Before he left, he went over to Lisa, who was sitting up but leaning against Daniella for support.
“Are you OK?” he asked as he pressed his palm against her cheek.
“Go and find Cutter. Help him if you can. I’m fine. When we landed, I must have blacked out. I’ve survived worse than this—remember?”
“Too well,” he said.
After giving her a meaningful kiss, Tank cut away from all of us, hurried down onto the beach, and started his search. I watched him run and thought of how brave he was and how lucky we were to have him in our lives for so many reasons. But as I watched him move toward the smoldering, ruined plane—which was in pieces at this point—it occurred to me that it had stopped raining. At some point during our run-in with the boars, the storm must have broke, because parts of the sky had cleared. From my time on Alex’s island, I knew that was typical of the tropics. Storms would burst in just as quickly as they’d burst out. Soon, the sun would appear. And then we could really assess everyone’s health.
I went over to Alex and, to my relief, saw that the bleeding at his throat seemed to have stopped—the bloodstain on Tank’s shirt was about the same size that it had been earlier. He also no longer looked as pale. “Are you feeling better?” I asked.
“I need to help Tank.”
“No, you don’t. You went into cardiac arrest, likely because of the amount of blood you lost and the shock of the crash. You need to lie still for now. If you move, the wound could open again. I’m worried about infection.”
“If he develops one, I can help with that,” Alexa said. “We’re in a subtropical climate. There are all sorts of plants here that, if used correctly, are nearly as powerful as penicillin.”
“Then you’re our go-to person for that should we need to find those plants.” I turned back to Alex, saw the concern in his eyes, and knew that he was thinking about our child. “We’re going to be fine,” I said. “Get some rest.”
“Help Barbara.”
“I will. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
I looked over at Lisa. “Do you need anything?”
“I’ll be OK. Help Barbara. See if she’s all right.”
I walked over to Blackwell, and knelt beside her and Alexa. Both were sitting up. After all of the excitement, Alexa seemed to be more alert than she had been earlier, but her mother wasn’t. Blackwell’s eyes were blinking in an effort to clear her head. I could see her trying to take in the enormity of the moment, her surroundings, everything that had just happened.
I placed the palm of my hand against her back. “How are you?” I asked.
“I can’t believe this happened,” she said.
“Are you all right?”
“I hurt like a sonofabitch, but I’ll live.”
“Do you remember the crash?”
“Other than the storm and fighting with my clueless daughter to get her ass buckled into a chair, I don’t remember much of anything.”
“I saw something hit the side of your head while we were going down. Let me check to see if anything is swollen, or if you’re bleeding.” To my surprise, she actually let me. I ran my fingers gently over and around her wet scalp, and she winced when I touched a slightly raised spot just above her left ear.
“That’s where you were hit,” I said. I checked my fingers for any trace of blood, but there wasn’t any. “You’re not bleeding, though you are swollen. Do you feel nauseous?”
“Somewhat.”
“You likely have a concussion.”
“Obviously, it could have been worse.” She turned to me and looked me in the eyes. “So, let me ask you. Are you all right, Jennifer?”
I know what she was really asking, but I didn’t want to discuss that now.
“I’m fine.”
“You know what I’m referring to.”
“Of course I do.” Helplessness washed over me and I shrugged at her. Tears stung at my eyes when I spoke. “But I have no answers. None. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”
Her hand tightened around mine. “Don’t give up hope. We’ll find out together.”
“Find out about what?” Daniella asked.
There was no way in hell that I was going to keep this a secret, so what was the point of even trying? These were my friends—only Daniella and Alexa didn’t know that I was pregnant. So, I said the words. “I’m pregnant,” I said. “Alex and I are. We just recently found out. And now, after the crash, we’re concerned about the baby.”
“And that’s all she’s going to say about it,” Blackwell said.
“Jennifer—” Alexa said.
“Let’s not talk about it. I don’t want to upset Alex or me any more than we already are. This baby could turn out to be a miracle. If all of us could survive that crash, there’s every chance that our child has, too. All I ask is for your prayers. That’s it. And Barbara is right—that’s all I’m going to say on the subject. At least for now.”
Blackwell looked at me, and then she looked around her as the first slants of sunlight began to cut through the trees. “Where is Max?” she asked. “Where are the pilots? Amy?”
“They’re gone,” I said. “The plane hit something when we were descending. I think we struck a mountaintop or something, because when we did, the cockpit ripped off, and it took them away from us.”
“Oh, my God,” Blackwell said. “I don’t know what to say. Those poor people. Our Max is gone. And that dear girl.”
And that was all I could take. Grief overcame me, and I shut my eyes tight. I still could see the front part of the plane cracking off as if it were nothing more than an eggshell. Amy, Max, and the pilots were pulled away from us as if their lives had no significance. No meaning. Despite the sudden roar of air that hit us when the cockpit broke away, I still heard Amy’s screams as she and the others were tossed into the unknown. Even now I could hear her screaming—high and pierced in the face of certain death. And the memory of it was enough to make me put my face in my hands, and begin to weep for all that we had lost.
