Any other kraken would know the right things to say to stop her crying, to bring her comfort as a mate should. But this is the fate the Goddess bestowed upon her, the curse she was given. I will not free her from it. I cannot.
She has no choice but to go along with it. The sooner she realizes it, the easier it will be for her.
15
Cindi
Everything I endured was for nothing.
Those are the words repeating in my head as I watch the sun descend beneath the shoreline.
I was beaten, abused, starved all so my father could die alone, waiting for me to call him to restart our Sunday routine like we did before I fell into Tommy’s trap.
I stabbed my husband. I ran to the other side of the world.
And all of it was for nothing.
I’m going to die out here, at the hands of my so-calledmate. Whether by plain ignorance or pure naivety, he’s going to be the death of me.
Hunger pains stab at my stomach. My throat is raw from crying, the heat, dehydration, and many mouthfuls of saltwater. My skin feels like it’s peeling off my body from the hours I’ve spent in the sun, staring into the distance, willing someone to see me. I think the tattoo on my back has blistered.
I’ve circled what I could of the island, coming face-to-face with a steep rock wall or the edge of a cliff every time I think I’ve finally found a way back to civilization.
But no one is coming.
The only form of escape I could find was a dinghy with a rusted, busted engine. There wasn’t a single salvageable part.
I searched the trees as I ran around the island, hoping to find any fruit or vegetable I could eat or drink, but nothing. No freshwater stream. No coconuts I could attempt to pick. No way to make a fire because I’m far from being a Girl Scout.
A person can last three days without water. I’d venture I’d die in less, based on how the past twenty-four hours have played out, not to mention the wholechronic fatiguething I’ve been sporting for the last six months.
The last thing I ate was a single lumpia yesterday afternoon, followed by two cocktails later that night. By my calculation, I have until tomorrow evening to get out of here before I waste away.
At one point, I considered jumping into the sea and swimming until I reach land, drown, or get eaten by whatever fucked-up thing is out there, but I figured Ordus would catch me before I could make it far.
I haven’t seen him, but I know he’s out there somewhere, sulking, watching, doing mental gymnastics to come to some justification that keeping me—his supposedmate—out here is fine.
He’d rather let me die on this island than take me back.
Just because a monster has a gentle touch doesn’t mean he isn’t a monster.
I’ll do well to remember that.
The water splashes against my feet, sand sticking to my grimy, sweat-stained skin. The fabric of my dress feels like matted cardboard. I’ve turned into a slab of meat for the nearbymosquitoes to feast on. I’d kill for many things right now. A shower is near the top of that list.
I need to find the silver lining in this, right? That’s what Dad always did. Oh, I got seven out of ten on my spelling test? At least I passed and learned from my mistakes. Burned dinner? Once you shave off the char, the inside is edible.
He was an optimist, a yes-man through and through. He wouldn’t hurt a fly. He’d say I was enough of a pessimist for the both of us. Well, he only said that once I started seeing Tommy.
So, silver lining? The Gallaghers can’t reach this island.
I squeeze my eyes shut against my plummeting blood pressure and sugar levels that send my body on a toxic tailspin where I want to discard the nonexistent contents of my stomach.
My body sways with the gentle breeze, eyelids drifting open and closed.
The sea isn’t giving me any peace like it usually would, but still, if there were ever a place for me to die, it would be here, overlooking the ocean as the water cools me down. Because when all is said and done, my corpse will be mine alone. I’m trapped on this island where no onewill ever find me here. The Gallaghers can’t turn me into a warning if they never find my body.
With that thought, I weakly dart my eyes to the trees in case one of the Gallaghers magically teleported here. For a second, I see a glimmer of Tommy’s ghost, but I know he isn’t there. It’s been…nice not looking over my shoulder every minute I’ve been outdoors, waiting for the Gallaghers to be around the corner.
