Archie starts walking, away from the stairs, away from phantom images at the edge of lamps. He doesn’t know if Susan is somewhere on the grounds or in the house. He hopes they have her at the party, because if she’s in the house, he won’t stand a chance, especially without a weapon. He’ll search the party, and if she’s not there, he’ll make a run for the bridge. So Archie follows the music. He can smell plants as he passes them, lavender and rosemary and lemon thyme. He focuses on Susan. A hundred feet ahead, Archie can see the torches and the shadows of partygoers moving in and out of their glow. Broadleaf plants tear under his feet. This part of the landscaping is lit with pink gel cans that make everything blush-colored. His mask itches. His shirt cuffs are pink.

If he can’t find Susan quickly, he tells himself again, then he will go the bridge and hail the surveillance team, even if it costs Leo the operation.

A sound makes Archie stop short. Maybe it isn’t a sound—maybe it’s movement, a shuddering of leaves; but something sets off an alarm deep in Archie’s lizard brain. The vegetation parts and Archie catches a glimpse of pink light reflected on the scales. A snake. Archie’s spine goes rigid. The pink lights illuminate the ground just enough to reveal a creature as thick as Archie’s arm. It’s too big to be anything native. It has to have been intentionally released at some point on the island. Archie doesn’t have an irrational fear of snakes. He has a rational fear of huge fucking snakes. He takes another step, but stops again as his foot hits a log of thick, coiled reptilian muscle. Archie feels the snake curl around his ankle. Archie lifts his leg off the ground and kicks it in the air like it’s on fire. The snake has not managed to secure itself yet and Archie is able to shake it free.