A minute later, I was fully dressed in shorts and a clean t-shirt and downstairs, idling with the family at the base of the driveway as they prepared to leave.
“Where are we going?” I whispered to Calder.
“It’s a surprise,” he said through a rather cute smile. “You’re riding with me.”
I was dumbfounded as we skidded up their still muddy driveway and turned right, heading back toward the road to Hana. I grinned after Calder quickly took a right turn off Hana Highway and onto Wai’anapanapa Road, and realized he was taking me to Wai’anapanapa State Park. We were going to the black sand beach and to the caves where Princess Popoalaea hid from her cruel husband.
It had to have been a coincidence. Calder didn’t know about my vision in the dugout or outside the police station. He didn’t even know about my hallucination-like experience with the Night Marchers. Going there now felt like Fate had dealt me a good card.
We pulled into the parking lot just as the sun started to set, and stepped out to see a horde of locals flooding the paths leading down to Honokalani Beach, men and women alike carrying coolers, blankets, tents, chairs, and whatever else they needed for an evening cookout.
This was the side of Hawaii that tourists never got to experience. Where they toured the island in air-conditioned buses, sunset cruises, and theatrical luaus hosted by their hotels, they missed out on the local culture of the island that I never experienced in the mainland. Tourists didn’t see the community, the family.
It seemed as though the entirety of Hana showed up that night, given the lines of people of all shapes and ages walking down the narrow, uneven path leading to the campgrounds and black sand beach. I trailed behind Calder and his siblings, myself weighed down by a cooler and a camping chair.
Stopping briefly, I looked down the path leading toward Waianapanapa Cave, and read the sign telling the princess’ story:
“Once upon a time, a Hawaiian princess named Popoalaea fled from her cruel husband, the chief Kakae. She hid on a ledge just inside the underwater entrance to this cave. A faithful serving maid sat across from her fanning the princess with a feather kahili symbol of royalty. Noticing the reflection of the kahili in the water, the chief Kakae discovered Popoalaea’s hiding place and killed her. At certain times of the year, tiny red shrimp appear in the pool, turning the water red. Some say it is a reminder of the blood of the slain princess.”
I wanted to follow the sign, to see and talk to the princess, but the sounds of children splashing in the cave’s swimming pool suggested I should return later. Speeding up to a quick jog, I caught up to Calder and Mason, who were already setting up at the top of the hill, both joking around as they tried to lay down blankets stubbornly caught in the wind.
I inhaled the fresh ocean air as I peered down the hill. A winding path worked its way around the hillside, spilling out onto a tiny black sand beach where more groups set up camp around a small bonfire. I could hear the sounds of parents yelling at their children not to go too deep into the water, and they were right to. Every Hawaiian knew if you wanted to avoid becoming shark food, you don’t offer yourself as shark bait at sunrise and sunset, optimum feeding time. After dark, swimming needed to be reserved to fresh-water holes and pools, although few native islanders could afford a swimming pool of their own, or justify the expense with the island surrounded by such pristine, blue water.
Most, however, were content just sitting on the beach as the warm waves swept over their feet, admiring the golden glow of the sunset sky. Looking to the east, I spotted the first twinkling stars appear on the horizon, and for a moment, just a moment, I forgot about all of my troubles.
Then Gordon broke the mood as he dropped the wheel of a charcoal grill on my foot. I winced and yanked my foot away, leaving my slipper behind.
“Sorry, lad. Never been great with all this camping stuff.”
As I leaned against a boulder and rubbed my big toe, I thought again about what Gordon did for work. What possible job could compel someone to leave Scotland and move to the other side of the world?
“It’s okay,” I said. “I meant to ask you, Gordon, how did you become friends with my aunt?”
Gordon stroked the gray scruff on his chin. “To be honest, I’ve forgotten how we met. We’ve been friends for so long, it just seems like we’ve known each other forever. Longer than you’ve been alive, at least.”
