“You’re insane,” Esme said.

“You have a better idea?” Marcus answered.

Esme pursed her lips as her gaze lost focus, searching the corners of her mind for a more effective plan.

Finally, she exhaled heavily. “Please, just leave me,” she whimpered.

Marcus stared at his wife and watched her lively, beautiful features crumple under a wave of despair.

“I can’t,” he breathed, and left.

Matty’s heavy eyes lifted to his as Marcus strode into the living space and offered him a quick smile.

“Fitz, I’m sorry to ask—”

“I can stay here,” Fitz said, nodding toward his two youngest children. “I’ll make sure they’re okay.”

Marcus watched Isabella’s chest rise and fall into a deep sleep as she lay on the sofa beside Fitz.

“It shouldn’t take too long. Thank you,” Marcus said. Fitz tipped his chin in response.

Out in the hall, Marcus hurried with a frenzied purpose that propelled his steps. The pelting downpour had slowed to a steady beat against the glass roof and walls, but the heat continued to climb with no air exchange in the building.

He tried each door as he passed. On the third try, a handle turned. The smell of cooked food abandoned to rot hit his nostrils in a rush. He staggered back a step and coughed, swallowing his gag. They must have evacuated days ago.

Marcus dashed through each room and combed through all the closets, searching for any item he could use. He came up empty in the first three apartments he checked, but struck gold in the fourth.

These folks had been prepared for anything… He found one half-used duct tape roll, five thin climbing rope coils, and several bungee cord lengths.

Marcus slung these over his shoulders and gathered more in his arms. This is going to work.

In the stairwell,  Marcus waded into the murky seawater. He fought off a shudder. He’d always preferred looking at the ocean rather than invade its depths.

“Did you get what you needed?” a voice called out.

Marcus jumped as Fitz’s question boomed from the railing a few floors above.

“Geez, you scared me,” Marcus huffed. “The little ones alright?”

“Yeah, I’m just checkin’ in.”

“Came across a bunch of rope. We’ll see if it’s enough.”

“Need help?”

“Of course,” Marcus said. “But I want you to stay with Matty. He could get worse anytime.”

“If I lend a hand, it’ll go faster,” Fitz suggested.

Marcus chewed his cheek, undecided.

“Sure,” he replied after a moment.

Fitz hustled down to him and waded in next to Marcus.

“I pulled them all over here before, but they drifted while I was gone,” Marcus explained, gesturing toward the colorful kayaks dotted around the lobby-turned-lake.

Fitz leaned down to untie his heavy boots. “I’ll swim and you can toss me a line. Then haul ‘em in,” he said.

“Let me,” Marcus argued.

“Already in.” Fitz dove forward in a graceful breaststroke that belied his bulk.

Marcus hurried to uncoil some rope and tossed it to Fitz. The firefighter swiftly reached the first boat and secured the braided cord to a metal ring.

“Toss me a second line before you pull this guy in.”

Marcus complied and pulled on the kayak until it bobbed at his feet. The two men repeated their technique until four narrow boats clunked against each other.

The younger man glanced up toward the small living quarters that held his family.

“Go check on ‘em.” Fitz said. “I’ll get started lashing these together.”

He sprinted up the steps two at a time and hurried to the condo. Silence greeted him as he opened the door—a far cry from the usual auditory chaos accompanying his kids.

Matty still sat in his chair, but his head rested against a cushion, his eyes shut.

Marcus called his son’s name in a fear-warbled voice. Matty didn’t move. Bella stirred on the sofa as he passed.

He kneeled next to his boy and cradled his face in strong, gentle hands. “Matty.”

The child’s eyelids fluttered, and a lazy smile grew on his lips. “Daddy, I’m sleepin’.”

“You can’t sleep, baby,” Marcus said, choking against a relieved sob.

“But I’m so tired…”

“Do you want to eat something?”

Matty shook his head. “It’s my bedtime, silly.”

“Since when have you turned down food? Or a chance to stay up late like Sofia?”

“Can I have chicken fingers?”

Marcus chuckled, his chest tight with emotion. “All out of chicken. But we have chips.”

He left Matty sitting at the glass-topped dining table, feet dangling from the wicker seats, munching on a family-size bag of Doritos.

When he returned to Fitz, three boats were already lashed securely together.

“Looks good,” Marcus said.

Fitz glanced up. “Thanks. I think this might work.”

Marcus appraised the make-shift raft.

“We need the rain to ease up before we leave,” Fitz said.

