“Chase, I forbid you to see Alon for the rest of the time that we’re here on this island.”

“Absolutely not!” Chase jumps to his feet.

I don’t argue.

“Alon understands why I’m doing this.”

“Do you really think that’s going to make any difference? Do you really think that the island is going to ignore me, just like that? You didn’t see it. It’s powerful and scary as hell, but it listens to Alon. And now that I understand what it’s trying to do, I’m probably safer with Alon than alone. Well, as long as it stops trying to help me. I’m not leaving without Alon.”

Gries glares at Chase, then at me. “So you’re going to ignore me and stick by him anyway, right?”

“I’m not the one in danger. You are!”

“Chase—”

“You’re still obsessed with Mom’s death! That’s why you’ve been seeing her everywhere! The Godseye sacrifices people who can’t let go of the past, the ones who’ve been violent toward the people they’re supposed to care for!”

Gries rears back, looking stricken. “Chase, I would never do anything to harm you.”

“Did you ever hit Mom?”

Gries doesn’t respond immediately, though the guilt on his face is clear. “I never hurt her physically.”

“What were you and Mom arguing about the week she died? At the time, you kept insisting that it was nothing. But now—now I don’t think so. You act guilty, like you murdered her every time her names comes up in conversation.”

“That’s enough, Chase!” Gries roars. He shakes, rage and grief mixing on his face. He deflates before he even starts though, as if overcome by exhaustion.

“I just want to know how the plane wreckage wound up underground,” he says. “Alon…”

“I don’t know anything about that, sir. I’m sorry.”

He sighs. “I’m not going to forbid you from seeing Chase. After Riley, you’re definitely an improvement. But don’t you think it would be better to avoid him until we get off this island? To keep him safe?”

I’m fully aware that Chase’s eyes are pleading with me as I say, “I can’t guarantee Chase’s safety. But like he said, the Diwata listens to me. I can intercede on his behalf better if he’s with me.”

“I don’t necessarily trust you, Alon. I don’t think I could trust anyone who shares a connection with an entity capable of wiping out everyone on this island on a whim, however innocently you came into that relationship. Chase—we can talk later—”

“Leo? Are you in there?” Straw Hat’s worried voice sounds outside the door, and I tense, noticing Chase do the same.

“Yeah, I’m here.”

“We’re going to need your help. There’s been an emergency.”

“An emergency? What’s happened?”

“It’s Steve Galant. He’s gone bonkers. I don’t know how it happened, but he worked himself free of his restraints. He’s missing. Cameras show he’s gone inside the cave.”

Seventeen

The Face

I insist on accompanying the rescue team inside the cave. It is nightfall, and the idea of heading into the Godseye with only flashlights to guide us is unsettling to the others.