“So, you know my mother as well?”
“Aye. Your mother used to work as a clerk at the observatory, long before we had cell phones and internet. Her job was to deliver supplies to us and return research materials to ship to the university.”
“You worked up on Haleakala?”
“Still do. How’s your mother faring, by the way? I’m ashamed for not asking.”
I recalled a moment in my childhood, of my mother taking me with her on one of her runs ‘up the volcano’ to the observatory, and realized she was making a delivery run for him. It was one of the last remaining memories I had on Maui before my father yanked us over to the mainland.
“She’s good. I haven’t talked to her since before the hurricane, though.”
“Really? You want to?” Gordon reached into a deep pocket in his windbreaker and pulled out a massive cell phone with a thick, long antenna — a satellite phone, or so I guessed. I’d never seen one. I caught the glimmer of a “Property of the University of Hawaii” sticker on the back of it as he tossed it to me.
“That’s really long distance. Are you sure it’s okay?”
“Nonsense! It’s a sat phone. The whole planet is in distance. Talk as long as you want to.”
Holding the phone to my chest and thanking him, I snuck up the trail for some privacy. I caught Calder smiling at me as he worked on setting up a portable grill while the rest of his family started cooking.
I smirked back as I began punching in my mother’s number, hoping she would pick up even though it was close to midnight. I was surprised when, instead of just her digits, the name “Luana Frost” appeared on the screen. Gordon had not only called my mother before but added her to his list of contacts.
In truth, I shouldn’t have been surprised. I smiled after realizing that the world was a much smaller place than I had comprehended. Aside from Auntie, I had no clue who on Maui my mother still spoke to.
“Gordon? Is everything okay?” my mother asked, not bothering to say “Hello?” or “Who is this?”
“Mom, it’s me.”
“Adam! I’ve been trying to reach you. Is everyone okay?”
I swallowed through a lump in my throat, tasting a bit of metal as I chewed on my lip too hard. “Yes. Everyone is fine…”
“Dear, I know you. Something’s wrong. What is it? Why are you calling from Gordon’s phone?”
As I hesitated, my mother seemed to know how to handle me. She patiently waited. I could hear her breathing through the phone and sounds of her bedroom fan blowing in the background.
“Mom, he’s here. Jeff found me. He’s on Maui.”
There was another long pause, this one filled with the sounds of clanking and tapping and sliding and clapping.
“Mom, what are you doing?”
“What do you think I’m doing? I’m packing. I’ll be on the next flight out.”
“That’s crazy. You have work and Maria, and you can barely afford to pay rent.”
“You don’t think I haven’t saved enough for an emergency? My baby needs me. Nothing is more important. Anyhow, your sister will be fine. She’s a grown woman and can do without her mother for a few weeks.”
“What about work? Won’t they fire you?”
“If they do, they do. I can always get a new job. Now, no arguments! If I hurry, I can catch the morning flight. I’ll see you at the inn tomorrow. And don’t go anywhere alone until I get there!”
I felt a single tear slide down my cheek, collecting in the corner of my mouth, triggered by the feeling of a weight lifting off my shoulders. The fact that my mother would d
rop everything just to be with me brought me so much relief. I knew there was no stopping her. If anything, trying to stop her would make her more adamant. Aside from her spontaneous move to Atlanta decades ago, no one ever told my mother what to do.
“Thanks, Mom. I’m in Hana now with Gordon and Mary. I’ll head back home tomorrow morning. I love you.”
“I love you too, honey. Just stay safe until I get there. I have to go now. I’ll see you soon.”
With that, the line went dead. I clutched the phone against my chest again, this time cherishing it like it was a lifeline. So long as I had my family, things would turn out all right.
As I returned to the campsite, I did my best to wipe the tears from my face and clear my nose. I didn’t want to sour the mood by having everyone know I had been crying. I was met first by Danny, who eagerly took the phone from me and returned it to his dad.
