44: Book Three (14 page)

I stood up. I had to get out of there, get away from him. I didn’t care what he had on tape. There was no way I was going to talk about Jesse. He could think whatever he wanted.

I walked away quickly, without looking back.

“There will be time, Abby,” he said loudly as I reached the door. “I will want to hear more. Much, much more!”

I ran up the stairs, down the hallway, and into the bedroom.

CHAPTER 35

I was expecting Nathaniel to follow me, but he didn’t. I sat watching another episode of
The Fugitive
, trying to figure out how I could possibly explain the basketball moving around on its own like that.

But there wasn’t any explanation.

There wasn’t anything to say.

It didn’t matter, I told myself. He was insane. He could believe what he wanted, but I was pretty sure the recording wouldn’t stand up to real scientific analysis. It was too easy to fake these things.

It didn’t change the fact that I had to leave. I would be on that boat in the morning. I couldn’t miss this opportunity.

It could be my last chance.

CHAPTER 36

I was up before dawn. I waited for the stars to fade and for the sky to lighten a little. I then put on my sweatshirt, some track pants and running shoes, pulled up my hair, and headed downstairs.

I was happy to find Simon in the kitchen, starting on breakfast already.

“Hey, Abby, you’re up early,” he said, looking up from the stove. He was cooking a huge frying pan full of eggs.

“Yeah, I’m going for a run,” I said, taking the iPod out of my pocket and fiddling with it.

“Looks like it’s good weather out there for you,” he said. “Maybe you’ll get to try out the soccer field this morning. It’s out there waiting with your name on it.”

I forced a smile. I figured that Jack’s name was on it more than mine.

“Yeah, maybe I’ll go do that after I’m done running on the beach,” I said. “It’s time to start getting back in shape. I’ve been feeling too cooped up lately and it’s starting to affect my mood.”

“So, no breakfast?”

“Maybe later, thanks.”

“Oh, by the way, I got your list and gave it to Jack,” Simon said. “You’ll have your fresh clams by this afternoon.”

“Thanks,” I said, smiling.

I walked out the kitchen door and down the shore for a few minutes, pretending to warm up. I gripped the corkscrew in my pocket. I didn’t know if I would need it, but it gave me a little added sense of security.

A cold, sharp wind was blowing in from the west, and there was no fog.

I glanced over at the island in the distance. I turned up and sat down in the grass. I wanted to make sure no one had followed me outside before I made a run for it.

No one had. I took a deep breath and walked casually over to the dock, looking back at the windows in the house. When it felt right, I sprinted down the wooden planks and stepped down into the boat.

I went quickly over to the cabin and slid down the short, narrow stairs. It was dark under the small galley table. I figured it was the best place to hide. It was out of view, and even if Jack were to come down here, he wouldn’t see me.

I pushed back against the wall as much as I could, and waited.

I didn’t have to wait for long.

***

First I heard his footsteps on the dock, and then the whistling. Then the boat rocked back and forth after he jumped on board.

I shivered and at the same time felt small beads of sweat forming on my upper lip. My hands were shaking.

I heard Jack say something into a cell phone or walkie-talkie. There were more footsteps on the dock.

It was Phil.

“He says to send it priority.”

“All right,” Jack said. “See you later.”

He started the motor. The boat rumbled steadily for a few minutes as it warmed up, the vibration humming through me. I could still hear Jack whistling faintly over the sound of the engine. He put the boat into gear and we started moving.

We pulled to the left abruptly in a forward spin and soon I could tell that we were on the open water, bumping along as we hit the swells.

I couldn’t believe it. Here I was again, leaving the island. Leaving Nathaniel and his insanity behind. I wasn’t sure where we were going, but it had to be a small town at the very least. It didn’t matter where it was. I was getting off the island.

We picked up speed as we got farther out on the water.

I was going home.

CHAPTER 37

I heard the beep of the walkie-talkie again and then heard Jack.