CHAPTER FIVE
TANK WAS GONE FOR FOUR hours, but when he returned, it was without Cutter.
All of us had since moved onto the beach. While Alex rested on the sidelines due to the cut at his throat and the sheer amount of blood he had lost, the rest of us went through the dozens of boxes Cutter had managed to grab for us.
And now we knew just how lucky we were that he’d done what he’d done for us. Inside those boxes were medical supplies, blankets, fresh drinking water, food, and other items that would assist us until the plane’s black box marked our location, and help came for us.
But when I first saw Tank, I could tell by his troubled expression that it was best to tread lightly. In a hushed voice, I told the others that we still had to hold out hope that Cutter was alive. I told them that under no circumstances was this it for him, and that we all needed to believe in his survival in an effort to support Tank regardless of what he said to us.
I watched Lisa move toward him. Wordlessly, their bodies connected as one, their arms went around each other, and they just stood there like that until Lisa placed her hands on either side of Tank’s face and they kissed deeply. When they parted, he took her hand in his, and I saw his thumb press against the engagement ring he’d given to her, and then they started to walk toward us.
“There is every reason to believe that Cutter is alive,” Tank said. “I saw no sign of body parts. The trouble is that the jungle is thick—he could be lying anywhere right now. The good news is that Cutter is a trained SEAL, and he knows how to take care of himself in situations such as this. I have complete faith that he’s alive and that he will find his way back to us. I came back because I need to build us some sort of a shelter before it gets too late.”
“I can help,” Alexa said.
“So can I,” Daniella said.
I gave them both an appreciate look.
Blackwell retrieved a bottle of water from one of the boxes and b
rought it over to Tank. He hesitated before he took it, but when he did, I knew it was because he was no fool. Without water, all of us would be worthless. And so he thanked her, opened the bottle, and drank deeply from it. The sun had been out in full force for three hours, and to say that it was hot was an understatement. All of us needed to remain hydrated. The problem was that there were only twelve bottles of water to share among us, and one of them was now gone. At some point soon, likely by morning, we’d need to find a fresh water source, provided there was one nearby.
“I also can help,” Blackwell said. “Jennifer has checked my head, and while I have this ridiculous bump near my left temple, it isn’t bleeding. Certainly, I can assist—even in ruined Chanel.”
“Not before I look into your eyes,” he said.
“Why?”
“Because, if they’re dilated, you might have a concussion, which means you’re going to rest beside Alex. So, here—lift your chin for me. Let me look.”
She acquiesced. Tank examined her, and then he smiled and kissed her on the forehead. “Tough as nails,” he said. “And you’ve kept your sense of humor. I’m glad for that.”
“You won’t find a tougher broad on this beach, though Jennifer might give me a run for my money. As for humor—humor saves us. It always does—and it will now. That plane might have crashed and we might have lost our friends, but what would our friends want from us now? Grief? Yes. I’m filled with it. But they’d also want us to fight for our lives and get off this island, which we’ll do. I’m not giving up, and neither is anyone else. So, what do you need for us to do, Tank?”
He looked up at the sky and squinted into the sun. “By my estimation, we have about seven hours to get something built. It will be dusk at that point. Whatever we build will be crude, but there’s still time to get it done. Tomorrow, we can strengthen it and improve upon it.” He nodded toward the boxes Cutter had carried out of the plane. “What are in those?”
I told him.
“So, our friend took good care of us...”
“Of course he did. That’s who Cutter is.”
“What kind of medical supplies are we looking at?”
“You tell me. Come and have a look.”
I opened one of the boxes. Tank peered inside, looked at each item, and seemed at least somewhat relieved when he was finished. “We’re good for awhile. What you all need to know is that supplies are limited. For instance, if any of you develop an infection, the supply to treat that infection will be gone in no time. That’s why we need to make sure that any of us who have wounds are treated for them now before they become infected.”
Alexa came forward.
“I said this while you were gone, Tank, but we are surrounded by plants on this island that have medicinal properties and can ward off a bacterial infection. Maybe not as well as a prescription drug, but if we treat any infection early, they’ll generally work. We just need to locate those plants. I know that they’re here. I also can identify them. Better yet, I know how best to use them for our needs, should they come.”
“How do you know all that?” Daniella asked.
“Unlike you, I pay attention in school. I read, Daniella. A lot. Textbooks—that sort of thing. I’m fascinated by how science intersects with horticulture. So, be grateful that your sister is a little tree hugger. Who knows—my interests and studies might just be of use to you while we’re on this island.”
“It was just a question,” Daniella said.
“And you got your answer.”
“Why are you so pissed off?”
“Because I can’t believe how you behaved on that plane.”
And that sent Daniella straight into silence.
“So, let me ask this,” Tank said. “How many of you have checked your phones and tried to get a connection while I was gone?”
“All of us,” I said. “And to no avail. I don’t think there are any towers here. But at least we tried.”
“That’s all any of us can do. I tried it myself while looking for Cutter. It was worth a shot.”
