Page 16 of Controlled Chaos

Chapter 9

We landedon a small airfield on coastal North Carolina and had to ferry over to the island. The air was cool and crisp and the boat lunged and fell in a small rocking motion that tightened the twisted knots already in my stomach.

I’d expected to see at least Wanda Foster standing at the dock waiting to greet her son. I would have been wrong. I kept my comments to myself as Porter carried both of our bags down the ramp and onto the island. A man in a golf cart greeted us with an outstretched hand to shake.

“Porter, it’s good to see you.”

“You too,” Porter said, setting the bags at his feet and shaking the man’s hand. “Edward, I’d like you to meet Clara Bennett, my fiancée.”

Edward blushed and then pulled me into an awkward hug. “I never thought I’d see the day.”

I patted the man’s back and gave Porter a you-owe-me type of look.

“Edward was my sponsor back in the day. He’s the one that helped me kick the habit. He’s been here for me ever since.”

I squeezed him back at that point and whispered in his ear, “If you hadn’t helped Porter, I would have lost my soul mate.”

Edward kissed both my cheeks before releasing me. Pride beamed in the smile on his face. “Your mother wanted to be here with me to greet you two, but she’s having to deal with an issue in the kitchen.”

“It’s fine.” Porter grabbed the luggage and put the bags on the back of the golf cart before gesturing for me to take the front seat with Edward. Porter climbed in the back. “This place hasn’t changed one bit.”

“I should hope not.” His chest puffed up a little as he started the engine.

The thick scent of the ocean mixed with the powerful aroma from the green, vibrant trees. We were surrounded by what appeared to be a tropical forest. Gently swaying palm fronds hung down around us, giving us a glimpse of the bright snatches of sun and sky above. Wildflowers lined the well-traveled path we bumped along on. Birds sang from their hiding spots in the trees with huge trunks that I’d never be able to wrap my arms around. These suckers were the size I’d only seen on television. Nature was all around us in everything, including the smell.

“Edward, is the ferry the only way on and off the island?” I asked, trying to hide the unease from my voice.

“It’s one way. We also have a helicopter and small plane and use a little landing area to bring in supplies.”

I glanced over my shoulder at Porter as my chest tightened with anxiety.

“This island is owned by the Foster Foundation. The compound houses four barracks for those in the rehab programs. A string of cabins for instructors and family members. And then there is a main housing area for guests and meals.”

“That’s impressive. What about the rest of the island?” I asked.

“The other side of the island is dangerous and off-limits, but I’m sure Porter will show you around. When he first arrived, he looked for whatever way he could find to get off this island.”

“And never found one that wouldn’t end with me drowning,” Porter added from the back seat.

“Yes, well, for someone who doesn’t know how to swim, you shouldn’t have planned your escape on a dingy through the crashing waves. It’s a good thing I know CPR,” Edward said with a bit of strain in his voice.

“Lesson learned the hard way. I know how to swim now.” Porter leaned forward, wrapping his arms around me. He kissed my cheek. “And thanks for saving my life. If you hadn’t, I never would have found Clara.”

Edward grinned. “Your mother told me you were bringing your fiancée. Have you set the date?”

“We were thinking…summer,” I said.

“Spring,” he answered at the same time.

There was a slight hesitation in Edward’s hawk-like gaze, but if he questioned our responses, he didn’t say so.

“We’re still working out the details trying to accommodate for those with summer plans,” I said while keeping my eye on the path we were taking, trying to memorize the way back to the boat should the need arise and we were forced to evacuate.

I held on to the seat as we hit some twisting tree roots sticking out of the ground in our path. He drove out of the trees and into an open field, thankfully without the kind of mounds I’d seen in my visions.

I stared wordlessly. Even without the telltale mounds of dirt, the place matched my expectations. The shock of discovering the exact area where I’d be killed took my breath away. It wasn’t the exact place, not yet, but somewhere in the future, it could be. There were no mounds in the field as far as the eyes could see, not yet. No body parts or dead people sticking out of the ground. Apprehension slithered down my spine as I glanced back at Porter.

“What happened here?” he asked.

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