✯ North Star ✯

4 - The Miracle In Front Of You

Rafe and I stay hidden in the back of the truck, a tarp sitting over us. I shift away from him instinctively, because even when he's quiet, even when he's helpful, he still feels like a lit fuse, something ready to go off the second I stop watching him.

"I told you we just had to work together. All right. Listen I'm headed out to my boat okay? I can give you a ride out drop you wherever somewhere safe. One thing though. Look at me. I know your friends are on the island. I'm not helping them. All right? I can't trust them okay? I'll give you a ride out not them. Okay?"

"I just want to get off the island," I nod, keeping my voice easy even as my mind races ahead, already three steps past whatever he's planning.

He nods, satisfied.
"That's smart. You know you're at least half Kook. Always have been."

"Shut up. Just get me off this island," I said, biting back everything else I actually want to say to him.

We slip off the truck at the dock, both of us pretending like I'm not in pajamas and he doesn't look like he crawled out of a jungle.
"Come on. My boat's down here."

I follow him, trying to act normal — or at least 'not actively escaping a criminal compound' normal, my heart hammering the whole way down the dock.

"Make sure your shoes are off," Rafe says as he hops onto an insanely expensive boat. Of course it's expensive. It's Rafe.

"Okay we should have enough juice to get us to Saint Lucia no problem. Hey get in the boat. Stella!"

"You're not gonna pull anything if I get in?" I ask, watching him carefully, some part of me still braced for a trap even now.

"No I'm not gonna pull anything okay? I'm trying to do you a solid here. You really wanna be back there with Singh or do you wanna be somewhere safe? Can you help me with the bowline?"

I step into the boat slowly, my whole body coiled tight with the plan already forming.
"Thank you."

I crouch by the line and pretend to struggle.
"Hey uh, I... I can't get it."

"What?"

"I need some help!"

"Move." Rafe kneels beside me.

As soon as he leans over the railing —
I shove him hard, adrenaline surging through me all at once.

"Stella!" Rafe yells as he hits the water.

I don't look back. I fire up the engine, hands shaking, my heart pounding with the sheer audacity of what I've just done.

"Stella! Where are you going?"

"I'm sorry, but I've gotta help my friends!" I yell, and something in me almost means the apology, even as I'm already pulling away.

"You don't know what you're doing!" He roars, hitting the water. "I'll find you Stella! I'll find you! Stella you're gonna regret this shit. Stella! You're done!"