Something to hope for

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“Peter…” Iyaz’s eyes were wide and wild. His entire body tensed, throat tightening and he couldn’t seem to swallow. He turned his head again. Spinning, as if a new angle might enable him to hear better.

“It’s Peter. It’s him. I swear it.” He blinked. Looking at Dani and yet not really seeing them. He finally managed to swallow. His eyes finally focusing on Dani, pulled back from his faraway look by the present. If it weren’t for Dani’s question Iyaz might have never moved or run straight toward the fog. “Peter is- I don’t know if I mentioned him, he’s my fiancé.” 

Iyaz, or course, could have sworn he told everyone on the island about Peter by now. Peter came up naturally in his everyday conversation. Like Tomas and his Libby. Except his conversations with Dani were always focused on other things. The importance of rest, work around  the island, even today. It was mind boggling to him that in that time Peter had not come up, mind boggling and guilty. That Peter could slip from his life like that, without notice, as more islands slipped in. 

‘Yaz. Yaz where are you. I can’t see anything.’

“There!” Iyaz perked up. “There it is again. I know it’s him it’s his voice.” Iyaz reached out to grab hold of Dani’s arm. Tugging them forward. “He’s here. Lost in the labyrinth. We have to find him.”

~~~

Dani’d never seen Iyaz look like this and they weren’t quite sure what to do. They were coming to realize that with the whole doctor-thing and good-advice-giving-thing, they’d kinda put Iyaz up on a pedestal and weren’t quite sure how to get him down again or offer any kind of comfort. Who was Peter? Should they ask? Or would that make it worse? It unsettled them to see Iyaz so discombobulated and they weren’t exactly on sure-footing about that. 

But they did know the Labyrinth and had to say something. 

“It’s not.” Dani said softly but they could tell Iyaz was somewhere or some time else. The surprise came when Iyaz seemed to pull himself back out of it and refocus on Dani and their surroundings. “Fiancé?” Dani blinked for a few moments trying to wrap that around their head. Iyaz had said ‘him’. As in, two same-gender people. Getting married? Openly? 

Suddenly, they wanted to jump in the fog and find this miraculous other person too. Shit. Had things changed that much? 

Before Dani could comment on any of that - Iyaz was perking up and reaching out again, clearly hearing something Dani couldn’t and fuck, they didn’t want to do this. Would it be kinder to let Iyaz try for a bit? Or would it just be worse knowing Dani’d let him go on a fool’s errand? Biting down on their lip, they tried to weigh the options quickly, but none of their options were kind, and there just wasn’t time.

“Iyaz.” They started softly…”This is the Labyrinth.”

Maybe that wasn’t making sense to the plane-survivors. “I’m so sorry. There is no boat. No light. No people to match to the voices. It’s all tricks. Illusion. I know you don’t want to hear it but … there’s ghosts all around me. People I’ve loved. People I’ve hated. People I’ve lost…they’re all here. You can’t hear them but I can just the way you can hear your Peter but I can’t. It’s meant to draw you into the woods - into the water - anywhere away from us and safety. Please don’t let it.”

—

Unfortunately, Luke left the tough vine he uses as rope back at the cave, thinking he wouldn’t need it today. In his defense, he is not a goddamn fortuneteller and didn’t know he would need rope to tie people down from drowning themselves. “The fishing guy?” He repeats, raising a brow at that title. He does go fishing often and brings smoked fish to the Farm these days, but he didn’t know people called him the fishing guy. Didn’t even know people talked about him when he is not around. “…I guess? I’d say nice to meet you, Dani, but today’s not exactly the best day for meetin’ new people, huh.” 

After the wrestling and carrying someone out (they put up a fight, kicking and screaming), Luke just leads them away from the sounds of wave as much as possible. He grumbles as he drops their captive, “yeah, yeah, go fuck yourself too.” He then taps Dani on their shoulder to move away. 

Catching his breath as they walk, Luke rubs at the stomach he just got kicked in. That’s gonna leave a bruise. “Well, I’m all ears.” He looks back at Dani since he is fresh out of ideas– if you don’t count just bonking people in their heads until they stop running around like a headless chicken. “You can do that?” He asks. Though he is not sure how strong seagrass rope would be, but it’s better than nothing. “Honestly? I’d burn that bridge when we get to it. Gettin’ tied up defenseless is better than possibly drownin’. And I can probably find them once the fog clears up.” Luke points out, going over to the mass of seaweed or whatever they were, trying to help Dani in any way he can. “So, seaweed rope, what d’you need? Anything I can do?” 

