Page 146 of Fated

This is the first earthquake. The aftershock? When Charlestown falls into the sea?

That’s coming in exactly forty-two minutes.

I’m on the hill far above town. Right now, according to Odie, Aaron is sprinting back toward the cottages.

“Becca?” Robert grabs my arm, pulls me up, and clasps me in a tight hug. “Are you all right?”

He pushes back, rapidly scanning me. My knees are scraped and covered in sand. I’m dizzy and flushed.

“Was that an earthquake?” Robert asks, looking back toward town.

His face is pale. His copper hair stands straight in the wind. He looks the same as ever. Linen pants, blue button-down shirt, lean and handsome, and ... in less than an hour he’ll be dead.

Unless.

“Listen to me.” I step forward, grabbing his shirt, “Listen. It was an earthquake. An aftershock is coming. Everyone in Charlestown will die. Half the island is going to slide into the sea. We have to run. We have to get everyone to the hill.”

“What?” His head jerks back and he shakes away from me. “What are you talking about?”

“Robert. We have to run. Now!”

And then I sprint from the glade at the top of the hill where Aaron and I picnicked in the shade.

I don’t wait to see if Robert will follow. In seconds he’s running next to me. I kick off my flip-flops and sprint down the sand-and-gravel road. The rocks stab my feet and the heat scorches my skin. It doesn’t matter. I’m dragging in lungfuls of humid air and my heart bangs in my chest as I fly down the hill back toward Charlestown.

“Becca, what are you talking about—?” Robert heaves, sprinting next to me. “The island?—”

I shake my head, gasping, “Promise. Promise you’ll get everyone back to the hill. Everyone in town. Promise.”

I glance at him. He gives a sharp nod, his jaw tight.

Then in the distance there’s Odie, jogging up the base of the hill. His figure is gangly and tall, a dark silhouette in the noonday sun.

“Becca,” he shouts as we sprint downhill. “McCormick told me to check on you. He’s helping at the shore. Essie’s roof caved in.”

Robert grips my arm as we’re running. He slows, pulling me to a stop next to Odie. My lungs burn and I drag in hot-air breaths as the sun beats down.

Robert glances at me, taking in my sweat-soaked sundress, and the sweat dripping down my forehead. My eyes sting from the sweat and the sun and my chest burns. My legs ache and my feet are pulsing with pain. They’re scratched and bloody.

It doesn’t matter.

“You stay here,” Robert says worriedly. “Stay with Odie. I’ll help Aaron.”

“No,” I say, yanking my hand free. “No one stays. Go to town. Get everyone on the hill. We have less than thirty minutes. Odie, get everyone on the hill. The island is going to cave into the sea. Go. Now.”

I wait, and when they only stare at me, I shout, “Go!”

Odie must see something in my eyes. Or maybe he sees a memory of a future where it’s only the two of us standing on this island and he’s wishing he hadn’t climbed that hill with me. Because when I shout, “Go!” he turns around and runs back toward town.

“Go,” I tell Robert, and he takes one look at me and then nods.

“Where will you be?” he asks, gripping my hand.

“I have to save Aaron. Amy and Sean. The rest of them.”

He nods, squeezing my hand. “Becca. If you can’t save them, save yourself.”

I shake my head. Then I tug my hand free and sprint toward the beach.

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