Page 35 of Wild Life (STEAM-y #2)

Toe the Line

Maris

“What were you thinking, hugging that man? He’s a stranger, Maris. God knows what weapons he’s hiding there. He could have killed you!”

I listened to Eli rant like an idiot as I sat on the boat, huddled under a blanket, letting the waves sway my body. His voice was miles away, despite eating up my personal space with his presence. Everything was numb. Physically, I was here, but my soul was still on the island with Aleki.

How was he right now? Was Poaka with him so he had a friend to lean on?

I wished I could check in on him.

I wouldn’t be seeing him tomorrow. Or the day after that. For how long, I didn’t know—

No. Leaving was the right decision. It was the only way to help the bats.

Returning home was necessary. Right?

My stomach churned like the sea, both violent as if protesting my decision.

“What did I do?” I sobbed, throwing off the blanket, and effectively cutting off Eli’s lecture on my carelessness.

“What are you doing?” he asked, startled.

“Stop the boat!” I shouted.

He grabbed my arms hard. “Maris, calm down.”

“We need to stop this boat. I need to go back. Aleki is waiting for me.”

“Maris, listen to me. We are not going back. Your home is not back there.” He was speaking to me like I was a child, and it was making me more anxious.

I ran to the railing and clutched the smooth metal.

“Don’t touch me. I want to go back to him.” I planted my foot on the edge, but before I could jump to freedom, I was yanked down and fell flat on the deck.

Eli straddled my belly, weighing me down. I kicked and screamed at the top of my lungs, but I couldn’t move. “Let me go!”

He shouted over me to someone out of my frame of view. “Radio the authorities and tell them we’ll need an ambulance. We need to get her straight to the hospital when we make it to shore.”

I sobbed hard, Eli’s face blurring through hot tears.

“What did that savage do to you, you poor girl?”