His words startle me enough that I don’t fight him when he pushes me across the room. Instead, I mentally go back over what he’s said and prod his plan for holes. It might be because I’m so exhausted I can’t think straight, but his idea actually sounds reasonable. Some of the terrible pressure, the responsibility of trying to keep my thoughts from acting on my world, eases. Not all the way—but enough to let me relax, just a little.

He pushes me onto the bottom bunk. “Go to sleep,” he orders, almost gently. “I know you didn’t get any rest last night, which can’t be helping this situation. I slept plenty, so I’ll stay up and focus on keeping things locked down until we can get back on the road.”

I look at the bed. I am exhausted. And his plan sounds like it might work. I can’t be sure I’ll be safe—but then, I never can be, can I?

Elliott settles down into a chair next to the bed and puts his hands behind his head, leaning back. He’s telling the truth. He’ll stay here, awake and watching, keeping us safe while I’m asleep. A surprised sort of security steals over me. I remember huddling with Ty in my room while a hurricane raged outside. I can still feel the way he ruffled my hair: It’ll have to go through me first.

“Thanks,” I say to Elliott, the word laced with something I can’t quite name.

“Go to sleep,” he repeats firmly.

I close my eyes and obey.

When I wake up, it’s storming again—a fact I’m able to deduce from the four inches of steadily rising water that’s flooded the floor.

I sit up in bed. “Great. My shoes just dried,” I say aloud, looking balefully at the sloshing brown water. Then the sleep clears, and I remember where we are and how we got here, and the conversation I had with Elliott earlier. Anxiety slams into my brain like a car crash. But this time, it comes with anger.

This is a ridiculous situation. It should be impossible. It seems designed especially to torture me, and I have no way to fight back. I’m forced to rely on Elliott to keep me safe, which is beyond humiliating. I should be able to fend for myself.