~~~

Was he not? It’s possible Dani got the names confused but they were fairly certain it was an L-name. “I think so? I was trying to spear-fish and it wasn’t the best of days and people who walked by kept telling me to talk to you. Or would reassure me that you existed and fish would actually be caught so I could maybe stop trying. For the fishes benefit or mine or both - I’m not sure.” The memory drew a slight smile that only grew at the observation. “It’s been pretty 50/50 for me today. Didn’t know there was so many new people still left to meet but thanks for being on the nice half.”

At least so far. 

Dani moved as directed before tilting their head slightly at the question. How else did these people get rope-like things if they couldn’t find the good vines? You had to make it. Then again, there were all sorts of contraptions they’d never seen before that likely fell out of the sky along with the plane. Why wouldn’t rope be part of that? They’d never been on a plane. Maybe it was how people stayed in it. Who knew. But they just nodded before Luke made a good point. The fog would lift at some point and they could come back and undo anyone who hadn’t been able to undo themselves. 

Having a plan felt better and they glanced over at Luke at the offer to help before trying to find something small or helpful for him to do. “Have a seat. Watch. It’ll go quicker if we can both get some going - it’s not very hard, promise.” Dani started by cutting a large pile of the seagrass before splitting it into two - then two again, switching half and lying that bundle in front of Luke before doing the same to their own. They grabbed a smaller section, tied a knot in the bottom before looking over to see if Luke was following before separating the reminding part in two and then twisting them both in the same direction and paying close attention to the coils being as close to the same as they could before they started to overlap. “See. Easy.” Then before the end was reached, they just grabbed a handful more grass to twist into the ends to splice into it and continuing like that until it looked like feasibly enough “rope” for one person then tied another knot on the bottom and grinned. “Ta da.” 

❦

The bickering of Eddie and Helen went unnoticed by No. She remained intent on the living ghost in front of her rather than the phantoms.

Magnolia shook her head, a tear sliding glacially slow down her cheek. “No, baby, they aren’t real. They’re ghosts now, just ghosts.” Eddie’s brow furrowed like it always did when he didn’t quite get something and he tilted his head back and forth as if the movement might jostle the thoughts just right for them to fit into place. He started to fade at the edges, his grip on No’s sleeve loosening and she vainly wanted to help him hold on.

Magnolia took a step forward, closing the gap between her and Dani. Carving away the weight of years and the shape of age, the image of a child took shape in her mind’s eye. Apple-cheeked and anguished and eager to please. Dani, Daniele, a child she intended to fold into her household so they would be safe and loved.

“I see ghosts,” she finally replied and shook free of Eddie completely who dissolved into the Fog. “Eddie, a boy I raised, a boy who wasn’t too bright but was built by God to be a big brother. He inspired all the children to call me Mrs. Beau. I see Helen, a little girl who would have won Olympic gold if hiding behind legs were a sport.” Tentatively, as though they were made of glass, Magnolia reached up to cup Dani’s cheeks with both her hands as she must have done hundreds of times when they were small. The planes of their face were foreign to her now, but their eyes grew familiar the longer she looked. Memory, assaultive and hugging, swept back to her. “Dani. You were five, weren’t you? Rosemary would drag you around by your hand or your sleeve, even more than the other children. She’d call you Danilion for the flower. There were no families good enough for you and so you kept coming back. I’d set you on my hip and tried to make the world make sense. Didn’t I?”

