“Dry land.” Tyler couldn’t tear his eyes from it. “Yeah. He’d go there.”
“Then what are we waiting for?” Opal plunged her oar into the slate-colored seawater. Tyler did the same, and the boat swept forward on silent wings.
3
NICO
Nico spat out a mouthful of sand.
He collapsed onto his back, exhausted and soaked with frigid seawater. Then he rolled over and threw up. When he’d finished heaving, Nico pushed up with his arms and squinted, choking back a spike of panic. He dug his fingers into the beach, confirming that it was solid, that he could stand on it, and that he wasn’t going to drown.
He’d made it to the island, but it had beenclose.
Stupid! Stupid stupid stupid.
He’d fallen into Still Cove! From the top of the cliff!
Nico had barely had time to realize he was going to die before being swallowed by the fog and then spit out into dark, freezing water. The impact had knocked him senseless. It was a freakingmiraclehe’d managed to claw back to the surface.
That’s when terror set in. Vertical walls surrounding him. Unknown depths below. Nico had grown convinced he’dsurvived the fall only to swim in helpless circles until he sank. He’d blundered into a floating log by pure luck. Adrift and alone, he’d very nearly given up. Until the island appeared, rising from the mists like a smear of midnight.
He’d ditched the slimy log and swam for land, icy seawater numbing his limbs, fighting to pull him down. At one point he felt the horrible sensation of something large moving beneath him, but he pushed through, crawling from the ocean and kissing the dirty sand.
And now … here he was.
Something jabbed his side. Nico untwisted his drenched hoodie and pulled out the drone’s remote. It was cracked and dripping wet. Nico dropped the ruined controller with a sigh.
He rose and faced the mist-cloaked island. Its narrow beach curved away on both sides. Straight ahead, a dark forest climbed into the fog and out of sight. Nico shivered. Literally every option seemed bad, but he definitely wasn’t getting back into the water.
Nico ran a hand through his sodden hair, spiking it with his fingers. He needed a plan, but nothing came to mind. Tyler and Emma were trapped on the cliff top and probably freaking out. His dad was out of town. The closest boats were all the way back in Timbers. Nico was hungry and thirsty and tired. Worst of all, the quadcopter was nowhere in sight.
All for nothing. Nico kicked a rock into the water. Whathad he done to deserve this? They’d been minding their own business, flying the drone. Logan was such a jerk.
Don’t forget Opal. She watched and did nothing, then rode off like Nico didn’t exist. If he’d ever doubted their friendship was dust, now he had proof. She was just like the others.
“Enough.” Nico spoke out loud to underline the point. “You’re wasting daylight.”
He looked up and down the beach. It didn’t encourage exploration. Nico peered into the fog-soaked woods. How high did the island rise? Maybe if he climbed up, he could see more of the cove. Find a way out.
A way out how? You think there’s a bus station up there?
Nico shoved the negative thought away. Nothing on the empty beach would help his situation. Going somewhere,anywhere, felt better than standing there and shivering.
He’d taken two steps when he heard his name. Low and ghostly, it floated on the wind. He whirled to face the water, eyes rounding. All the horror stories about Still Cove came screaming back to him.
Nico froze, ears straining. But after a tense minute, he relaxed. Even cracked a smile.My mind is playing tricks on me.But the smile vanished when his name repeated, louder and closer, echoing from everywhere and nowhere at once.
Nico stumbled back. Goosebumps erupted along his arms. He had a very serious concern he might wet his pants.
Out on the water, a long shadow pierced the fog. The silhouette coalesced into the shape of a rowboat. As Nico gaped, a tiny form materialized at its head.
Nico blinked. Blinked again.
He recognized the figure in the bow. It was … Emma.
Emma hit the sand running, tackling Nico in a flying bear hug. Tyler arrived an instant later and the trio bounced in a chattering, jubilant circle. It took Nico a minute to notice a third person, pulling the rowboat onto the beach alone.
“Opal?” Nico whispered.
