Page 34 of Sanctuary

Paige’s face darkened, and Misty’s smile grew.

“You’re blushing,” said Sarah, unable to hide her grin.

Paige turned her head and looked at Simon.

“Your face is kind of red,” he said.

“I’m mean, and I get picked on. Now I’m nice and get the same treatment.”

Sarah and Misty looked at each other and started laughing. Paige rolled her eyes, but Simon could tell she wasn’t angry.

“I’m stuffed,” Sarah said, rubbing her stomach after she pushed away the empty container.

“Indra liked his food.” Paige lifted the lid up so they could see it was clean. Indra licked his paws a few feet from Simon, appearing content. Paige shifted her attention. “Did Indra eat your fingers?” she asked.

Simon looked at his hand and curled his pinky, thumb, and stubs into a fist.

“No, it wasn’t Indra,” he said. “I wasn’t paying attention. When you’re around the cats, even Indra, you must always pay attention. Never go near their food and always remember they can hurt you real, real bad by accident.”

“Did the lion swallow the fingers, or did you get them back?”

“Paige,” Misty objected sternly.

Simon looked thoughtful. “I woke up, and they weren’t there. I never asked.”

“Hmm,” Paige said and cast a squinted look in Misty’s direction. “I bet he ate them, and now he has a taste for human flesh.”

Simon decided right then that he liked Paige too. His large size didn’t seem to bother her now, and she said what she felt. That wasn’t a bad thing. He didn’t know about Cleveland liking human flesh, though. The lion acted the same after the incident.

“Can we take a nap?” asked Sarah.

Simon could barely keep his eyes open, and it sounded good to him.

“I’m exhausted,” Misty agreed.

“I need to get the cats into their pens, but I’m too tired.”

“Then it’s settled,” Misty said.

They spread out the tarp with the dry side up and shared the blankets so they could all be comfortable. The storm raged outside as the wind carried large objects that struck the brick building and sometimes all the way up to the glass at the top where they rested. The steady strobe of light flickering into their small area from beneath the door was oddly comforting.

Paige lay next to Simon, the tiger snuggled between them. Misty and Sarah lay close to each other.

“Do you think we’ll get off the island?” Sarah asked in a low whisper that Simon could hear.

“I know we will,” Misty answered.

Simon hoped she was right. He closed his eyes.

*

“Simon,” Misty said and touched his arm softly.

He examined her. She had nice eyes. They only looked angrily at Paige, and she smiled at him like Sarah.

“Does anyone else have a key to the lighthouse?” she asked.

He sat up and heard a sound he couldn’t place. “No one should have a key, but I think someone is trying to get in. I’ll go check.” The sound was a steady scratch that could be a large branch against the side of the building.

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