Another tear joined the first, wetting the other cheek now. Her one comfort on Meridium had been that her daughter had never been trapped alongside her, yet she never considered the other children under her name. She’d thought them safe from whatever magnetism had a habit of drawing people related to each other to the island. It was too late to offer condolences, too late to offer comfort against the cruelties of the island. Just too late.

She let her hands fall from their cheeks. “Then I disappeared. I never thought any of you would join us here. You were a ghost, too.”

~~~

Dani wasn’t sure where to look or what to think until Eddie slipped away ripping open a wound Dani hadn’t even even known existed before the shock of Magnolia’s words suspended everything. Breath, thought, feeling, reality as they knew it - all of it was lost to them - until her touch brought it all back and more. Well-fortified walls Dani’d maintained for several decades shattered at their feet as they listened to impossible words that had them swaying slightly towards previously unattainable comfort. The type of comfort they’d thought was gone forever as they’d not allowed anyone else to get this close to them again.

There was no beginning to decipher the well of emotions rising up in them and they did nothing to stop it even when it threatened to spill over onto their cheeks. “You remember?” Dani whispered. So many years. So many children. Dani was a drop in a rainstorm and yet - here she was, still treating them like they were something worthy instead of something broken and in need of correction. Another sharp pang came at Rosemary’s name that was immediately followed by some hesitation to break eye contact from No in case they found her to be the next ghost to join this trip down memory lane. 

They weren’t sure they could handle that. 

But yes.

Danilion. 

They’d forgotten about that but the memory drew a genuine smile out of them until the rest of the sentence brought back the harsh reminder that they’d been born already built wrong for this world. And all these years later - they still felt that way - but they just nodded in confirmation while irrationally wishing that they could be picked up again because that was the last time anything really made sense. 

“You did.” 

Their own tears spilled over as she pulled back taking her touch with her and dear Lord, they had to get a grip. There were ghosts and fog and …. no time for this. Except for how maybe there was all the time for this. “I don’t know what to say.” Dani said finally with a little shrug. “There’s so many thoughts in my head but they’re all jumbled. I’m happy to see you. But also not because that means you’ve been here and I - I can’t imagine what it’s been like for you. Or Rosemary. And I’m relieved because well, we thought we did something to finally drive you off like so many of us had would-be families and I…”

God. This was mortifying. They’ve been an adult longer than most of the new islanders had been alive and knew better now but yet…these emotions didn’t tend to respond well to adult rationalizations. “I think I held on to that.” They realized now. They’d really thought that even Miss Beau had eventually deemed them returnable and given up - which had done her a massive disservice. She hadn’t deserved that and neither had they. “I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you sooner.” Dani’d carried her words, her touch, her presence over the years but had begun to lose sight of her exact face and voice until tonight. “I hadn’t forgotten about you…just…the details of what you’d looked like had gotten blurry and I…I thought you would have aged...but you musta been here for quite some time.” Enough to build a house and waves and waves of sorrow - on both sides. 

But it still was struggling to click.

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“Thick, love. Er-” Iyaz smile tightened at the corners as he pulled a face, quick to elaborate. “I mean the fog is thick. Like pea soup. It’s a figure of speech, a simile. Not you- but no matter.” Iyaz was quick to clap his hand happily to Dani’s back again. “We have a plan, yeah? Hugs will come after.”

That he didn’t elaborate on the plan yet wasn’t such a big deal to Iyaz. That could wait till he saw what they were working with. This would leave Dani in the dark only for a little while, and they seemed tied up in their own thoughts as well. “Markers, as it limbs, tools, anything we can stick in the ground to mark the way. We’ll see what we have when we get to the orchard proper.” Iyaz put one hand on Dani’s shoulder. Letting them take lead as he’d gently plod along behind them. “And so kind of you to say I’m brilliant, always nice to be recognized. Course it’s a bit better if it’s louder and in front of others, but I suppose there’s always time for that later.” 

He snorted at his own dry remark, teasing bravado meant to be more rakish than obnoxious. Though how Dani would take it was anyone’s guess. The both of them would have plenty of time to distract themselves from jokes, whether or not they landed, by how busy setting up a kind of leading trail back to the farm. Transporting food and medicine here and there. The night dragged on as they worked and light of day bled away Iyaz swore the noise got louder, clearer.

‘Yaz, Yaz where are you? I heard you? Are you here?’

Iyaz head snapped to attention. Head pointed to the way he and Dani worked out earlier pointed directly to the jungle. He sputtered before he got any words out, heart catching in his throat, because the voice he heard he could swear was Peter. His mouth went dry.

“Dani. Dani did you hear that?”

