Chapter 20 – Emily

We walk out the front door with our arms full and head back to where Tom is standing with Marjorie.

“Nice job, you two.” Tom smiles.

“What did you two find?” Aiden asks.

“Not much. That building looks like some sort of research lab. There wasn’t any food, but I did find some antibiotics,” Marjorie says.

“And I collected anything we could use as a weapon.” Tom opens his bag, and I glance inside to find scalpels and knives.

“Well, it’s more than we had when we left the beach, but there’s not enough to feed twenty-three—now twenty-two—of us for God knows how long,” Larry says.

He’s right. I frown. “No one’s been here for a long time. Where do you think all the people went?”

“Maybe this is just some sort of vacation spot or something,” Aiden suggests.

“But why would everyone leave so abruptly? I mean, whoever lived here literally left everything. Why would they do that?” I look to Tom for an answer, but he doesn’t respond. None of this makes any sense.

“And who vacations near a research lab?” Marjorie asks. “That building gave me the creeps.” She shudders.

“All right, let’s calm down.” Tom clears his throat. “I know this situation seems weird, but if you think about it, this is the best thing to have happened to us since we crashed.”

“How so?” I cross my arms over my chest and glare at him.

“I’ll be honest. I don’t know what is going on. I don’t know why there’s a research lab with all the modern scientific equipment. For Pete’s sake, we’re in the middle of nowhere, right? Has anyone been able to find a map or anything of the sort while they were investigating? A phone or CB radio? A laptop?”

I tilt my head and slice a look at Aiden. Now that I think about it, there are no electronics whatsoever. Not even a television. One by one, everyone says no or shakes their head. It isn’t lost on me that Tom hasn’t answered my question.

“All right then.” Tom sighs. “I’d hoped we’d find some sort of confirmation as to our whereabouts, but it seems we’re all still clueless as to where we are.” He bends down and grabs a can of food. He studies it for a moment before holding it out in front of us. “Does anyone find it strange that some of the food is months to a year old? The expiration date on this is in a few months.”

An expression of dread fills Marjorie’s face, and her eyes widen. “We can still eat it, though, right?”

Tom nods. “Yes, and I’m sure we’ll exhaust this—”

Before he can finish, Larry’s body arches forward in an awkward way, and then he falls face-first to the ground. An arrow sticks out of the side of his neck. Blood gushes from the wound so fast, there’s a puddle around his head within seconds. My eyes widen, and a scream builds in my throat. There’s no way he can still be alive.

Tom kneels beside him and puts his hand on Larry’s back. “He’s not breathing.” Then, Tom glances up and shakes his head.

“Run!” Aiden shouts and shoves me back toward the building we just left. Tom and Marjorie are right behind us. My heart is lodged in my throat, and I can’t breathe as I rush through the doorway. Tom’s the last one inside, and he slams the door then locks it.

“Are there any other doors in this building?” He looks between me and Aiden as he checks the ammunition in his gun.

I don’t realize tears are spilling down my cheeks until I feel them drip off my chin. I try to wipe my face, but my hands are shaking too badly.

“Hey!” Tom snaps his fingers in my face. “Are there any other doors in this building?”

“No,” Aiden says curtly and steps in front of me, putting himself between me and Tom.

“Make sure all the windows are shut and locked,” Tom orders. “Marjorie, double check for any other ways in or out of this building.” He turns to look out the front window without speaking to me again. He probably thinks I’m useless right now. I can’t argue.

A moment later, Marjorie returns. “There’s another door in the kitchen. It was partially hidden by the fridge, so I had Aiden help me move it to block the door.”

I don’t remember seeing a door in the kitchen. “Did you open it?” I don’t know why that’s the question I choose to ask when I finally get my mouth to cooperate, but a thought wiggles its way into my brain, and I can’t shake it.

Marjorie stares at me like I’m insane. Then, she shakes her head. “No, why?”

“Maybe it goes down to a basement or something,” I say. “Maybe there is another way out so we don’t have to use the front door. Or maybe there’s more food down there.”

