As they paddled away from the shore, the gentle lapping of the water beneath the boat was a stark contrast to the tension knotting Lana’s stomach. She tried to steady her breathing, focusing on the rhythm of the oars slicing through the surface as Jessie matched her strokes.
“Do you think he’s okay?” Jessie asked, glancing over at Lana with concern etched across her face.
Lana nodded, though uncertainty flickered in her mind. “He has to be. We’re almost there.” She pointed toward the dim outline of the dock up ahead, partially obscured by the encroaching fog.
The sky was beginning to darken, and every faint sound seemed amplified— the creak of the boat, the distant call of a bird, the soft whisper of the wind. All these noises felt like warnings as they recalled the stories they had heard about patrols snagging unsuspecting kids out on the water.
“Do you really think it’s smart to go through with this?” Jessie broke the silence, her voice barely above a whisper. “What if they find us?”
Lana bit her lip, considering the question. What if they were caught? The repercussions wouldn’t just be for them; her mother had enough to handle without worrying about her daughter and her reckless choices. But then again, Martin needed help, and that was all that mattered right now.
“Even if it’s a risk,” Lana answered, determination creeping into her tone, “we can’t leave him behind. He needs us.”
As they approached the dock, the shadows cast by the trees loomed larger, more threatening. The patrol barge could be anywhere, and every moment spent lingering was a chance wasted.
“Okay, let's hurry,” Jessie said, a new resolve in her voice.
With one last push of the oars, they reached the moored boat. Lana hopped out and secured their rowboat as Jessie followed, scanning the darkness for any sign of Martin.
“Over here!” a familiar voice called, breaking through the uneasy silence.
Lana turned to see Martin emerging from the shadows, his face pale but determined. As she rushed toward him, relief flooded through her. But the urgency didn’t wane; they were still in a precarious situation.
“Did you see a patrol?” Martin asked, his eyes wide with apprehension.
“No, but we have to move quickly,” Lana replied as they hurried back to the rowboat. Time was of the essence, and every second felt stretched thin with possibility.
They all piled into the small vessel, and for a moment, the world narrowed down to just the three of them in the boat as they exchanged worried glances. The weight of their situation settled upon them, but one thought glimmered through the cloud of concern—they were together, and together, perhaps they could make it through this.
With a deep breath, Lana seized the oars again, her resolve hardening. They were going to keep moving, no matter what. They would figure it out, just like they always had. Adjusting to the weight they were collectively bearing would be the key.
Together, they rowed out into the darkness, the shore fading behind them, as they propelled themselves toward whatever lay ahead—an uncertain future, but a shared one.
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