“Copy that,” he said.

We suddenly veered to the left. I held onto the bench and felt it in my stomach. We had turned around. We were heading back to the house.

I heard Jack clearly now as he talked to somebody back on the island.

“I’ll come pick it up right now if it’s really that important,” he yelled. “No problem. I’ll be back in a few.”

It felt as if we were now flying just above the water. Maybe it was Phil with another package. But I couldn’t be sure. I was hoping someone hadn’t noticed I was missing.

In another minute, I felt the boat slow. I stayed under the table as we floated into the dock, bumping it slightly.

I heard Jack get off the boat and then there was an eerie silence. It was too quiet. Something was wrong.

I knew there wasn’t another package.

And then I heard his voice.

“Abby,” Nathaniel said calmly. “I admire your perseverance. Really I do. But it’s time to come back now.”

CHAPTER 38

I crawled out from under the table. I’d take as many of them out as I could. I wasn’t going back without a fight.

“Okay, Abby,” Jack said. “I’m coming down.”

The boat swayed as he jumped back in. I held out the corkscrew in front of me when I saw his face in the sliver of sky up above the stairs.

“Come on now, Abby. What are you thinking here? What are you really going to do with that?”

In a flash, he jumped down and I was face to face with him. I was determined. My fear was gone. I was going for the kill. I lunged at him, full force with the sharp metal tip guiding me, but he moved out of the way before I made contact, grabbing me around the waist.

“Forget about it,” he said, as he started to pick me up.

I was clumsy and brought us both down to the ground. As he tried to stand up, I plunged the corkscrew into the back of Jack’s calf with everything I had.

He yanked me up hard.

“Damn it!” he said, staring at the blood spilling down his leg.

I screamed as he grabbed and pulled my hair, leading me up the stairs and off the boat. When we got on the dock, he tossed me into Phil. I tried to get away and jump into the water, but Phil twisted my arms behind my back.

Nathaniel stood watching, unmoved, no emotion on his face.

“Take her back to her room,” he said. “And make sure she can’t get out.”

Phil walked me past Nathaniel. And at that moment, I felt something change inside me, even though I had failed again.

I had put all my hopes into the kayak escape. And I had done the same thing with this attempt. I felt devastated, but there was a spark of something else, too.

Defiance.

As beaten as I felt, I refused to put my head down. Maybe there was still time. For what, I didn’t know. But I wasn’t going to give up.

When I got back to the room, Matthew was waiting with a syringe. I thrashed and bit Phil on the hand before I felt the prick in my arm, and then I was back in the eternal darkness of the dreams.

CHAPTER 39

I woke up lost, buried under a mound of blankets. I couldn’t remember how I had gotten there or what had happened. My stomach was in rebellion. I was sweating and nauseous. 

I opened my eyes wider and found those now familiar cat eyes studying me.

He was standing nearby, the glow of the fire behind him.

“Ah, Abby,” he said calmly.

I sat up quickly, my head throbbing, and then it came back to me. The escape, the boat ride to nowhere, the ridiculous delusion that I was on my way to freedom.

Pushing a corkscrew into Jack’s leg and staring at the blood. Biting Phil.

At least I had done those things.

I rubbed my head and closed my eyes.

“You are quite remarkable,” Nathaniel said. “It appears that you are as driven as I am.”

I said nothing, and for the first time started thinking about what had gone wrong. How had they known I was on the boat? Jack didn’t even know when we started across the strait. Someone had called to tell him. And if someone had seen me get on the boat, why did they let him leave before calling and telling him I was there?

“Your quest for home is buried deep within, and it’s admirable,” Nathaniel said. “I knew when I started all this that it would take time. I hold no grudges.”

“I’m never giving up,” I said.

He smiled.

“And just as you won’t stop, neither will I. The final phase of the testing is tomorrow. And I think after that, it will prove to you some of what we’ve been discussing. And perhaps, then, you will see everything in a better light.”

I shook my head.

