Page 42 of Too Safe

My phone dings in my back pocket as I keep pace with the people around me, shuffling slowly toward salvation.

Emo Boy: Where are you?

Shit on a crumbly cracker.

Is he checking up on me because he suspects I might make a break for it? Or is he just checking in with the hope of forcing the conversation I promised him?

The soles of my sneakers scuff against the wooden planks of the dock. We’re close. So fucking close.

Ahead of us, people split between the docked vessels manned by guys wearing LCU apparel.

Decker didn’t lay out rules for this party. But surely, he has some sort of failsafe in place to keep me here. I can’t imagine he didn’t think this through. Did he tell the boat boys who I am? Did he instruct them to not let me board or leave the isle? Kylian warned that security would be watching. Are there other security measures I don’t even know about?

Then there’s the scariest question of all: What will the consequences be if I try to escape and fail?

Panic makes my chest go tight as the crowd in front of us thins. There are a dozen or so people between me and the boats, but they’re quickly climbing onto one or the other and taking their seats. Glancing behind me, I estimate there are maybe twenty people still waiting to get on.

There’s more than enough room between the two ferries. Anyone who wants to leave the isle before the storm should be able to. Anyone, that is, except me.

My feet falter, causing Hunter to sort of rebound in place since we’re still linked at the arm.

“You okay?” she asks, her eyes widening as she takes in what I assume is a mix of fear and indecision painted on my face.

I don’twantto stay. But my gut instinct is screaming at me that I’d be stupid to try and leave.

“Joey. Let’s go,” Hunter urges.

Sticky air and cooling raindrops kiss the bare skin of my forearms while my head swims with indecision. Intoxicated excitement and drunken chaos surround me as the people aboard each boat continue their celebration. The guy behind us grumbles, then eventually steps around us, bypassing the middle of the dock where I’m frozen in place.

“Joey. Are you okay?”

Hunter’s words are fuzzy around the edges as anxiety churns in my gut.

I slow blink, focusing on her gorgeous, worry-filled green eyes, willing the brain fog to clear and begging my feet tomove.

Over her shoulder, lightning strikes.

I jolt, and Hunter’s brow furrows deeper. Several seconds pass before the guaranteed boom of thunder grows into a steady rumble.

A boat horn blasts. Another streak of lightning splinters against the ominous night sky.

When Hunter pulls on my arm, no doubt prepared to drag me onto a ferry, I feel the tension in the crook of my elbow.

My body is resisting.

I can’t make myself move.

In anguish, I close my eyes, shaking my head at my own mental blocks and ridiculous fears.

This could be my only chance—my best shot at escape.

Thunder booms again, far enough away that most of the partygoers don’t even notice. But the disturbance seeps into the marrow of my bones. Water laps at the sides of the boats, adding to the kinetic unrest. Each drop of rain that lands on me is weighted, anchoring me in place.

“I—I think I’m going to stay.”

Hunter tugs on my arm again, her face twisted in disbelief. “Stop joking around. We’ve gotta go.” She drops my arm and steps forward.

I stay firmly planted in place with my jaw clenched to keep my teeth from chattering.

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