7. Evie

seven

Evie

Night had fallen and there was still no sign of Jasper. I had left the cave earlier and gone down by the water to wash and look for wreckage debris that might have floated in. I wasn't lucky though. The things I found were pieces of the boat I couldn't identify, and they certainly weren't useful. Starved, and thirsty, I knew not to drink the saltwater. Instead, I collected coconuts and brought them back to the cave, but I didn't have a way to open them. I hoped Jasper would figure that part out when he got back. I supposed I should have been mad he'd ditched me, but I had this unsettled feeling in my gut that even though he had willingly left, something was wrong, and he hadn't planned on being gone all day.

The main reason I believed that was because he had left his man purse here. He had guarded that thing as if it was gold all day yesterday, even sleeping with it. I had a hard time believing he had left me for good, or he would have taken his bag. I wished life had real background music like the movies did, so I would at least understand how I was supposed to be feeling right now.

The sun had departed, leaving me chilled, and I made my way to the stone pit and set about starting the fire again. Earlier I had made several trips for branches, and I had quite the collection, but this time the sparks didn't come as easily. The branches didn't feel as dried, or tough, but they definitely seemed more stubborn. I rubbed them fast, I rubbed them slow, I even tried different angles, but nothing worked. I was shivering now in the dark, alone.

A sinking feeling settled into my gut, and for the first time since we crashed, I was scared I might die.

I shouldn't have, but I let my mind wander, thinking about how no one came looking for us today. I never saw one boat, or even a plane overhead. This island was completely deserted. Although I'd found coconuts, I still didn't have a way to open them. Then the worst thought of all…

What if Jasper doesn't come back?

I could seriously die here all alone.

That scene was never in any of my movies.

In my jitteriness, my sticks dropped from my hands, as if they couldn't take the directions my brain was giving them. Instead, they were listening to my shrinking heart. It was so full all day, and I had kept my spirits up, but now these nagging thoughts were taking hold of me, leaving a burn in the back of my throat despite how cold it was. My eyes welled up with tears, and even though no one was here to see me, I fought them back because to me, they were a sign of defeat.

I wasn't going to cry about this!

Crying didn't help anything, and it certainly wouldn't get me off this stupid island. The tears didn't listen, and they budded up in both my eyes, swelling to the point where that's all I could see. Swiping my hand at my eyes, I cleared them away. New ones came faster, and before I could wipe them, they fell.

Stupid tears!

Now I was mad. Crying, I called out in frustration, "No one is coming to save me, and if that's the case, then I'll have to save myself." I got up from the ground with new determination, ready to find a way off this island, and made my way to Jasper's bag. I didn't feel even a little bad as I rummaged through it. My fingers dug right to the bottom, and my lips curled into a pleased grin when I found it—the map.

I was born at night, but not last night.

Jasper was the thief who had stolen a treasure map and now he was missing. There was a real chance he was in trouble. I had a choice. I could get off this island and leave him behind, or I could go after him and maybe find a treasure too…

A thrill spiraled though my body, as I selected my path. Strapping the satchel across my body, I stuffed the map back inside and set off to find Jasper.

I took deep breaths as I hiked along the water's edge until I quickly identified a fresh set of tracks in the sand. They had to be Jasper's, and I stayed right on them. The air was humid and thick, as if it alone could nourish the tropical plants all around me. The full moon shone from its perch in the sky, giving me just enough light to guide me. I was careful to scan behind all the nearby trees and practiced being light on my toes. I shouldn't be going farther onto this island by myself, but the tracks I was following compelled me to see where they went. Moving cautiously, I advanced, I could hear the faint sound of voices.

Not just any voice, but Jasper's voice.

"Evie!"

I craned my neck forward until I spotted Jasper tied to a tree. All the trees in my peripheral vision were tall palm trees, but this one was random and out of place with its dark gnarled branches, casting eerie shadows on the beach sand. It was almost as if the tree was put here for the sole purpose of creeping me out. I swallowed my chills, chalking it up to just another weird thing about this island.

Swooping into his side, I immediately went to work untying the ropes, and I didn't stop until I had Jasper's arms freed. He flew forward, wrapping his arms around me, squeezing me tight. His shoulders quivered as he rasped out, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," I squeaked out, my morning fears of dying alone on this island melted.

As if a switch went off, his shoulders stiffened, and he backed out of our embrace. His chest fell more with each breath as he stood, staring wide-eyed and speechless. I was about to ask what had happened, but the spiral in his eyes made my heart ramp up. His gaze bounced from my eyes to my lips and back to my eyes before he blurted out, "I'm sorry I left you. I was so stupid and fixated on something so dumb, that I missed seeing what was right in front of me."

Still a little clueless, I didn't reply because I wanted to hear more, and he didn't disappoint as he went on, "I'm also sorry I've been lying to you. It's not right. I was trying to avoid a bigger argument, but I made things worse."

