Page 155 of The Darkest Hour

My face.

My heart.

My mind.

My soul.

I couldn’t tell you how long that I drowned in her pain.

Gasping.

Choking.

Dying on the inside.

And as the sun began to set, casting long shadows over the ruined helicopter and us, I made a silent vow that I would do whatever it took to protect her, to keep her safe in this twisted place, even if it meant accepting that this island would be our home forever.

As Onyx's sobs quieted against my chest, I gently ran my fingers through her dreadlocks.

Say something to her. Damn it. You have to.

My heart ached with each tremor that shook her body, but I knew I had to be strong for her, even if the hope I was about to offer was as thin as the ocean mist.

“It’s going to be okay.” I pulled back a little and kissed some of the tears on her cheeks. “We’re going to figure this out. We’re going to survive this.”

Shivering, she didn’t respond, just kept clinging to me as if I were the only thing keeping her from sinking completely into despair.

I could feel her breath, ragged and uneven, against my neck, and I knew I had to keep talking, keep giving her something to hold on to, even if it was just words.

Even if it was possibly lies.

“Maybe now that the helicopter’s gone,” My mind raced to grasp at anything that could bring her some comfort. “We could try signaling for someone. There’s got to be a way. A flare, a fire, something around this chateau. Someone out there might see it, and they’ll come. Or. . .”

I hesitated, but then pushed forward, needing to keep the hope alive in both of us. “Or maybe the hanged man’s lawyer will come to check on things. The hanged man was wealthy, probably famous. People like that don’t just disappear without someone noticing and going to investigate.”

Onyx’s breathing began to slow, and her sobs faded as she listened to me.

I wasn’t sure if she believed what I was saying, but I kept going, needing to fill the silence with something other than the crushing existence of our bleak reality.

“We just need to stay strong, keep looking for a way out. There has to be one. We’re not going to die here, Onyx. We’re going to get off this island, I promise you. Someone will come, or we’ll find something. We’ll figure it out together. I know it.”

It was crazy but then. . .I slowly began to realize that as the words left my mouth, that I was even beginning to believe them.

I mean. . .it could happen. . .right?

The desperation to comfort her somehow had me latching onto every possibility, every thin thread of hope too.

Maybe there really was a way out.

Maybe we wouldn’t be trapped here forever.

Maybe. . .

Onyx lifted her head from my chest, her tear-streaked face gazing up at me.

And thankfully, I saw renewed hope in her eyes.

Yes. We can do this.

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