Page 36 of Dance Practice, Marooned: Part 2

“That’s for me to sort out,” Ace answers, his voice so low and determined it’s terrifying.

“So we just what,” I mumble, “wait and pray?”

“You’re comin’ with me, Grace,” Ace says in my general direction. “We are going to make sure the ship is cleared. Aggie, you’re in charge of getting Adrian as close as you can. Rachel and Tati, you get as much stuff as you can gather, we need as many supplies as possible. We can’t assume the ship is stocked, and we have no idea how far away from land we actually are. It won’t be easy but get what you can.”

“When are we going to hit them?” Rachel asks.

“Just after midnight,” Ace answers her. “When they’re drunk and fuckin’ stupid.”

“They have weapons,” Tati says, her voice soft but scared. “We have nothing.”

“I’m goin’ to do the best I can to gather some weapons,” Kellen says. “I’m workin’ on it.”

“So, we clear on the plan?” Ace asks.

We all agree.

“Ladies,” he goes on, “if you sense danger, if you see anything that doesn’t feel right, hide. No matter what, just fuckin’ hide. Don’t be heroes. We need to get out of here in one piece.”

More agreeance.

“I’m quite a good ship operator,” Adrian pipes up. “I can get that ship out as quickly as possible.”

Well, there we go.

“When you’re on board, you go straight into operation,” Kellen orders him. “Get us out.”

“Aye aye,” Adrian answers.

I fight the urge to roll my eyes.

It’s dangerous, but if it works, we could actually get off this island.

We could actually go home.

Why does that feel more terrifying than what we are about to do?

8

“YOU READY FOR THIS?” Ace asks me, handing me a knife that I am beginning to think I probably wouldn’t be able to use, but I am hoping it doesn’t come to that.

“Not really,” I say. “But I won’t let you down.”

“Just do what I say, yeah?”

“Yeah,” I whisper.

“I’m headin’ to the wreck now,” Kellen announces. “Give me an hour and then get moving. I’ll see you all back at the ship.”

I hope he’s right.

I really do.

Is it too late to pray?

Rachel and Tati have already started gathering what they can, packing it. They can’t get water, as the pirates are staying right near it again, but they are ensuring what we have comes with us. They are going to raid our fruit supply, near the shack, and rescue what they can. Kellen has given them strict instructions to go the long way around, so they have left.

Aggie is preparing Adrian, ready to start making their way towards the ship.