Page 56 of Corrupted Lies

If he was back, where was the help he’d found?

Then it hit her.

He was coming from behind her, the opposite direction from which he’d left. That meant he’d completed a circle. Surely …

Surely that circle couldn’t have been the entire island.

If she had to guess, she would have thought he’d been gone maybe two hours, if he really had circled the entire island, that would make it pretty small.

Maybe she was wrong.

Maybe he’d just gone along a bit, headed inland, and then circled back in the other direction before turning again to hit the spot where he’d left her waiting.

That idea was dashed when Jake reached her side.

“Where were you going?” he demanded, in the hard tone she knew was only used when he was afraid. Jake afraid was never a good thing.

“I was worried you were hurt and was going to go looking for you. Are you okay? Did you find help?” The question was stupid because if he had it would be here with him, but she couldn’t let go of that last tiny sliver of hope just yet.

His gaze softened, but the fear hidden in his eyes was far too visible for her liking. “Alannah, I don’t know … I don’t know how to say this, but … thereisno help here. We’re alone on this island.”

The words seemed to hover between them for a moment.

Sparing her their impact for a few more seconds.

But when it hit, it hit hard.

They’d fought their way through the ocean all for nothing. They had no food, no means to call for help, no means to get off the island other than to head back into the ocean, no shelter, and no warm clothes.

They had nothing.

That first sob caught her by surprise. She was no more ready for the second or the third. Nor was she prepared for Jake to snatch her into his arms and crush her against his chest, holding her tightly while she wept, every bit of fear and exhaustion seeping out of her in those tears.

Eventually, logic began to edge out the fear. Falling apart wasn't going to help them. In fact, it was going to hurt them because it gave poor Jake another problem he had to solve. They couldn’t survive this if she made herself a hysterical burden Jake would have to carry.

Their only hope of surviving was if they worked together.

Somehow, Alannah managed to find the strength she hadn't known she possessed, one born of a deep-seated desire to live, and lifted her wet face to meet Jake’s steady gaze. A gaze that gave her strength and confidence.

“We need to come up with a plan because we’re not dying on this island.” She said the words and meant them, somehow believing that together there was nothing they couldn’t do.

Even survive this.

Chapter

Thirteen

October 18th

4:44 P.M.

“Wow,” Alannah said, taking a step back to admire their handiwork. “This is a real upgrade from what you used to build in the woods when we were kids.”

The smile she gave him was strained. Lines of exhaustion and worry bracketed her mouth, and there were dark smudges under her eyes, but she was holding it together and Jake was so very proud of her.

She’d done everything he’d asked of her today. No complaints, no asking for breaks, although he knew she needed them and made sure they stopped regularly to recharge. They were both hungry, thirsty, and exhausted, but they’d worked side by side for hours, and Alannah was right, at least they had something pretty good to show for it.

“Guess all those years in the military and with Prey taught me a thing or two.”

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