Chapter Thirty-Eight

Lena

I wrap my arms around me as a harsh breeze blows from the sea. I can hear it howling past my ear as it threatens to blow my scarf away. Above me, I can see the clouds gathering, turning dark. I see a bolt of lightning in the distance.

A storm is brewing.

Shit.

I glance back at the temporary shelter my mom and I made out of sticks. We were able to make a fire, too, so we weren't too cold last night. Somehow, we survived. But this storm could easily blow our shack away, and all our firewood, maybe even the few trees growing on the island. Worse, the water could sweep it all away and my mom and me with it.

I stare at the shoreline, now closer than before. Already, the tide is rising.

Mom and I survived for one night. But are we going to die today?

My mother squeezes my shoulders.

"Don't worry, sweetheart. I'm sure help will come soon."

I'm not. Why should Riley come and save me when I'm no longer his wife? Unless he saw the note. But he's probably still in Vancouver. That means we have to survive for at least one more day.

My mother's chin rests on my shoulder. "I'm sorry."

"What for?"

"If not for me, you wouldn't be here. I'm the one who got myself abducted."

"You just went to the restroom," I remind her.

"But if I never came to live with you, then maybe--"

"Jerry would have abducted Ollie or Lizzie or Devon. Or Daddy. He just picked you because you were close."

"In that case, I'm glad he picked me. I deserve to suffer more than any of them."

I turn to her. "Mom, you've suffered enough. You don't deserve this. And it's not your fault. It's mine. Marrying Riley turned out to be a mistake after all."

She touches my cheek. "Oh, darling. This is not your fault. All that you did was love, and that is never a bad thing."

"Then how come we're here, being punished for it?"

I glance at my belly.

"Worse, my innocent child is being punished for it."

"Hush." She holds my face in both her hands. "Don't say that. Don't give up now."

I glance at the sky. "But the storm..."

"Storms are created and vanish in an instant," my mother says. "This may yet disappear."

"And if it doesn't?"

"Then we'll get ready. You know, when I said I had a bit of an adventure, I meant that I lived for some time in the Amazon, helping some researchers."

My eyebrows arch. "Really?"

She nods. "I picked up a few survival skills."

So that's why she was able to make that shack and the fire so easily last night.

My lips curve into a smile. "I'm glad you're here, Mom."

She smiles back then grabs my hand. "Come on. Let's get ready."

~

We manage to make a stronger shelter, but it's no use once the storm hits. The wind blows and the water rises. Our shack gets blown down and swept away.

"Mom!" I cling to my mother as the wind threatens to blow us away like a pair of leaves.

She hugs me tight as the water pools around our ankles. "Don't worry. I'll never let you go."

I bury my head in her shoulder as I shiver against the cold. My chest tightens with fear.

Is this the end?

Suddenly, I see a branch flying towards us from the corner of my eye. My mother and I duck in time but the branch gets caught on my scarf and yanks it off. As I grip it to keep it from flying, the wind wrenches me from my mother's arms.

"Lena!"

The wind carries me away and my vision blurs. My head spins and I feel like throwing up. Then suddenly, I'm falling. My feet hit water and then it swallows me.

I flail around and kick but then remember what Riley taught me. I try to calm myself down and swim. I manage to get to the surface, but a big wave washes over me and knocks me under again. After the third time it happens, my arms and legs are too tired. They're numb and feel like they'll fall off.

I don't want to give up, but I can't move anymore. I feel myself slowly sinking and I clutch my belly.

I'm sorry, my child. I'm sorry I couldn't be a mother to you.

Then I close my eyes as I surrender to the water, to the cold. My chest and my head hurt and my breath is leaving me, but I struggle to find some measure of peace. I picture Riley's face in my head and smile.

Goodbye, Riley.

My thoughts begin to blur. My whole body aches.

Is this how it feels to die?

The last thing I know is the sound of someone calling my name before I give in to the nothingness.