Bookie Paige [COMPLETED] [UNEDITED]

Chapter 16

Shadow's face turned pure white. His lips tightened into a thin line, his fists clenched. Tears welled in his eyes, and I knew that I'd hurt him. I had saved this kid from being tortured and poked a year ago, and then I'd called him a betrayer.

Good.

He deserved it.

My rage was boiling up fast. At almost the same time, whales hit the sides of the ship, a huge thunderstorm erupted, and seaweed wrapped the Black Jackets' waists. I looked at the knot around my waist, calculated, and expertly wiggled my way out with precision. Then I snatched a dagger and sliced the other ropes, including Zip's. The storm stopped and a cloud lifted us up. Shadow's wrists were bound to the mast, peering up at us. I sat crisscross, Zip in my lap, and watched him. His face was pleading. And I knew what they would do to him if we left.

"Ivy, wrap him tight and have him follow, way behind us. We'll drop him off at the beach." Ivy nodded and unbound his wrists, making the seaweed wrap around his waist instead. The seaweed follow us when we were a good mile away. I knew he could easily shadow and free himself. But that would risk the drop into the black ocean below.

I looked down at the matter at hand. Zip was beaten up, badly. I smiled and laughed. She was back. And safe. "Ivy," I wailed. "Can you heal her?"

Ivy nodded and inched over. One hand stayed pointed at Shadow, guiding him. The other was waved over Zip, and her bruises and cuts vanished. Only thin, red lines were left. Zip coughed and looked up at me. Her blonde hair had mud streaks, and her hit pink clothing was torn. But she looked happy.

"I told them you would come," she croaked. "I said, 'Bookie is coming, you know' and they laughed." She frowned.

"Shh, shh, Zip. You're talking really fast." I cupped a hand over her mouth. "Of course we would come for you." I paused. "And it would've been easier if my visions were working . . ."

"Your visions weren't working?" The little girl asked with a frown. I shook my head absently. Then I closed my eyes, and the next few hours flooded my brain. My eyelids fluttered open, and I rubbed my temples.

"What's wrong, Bookie?" Rain asked in her high, cheery voice.

"Visions came back, and they hurt."

They all laughed while I massaged my head. It eventually went away. "Rain, can you make this go faster? I want to drop Betrayer off," I jerked a finger behind me, "and get back to, um, hold on." My eyes closed and I saw a sign. "Washington state," I finished.

"Washington?" Owl asked, perking up. He knew how many rare animals, such as bears and wolves, lived there.

I nodded. "Yeah, and from there we're taking a plane to Alaska."

Owl's mouth dropped open. "Alaska?" He breathed. I nodded.

"Oh my god, yes, yes, yes!" He squealed.

Then he jumped up. And started dancing.

And then he fell off of the cloud.