“Agreed.” Marcus studied the night through clear glass. I don’t even know the time. He glared down at his cheap–now broken–watch.

“Maybe we can try in another hour or two,” Fitz said gently.

Marcus sighed and moved to secure the last boat.

Sofia soaked in the fresh sights and sounds of her temporary haven. A bright red supply bag, secured by nylon straps, sat on a shelf. A small counter held a monitor. Multi-colored wires trailed from the monitor’s side to the lady wincing on a stretcher.

Rhythmic beeping pierced the humid air and a jagged line pulsed on the screen in a syncopated pattern. She groaned and her husband lifted a hand to her brow. “Shhh, love. I’m here.”

“What’s your name, sweetie?” Frizzy Hair asked Sofia.

She paused, unsure why she hesitated. “Sofia,” she whispered after a moment.

“I’m Jeanie.”

Sofia nodded, offering a small smile.

“That’s Mike and Carol,” Jeanie offered, gesturing to the older couple. “And those medical folks are Nora and Terrance.”

At their names, the two EMTs glanced up and smiled.

“Where’d you come from, hon?” Jeanie asked, concern etched on her brow.

“I–I walked…from…” Sofia fought against a disorienting surge of adrenaline. “Where did you come from? Did you crash?”

Jeanie’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t press for an answer. “We’re from a beachfront condo complex that collapsed.”

Sofia’s head snapped up so fast that her neck cracked. “The Paradise?” she demanded.

“You know it?” Mike asked, turning to her.

“My parents…my brother and sister…” Sofia choked on her words as tears streamed down her sweat-covered cheeks.

Mike’s expression sagged. “I’m so sorry, young lady.”

“The winds were wild when we left,” Nora mentioned. “We barely made it this far. We were thrown into a pole by a gust, so we’re waiting until the storm passes.

Almost in answer, the rig rocked in a sudden, violent wind burst.

“Carol’s doing okay here,” Mike commented. “We all decided it would be better to wait than to risk whatever’s flying out there.”

“I got hit by some debris,” Sofia reported.

“It did that to you?” asked Jeanie, looking pointedly at the bruises and scrapes that dotted her skin.

“Some,” Sofia murmured almost inaudibly.

No one spoke. The silence grew like a burgeoning force, pressuring against Sofia’s chest, pulling the truth out an inch at a time.

“I was at the stadium,” she croaked, tears streaming anew. “My dad forced me to go there. It was fine for a while. But then…”

All four adults waited, still and silent as a windless winter day.

“I met a guy. Jax.” She sniffed. “He was really nice at first. And I talked to him a lot. I possibly led him to think–”

As her words trailed into nothingness, Jeanie’s jaw clenched, the muscles rippling across her cheeks. Nora and Terrance exchanged quick glances.

“Anyway, he tried to…but I got away. After a while.” Sofia reached up to wipe away tears, but gasped in sudden pain.

“What’s wrong?” Nora asked, smoothly moving to the ambulance’s rear.

“My shoulder hurts so bad,” Sofia sobbed. “I fell outside and I–I can’t move it. It’s agonizing.”

“May I examine it?”

Sofia motioned her agreement as she attempted to stifle her cries.

Nora moved her fingertips over the joint, careful not to press too hard. “It’s dislocated,” she stated matter-of-factly. “We’ll have to pop it back into place.”

“What? How?” Sofia exclaimed, her voice high and laced with panic.

“Can’t you give her anything?” Asked Jeanie anxiously.

“Yeah, we can,” Terrance said, settling beside his partner. Injection or capsule? Your choice. Pill will take longer to work.”

“A shot,” she ground through clenched teeth.

The EMTs moved with smooth grace in a dance they had performed countless times before. Terrance drew up a small quantity of clear liquid into a syringe, swabbed Sofia’s other arm with cool alcohol, and plunged the needle in, emptying the pain reliever into her muscle.

Jeanie, can you move to the front so Sofia can lie down?” Nora asked. She quickly jumped up and hurried away.

“Sofia, please lie back,” Nora said firmly yet gently. Once Sofia settled onto the bench, Nora reached for her right arm, extending it over her head.

Sofia hissed in sudden pain, and Nora offered her a sympathetic glance, but she kept moving the arm up, over, and behind her. Reaching under the girl’s neck, she grabbed her hand and pulled it steadily opposite the injured shoulder.

A loud pop emanated from Sofia’s joint, and her sharp scream ripped through the humid air.