“The plane’s black box,” Blackwell said. “Can we expect help anytime soon?”
Tank’s expression turned grim.
“There were two boxes on that plane. One at the front, in the cockpit with the pilots, and one at the rear, close to Jennifer and Alex’s bedroom. As we all know, one box is lost to us—it’s somewhere in the ocean, along with our friends. They didn’t die far from here, so there’s a chance that that box is actively sending out signals that will draw attention to us. At this point, it’s well known that we’ve crashed—I can promise you that. As for the other box, look at the rear of the plane over there—it’s ruined. There’s nothing left of it. Statistically speaking, the box should have survived the crash and the explosions that followed. The trouble is that we’ll never be certain whether it did.”
“Do you think we’re alone on this island?” I asked.
“I saw no signs of any human life when I searched for Cutter, but that doesn’t mean that we’re alone. There could be people here. I guess we’ll find out soon enough, because if there are people here, they heard us hit the island, and they absolutely heard the plane explode. Now, let me examine Alex’s throat. I’ve already seen the gash—and it could become infected if I don’t properly clean it and treat it. Give me a moment to do that, all right?”
In silence, we watched Tank kneel in front of Alex, and remove his own shirt from Alex’s throat. Then, it was there for all of us to see. It wasn’t that the wound was deep. Instead, what surprised me was how wide it was. It was as if whatever had struck his throat had torn away a large flap of skin. With exquisite care, Tank lifted Alex’s chin and examined the wound.
“Do you know what struck you?” Tank asked.
“No idea,” Alex said.
“The good news is that the cut didn’t affect your trachea, though it came close. Given the heat, infection could settle in. I’m going to take one of those bottles of water, rinse it clean, use some antibacterial ointment on it, and wrap your throat in gauze. We need to conserve water, but this is a necessary use of another bottle until we find a fresh water source tomorrow. We also have penicillin on hand should you need it. With the wound so fresh, time is on our side that we can beat the chances of infection. What worries me more is how much blood you lost. It was a considerable amount, which—along with the shock of the crash—is why I believe you went into cardiac arrest. Your body is going to need water and food to recover what you’ve lost. One of our top priorities is to provide you with both.”
“Am I able to help you build our cover for the night?”
“You had a heart attack, Alex. You’re done for today. Have you had anything to drink or eat?”
“I haven’t.”
“Your potassium is likely low at this point, which could put you back into cardiac arrest. I need you to listen to me, Alex. You do nothing until I say that it’s safe for you to do something.”
Tank turned to me.
“Jennifer, would you mind grabbing me two more bottles of water? And something to eat for Alex? I’ll get the ointment and the dressing for this throat.” He looked at me as he stood. “And when we’re finished, you and I need to talk.”
WHEN ALEX WAS TENDED to, Tank and I did talk—but not as part of the group. For privacy’s sake, he led me away from the others, only speaking when he was certain no one could hear what he had to say to me.
“I’m concerned about you and the baby,” he said. “I don’t like that you’re up and moving around when you should be resting—just like Alex is.”
“Alex went into cardiac arrest.”
“And you might have lost your child.”
Just hearing the words was like peeling away a part of me, but Tank was there to help me, so I tried my best to push past my emotions and listen to him.
“I’m not sure that I did.”
“Neither of us is sure. And because of that, you need to take it easy.”
�
�I’ll do anything for my child.”
“Then you need to do nothing—at least for now. Alexa, Daniella, and Blackwell are capable of helping, and so is Lisa. She’s getting stronger, and I suspect that by day’s end, she’ll mostly be back to herself.”
“All that matters now is that we’re alive.”
“Agreed. We’re very lucky. And we have each other.”
“We do.”
“I’m going to ask you some personal questions. I need to ask them.”
“I already know what you’re going to ask me, so ask.”
“Have you checked your underwear for spotting?”
“Blackwell asked me the same question a couple of hours ago. To be honest, I haven’t had the courage to look. I don’t want to find out what I already think I know.”
“What kind of a response is that?”
“A frightened one.”
His face softened, and he put his hand on my shoulder as we walked down the beach. To our left, the ruins of the plane were still sending clouds of dark smoke into the air, which drifted past us in wavering veils of blackened soot.
“I know this is difficult for you, but we need to check, Jennifer. If there is spotting, that doesn’t mean you lost your child. That said, if there is a lot of blood, I’m not going to lie to you. There’s a very good chance that you did lose it.”
“I already think that I have.”
“Why?”
“Because of the cramping I experienced when we crashed. And the cramping that came after it.”
“How severe was it?”
“It was harsh at first, and after awhile, it eased up a bit.”
“How harsh is harsh?”
“I could barely breathe, Tank.”
“Why don’t we go over there to the tree line, and you can have a look in private. If you need me to look at your panties, I will. But I think you can assess any minor spotting for yourself. The same goes if there is a significant amount of blood. You need to do this, Jennifer. For your sake and for Alex’s sake, you need to know where you stand.”
Annihilate Him (Volume 2) Page 3