The eight-foot alligator had disappeared beneath the sea’s debris-littered surface. Empty soda bottles, plastic bags, and random household objects bumped against one another in the light current.

Fitz pulled his dangling leg onto the raft and observed their surroundings with a narrowed gaze. “Did you see where it went?”

“No,” Marcus quavered. “What the hell is it doing here? Is that normal?” He glanced at Matty, who perched excitedly on the kayak’s edge. “Sit back, bud.”

Matty scowled in his direction, but obeyed.

“Gators will follow a surge,” Fitz said. “So yeah, it’s not rare. Just…unfortunate.”

“Hey!” An unfamiliar deep voice rang through the air.

Marcus wiped at his sweaty forehead with a damp sleeve as he searched for the sound’s source.

“Up here!”

Marcus craned his neck and saw a large man standing on the pitched gray roof of a single-story home. He wore a stained red T-shirt and pajama bottoms and his dark skin shone in the sun that had peeked through the clouds. Behind him, a woman in a light purple robe huddled with two small children, and a teenage boy wearing a dirty white tank top and baggy black shorts stood and walked toward them.

“Where you goin’?” asked T-shirt.

“We’re trying to get this family to a hospital. We have some injured folks,” Fitz said. “Y’all have enough water?”

“No,” spat Baggy Shorts. “Take us with you.”

“Sorry, kid, we barely fit on this thing as it is,” Fitz answered as he gestured to the makeshift boat.

“Screw that, bruh. We ain’t stayin’ here. We ain’t got nothin’.”

Fitz glanced at Marcus. “Paddle faster,” he said under his breath.

Pulse quickening, Marcus followed the direction.

“We’ll send someone for you as soon as we find solid ground, son,” Fitz said.

“You’re a goddamn LIAR!”

T-shirt frowned at Baggy Shorts and muttered something inaudible.

“Shut up! They just gonna leave us here!” the teen yelled in retort. “They goin’ to help like the government came through after Katrina? You a goddam idiot if you think that, cuz.”

“Stop it, Shawn!’ yelled Purple Robe.

Shawn waved a hand behind his back, dismissing her.

Fitz and Marcus continued to row. Bella and Matty swiveled their small faces to each speaker, entranced by the conflict. Esme breathed raggedly; eyes closed in concentration against the pain.

“What should we do?” Marcus asked Fitz.

“Move on as fast as possible. You can’t save a drowning man if he drowns you first.”

A loud splash erupted behind them, and both men spun around. Shawn broke through the surface and spotted them. Immediately, he swam their way.

“Kid, get out of the water NOW!” roared Fitz.

Shawn didn’t answer. “Come back here!” Purple Robe screamed from the roof.

“We saw a gator close by!” Fitz yelled.

“Oh Jesus,” T-shirt cried and pressed his palms against his cheeks in dismay.

Shawn continued to swim hard toward the raft, oblivious to the conversation or the threat.

“What should we do?” Marcus asked.

Fitz chewed on his cheek, brow furrowed. “We’ve got to help him. He was safe on the roof, but in the water he could die.”

“He could also kill my family trying to climb onto this boat.”

The firefighter ran his gaze over Esme and the children. But when he opened his mouth to speak, a scream split the air, dissipating like a candle snuffed out.

In stunned silence, everyone stared at the spot Shawn had been—where now only ripples molded the surface.

Gentle rain pattered against the cube-shaped monitor as it beeped steadily with Carol’s heart rhythm. A clear plastic mask covered her mouth and nose. It blocked the falling droplets and delivered a steady stream of oxygen. Nora and Terrance each gripped one side of the wheeled stretcher and pushed it through the inch of standing water.

Everyone in their party walked quickly to keep up, following the monitor’s electronic announcements like a beacon. Every few minutes, Mike called out, “How’s she doing?” And each time, Nora answered, “No change.”

The clouds above were thinning, and the daylight grew brighter by the minute. With each hurried step, an invisible vice squeezed tighter around Sofia’s ribs. A buzzing in her ears intensified, and she struggled to organize a cohesive thought.

Out of nowhere, a memory assaulted her mind.

Jax kicked her abdomen, and Sofia cried out in agony. She curled into a ball, gripping her stomach with clawed fingers. 

Sofia shook her head to fling the echo away. Jeanie glanced at her; brow furrowed.

“Are you keeping up okay?” Jeanie asked.

“Yeah, I guess.”

“Let me know if…” Jeanie trailed off, the offer pointless. None of us will have a break anytime soon. But, she slowed to match Sofia’s pace.

“Hold on!” said Nora suddenly.

“What? Is she okay?” Mike demanded.

“I don’t like that pulse. Check Carol’s pressure again,” said Nora. Terrance ensured the cuff still surrounded Carol’s biceps and pressed the monitor screen to take a reading.

The next kick clipped her shoulder and knocked her out of the fetal position. Sofia’s arms flailed outward as a sharp pain lanced down her arm.

Sofia whimpered quietly, and Jeanie stepped closer to the girl.

“I’ve got 83 over 55,” Terrance said.

“Shit,” said Nora. “Did you bring any bolus bags?”

“Yeah—a liter, you think?”

“Yes, wide open.”

“What are you saying?” asked Mike through sobs.

“Her blood pressure’s low,” Terrance explained. “We’ll put some fluid in her IV–fast–to boost it. She’s still ok.”

Mike declined to answer.

Sofia dashed up the stairs, but Jax grabbed her ankle and yanked her down. Her face slammed against the hard concrete, and Sofia felt her lip split.

“Let’s keep moving,” said Nora.

“No,” Sofia murmured.

“Did you say something, sweetie?” Jeanie asked.

“I can’t. I can’t do it.”

“What’s she saying?” asked Nora impatiently.

“I. CAN’T. GO. BACK,” Sofia bellowed.

“We’ll be there, hon. We can keep you safe,” Jeanie said, eyes welling with empathetic tears.

“You can’t. He’ll get me. Somehow.”

“Listen, kid, we have to help Carol. Which means we have to head out. Immediately,” Nora urged.

Rough hands ran over her body as Jax straddled her waist. He laughed. The low rumble sharpened her terror. She tried to squirm away, but he had her pinned.

Jeanie touched Sofia’s arm. Jolted into the present, Sofia turned and dashed to a side street.

“Hey!” yelled Terrance.

“Go on,” said Jeanie. “I’ll find her and we’ll follow later.”

“I don’t love this,” said Nora.

“We have no other options,” Jeanie said, jogging awkwardly after the girl.

Editor: Lucy Cafiero