Yet, it feels like a rope is tied around my waist, and something is pulling me in, whether I want to go or not.
Chewing my lip, I turn to stare at the looming lighthouse behind me. It takes only a few seconds to decide that I’d rather be in a cave than in there.
But I need to get a light first.
Excitement takes over as I hurriedly make my way back to the lighthouse, flying through the front door and finding Sylvester sitting at the dining room table, cleaning his shotgun.
He’s already awake from his nap. At this moment, I’m glad my face is already red, because the sight of him has all kinds of reminders rushing back in.
He looks up at me, seemingly shocked by my sudden entry.
“Well, hiya there. You all right?”
He seems oblivious to what happened in his closet. Good.
“Can I borrow a flashlight, please?” I ask, breathless and sweaty.
His bushy brows furrow. “Whatever for?”
“I’m just exploring the island,” I say, not wanting to tell him about the cave. I’m not entirely sure why. It could be because I don’t want him to tell Enzo, but really, I like the idea of having a place to escape where no one can find me.
Frowning, he gets to his feet and opens a drawer in the kitchen island.
“Just make sure ya bring it back, ah’ight? These ain’t cheap,” he instructs, holding out a small black flashlight.
“Yes, sir,” I say, thanking him with a wide smile as I grab it from him. Just as I go to rush back out, he stops me.
“Lemme get ya some shoes first before ya hurt yerself more. I think I still have some left over from when my daughter lived here.”
I remember the old photos in his drawer and my curiosity about where his family went is burning. It’s the first time he’s mentioned having a daughter, and it seemed like he didn’t even realize it. But I don’t have the time to pry now, so I let him hobble up the steps to get the shoes.
I shift on my feet impatiently, praying that in the time it takes Sylvester to return, Enzo doesn’t walk out of his portal from Hell and terrorize me some more.
Thankfully, only Sylvester comes down, holding a pair of blue water shoes. I grin, grabbing them from him and chirping out anotherthank you, barely stopping to put them on before I’m out of the house again.
When I reach the cave, I switch on the flashlight and scamper in. Almost immediately, I’m going down a steep decline, and I’m forced to nearly get on my butt in order to keep my balance.
The air grows colder as I descend, but what’s more disconcerting is an aqua blue glow dancing across the cave walls. I’m in a tunnel of sorts, and it curves gradually to the left, the color growing brighter as I approach.
Confused, I round the bend and then freeze in my tracks. I’m absolutely paralyzed as I take in the sight.
Before me is a massive open area filled with glittering rocks that appear like black diamonds. Every surface is glinting, and it’s almost as mesmerizing as the ceiling of the cave.
Strange blue dots shine across every inch of the surface. It’s like staring up into space with how bright they are. There's an entire universe in here, and just like outer space, I'm bereft of oxygen.
My mouth drops open, taking in the extraordinary sight and then gasping when I notice a massive pool in the middle of the cave, the surface as blue as the ceiling.
“Oh my fuck,” I mutter, stepping farther into the vast space, taking it all in slowly and all at once.
It’s fucking mesmerizing, and I’ve never seen anything like it.
For reasons I can’t explain, tears rush to my eyes.
Maybe it’s because it’s just so damn beautiful here. Or maybe it’s because, amongst the darkness, I’ve found a safe haven.
The prisoners are restless again.
And so is Enzo.