Page 65 of Explorer's Revenge
My shout fills the air as I see the beast leap from the water, its jaws closing inches below the board before it plummets back into the sea.
“Holy shit!” the guy next to me yells. “Did you see that? Get us out of here!”
I’m slid onto the helicopter as two men start working on me, cutting away my clothes.
Everything feels . . . far away.
Everything but the thought of them down there.
“My team . . . My team is here,” I tell them, or I think I do. My head is turned and my eyes are on the water and island below. “Save them, please. My team . . . We have to save them . . . .”
Everything goes black once more.
THIRTY-EIGHT
MAEVE
There’s this annoying beeping noise piercing the fog in my brain. Every time I start to fade back into oblivion, the noise drags me out. For a moment, I float in the fog, the beep my only companion before it gets louder. I frown as I try to turn away from it, but something hinders me, further tugging me from that nothingness.
When my eyes finally open, I have to shut them again, the light blinding me and making them water. This time, I take it slowly, blinking them open and letting them adjust to the bright white ceiling above me and the sunlight.
Where am I?
What happened?
Lifting my head, I glance down and see I’m trapped under a thick blanket in what looks like a hospital bed, the sides up to protect me. I turn my head and find the source of the beeping—machines I’m hooked up to. The room is unlike any hospital I’ve ever seen, with wooden walls and large windows overlooking a strange city. It’s beautiful and elegant and definitely private.
Why am I in a hospital?
Did I get hurt?
I try to recall, but everything is hazy.
“Kid, thank fuck you’re awake!” a voice yells, and I turn my head, finding my dad in the doorway in a wheelchair. He rolls quickly toward me, tears in his eyes as he throws himself at me. I stare at him with a frown as he holds me tightly. “I was so worried. Don’t you ever do that to me again.”
“Dad?” My voice is rough, but he hears me, lifting his head. Tears stream down his face. “Hey, I’m okay.”
Shaking his head, he wipes his cheeks and eyes before he helps me sit up and drink some water. “I’ve never felt such terror in my entire life, Maeve. When your videos stopped coming, I knew something was wrong. I went straight to Ajax. Luckily, he believed me and helped me get out here while they sent search and rescue. I knew something wasn’t right. I could feel it. You would never forget to check in.”
“Where am I?” I ask.
“You don’t remember?” he inquires, appearing worried. “What is the last thing you do remember?”
“I don’t know,” I admit.
“It’s okay. You hit your head pretty hard. You’re going to be okay. We are on the outskirts?—”
“My head!” I exclaim. “My leg, my arm—” I jerk upright despite his hands, and my wide eyes lock on him. “The guys . . . Where are they? Are they okay?”
Everything comes rushing back in stunning clarity, and my heart races, the beeping getting louder.
“Maeve, you need to calm down. You’ve been through a lot. Please lie down. You need to rest,” he pleads.
“I can’t. Where are they? Are they safe?” I swing my legs from the bed then stop. I don’t feel any pain, probably due to whatever medicine they are pumping into me.
I’m in a hospital gown that must have rolled up when I moved, so it exposed my leg. I knew it would be bad, butfortunately, it’s wrapped. I’m just glad I still have it. I test my foot, and when I find it still works, I breathe a sigh of relief.
“The doctor said you were very lucky. They wanted to amputate, but I begged them to try everything else first. I didn’t want to take any opportunities from you. The meds worked, so you were very fortunate.” His voice is soft, almost scared. “You’ve been out for almost a week, Maeve. Your injuries were life-threatening. You might feel better now, but it’s the meds. You need to rest.” He sounds haunted.