"W-What are you lying about?" My gaze darted to the side, and I kicked at the sand, already knowing what was coming.

"I lied to you when I agreed that we were married. We aren't. I'm not your husband…or even your boyfriend."

I smirked as he confessed my lies, "I misled you for many reasons. I'm also not a ship captain. I'm sort of a-ah, well, it doesn't matter." He stuttered as he raked his hand through his hair. I found it endearing how flustered he got when he went on, "But what matters is you know something weird happened to me. This sounds crazy, but I feel like something special brought us here."

I smiled at him coyly. "I'm the one with the head injury, but even I know it was a boat that brought us here. It wasn't that special."

"Okay, I'm going to try one more time to tell you the truth, so my conscience is clear." His eyes traced my face, and when I didn't say anything he went on, "I offered to be your captain because I wanted to hunt for treasure, and I had this map—this real treasure map I stole from pirates—and I was using it as a guide when we crashed into this island. Last night, I snuck out to find the treasure, but the pirates found me first. They forced me to take them to the treasure. When we found the spot, we dug in the sand and found a box."

Pulling my hair over my shoulder, I smoothed it a few times as he confirmed everything I had already guessed. "Okay," I replied softly and decided to give in too. "Ah, while we are at it," I rushed, "I might have lied about the amnesia. I don't have any memory loss. I actually saw the pirates on the dock. When I found you, I thought it would be fun to go on a treasure hunt, so I made all that up to try to get you to confess."

"You what?" His lips spread into a grin that was so sensational, it made the corners of his eyes crease, and he laughed, a deep bellied laugh like he thought I was the funniest person in the world. I hadn't planned on it being a joke, but I joined in his laughter. It was like, for the moment, we both forgot we were still stranded on this stupid island with no way home, and we giggled together, finding home in each other.

When the laughter faded, he swapped his humorous expression for a more serious mask and in a low voice he said, "The pirates tied me up, and then tried to open the box, but it wouldn't open, and something happened to them. It was like they went insane, or got scared, and they all ran back to their boat, leaving the box behind." He pivoted on his heel and motioned to the wooden box by the tree. He ushered me closer, and we both reached forward in unison, gently touching the box . . .

The lid opened right up, almost as if it was spring loaded.

My eyes widened as I glanced back at Jasper, and I held my breath as we both slowly peered inside. I don't know what I was expecting to find, but it was a ratty old note. I lifted the note, keeping one eye on him, knowing this note had to have come from somewhere. If he was making up this pirate story, it wouldn't explain how he had this box, or this piece of paper that hadn't been soaked and ruined in the ship wreckage.

As I slowly unfolded the tattered parchment—darkened with age and branded with the same weird figure eight sign that was on the treasure map when I noticed when I looked in his satchel—I was overcome with a tingling sensation, starting in the tips of my fingers and spiraling down to my toes. It was pulling out all my doubts, all of my worries, and fears and pushing in new hopes and dreams into the voids that were left.

My heart pounding against my rib cage, as I scanned the faded ink calligraphy. I had a glittering perception when I read:

This anointed quest is for the chosen one,

You can't return until it's done.

Finding your secret identity is just the first part.

Your mission isn't done until you open your heart.

Only soulmates can unlock this island,

The reward of wealth is each other's hand.

My eyes lifted, regarding Jasper, and he was peering in the box. As I followed his gaze, I saw what he was looking at. Inside the box was a small mirror, just big enough to reflect both of our faces.

"What is this?" I lowered my hands, still clenching the note.

"I don't know what it is." He stepped closer to the box, half-buried in the translucent sand. "When you read it, something inside me changed. I saw a giant figure eight wrap around a heart."

"Hmm." I mulled, still perplexed by the whole thing. I shrugged off his comment to another weird thing about this island, when something above stole our attention. A comet blasted through the sky, headed straight to the sea. As it glittered down, it slowed, and right before it hit the surface, it rolled into a ball of light. With a flash, the sky lit up and right where the comet had been, was a ship heading in our direction.

"That must be our ride home!" I exclaimed, jerking my hand to the ship, only half believing what I had just seen. Excitement burst through my entire body, and I jumped up and down, ready to race toward it.

"Right…" Jasper's brow lowered, but he tacked on a grin as he added in a curious tone, "Or more pirates."

I knew better than to be negative. That ship was meant for us. I took his hand, ready to propel him forward, but quickly paused. Something about it made me feel like he was holding my heart. I couldn't explain what had happened any more than he could, but I also couldn't deny something had intervened. Slowly I laced my fingers into his, giving him a reassuring squeeze. "I think we're going to be okay. Even though we sailed in a ship, I believe it was fate that brought us here."

"Yeah, that's what scares me a little." Jasper took a few even steps toward the ship. "I'm wondering what else fate has in store for us." He stared forward at the boat that was now tendering offshore. "But I think we are about to find out…"