The Survivors(104)
‘Gabby?’ he called.
‘Yeah?’
He saw a beam of light bounce off the wall opposite and heard the quick splash of steps from one of the tunnels behind him, and as he turned she was back in the clearing. She was smiling.
‘I’m here,’ she said. ‘Hey, look. I was just –’
‘Jesus, please don’t go wandering off.’
‘Oh. I’m sorry.’
She looked crestfallen and Sean felt bad.
‘It’s okay,’ he said, and then they both started speaking at the same time.
‘Sorry,’ Gabby said again. ‘You go.’
‘I was going to say we can get through, but we’ll have to be quick. If you still want to?’
‘Yeah.’ Her smile was back. ‘Please. If you don’t mind.’
‘I don’t mind.’
Sean led the way to the second tunnel, shining the light ahead of them.
‘Watch your head as you come through here,’ he said, and almost without thinking reached out to guide her over the dip. He felt Gabby’s palm slide into his and he gripped it.
‘It’s so dark,’ she said. A beat passed, then two, and only then did she drop his hand. He could still feel the warm spots where her fingers had been.
‘Follow the light, you’ll be okay.’
‘Where do all these tunnels go?’ she said as he led them past a first fork and took the second one, turning again a few steps later.
‘Everywhere,’ Sean said.
They moved along until the walls opened wider and the roof rose to create a small clearing. Sean stopped there. He could feel the water lapping at his feet now.
‘We probably shouldn’t go any further. The weather’s really coming in.’
‘No, that’s okay.’ In the soft torchlight, Gabby’s face glowed. ‘This is really cool. Thanks for showing me.’
‘You’re welcome.’
The rock circled them as they stood close together in the centre. The sound of the rain and sea floated in from outside and bounced around, the peaceful rhythm amplified and then dulled by the complex honeycomb of caves. Gabby walked a few paces, examining something on the near wall as Sean watched.
She could – almost – have been one of The Survivors. Standing there, outlined by the weak light, her back turned and the salt water lapping at her feet. Then she moved. Just a small shift in weight and the in-out of breath, but enough to break the illusion before it was fully formed.
Gabby was still looking away, focused on something he couldn’t make out in the dark. Somewhere, a wave broke and the sea surged, fresh and cold against Sean’s own legs as it fizzed white around Gabby’s bare calves. Sean watched as she reached down with her free hand and gathered her skirt hem above her knees. The air was filled with a fine haze and her t-shirt clung to her back and her waist.
The sea swelled again, and this time the drag of the undertow was strong enough that he took a step towards her. She didn’t notice. Her face was tilted down, the silver chain of her necklace glinting against her collarbone as she leaned forward to examine something in the water. She dropped her skirt hem as the tide rushed out again, and lifted a hand to sweep aside her ponytail that had fallen over one shoulder. It was heavy from the sea spray. A single strand of hair had caught in the corner of her mouth and she brushed it free, her fingertips running across her lips.
Sean felt a tightness spread across his chest and shoulders.
If you’re going to do it –
The thought whispered beneath the rush of a wave. The undertow pulled again. He fought it, briefly, then took another step. She heard him now, or sensed him at least. Some disruption in the natural rhythm flowing around her.
If you’re going to do it –
She looked up. He sucked in a breath of salt-soaked air.
Do it now.
Sean steeled himself, then all at once stepped in, took her warm hand in his and closed his eyes.
His lips brushed hers and the sensation was there and then immediately gone. She had pulled clean away before he even realised it. He looked down, his lips still tingling, his palm holding nothing but cool air. He could still hear her breathing, but it sounded different now.
Time stretched out, long and tortuous. Sean simply couldn’t look up. When she still didn’t say anything, he forced himself to lift his head and meet her eyes. She was no longer smiling in the torchlight.
Her expression was one of shock and something else. It took him longer than it should have to place it, and as soon as he did, he immediately wished he hadn’t. Embarrassment. And not entirely for her, he realised with a hot flush of shame. Gabby was embarrassed for him. Sean scrambled to think of something to say, anything at all, but his throat burned with humiliation. He stood there, in the raw and excruciating silence, and felt something barbed slowly unfurl inside him.
‘Sean –’
‘What?’ The word sounded hard to his own ears and he could hear the note of attack in it. He was relieved. For an awful moment, he’d thought his voice might crack.
‘Nothing. I’m really sorry –’ Gabby started.
‘What for? I don’t care.’ That hard note again. Sean tried to laugh it off, but it came out wrong. He saw Gabby take a small step back and the tiny movement infuriated him.
‘I’m sorry.’ She raised her finger and touched her lips, nervous and exploratory. ‘I didn’t realise you were going to –’ She swallowed. ‘I’ve never actually –’