I then saw Gordon and Mary whispering to one another. Mary shot me a painful, sad look that I was all too familiar with. It was the same look Calder had, and Tad, and Jim, and Auntie, when they first found out about Jeff.
It drove home the idea that Calder didn’t just invite me because he wanted to spend more time with me. He was participating in the scheme to keep me safe from Jeff. I wasn’t angry at him for telling his parents, either. I felt more disappointed. A small part of me had hoped he invited me with no other ulterior motive.
I felt him creep up beside me and lace his fingers around mine. I slid back, leaning slightly into him, mindful to keep the PDA to a minimum. I wasn’t sure how out he was to his family and felt somewhat uncomfortable being completely open with people I had just met.
“I’m sorry. I tell my parents everything. I had to tell them about what you’re going through.”
“It’s fine. I suppose the more people who know, the better.”
“You’re not mad at me?”
“Not in the slightest. I’m just tired. It’s been a long day.”
“It’s been a long week.”
I laughed a little. It really had. But if someone were to ask me while looking out over a hillside of people grilling meat and veggies, and drinking beer and punch, I wouldn’t have been able to tell them the island had just been ravaged by a category five hurricane.
Everyone in Hana had work to do to clean up from the storm. But they managed to clean up the park instead, so that the community could have somewhere to go to be, well, a community. Leave it to Hawaiians to turn a bad situation into an excuse for a cookout.
“Can I get you anything?” Calder asked.
“No. I’ll have a beer when everyone is ready to eat. For now, I’ll just relax. There are enough people here where I finally don’t have to worry about Jeff.”
Most of the locals had already set up and were starting to cook food. Looking up the trail behind me, the path to Waianapanapa Cave was empty. Conveniently, it was also the closest path for us to get to the bathroom. If I were to have any meaningful encounter with the woman in red, it would be now. I took a step away from Calder and turned to head up the path.
“I need to use the bathroom and get some air. I’ll be back.”
“You want me to go with you?”
“I think I can manage. Anyhow, it looks like your dad could use you.”
I pointed over to Gordon, struggling with the grill. Smoke billowed as he lifted the lid, about ready to put on the meat. He coughed as he inhaled the smoke and dropped the cover. As it clanked on the ground, drawing the attention of Calder’s entire family and some of the families around us, I slipped away.
Eager to get to the cave, I hopped up the trail until it forked, one direction leading to the parking lot and the lavatories and the other down the hillside to Princess Popoalaea’s spring. When I arrived, I was pleased to find it empty.
The spring reflected the silver moon above, already high in the sky and nearly full. I felt a sense of foreboding as I climbed down deeper. The entire back of the cave was cast in complete shadow, making it appear more like a bottomless abyss. As I got closer, I cringed a little when I spotted traces of red in the crystal clear water, and wondered if it was really due to baby shrimp or if the legend was true. Was the pool actually saturated with her blood?
There was no sign of the princess. Instead, I was greeted by a chill coming from the ice-cold water below. Where the warm evening air met the frigid water, a layer of steam formed that blanketed the entire cave, only to rise out and be blown away by the trade winds.
I folded my legs and sat on a flat rock, just a foot away from the water’s edge, and closed my eyes. I hoped that if I remained long enough and still enough, she would appear to me. If I couldn’t talk to her here, I knew I couldn’t speak with her anywhere, and I desperately wanted to. I needed to understand why she was helping me. Why she, and the Night Marchers, were appearing to me.
Knowing I didn’t have too much time before Calder came looking, I silently prayed for any sign from her.
Five minutes passed. Then ten. Then fifteen. Bordering on impatience, asking with my mind and aloud for the princess to appear, I was about to give up. I had to get back to the others. As I reached in the dark for a handhold to lift my way out of the grotto, I heard a drum beat that sent chills down my spine. I looked for the source, thinking someone down on the beach was playing a war drum. Then another, this one closer. Then another, just up the path. I squinted through the shadows, remembering the very same drums on Big Beach, when I saw the marchers, but didn’t spot any torches or ghostly spirits.