“All windows are shut and locked. I closed all the blinds, too,” Aiden says, returning to the living room and interrupting my rambling. It’s not like Marjorie or Tom are listening anyway.

“Is Larry dead?” I whisper. No one answers. No one has to. We all know what we saw out there. “Where did that arrow come from?”

“I don’t know.” Tom doesn’t pull his gaze from the window. We all fall silent until he finally turns around. “I don’t see anyone moving around out there. The tree line is quiet, too.”

“We shouldn’t be here.” I pace the living room. My hands begin to shake even more, and I have to tuck them in my armpits to stop the trembling. “That’s why they shot Larry. We’re in their home and stealing their food.”

“Emily, calm down.” Aiden takes hold of my shoulders and turns me to face him. “We’re safe inside here.”

I nod, but my eyes fill with tears, and I can’t see him clearly.

“Aiden’s right.” Tom tucks his gun into the back of his jeans. “This is the safest place right now, and this is where we’re going to say until the sun rises.”

“What?” I shout. “We’re going to stay here? What if the owners come back? What if whoever killed Larry decides to attack us?”

“I have a gun. We’ll be safe.” But Tom’s voice isn’t as assured as it was when we arrived.

“We left all the food outside,” Marjorie says.

Tom grumbles and drags a hand through his hair.

“Not all of it.” Aiden nods to his backpack. “There’s plenty in there to get us through the night.”

Marjorie sighs with relief. “What if they’re still out there come morning?”

“We’ll slip out before sunrise and make our way back into the jungle before anyone sees us.” Annoyance flares in Tom’s voice. “Right now, we should be thankful we have a roof over our heads and food to eat. We’ll have to take turns keeping watch throughout the night, though. I’ll take the first watch. In the meantime, we should all eat something and get ourselves cleaned up.”

“All the lights work, and there’s running water,” Aiden says. “There’s a bathroom off the kitchen and another one upstairs.”

“Good. And you’re sure no one can get in or out that door in the kitchen?” Tom sets his gaze on Marjorie, who nods emphatically.

I scoop Aiden’s bag off the floor. “I’ll make something for us to eat.” I’m not a very good cook, but I’m sure I can heat some soup from a can. Hopefully, the task will help calm me and take my mind off what’s happening, but all I can see is Larry falling to the ground. We didn’t even try to help him. Setting the bag on the kitchen table, I grip the edge, hang my head, and close my eyes. We just left him there, just like we left Sienna. We’re going to be okay. Tom is an air marshal. He’s trained for bad situations, and he has a gun. He’ll protect us.

Then why don’t I feel safe?

“Hey, you all right?” Aiden’s voice is soft at my ear.

“Yeah, I think so.” I straighten and unzip the bag.

“Here, let me help.” He takes the food out and sets it on the table. “Can you look for a can opener?”

I rummage through the cabinets and drawers until I find a handheld can opener. Like everything else, it’s caked in dust. I rinse it off in the sink, then hand it to Aiden. I repeat the process with a large pot. Then I search for bowls and spoons and cups.

Being in the kitchen like this feels too normal for our current situation. It also reminds me so much of home, of the evenings I spent helping Mom prepare dinner. Back when we still got along, when she actually wanted me around and I wasn’t the family pariah. I’d give anything to hear her voice right now, even if she was scolding me, or to feel her arms around me.

I freeze, and my heart runs rampant, leaving me gasping for breath. I set the bowl I’m holding back onto the counter, setting it down harder than necessary. Tears pool in my eyes, and I try to blink them away.

“Emily?”

Aiden’s voice is faint, but it snaps me back to the present. He places his hand on my shoulder, and I turn into him, burying my face against his chest. And then my tears fall hard and fast.

“Hey, easy.” He rubs my back. “It’s okay.”

“I didn’t hug them,” I sob.

“What? Who?”

“My parents. When they dropped me off at the airport, I didn’t hug them. I didn’t tell them I loved them.” I pull back and wipe my face.

