Page 150 of Bewitched By the Sea Monster

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This was…

It wassick.

It wastorture,what was done to them. I’d thought so before, when I’d believed them to be centuries dead. But now…

It wasmalicious,to round up a band of living, breathing humans. People with lives, families, and friends. And curse them—force them into different bodies. Strap them to this shitty island to entertain a bunch of tourists.

I staggered back. Hit the wall. Sank down it until my butt plopped onto the ground and buried my head in my hands.

Marvin watched me.

“I have to do something,” I sputtered. “I can’t…I can’t leave him…or any of you. I’m…Ohstars. There’s…Is there a way to reverse this? Is thereanythingI can do?”

“Yes,” Marvin breathed. “Yes, I think you can—” But he cut off with a yowl, rubbing frantically at his head.

Beneath his fur, a squiggly rune lit up in neon orange, burning him.

Marvinhowled—the sort of wailing screech cats made when they fought.

I rushed toward him when he tilted sideways and plopped off the suitcase.

And Jackson finally woke up.

“I could stay.”

“There are worse places to be trapped. At least I’d have you.”

“I think I love you, Alistair.”

I want to keep her.

Ithurts.This wanting.

Hurts more when I watch her leave. Crying, as she does so, because she hurts too. Letting her stay would take away the hurt for both of us.

And I want to call to her.

Stay. Pippi. Please. I don’t want to be alone again.

I love you.Allof you. Your laugh and…hu-humor. Your kindness. And your dreams.Everything.I love how spending time with you feels…easy.

Stay. Please.

But I don’t say any of that.

I want to tell her other things too.

What she is.

What I am.

What the island is.

Why we’re here.

Why we can never leave.

But I can’t. The words slip when I reach for them.

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