Page 159 of Blue Arrow Island
“That’s it,” I say softly
“What?” Marcus bolts up, putting an arm on my back. “What’s wrong?”
I look at him, excitement racing through my veins. “I know why we haven’t found the flower.” The words tumble out of me. “Bats are nocturnal. They mostly pollinate flowers that bloom at night. That’s the one thing we never thought of. The flower must only bloom at night.”
45
It’s hard to sleep here. I’m lying awake right now while everyone else is resting, thinking about Stanley Milgram’s words:
“Ordinary people, simply doing their jobs, and without any particular hostility on their part, can become agents in terrible destruction.”
Excerpt from the journal of Dr. Randall McClain
“What isthat?”
Amira points to something in the sky, her tone laced with fear.
Niran looks up. “Raven.”
She balks. “Since when do ravens weigh ... that thing has to be at least fifty pounds. It’s huge.”
“It’s a Blue Arrow raven.”
For once, Niran spares her a wisecrack. Probably because we’re all exhausted. We’ve spent every moment of darkness on the island searching frantically for the flower for two nights now.
Even though Marcus doesn’t need much sleep when his aromium is on, Amira and I haven’t been able to sleep much during the day. Niran seems to be able to sleep whenever and wherever he wants. Yesterday, he took a nap on a boulder.
It’s evening, and I’m ready to get back to the search. We narrowly avoided a couple of Tiders yesterday when we were searching close to their camp. I’ve been sticking as close as I can to Amira, because if she gets attacked—by an animal or by a Tider—I want to be there to defend her.
The jaguar attack on Chance has reminded us all that we’re not the only apex predators on this island. And our competition has the same aromium advantage we do.
Now that I know more about the aromium experiments, I’m not just leery of the animals here, but also the plants. Vines seem to be my ally, but what about the other plants? An aromium-enhanced jaguar attacked Chance, and I can’t dismiss the possibility that plants could turn on us, too.
“Marcus.” Niran looks up, and Marcus follows his gaze.
There are three giant ravens now, my heart rate kicking up despite my fatigue. Marcus said Virginia can call ravens. I should’ve known they’d be genetically enhanced ravens.
My vines can grow rapidly, build protective structures, and immobilize prey. What can the ravens do?
Marcus’s expression is impassive, but I know by the set of his jaw and the flare of his nostrils that he’s concerned about the birds.
“Can she see us through them?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “Not directly, but they’re circling to tell her where we are.”
“Wait, who?” Amira asks.
Marcus cuts his gaze to mine. I’m not seeking his permission to tell Amira about the ravens, but I feel him asking me if I’m going to.
He’s been distant again since our talk at the stream. Earlier today, he didn’t even wrap his arm around me while I tried to sleep. He was right beside me, but he stayed in a sitting position, elbows on his knees.
I told myself it was so he could have a better view of any approaching threats. But it felt like a rebuke. We searched for the flower around Rising Tide and through the swampy section of the island last night, and it was tense, unpleasant work. My aromium never stops begging me to run to him and tear his clothes off, but we hardly even touch anymore.
I was looking forward to that few hours of quiet closeness with him. Of feeling him locked protectively around me. But I didn’t even get that.
“Virginia,” I tell Amira. “Her aromium connects her to the super ravens on this island, because they have aromium, too.”
She sighs, rolling her eyes in exasperation. “Right. Of course. This island is basically an obstacle course designed by Satan. Behind this door”—she gestures to one side—“death by spear-wielding savages! And let’s see what’s behind door number two—” She holds her hand out to the other side. “Oh! Mauling by a mutant insect or animal.”
