Reggie’s eyes dart around the group, sensing an impending mutiny. “Our radio went out before the storm forced me to reroute. I was attempting to make an emergency landing in Portugal, but unfortunately, no one on the ground knows that.”
My lungs feel like they’re collapsing. “What does that mean?”
Reggie wets his lips, his expression uneasy. “There is a chance that they’re looking for us in the wrong place.”
Naomi’s hands fly to her mouth, Henry drops his head into his hands, Victoria swears loudly, and Brooke and I exchange a wary glance.This is so much worse than we thought.
“Why didn’t you say that yesterday?” Brooke asks.
“We’re not far off course. Helpwillcome.”
“I’m leaving.” Theo appears, shouldering a backpack that must have been salvaged from the rest of the luggage. “I’m going to look for help on the east side of the island.”
My stomach sinks, but I’m not surprised. After last night, I knew Theo would never agree to sit here and wait.
“No,” Reggie says.
“I don’t need your permission,” Theo says sharply.
“Your Majesty, I can’t climb that mountain.” Winston gestures to his broken leg.
“Technically it’s a volcano,” Brooke notes.
Reggie continues. “Winston can’t move, and we need to stay near the scene of the crash where we’re safe.”
“Victoria’snot bloody safe!” Theo cries. “Every minute that we sit here and do nothing is wasting time she doesn’t have.”
“And what if I don’t want to go?” Victoria asks. A line of sweat beads on her upper lip, and she’s as pale as Naomi’s cirrus clouds.
Theo’s face falls. “I’m trying to help you.”
She crosses her arms. “I want to stay with the group.”
“I’m with Wren!” Naomi blurts out. She elbows me in the side and everyone’s attention swivels to me.
I elbow her back. “This isn’t about me.” Iwantto support Theo’s decision, but I can’t ignore the foreboding feeling I get when I think about trekking over the mountain.
Henry holds up his hands. “Let’s not do anything drastic, Theo.”
“Oursituationis drastic!”
“We can wait a little bit longer and think this through,” Henry says.
“No, I can’t. Winston—mind if I ransack the first aid kit?” Theo asks.
“Take whatever you need. If one of you lot dies on my watch, I’ll be sacked for sure.”
Henry grabs Theo’s shoulders. “You don’t always look at things rationally.”
Theo shoves his brother away from him. “Sod off. I’ll go alone.”
“Sir—” Reggie tries again.
“I can’t just sit here and wait for help!” Theo turns to Victoria, his voice thick with emotion. “I don’t want to wait until it’s too late. We’ve lost too much. I can’t go home and look Louise, Charlotte, and Andrew in the eye if something happens to you. I won’t survive it.” He turns to me, pleading for someone to take his side, to trust him. “Ihaveto do this.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Victoria’s hand tremble as she takes a drink of water. My stress level rises by a factor of ten.
Winston holds his hands up. “Sir. If I may, sometimes your mind lies to you—”