I gasped when a red light cast in the grotto behind me, reflecting on the water, causing shimmering patterns to flow over the rocks as though blood were pouring from them. Hesitating, I began to spin to face the light when I felt a powerful force lock my torso, as though an intense rush of water had pinned me to the rocks.
“You mustn't turn around,” a woman’s voice echoed from behind me, as though she were speaking through a thick veil. “I can speak to you, or you can look upon me. I don’t have the power to offer both.”
“Who are you?” I asked.
“You know who I am.”
“Princess Popoalaea.”
“Yes. I was once Popoalaea. Whether I will be again is unclear.”
With every word she uttered, the red light pulsed, diminishing only when she was silent. I guessed she was waiting for me to ask my questions. I resisted the urge to turn around. “Why are you appearing to me?”
“Because we are the same. I am now ‘Lima Akau O Pele,’ the right hand of Pele, tasked with shielding the innocent and enacting revenge on violent lovers, just as Pele enacted revenge on my husband for murdering me. And just as I was Popoalaea, and you are now Popoalaea in this place. I was sent to be your shield, to protect you, child of Maui.”
“How do you know what I’ve been through? It happened so far from here.”
“Because Pele reads your thoughts, is poisoned by your fears, and is haunted by your nightmares. The moment your feet touched Maui, you became Pele’s ward. So long as you are out of balance, Maui is out of balance. You will never find your home here until Pele is satisfied.”
I squeezed my eyes shut, realizing her words were true. Despite my desperate desire to make Maui home once again, to love it as I did as a child, the magic was gone. Jeff stole that from me. I wanted it back.
“What do you need me to do?”
As the blood light pulsed brighter, the wind picked up, causing me to shiver. I felt her cold hand, the chill of it piercing through my shirt like a block of ice was pressed against my shoulder. “Child, even Pele cannot pierce the veil into the future. I need you to be strong, and believe that when you need us most, my marchers and I will be there, to unite our strength with yours.”
I chuckled, causing the hand to withdraw from my shoulder, leaving only a burning sensation behind. “My strength? What strength?”
The wind raged around us. I could very much feel Popoalaea behind me, the back of my head, my shoulders, and my back tingling. I s
lammed my eyes shut and covered my ears, cowering from the sheer power of her. Then it all stopped, and the red light faded to a glimmer.
“Hush! He is here. I can taste his murderous intent on the breeze.”
My heart skipped a beat, then surged in my chest. I immediately felt terrified, prepared for a panic attack to come on at any moment. I heard rustling from further up the trail and pleaded to God, Pele, the princess, or whoever might listen to protect me. Calder, Tad, Auntie, Mom, my sister, and even Jim flashed across my mind. I didn’t want to leave them now, but I was exhausted. Perhaps it was better to end this, one way or another.
Before I could reach up to climb to the trail to face Jeff or run, I felt something grab hold of me. No. It didn’t capture me. It possessed me, controlling me like a puppet. Instead of climbing up, I slid down gracefully into the water, until an invisible current took hold of me and pushed me deeper into the cave.
The princess’ voice whispered from behind me. “Remain here. I will hide you. Do not make a sound, or the illusion will break.”
The glimmering red light disappeared completely, then a thin wall of water formed around me, rising out from the spring, only for a blast of air to rise from behind me, freezing the water in mid-air.
And like the water, I froze in place, dumbstruck by the princess’ power and horrified that Jeff found me.
How did he find me?
I held my breath when I spotted him coming into view, first a pair of heavy hiking boots, then a long, thin pair of jean-clad legs. And at last, illuminated by moonlight, the entirety of him.
He had a sinister, maniacal look on his face, his eyes widened with purpose and malice. He rested his hand on something held securely at his waist. The moon reflected off it, causing it to glisten to reveal its shape, a silver pistol.
Sunset Sanctuary Page 15