“So, when you get home—and you will get home—hug them extra hard and tell them how much you love them. But I’m sure they know that already.”

I shrug and glance around for a tissue box or roll of paper towels, but I don’t find any. I return to the sink and splash cool water on my face. Aiden’s wrong. My parents have no idea how I really feel about them. My actions sure didn’t show it, and I’d screamed that I hated them. There’s no way they can know the truth, and that terrifies me almost as much as being stuck on this stupid island. Aiden comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my stomach, his chin resting on my shoulder. I don’t know what I would do without him here, constantly comforting me.

“Everything is quiet out there,” Tom says as he walks into the kitchen. Marjorie is on his heels. “I have no idea where that arrow came from or who shot it.” He frowns.

I break away from Aiden’s embrace. Dwelling on the things I didn’t do and say won’t help anything, so I push the thoughts and emotions away and focus on the current situation. “I suppose it’s good no one is out there, right? That means we’re probably safe.”

Tom nods. “For the time being, yes. But we can’t let our guard down. We’ll take shifts keeping watch. Do any of you know how to shoot a gun?”

I shake my head. So does Aiden.

“I do.” Marjorie raises her hand. “I own a gun shop and shooting range.”

Tom smiles broadly. “Good. Then you and I will take turns tonight. I don’t want to leave anyone in charge of our safety if they don’t know how to shoot.” He glances at me and Aiden with what can only be described as disappointment.

“Wait,” Aiden says. “Just because we can’t use a gun doesn’t mean we can’t help.”

“He’s right,” Marjorie interjects before things escalate between the guys. “You and Emily can take care of other things, like cooking and bringing us coffee and making sure we stay awake. We should take shifts in pairs. Me and Aiden, and Tom and Emily.”

“Perfect,” Tom says.

“Don’t we get a say in this?” I say before I can stop myself. I want to help and take my turn keeping watch, but I don’t want to do it with Tom. He seems nice enough, but I don’t know him well. I don’t know any of these people that well, and the thought of sitting up in the middle of the night with a strange, older man doesn’t sit well with me.

Tom raises a brow. “Excuse me?”

I don’t mean to be snotty, but his gaze is intense and fiery. I cower and clear my throat. “I mean, why can’t I sit watch with Marjorie?”

He narrows his eyes. “This isn’t some sleepover party, Emily. This is real life, and our lives could very well be in danger. Pairing one man and one woman is the easiest, safest, and most effective way to handle this situation.”

Sexist much? But I have the good sense not to say that. Instead, I nod. “Fine, whatever.”

“The food is ready,” Aiden says, interrupting the tense exchange.

I take over the task and serve everyone a bowl of food. Marjorie and Tom sit at the table while Aiden and I stand at the counter. After eating cold airplane meals for the past two days, the hot soup tastes like heaven, and I devour it.

“We should see if there are any extra blankets or pillow around here somewhere. There’s only one bed down here, so someone will have to take the couch,” Marjorie says.

“Yeah, but there are five bedrooms upstairs,” I say.

“Upstairs is off limits. We all stay down here. Together.” Tom’s voice leaves no room for argument.

“I’m pretty sure I saw a linen closet in the living room.” Marjorie stands.

Wait, there’s a linen closet? How come we didn’t look through it? Or notice it? I stifle a yawn and set my dishes in the sink. “I’ll go check.” I return to the living room and look around. I don’t see a closet door anywhere, and I’m starting to think maybe Marjorie was seeing things.

“Over here,” she says as she walks into the room. She points to a door secluded in the corner and obstructed by the couch.

“Oh.” I open the door and peer inside. Nothing. “It’s empty.”

“Bummer.” She sighs. “For what it’s worth, I’d much rather have you sit watch with me. But don’t take offense to Tom. Every law enforcement officer I’ve ever dealt with is brusque like him. I’m convinced it’s a requirement of the job.” She laughs.

“Thanks.” I give her a grateful smile. Maybe sitting up with Tom won’t be so bad after all. I can pick his brain about our situation and his plans for our escape back to the beach tomorrow.