~~~

Oh. That made sense now. The fog did feel thick even though it wasn’t but, “more like…boiled smashed potatoes.” Dani teased. Or clouds. This is probably what walking in the clouds would feel like. That sounded a little fanciful even to their own thoughts so they let the figures of speech go before brightening slightly. Hugs came after plans? That was one way to gain motivation and focus. Well played, Iyaz.

Dani’d been trying to think of strings or clothes tied together or something to make a long strand back to the farm but that was brilliant, too. Tree limbs and things that could be spaced out but still easily followed - even in the fog. Iyaz’s brand of humor was beginning to sink in for Dani so they just grinned and tossed an amused look over their shoulder at the mock-directive before nodding. “Mmmhmm. I’ll keep that in mind as we had back to the beach.”

Things got quieter as they worked and Dani was getting a little braver and scavenging a little further to bring back more things for the trail until the sun began to sink. Dani couldn’t explain why they drew closer to Iyaz or why every nerve lit up in their body but the fact the fog had seemed to only thicken despite the sun’s rays all day seemed to promise nothing good overnight. They kept carrying what they could - until Iyaz’s words drew them to pause and tilt their head.

They could hear much more than they’d like.

Trembling slightly after a few moments of listening, they just gave a little shrug before remembering the fog and blowing out an exhale. “Think you might need to be a bit more specific.” Dani stated instead. “M’hearing all sorts of things now. What did you hear?”

☁︎︎☽☀︎︎☾☁︎︎

‘I’m staying… I’ve got you.’ The sweet words echoed through Lark’s head as he faded, permeating his unconscious. In his sleep, Lark lived out the dream that plagued so many nights here — the memory of falling off the ship, Elias reaching out to him, hitting the water. Only this time, instead of everything going black as the water took him, he slipped beneath the waves to find the burning light of the sun refracted down through the shimmering surface of the ocean. Another figure reached out to him from the light and he reached back, his hand making a home in theirs. Dani pulled him out of the water and onto the banks of Meridium, but the fear and sorrow, that came when he’d first washed ashore in reality, weren’t present this time. The grief of loss lingered only as a distant hum as opposed to a screaming ring in his ears. In place of all that turmoil, there was hope, wrapped around him in a warm embrace and then…

A tug at his fingers and a pull of his arm stirred him to waking. His eyelids fluttered open, leaden and languid. It took a moment for him to remember where he was and who he was with, but once he did, settling back in came naturally. He noticed Dani facing the doorway, body tense and alert, so he rested a hand on their shoulder and tenderly rubbed the crook of their neck with his thumb. Leaning his head beside where his hand was, he whispered, “Hey… everything okay?”

The voices in the air were clearer now, more disorienting… familiar even. With the way Dani seemed so on the defensive, Lark worried about the level to which the horrid sounds might be terrorizing them. He ran a hand in soft strokes against their back, hoping to help ease their anxiety. When he gathered the energy to move a little more, he propped himself up to look at them and get a better read on what might be troubling them. 

It took a moment for his eyes to fully adjust to the darkness, but once they did, and the features of the person laying beside him sharpened, he froze in total awe. He knew he’d fallen asleep beside Dani and he thought that was who he was trying to comfort right now. But, by some strange Meridium magic, somehow he’d woken up tangled with the person he’d doubted he’d ever get the chance to hold again.

Elias.

