Page 89 of Amnesia

“You really think a bunch of murderers are hiding from the law out there?” She scoffed. “Or that the island is cursed by some witch who was burned at the stake a hundred years ago?”

I snickered.

“Oh, I know!” she said. “Maybe that’s where the Loch Ness Monster lays her eggs!”

“I fully believe the Loch Ness Monster isn't a myth,” I replied, serious.

“Yes, I know.” She laughed. “You and your imagination.”

“Just because you’ve never seen something doesn’t mean it isn’t there,” I told her.

“Usually not seeing something means exactly that. It’s not there.”

I flashed her a smile. “Then why’d you come along if you thought nothing would be there?”

“Someone has to make sure you stay out of trouble.”

We were away from shore now, the canoe bobbing unsteadily over the water. The wind out here was strong and cold. I glanced out across the water, making out the dark, skulking shape of Rumor Island.

“Shouldn’t be too long to get there,” I said, tossing her the backpack off my shoulders. “Here, hold the flashlight.”

“This is so dumb,” she commented.

“You love spending time with me,” I teased, my arms already getting tired of rowing.

“Always,” she whispered. I glanced up, our eyes connecting for long moments.

A large wave collided into the side of the boat and jostled us both. Sadie fell to the side, and I grunted. “You okay?”

“Fine,” she said. “You’re a terrible driver.”

“Get the flashlight out. Shine it out there. It’s too dark.”

She did what I asked, and we rowed in silence for a while toward the island. I didn’t expect to find anything at all except what everyone knew for sure about the island. Some woman lived out there alone, becoming a recluse after her beloved husband died.

She refused to leave the island because he’d loved it there. She rebuffed everyone’s attempts at friendship. Eventually, everyone gave up, pretty much forgot she even lived there, except when she came to town for supplies.

“The water’s rough tonight,” Sadie said, breaking into my thoughts.

“Yeah.” I agreed, rowing again. I thought momentarily to turn around, but the looming shape of the island and the house perched onshore was close. We’d dock and spend five minutes on land, long enough to say we’d been out there, searched around, and found nothing.

Looking back, I knew I should have turned around. I shouldn’t have gone at all.

“Wanna go see a movie tomorrow?” Sadie asked.

I groaned. “You wanna see that new chick flick, don’t you?”

“I saw that stupid action movie with you last week,” she argued.

“Fine,” I muttered. “But I’m getting popcorn and candy.”

“Like that’s anything new,” she rebutted.

I laughed, glancing up at the way the long blond strands of her hair glowed in the dark and waved out behind her like a flag.

She was pretty, the prettiest girl in our class.

A loud thud made us both stiffen. We looked at each other as if to say, “Did you hear that, too?” and we both nodded. Another thud sounded, and I shot to my feet, making the boat rock.

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