The Ocean’s City

We finished in a matter of seconds. The doctor gave Dannie some meds, which her state gradually approved as we drove to the pier. She crawled out of the car, and Hutson hovered over her like some puppy dog in love.

She took his hand, and I watched, feeling helpless for my friend. It felt like she didn’t flinch from his touch, like she was warming up to him. Maybe it was all in my mind, but all I could think about was Stockholm syndrome was a real thing. Then again, perhaps it was just the drugs the doctor gave her.

Deep in thought, I slowly worked my way out of the car and nearly jumped out of my skin when a hand landed on my lower back.

“Easy there.” His deep voice grumbled in my ear. Then he turned to me slightly, looking serenely into my eyes. “I won’t ever hurt you.”

I stared back at him, willing him to read my thoughts, though I knew it was impossible. I thought back to the diner bathroom, causing a sick pit in my stomach. No… he might not harm me physically, but emotionally, he was a whole other playing field. His long eyelashes flickered up. He leaned closer to me and whispered, “It appears your friend is taking a liking to my brother.”

I hope for our sake she isn’t, I thought to myself.

“Are you two lovebirds coming?” Hutson called after us, causing Dalton to stand straight and guide us to catch up. I noticed how Dannie didn’t even give me a worried look this time. Her eyes drooped like she’d fallen asleep while walking. Hutson dragged her along as he moved a few paces ahead of Dalton and me.

“The weather is nice today,” Dalton remarked nonchalantly. “What should we do first? Walk the pier or dip our toes in the sand?”

I bit my tongue as I worded my following words carefully. “They both sound nice. Although I’m unsure how much I could enjoy being here while worrying about my friend.”

He nodded his head, looking forward to where Dannie walked. “That’s very reasonable, but try… for me. Your friend isn’t in any danger. What had happened to her was an accident, and I don’t intend to allow any accidents to happen again.”

I sighed, knowing that arguing with him would be a waste. Instead, I let him guide me down the pier. We passed circus performers, singers, and dancers. Then we stopped at a booth where Hutson was fishing for something in his pocket as Dannie, with her droopy eyes, leaned into his hold of her. She looked me straight in the eyes and spoke, “I’m getting a fucking teddy.”

“Language,” Dalton scolded, but his warning did not phase Dannie. I recognized this Dannie behind the drugs. It was her way of saying if we were stuck here, we should make the most of it. Here, it meant she wanted a teddy bear. I giggled with her, then watched as Hutson bought darts to throw at the balloons. Bang! Went to the first balloon.

Dannie’s eyes lit up as if she were sober again. “Holy Shit, he’s good!”

Dalton cleared his throat, but Dannie didn’t hear him. She jumped excitedly as Hutson got the second, third, and fourth balloons. Pop. pop. pop. She clapped as she pointed at the reward she wanted. A giant stuffed pink bear.

Dalton’s hand came to the small of my back, and it took everything in me not to move out of reach. “Try to beat that, brother.” Hutson goaded.

Dalton looked down at me to meet my timid glare. “Perhaps another day. Come, let’s keep looking around.”

Dannie shook her bear around as she looked at me as if this were a regular date. The boys walked ahead, and I marched over to her, grabbing her arm and talking under my breath. “What do you think you are doing?”

“What? Clearly, we are in some weird ass voodoo land. I might as well get a bear out of it.”

“You are playing with fire.”

“How?”

“Just… don’t get attached. We are supposed to be looking for a way out.”

“Are you girls coming?” Dalton called out. He was standing by another booth with water guns placed to aim at targets.

I let out a fake smirk and hurried Dannie along. Dalton gave me a long look as if searching my mind. I tried not to look guilty. “Sit. We will see who has the better aim out of the four of us.”

Dannie quickly perked up. “That’s clearly me!” She spoke as she hurried to the empty chair near Hutson. I stood hesitantly, looking back at Dalton, who looked at me, then at the seat. Finally, I sat down, and the lady running the booth spoke. “On your mark, get set. Go!”

I didn’t want to play, but since I clearly had little a say at the moment, I closed one eye and aimed it up to the telescope on the top of the water gun. Then, as if it was purely dull, I hit the targets one after another, completely focused.

A bell rang to signal the game was done. Hutson laughed. “Dang, I have the worst score. Dalton, that’s a record for you. Dang!”

Dalton’s hand went to my knee as he smirked at me, thoroughly impressed. “I’m actually number two. Number one is Silvestia.” My cheeks heated at his clear impression of me.

“Oh. Yeah! Silvie has an insane eye. Nothing gets past her.” Dannie spoke up.

“Looks like you two will have competition on game nights,” Dalton said.

“Not even! I have a feeling my girl can hold her own.” Hutson declared confidently.

“Damn straight, I can.” I glared at Dannie as she spoke.

Their rambling continued, but I felt too odd being the center of attention on a seemingly ordinary date. That was clearly anything but normal.

We finished walking along the pier, playing a few other games, but mostly looking around. The boys then bought us ice cream cones and had lawn chairs brought to the beach side, where we all ate and lazed around. Dannie was being her usual self and being a social butterfly. I was just trying to survive all the fear and worry that was eating away at my guts.

“Are you two ladies okay here for a bit while Hutson and I go to deal with some stuff?”

“Yeah,” Dannie said with complete surety. I felt my spirits perk a bit. Were they going to let us be alone? We could make an escape for it.

As if he were reading my mind, I caught Dalton’s stern glance looking at me, trying to determine whether I would stay put. “Silvestia?”

It made me feel like a child in trouble. My cheeks heated. I nodded my head, and he slowly shook his back before turning to leave.

The moment they were out of earshot, Dannie unexpectedly scolded me. “You need to chill out.”

“Me?”

“Yeah… you. Do you not see the creepy power that guy has over this place?”

“Obviously! That’s why I find it so hard that you are so relaxed here.”

“Duh! The more relaxed we are, the less likely he is to turn ape shit.” Dannie turned quiet. Her lips twitched in a worried way. “Hutson told me something disconcerting.”

“What?” I asked, as my mind had already run a million miles a minute to guess what she would say.

“That your behavior only secures my safety.”

I thought back to what Dalton had said in the bathroom.

“Dannie…. I really don’t want to be here,” I admitted.

“I know, but you must play nice until we understand what “here” is. Dannie said with her hands making bunny ears.

I nodded my head.

“There’s something else.”

“What?”

“When I tried to run away last night, the terrain changed. There were no trees when I looked, but I turned my head to ensure no one was following me, and then bang!”

I said nothing for a second. I watched as Dannie’s eyes drooped once more. “Are you okay?”

She grabbed my hand. “I’m fine. We will be fine. I just need to rest.”

I went to tell her she should sleep now while we were resting, but she had already fallen asleep.

Thanks for reading the fifth chapter of The Ocean’s City. Let me know what you think! Grammar Nazis are welcome!