𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧

Twenty- Three

Above is Charlie^

"Why does she always pass out right after a big battle? It's seriously exhausting to have to drag her back here."

Iris's voice rang in her head, bringing back the headache from the previous day's battle. Her shoulder throbbed from where Allie had shot it.

"Mental exertion. You should see how many crumpled guns and people she left on the ground. She was scary fierce."

Liana sat up, and Charlie grinned. "She's awake!"

"I have something very important to tell you guys," Liana said, trying to stand. A bandage was wrapped around her shoulder, tight and red- stained. "Jerik told me that he thinks they're still on the island."

"He told you?"

"Later, okay? He said they're interrogating them, using him as a bargaining chip, and executing Taylor."

Charlie's face went pale. "How much time do we have?"

"No idea. Do you know of any place on this island where they might be? Taylor says they went into a cave or tunnel but ended up near sunlight, and they needed an officer's blood to access it."

"Xina told me about one place..." Iris trailed off. "But I think it's just a myth."

"Tell me anyways."

"Apparently, there are tunnels on the island that lead to an underground paradise. Sun, flowers, water, everything under the surface of the living world. But that's just a story."

"It seems like a good match. Our only problem is finding where it is."

Charlie shook her head. "That's not our only problem. Apparently we need blood from a SEAM officer. How do we know this wasn't a set up? That they let the officers get captured because they knew you would want to rescue Taylor and Jerik? What if they just fed Jerik that stuff and is using him to manipulate you?"

"Well, there's a couple ways to find out," Liana said, her face grim.

Iris's voice was barely audible. "Do what you have to."