“I’m thinking animal traps. Maybe a new glider. We could make oars, shore up Julio’s cracked A-frame…” Rives spoke as fast as his missing twin, Natalie.
I clapped Rives on the back. His to-do list felt oddly remote. “Sounds like you’ve got it. Let’s run, eh?”
Rives looked at me. “Yeah. Let’s run.” He didn’t mention his projects again.
I ran intervals with Rives as long as I could, but my legs were beat from yesterday’s hike, and I bailed early. Plus I was starving. And I missed Charley.
By the fire, Jillian was tying Charley’s hair into twin ponytails.
“Morning, you two.” I grabbed a hot wrap and sat beside Charley. Her shoulders were relaxed, her head slightly tilted as Jillian gathered her hair into a thick roll and held it tight.
“Okay, Charley,” Jillian said, reaching for a piece of twine, “don’t move.”
As if Charley would. I smiled to myself. Charley loved it when I combed her hair. Watching Jillian, I felt a stab of envy.
“Just so you know, Jillian, that’s my job.” I shot Charley a lazy grin.
Jillian laughed. “So you’re a hairstylist now?”
“He has hidden talents.” Charley’s tone was serious.
“Geez, I’d say get a room, but you two already have one.” Jillian smirked. “Done.” She shifted her feet and winced.
“How’s your ankle?” I asked.
“Better,” Jillian said. “Just stiff. I’m guessing I can run in a week or so.”
Julio and a new boy passed by, their arms stuffed with green leaves, the kind used for wraps. I guessed the new kid was Sergio, then with a start I realized it was Dex. Dex, who had looked like a strung-out vampire when we’d left. He looked like he’d gotten fresh blood or a dose of Nil sun. His skin no longer glowed pasty white; he actually looked alive. But his ears still looked weird.
“Huh,” I said, watching Dex.
“What?” Charley asked.
“Dex. It looks like he’s joined the land of the living. No more vamp camp for him.”
Jillian nodded. “It took him a couple days to snap out of it, but he’s actually a decent guy. Handy, too. Dex’s been on his own since he was fifteen, so he knows how to cook. And unlike some rookies, he was smart enough not to get totally fried his first week here.”
I nodded. More than one new contestant had gotten sun poisoning, and it was never pretty. The sickest one in a long time was Bart.
Bart. He was currently on Search, supporting Miguel.
“Did you hear that?” Charley said, craning around.
Tuning out the ocean, I listened. Then I heard it: a high-pitchedwail. Faint and human. I jumped to my feet behind Charley. Jillian stood and immediately faltered on her ankle.
“Stay,” I told her. “Better yet, find Rives.”
Charley was already running toward the sound. Taking off after her, I heard the cry again. A thin scream, shouting a name. I didn’t recognize the voice, but I recognized the name.
Rives.
CHAPTER
44
CHARLEY
DAY 34, MORNING
