The Missing by Kiersten Modglin (essential books to read txt) 📕

said angrily, then cooled my tone a bit. “But thank you.” I took it from him, unable to deny how thirsty I was and lifted it to my lips. I began to take a sip, then felt guilty for doing so in front of Harry, so I lowered it and held it out. “You should have this. I had some out there.”

He looked at the coconut, then back at me. His answer was powerless. “I’ll get my own. It’s okay. There are plenty…”

“It’s fine, Harry, honestly. I drank one on the way back. You must be so thirsty.” He swiped the back of his hand across his dirt-streaked forehead, his dry, cracked lips confirming what I’d said.

“Thanks,” he said finally, taking it from my hands and gulping it down quickly. When he was done, he rubbed his hand across his lips guiltily. “Sorry… I guess the heat got to me.”

“You’ve been working hard,” I said. “We all have. We should rest for a while, rehydrate, then make a plan for exploring more of the island.”

He nodded, keeping his voice low. “Are you sure everything went okay out there? Noah was—”

“Still within listening distance,” Noah called loudly from a few feet away, his coconut in the air. “And, I was a perfect gentleman, Grandpa, don’t worry.”

I gave a conceding nod. “It’s true. He was. He took care of me when I overheated.”

“You what? What happened? Are you—”

“I’m fine now.” I cut off his panic. “Honestly. I just needed to rest a bit. Who would’ve guessed sunburn, exhaustion, and dehydration would be a bad combo?”

“Okay, you sit,” Harry said. “Let me get you some more to drink.”

“I’m fine, Harry,” I tried to argue, but it was no use. He’d already scooped two more coconuts from the pile and had made his way toward the rock we’d been using to bust them open. I fought back against the deep pit of guilt inside my stomach as he delivered mine. If I brought up the waterfall now, they’d only wonder why I hadn’t told them the second we got back, wouldn’t they? How could I keep something this important from someone so determined to take care of me?

Suddenly, from behind me, I heard Ava cry out in apparent pain. I spun around quickly to see her clutching her stomach, sweat beading on her temples.

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

Her expression was agonizing as she looked at me. “I don’t know, I just—” Before she could finish her sentence, she doubled over, vomit spewing from her lips and onto the sand.

“Ava!” I dropped my drink and launched forward, reaching for her as she continued to be sick. At the same time, the men backed away, sounds of gagging and groaning could be heard from all around. I touched her bicep, moving a hand to her hair to pull as much of the dark curls back as I could.

When she’d stopped, she shook her head, wiping her arm across her lips. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened… I just suddenly felt…” She stopped, her dark skin seeming to grow paler as she staggered a half step backward.

“Are you okay?” Harry asked, still several steps back from us.

“I don’t know…” she said powerlessly. “I just feel…off.”

“Are you going to be sick again?” he asked.

“And, if you are, aim it that way,” Noah said, slurping his drink loudly.

“Here, let’s just get you set down on the sand.” I took her hand, my other palm on her upper back as I helped her sink down onto the warm sand beneath our feet. Once she was able to relax a bit, her expression calmed.

“Thank you. I feel better already.” She swiped sweat from her brow. “I’m sorry, guys.”

“You don’t have to apologize,” Harry said, taking a small step in our direction as I swept sand over her vomit, covering it completely. He handed me one half of his coconut and I placed it in her palms.

“He’s right, you probably just overheated. It’s easy enough to do. I should know,” I told her. “Just keep drinking.”

“But slowly,” Harry instructed, now standing beside where I’d knelt down next to her. “Take small sips rather than gulps. It’ll be easier on your stomach.”

She did as she was told, drinking slowly and taking steady breaths in between each gulp.

“I don’t think we should go anywhere today,” Harry said firmly, and I glanced over my shoulder at him.

“What?”

“I know we wanted to explore some, but we need to take our time. You overheated earlier, and Ava did just now. Finding anything on this island won’t matter if half of us are sick or, worse, dead. None of us are used to heat and hunger like this. We have to be careful not to overdo it. For now, we need to just rest until the sun goes down for the evening. We can use Noah’s knife to carve spears. Then, maybe we try to catch some fish for dinner. Tomorrow, we’ll head out early before the sun’s too high.”

“What if we can’t afford to wait?”

“We can’t afford not to,” he said simply. “I’m sorry. I wanted to go too, but I won’t risk either of you collapsing out there.”

“I’m fine,” Ava said, moving to sit up. “Honestly, I think I just drank too fast.”

“And I’m fine, too,” I agreed. “We have to explore tonight, Harry. We have to. I don’t think I can spend another night here not knowing what’s going on.”

“I agree with him,” Noah said, taking us all by surprise. “If either of you collapse or get sick, we’d either have to carry you or make camp wherever we are. It makes more sense to stay here for the night and try tomorrow. Besides that”—he stretched his arms over his head and tucked them behind his neck—“I could use a nap.”

“It’s settled, then,” Harry said, looking relieved.

“No, it’s tied,” Ava argued, her eyes narrowing at James. “What do you think? It all comes down to your vote.”

“Alright,” Noah said, bobbing his head up and