we can’t have drifted that far.

I hope.

As I reach an outcropping, I see where the testicle ends. Squinting, I wave my arms, wondering if Hank can spot me from his side. I can’t quite see all the way around the corner, but there are a bunch of jagged rocks in front of me, and climbing them seems hard.

As I look for an easier route, I come across a massive flat rock overlooking the beach. It’s half-shaded by a cliff, and the other half sticks out in the gray light, the sound of the ocean steady and musical.

I’m so tired I could pass out, so I lie on my back for a minute, catching my breath.

My stomach feels weird.

I’ll just rest a minute here and make sure to tell Hank I couldn’t see all the way. There’s probably nothing around those rocks anyway. Resting is clearly a better use of my time.

A shiver goes through me when I remember that Taylor probably isn’t chilling and working on her set this morning. She’s probably freaking out with everyone else that I’ve disappeared.

Tears fill my eyes, and fear builds behind my ribs. I want to just lie here, smoke a joint, and wait for rescue, but I know that’s not an option. I need to keep moving to stay alive, and weed will give me the munchies.

Anyway, it will probably just make Hank bossier if I come back smelling like marijuana.

After trying and failing to poop through a stomachache, I eat the last violets from my pocket and start the walk back to the valley. My feet hurt badly enough that I try to rig some shoes by using scraps of fabric to tie leaves to my feet, but it doesn’t really work.

Hank probably found people on his half of the scrotum, but even if we have to make a fire and spell out H-E-L-P on the beach with sticks, we’ll be fine. Uncomfortable, sure. Definitely hungry and gross, too. But we’ll live.

I make myself a promise that I’ll keep up the mood. I might not have the survival skills that he does, but I can help with morale. As I scramble between two big evergreen trees, a surge of determination goes through me.

I laugh. We got this. We’re going to have such an easy time getting off this island.

A hawk calls out from the sky above me, and I keep laughing, full of confidence.

Or delirious with exhaustion. It’s hard to say.