And then, the calm, hollow trickling of water upon a cold, cavern floor…

And the heartbreaking sound of Neale crying.

Chapter 24

THE LIGHT.

It hurt her eyes, jarring her from a deep cocoon of blissful oblivion, and she drew back from it, whimpering.

“It’s okay. You’re safe now.” The deep voice was very near; it spoke to her softly, and a hand that had been holding hers slid away.

Kelsey blinked several more times at the pale sunlight across her pillow, at the unfamiliar window with curtains pulled wide. She looked around the room, her surroundings beginning to come into focus at last—faded green walls, hospital furniture—and as she groped for her face, she felt the bandage there, and stared in bewilderment.

“You’re in the clinic. Do you remember anything?” Neale asked softly.

She found him then, where he’d been sitting beside her, his eyes sunken and bloodshot, his features taut. There was a shadow on his upper lip, and his hair looked like he’d run his hands through it many times. She stared at him, nodding slowly. Yes…now it all came back…

She felt a lump in her throat and tears slipped down her cheeks. “Justin—”

Neale shook his head, his face drawn. “I tried to pull him out—he kept swimming away from me…”

Despair washed over her, a long, agonizing wave, and she grabbed for his arm. “I saw Beth.”

“I know. They flew her to the mainland—Dad’ll be there with her.”

“But is she okay? I thought—”

“She’s alive, at least,” Neale said gently.

“But, Donna—Neale, I think Donna might be down there, too—”

“No, Kelsey, I’m right here.”

For the first time Kelsey noticed the two figures standing quietly near the door. Donna, her leg in a cast, moved painstakingly toward the bed on crutches as Skip tried to support her with his arm.

“Oh, Donna—”

The girls’ arms went around each other, and they both began to cry.

“Kelsey…he tried to kill me…” They clung to one another, and Donna went on brokenly. “He thought I was dead, I guess—he pushed me over the cliff, and I landed on some rocks. I guess I was out for a while, but when I came to again, he was gone and I tried to crawl back to the beach. To warn you—”

Kelsey’s heart ached. She hugged Donna close.

“The beach was swarming with people,” Donna took a deep breath. “That’s when I found out what had happened in the lighthouse—that Skip had gone on for help, and Neale had stayed with you and Beth, trying to keep her alive—”

“It was Neale who gave you mouth-to-mouth,” Skip spoke up. “I just stopped your bleeding. No big deal.”

In spite of themselves, the girls laughed, and Skip pulled Donna back.

“Come on, I’m taking you home where I can keep an eye on you,” he said gruffly. “Before you get yourself in any more trouble.” He leaned down and patted Kelsey roughly on the shoulder, his expression solemn. “You’re in good hands. Now get some rest.”