Page 84 of Petal

I am not a religious person, but in this moment of silence, I pray to the universe or God or whatever guides us on this earth to give us a chance.

Heavy footsteps echo above us. My nerves are on edge now. Calmness is gone, and my heart thuds in my chest.

I find Callie’s hand and interlock my fingers with hers.

The boat rocks on the waves, the sound of the water lapping at the hull soothing and familiar. I realize it reminds me of the Eastside.

Someone comes down the steps, every footstep resonating with a thud in my chest. But they stop midway down.

“It’s all secured! Let’s roll!”

My heart is pounding so fast that it’s hard to breathe. The only thing that holds me together is Callie’s hand in mine.

When the engine starts with a roar and the boat starts vibrating, I have to close my eyes to calm the nerves.

We don’t talk, don’t move, only listen to the heavy footsteps above us, the roaring of the engine, and the splashing of the waves.

The boat is moving.

I exhale in relief.

Twenty or so minutes go by—long and surreal. I can’t believe we are getting away. I have my passport in the backpack. Callie doesn’t have hers. But that’s the last thing I’m worried about. We just need to get to the mainland.

My head is a whirlwind of thoughts, images—family that I don’t have anymore, a home that might not be there, a full-on post-apocalyptic scenario, because I haven’t seen what our country turned into since the Change.

I feel Callie lean onto me, tilting her head and resting it on my shoulder.

But then I hear something else.

It’s a motor. But not this boat’s.Others, several of them, their humming cutting through all other sounds, getting louder.

And a siren.

Like the border patrol. Which on this island is controlled by one man.

Shit…

My heart slams in my chest and sinks to the pit of my stomach. I slide my hand behind my waistband and pull out the gun.

I hoped I wouldn’t need it. But—

The boat throttles back, then goes quiet.

“We have company!” the voice above says.

“Shit. What is that about?” another voice rumbles.

I know what it’s about, and I close my eyes, my heart sinking so low I want to fall through the floor and sink to the bottom of the ocean.

The angry sound of the motors approach, going suddenly quiet together with the sound of the siren.

There is a heavy thud against the boat on each side, rocking it, more heavy footsteps above us.

Many of them.

Booming as several people jump onto the deck.

I hear more voices as Callie’s hand squeezes mine harder.

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