NovelEnglishLA WAY OUT LUKE
Every ounce of determination pushedforward as | stepped closer to the towering cliffs, my fists clenched at
my sides. My heart thundered in my chest, the sound almost louder than the waves crashing against the rocks
below. | scanned the jagged surface, the sun bearing down on my neck, mockingas | searched for any way-
any way-to get down. Frustration clawed at me, threatening to spill over.
It has to be down there. It just has to.
A glint caught my eye, and | squinted, spotting a narrow ledge higher up. My chest tightened with a flicker of
hope. | scrambled. toward it, fingers scraping against the rough rock as I hauled
myself up. My arms burned, my muscles trembling, but I didn't stop. Not until | reached it.
The ledge narrowed into nothing, a jagged dead end with a sheer drop that would killif | wasn't careful. My
jaw clenched so hard | thought my teeth would crack. "Fuck!" The word tore out of me, swallowed instantly by
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtthe crash of the waves.
My hands shook as | balanced on the ledge, staring down at the ocean below. This was it. There was no other
way. My options were to jump or climb back down and admit I'd failed again.
| pressed a hand against, the cliffside, grounding myself, and whispered, "Jess... if | don't make it... forgive me. |
love you."
The words burned as | said them out loud, and before | could let doubt sink in, I jumped.
For a split second, | was weightless, falling, free from the constant ache of this godforsaken island. Then the
water slammed intolike concrete, knocking the breath out of my lungs. Pain exploded across my chest, and
for a terrifying moment, | couldn't tell which way was up.
But my feet hit the sandy bottom, and instinct took over. | kicked hard, breaking through the surface with a gasp.
Saltwater filled my mouth, stinging my throat as | coughed and sputtered.
"Okay. | survived," | muttered, wiping my face and treading water. | glanced around, spinning in slow circles. The
cove was smaller than I'd expected, hidden by towering cliffs. At first glance, it looked empty.
But then, as the waves lifted me, | saw it.
The boat.
My breath hitched, and a broken laugh escaped my lips. | had to blink twice to make sure | wasn't hallucinating.
It was real. Battered, weather-worn, but real.
| swam toward it, adrenaline surging through me. Every stroke felt like a victory, like maybe we weren't
completely screwed after all. | hauled myself onto the deck, collapsing for a moment as my heart raced.
The boat wasn't much-tiny, rusted in places, and definitely not luxury-but it floated. That was enough. A quick
glance toldit had survived a lot of storms, so maybe it could survive a few more.
The keys were hanging right there on a hook by the helm, almost like a gift from the universe. | turned them, and
the engine roared to life. Relief washed overas the steady hum vibrated through the boat. It sounded strong,
but when | checked the fuel gauge, my stomach dropped.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmHalf a tank.
"What the hell does half a tank even mean out here?" | muttered, switching off the engine to conserve it. The
reality hithard. There was no way | could take this boat all the way around the island. The reefs alone would
tear it to shreds.
| scanned the cabin and found a map pinned to the wall. My eyes zeroed in on a small, circled island. It looked
familiar, like the one Sarah had marked in the sand weeks ago when she was rambling about escape plans.
She'd been right.
She was always right.
If we could just get to that island...
| shook my head.
*°%
.
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