Tyler released Nico with a slug to his shoulder. “Her idea, dude. I freaked out up there, but Emma found a path and Opal led the way.” Tyler trotted over to help Opal with the boat.
Nico shook his head. He was touched—he couldn’t believe they’d climbed down after him. “What’s she even doing here?”
“She came back.” Emma still clutched his arm. “Byherself. She ditched Logan and the others.”
Before Nico could process this, Opal was in front of him. Their eyes met, but neither spoke. An awkward silence swallowed the beach. Finally, Opal broke it.
“I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Thanks.” Nico’s cheeks burned for some reason. “Thanks, um … for coming after me. For trying to make up for things.”
Nico regretted the words as soon as he said them. Opalturned away, mumbling about checking the oars. Nico started to apologize, but stopped. Why shouldhesay sorry? This wasn’t his fault. Opal was part of the reason they were all stuck down there, dripping wet, on an uncharted island in the middle of Still Cove.
“Did you see the drone anywhere?” Tyler asked, blowing out a snot-rocket.
Nico glanced at his friend, momentarily thrown. “What? No. I didn’t see it.”
Emma was gazing into the shadowy woods. “Did anyone else know there was an island down here? I’ve never heard a story about one.”
“Me neither,” Tyler said. “How big do you think it is?”
Nico sighed, the energy leaking out of him like a popped balloon. “I haven’t seen more than you have. I spent our time apart swimming for my life.” He couldn’t keep the resentment out of his voice as he darted a glance at Opal.
Opal dropped the oar she was holding and spun to face him. “Look, Nico, I didn’t fly your toy into the cove, all right?Logandid that. I’m the one who came back to help. This isn’t my fault, so you can stop going after me.”
Nico’s own temper slipped. “If you feel guilty about something, that’s your problem.” He turned to Tyler, but spoke loud enough for Opal to hear. “No, Ty, I haven’t seen my quadcopter. I’ll probably never find it. But at least I got to fall off a cliff and nearly drown instead.”
Opal huffed, seemed ready for more, but Emma stepped between them. “Maybe it’s not lost, though. Logan flew the drone directly into the fog, right?”
Nico took a calming breath before addressing his friend. “Yes. So?”
“So maybe it landed here.” Emma waved at the trees. “This feels like the center of the cove. The quad could be just up the hill somewhere, safe and sound.”
Nico was about to argue—what are the odds?—but Tyler cut him off. “We might as well go look. We’ve got a boat, but we don’t know where we are.” He frowned at the fog. “Let’s climb to higher ground and see what we can see. Otherwise, we could paddle around for hours and still not find a way out of the cove.”
Nico glanced at the woods. He didn’t have much hope for the drone, yet as he stared at the forest, he felt an odd pull. He shivered, even as a thrill ran through him.
Then Opal stomped past him, heading directly for the woods. “Well?” she called over her shoulder. “The light won’t last forever.” She reached the first row of gnarled trunks and slipped between them.
“I donotunderstand girls,” Tyler muttered.
Nico nodded mutely.
“Because you’re both doofuses,” Emma said brightly. “Opal’s right, though.”
Nico squeezed the bridge of his nose. “Come on. She’llprobably find the quad sitting on a pedestal, and we’ll never live it down.”
Ten feet in, the forest gloom enveloped them. Nico tripped on a root and nearly tumbled into a stream. Shaking water from his sneaker, he pointed to a heel print in the mud. “Opal’s following this creek. Let’s hurry. The last thing we need is for anyone to get lost.”
The woods began to thin as they followed the stream. Nico caught up to Opal on a rocky crease poking above the tree line. He nodded to her awkwardly, then glanced away, gazing back the way they’d come. He could see only misty treetops, with glimpses of the beach below.
Without a word, Opal resumed climbing. Together they scrambled over broken boulders covered in wet pine needles, cursing scrapes and a skinned knee. Nico ripped off his hoodie and left it on a moss-covered rock. At the top of the ridge, Opal wobbled upright, peering down at the other side. Her eyes widened and she gasped.
Nico joined her, following her line of sight. “Oh, wow.”
In the center of the island was a pond—a blue-black circle of darkness that swallowed the light around it. Nothing reflected off its surface. The water lay flat and still.
The pond was unsettling. It looked like a hole in the world.
