Page 34 of The Final Storm
“What else has she done?” My rage is apparent now. My body trembles from it, but I still feel conflicted. I would be angry if the roles were reversed. I would hate me, just like I hate her.
“Please, it doesn’t matter. I’ve dealt with it. Let’s go see our family. I’ll walk with you to medical.”
I don’t have the energy to continue the conversation. My mind spins with thoughts, but I want to see my daughter. I want to call BeLew and hear about worms and fish and the giant weapons they build and use to shoot at the fucking ship. She won’t interrupt a moment with my family again.
Sam and I walk hand in hand through the halls. Already, his demeanor feels lighter. The weight he carried lifts from his chest, and so does all the worry that accompanies his secret. We dissect my dream along the way, tearing apart each piece to determine our next course of action.
I replay the picture in my mind again and again, and the face of the dead body never surfaces. I think it’s a man, but I can’t be sure. I try to focus on the clothing, the limbs, anything to identify the person.
BeLew adrift in the water scares me more than the body. They’ve become powerful swimmers since living on the island, but a storm is coming upon us in my vision and in real life. I saw the beast on the monitors earlier.
How many storms are left?
Sam vows to check with his coworkers after our visit and discuss the possibility of the storm reaching the island with the ship’s meteorologists. They believe it will stay south of us, and that’s why the Galene hovers out in these waters, waiting it out.
But the weather can shift at any moment, and unease fills my heart. The one decision I make on our walk is that we all need to be together as soon as possible. We will radio the island to take us back, collect the boys, and return. I don’t want to leave Morgan, but I need to see BeLew and hold them, and the trip will only take a few hours. Gemma might be ready to send them back to us at the rate they’re digging up her gardens.
We step into the medical unit, surrounded again by beeping machines and cold walls. Lori snores on the cot next to Luke’s bed and his motionless body. The steady beeps and thumps of air no longer bother me, but I feel Sam stiffen and tighten his jaw.
Sam speaks with the nurse for a long while. They allow him to hold Morgan outside her plastic cage for ten minutes, and I take that as a good sign. He leaves, promising to check the weather and then speak to the captain about getting BeLew.
Lori grumbles next to me when the door shuts behind Sam. “Go back to sleep, woman. Someone needs to rest and it sure as shit won’t be me. We have some… problems we need to fix.”
Her arms lift upward, bones cracking until she’s fully upright. “Well, you’ve piqued my interest. I can’t sleep now.”
I twist my fingers in my lap. “You should be sleeping. Don’t freak out, but I think we should get the kids off the island as soon as possible.”
“What the fuck are you and Sam planning now? I swear to God, woman. It’s just off and on and off and on the boat with your asses.”
“We feel safe enough to bring BeLew aboard like we talked about. I’ll get Tank too. You could be right about staying here for a time.” I’m lying a bit by omission, and I wince, recalling my anger at Sam performing the same act.
Telling her everything will scare her, and we’ve always kept the agreement that if she wants to know more, she has to ask.
Lori swings her legs to face me and crosses her arms. “Bullshit. I call so much bullshit.”
Fuck, she’s asking.
Her lips form a tight line, waiting for my response. Only the sounds of Luke’s machines fill the space.
Beep… whoosh… beep… whoosh
“I can wait here all day. I have nothing else to occupy my time. Something’s up that you aren’t saying.” She uncrosses her arms, moving her elbows to her knees and leaning forward. “I can tell.” She bites her lip and shakes her head. “What happened? Another vision?”
“I need you to stay here and monitor Morgan. We can get them and be back in a few hours. A half-day at most whenever Sam gets the okay. Hopefully, that’s soon.” I rub my hands together and swallow down my nerves.
Lori takes her turn to be silent.
Beep… whoosh… beep… whoosh
She breaks her resolve and paces the room. “Are you going to tell me our latest catastrophic prediction?”
“Do you want to know?”
Beep… whoosh… beep… whoosh
“Fuck.” Lori puts her head in her hands and stares out at the grey hallway through the window. “No. I can’t right now. I’d rather just bury my head in the sand. I’ll stay with Luke and Morgan.”
“The entire time. Don’t let them out of your sight.” My insistence comes out in a shaky voice. “Don’t leave this room from the time we leave until when we get back. And stay awake.”