“I admire you greatly, Abby,” he said. “I mean that sincerely. You’re a fighter. A winner.”

He came over to the edge of the bed.

“I suppose I should have told you. It would have saved us all a certain measure of grief.”

I looked at him.

“Told me what?” I said.

“About the tracking device we implanted in you.”

I looked down at my arm, rubbed the strange spot with the bump.

That was how they always knew where I was. That was how they were able to find me in the dark water during that night with the kayak. That was why I could wander all over the island by myself.

And that was how they knew I was on the boat with Jack.

All those times I thought that no one was watching me, I had been wrong. They were always watching. They always knew exactly where I was.

“Of course, you did manage to get past us a little more than I had expected. We were complacent at times, not always as observant of events as we should have been.”

I sank back down into the pillows.

“I assure you, it’s completely harmless. But we can always find you, Abby. Not only does it show us where you are, but it sounds an alarm when you are more than 2000 meters away from the house. You can’t escape. It’s impossible.”

I was still staring at my arm.

“Yes, that’s where we put it. I must confess that I was worried if we told you about it, you might gouge yourself silly trying to take it out. I wouldn’t recommend it. Other than cutting your arm off, it would be impossible for you to remove.”

He walked to the door.

“Tomorrow, we will conclude the testing. And then we can focus on us. Jack and Phil will come for you when we’re ready.”

“I don’t want to see those two. Can you please send someone else?” I said. “Like that woman?”

It was my last chance. If I could just talk to her, maybe she would help me.

“What woman?” he said, leaving. “I don’t have a woman on my staff.”

CHAPTER 40

When I opened my eyes again, it was dark.

The fire was going, the room filled with moving light and shadows. I stared at the walls, confused, somewhere between a dream and my hellish reality.

I saw her in the corner. It was the woman, the one I had been searching for. She stepped out into the firelight and walked over to me.

I knew who she was now. And even though I knew she wasn’t a doctor or one of the researchers, I still hoped there was some way she could help me.

She smiled as she took my hand and squeezed it.

“Emma,” I whispered.

She really was as beautiful as Nathaniel had described. Her long wavy hair flowed past her shoulders, her eyes were large and kind.

She looked like an angel, and for a moment, I wanted her to be one. I wanted her to take me away. I had nothing left. I was ready and willing to surrender to what came next.

I reached out and touched her hair. It was soft in my fingers, like feathers.

“Please, help me.”

She smiled, held my hand. She seemed to glow, lighting up the room.

She wasn’t a ghost like Annabelle or those others I sometimes saw walking around the streets. She was full of light and love and goodness and she filled the room with hope.

“Why do you stay with him?” I asked.

“Nothing can keep us apart,” she said softly. “Not even death. I will always be with him.”

I swallowed hard. I knew about that, loving someone with all your heart and soul across two worlds.

“But he’s a killer,” I said.

She nodded slowly as a look of sadness swept across her face.

“This isn’t him. This isn’t who he is. His pain has caused him to become someone else. Something else. He’s lost himself.”

I looked into her eyes.

“I’ve tried to reach him, but he doesn’t hear me,” she said. “He cannot hear me from where he is. But I will always love him. We are bound forever.”

“He’s going to kill me, Emma,” I whispered. “I won’t survive much more of this torture. I know it. I can feel it inside.”

She nodded slowly.

“There is truth in what you say,” she said. “Abby, you must get out of here. You have to harness all your strength and get off this island, far away. He intends to drown you. It’s the last test. The final chapter. He expects to be able to bring you back again. But he will fail. You
will
die this time.”

I covered my face and squeezed my eyes shut, trying to hold in the tears.

“There is nothing for you here but death. Your time grows short. You must leave… as soon as possible.”

When I opened my eyes, she was gone.

CHAPTER 41

The door was locked again.

Nathaniel had said the last of the tests would be today. I had felt it deep down inside and now Emma had confirmed it. I would not live through it.