Page 80 of Corrupted Lies

Alannah was right.

She wasn't as big and as strong as him.

She was bigger and stronger.

Not physically, but emotionally.

Despite being treated badly by her parents all her life, Alannah still sought love and happiness, whereas growing up being made to feel like a burden had led to him closing himself off emotionally to everyone outside his family.

Had his determination to protect himself from potential pain cost him a chance at healing and happiness?

Or was that chance sitting beside him so determined to work with him as his partner regardless of the consequences?

And if Alannah was his chance, was he brave enough to reach out and take it?

October 21st

2:14 A.M.

Part of her wished they were back on the island.

As Alannah lay on her back inside the small motorboat, staring up at the vast expanse of sky above her, she couldn’t help but think back to that night on her boat. Back then, she’d felt so optimistic, she thought that she and Jake were safe, they’d left the threat behind, and everything felt fresh and exciting.

With her feelings for Jake already beginning to change, the wide sky above them, littered with a million sparkling stars, had felt like a wealth of possibilities. With his body warm and strong beside hers as they sat under that blanket watching the sunset and the night sky come to life, everything had been perfect, and now …

Now they were once again lost at sea.

While the other part of her knew they had to try to get off that island at some point, at least back there they’d had shelter, fire, and food and water. Here in this little boat, they had none of those comforts.

As November slowly approached, the weather continued to get colder, and although they’d been blessed with sunshine all afternoon and evening instead of pouring rain and howling winds, there hadn't been enough warmth in the sun’s rays to fully dry her clothes. They were damp, and after wearing them for days, and with all the hours she’d spent in the water and the sand, the material felt scratchy and irritated her skin.

Plus, she was freezing cold, her stomach grumbled with hunger, she would sell her soul for a glass of water, and the soles of her feet throbbed from the dozens of tiny cuts she’d gotten running through the woods. After they’d rowed for a while, Jake had used a little seawater to clean away the blood and bits of dirt and sticks embedded in the wounds, and while so far none of them seemed to be infected, they both knew that could easily change.

Despite rowing for hours, all that surrounded them was the ocean.

Miles and miles of ocean.

All the way out to where the ocean met the sky.

Whatever boat the two men Jake had killed had come from, they hadn't spotted it, and if they’d come from another island or even the mainland, if it was nearby they were yet to find it.

The longer they drifted aimlessly in the wildness of the ocean, the more the optimism she’d had when they first left the island began to dwindle.

It was hard to stay positive when death felt like it was creeping ever closer.

“I can hear you thinking … and worrying.” Jake’s voice suddenly rumbled through the otherwise quiet night.

One thing she’d always loved about being out on the water was how quiet it was. It was like being in another world. Now, though, the silence broken only by the lapping of water against the sides of the motorboat just seemed to torture her, reminding her of how alone and vulnerable they were.

“Can't sleep,” she said, rolling over so she was facing Jake. The boat was long enough only for her to stretch out completely flat. Jake was much taller than her and had to keep his knees bent. He must be so uncomfortable, and after everything he’d done to keep her alive these last few days, he should be relaxing in a huge, comfortable bed, with his belly full, safe and sound.

Tears sprang to her eyes and Alannah fought not to let them fall.

She’d been the one to talk up the idea that they could do this, and she’d vowed to herself not to fall apart and give Jake another problem to worry about.

“Hey, what's wrong? What are these tears for?” One of the calloused pads of his fingers touched her cheek, catching a stray tear that wouldn't follow her orders and stay put.

“Guess everything is just catching up with me,” she whispered.

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