A million thoughts battled for the spotlight in his mind. There was no denying the impact Dani had on him, especially with their recent appearance in his dream. It all seemed to point toward his heart betraying itself. Looking into Elias’s eyes now, it was hard not to feel a twinge of guilt. Still, at the same time… this was incredible. An impossible miracle that he didn’t quite know what to do with. What happened to Dani? Did they leave after Lark fell asleep? How did Elias get here? Had he been with Elias this whole time in the real world and everything of the island was all just an elaborate dream?

So many thoughts and so many more questions. The only thing certain was how good it was to see Elias’s face again, to get another chance to memorize all of his features, even if it wouldn’t last. Speechless, he moved his hand to their face, half-expecting it to phase straight through the apparition, elated to find skin meeting warm skin. Overwhelmed by surprise, he let out a small, breathless laugh. His voice returning to him, he murmured, “You’re here…” 

He took their face with both hands now and pressed his forehead to theirs, blissful relief swathed every inch of his body, “I can’t believe it, you’re really here. You are really here aren’t you? Or am I still dreaming? If I am, don’t let me wake up.” 

Ooops. Dani hadn’t meant to disturb Lark but the movement in the corner of their eye was back - stealing their gaze before they could reassure Lark everything was fine and to go back to sleep. Barely breathing, they watched the shed, scanning over and over through the dark, but after another minute or two - they had to concede defeat for the moment. Whatever was there was no longer dancing closer with Lark’s whisper breaking the silent night. Which should be a good thing but Dani still felt wildly unsettled. So, Lark’s touch while unexpected was much welcomed to soothe nerves Dani hadn’t even realized had gotten as frayed as they had. They wanted to turn, to melt into it, to go back to how it was just moments ago but they couldn’t.

Knots had begun forming in their stomach to the point of near-cramping and everything just felt wrong. But Dani didn’t have anything to explain why they felt that way and even more importantly, they didn’t want to distress Lark anymore than they already were. So, they shut their eyes briefly, forced out the voices, and turned to finally make eye contact with an adorably sleepy Lark. 

“I don’t know.” Dani admitted quietly. “I hope so.”

The sweeping touch was oddly effective at lowering their shoulders and encouraging deeper breaths so Dani focused on that for a long moment and ended up missing the change that came over Lark until there was a hand on their face. Startling, they turned, mouth half-open to inquire what but then Lark let out a strange laugh and was suddenly close - too close - with words that didn’t make sense. 

“I didn’t go anywhere?” Dani tried. “You just…” Lark’d just been talking to them? Had they hit their head? Had the…was this the fog? The voices? Had a voice gotten inside Lark? Shit, was this a ghost? 

“Of course, I’m here. I told you that you wouldn’t be alone?”

Was this a weird dream? Should Dani try to wake them up? Lark was asking them not to but maybe that was all the more reason they should? Did Dani ask more questions? Would Lark even hear them? 

Oooo, was this that -

Fuck. What was that called?

It was a sleep thing. Like sleepwalking but…different. 

Terrors?

Was this a night terror?

What did you do for night terrors? 

“Lark? Can you hear me? Maybe you are dreaming...” 

A particularly unwelcome voice was still in their ear though and Dani had to revise that. “Maybe I’m dreaming.” 

Or they both were.

“How do we wake up?”

Was all of this a dream? Had the Labyrinth cast a spell via pollen or something that knocked them all out? That...that almost made more sense than fog with voices and not-quite tangible ghosts. 

Privately, Dani was more shocked there was only one body in the sand after the fog and chaos of the day before but given how much Kimiko’s loss still affected them - they could absolutely empathize with the shock and grief all around them. They’d stayed on the outskirts of the gathering, mostly not feeling like it was their place to be, but also still a little too discombobulated from the various experiences of the night before to wander too far. They weren’t entirely sure they’d picked up and locked up their own pieces enough yet to be of assistance to anyone else but they also … didn’t want to be alone yet either. 

So, they eventually picked a spot closer to the tree-line and set up camp with their back safely against a tree, pockets full of fruit for anybody who looked like they could use some substance, and a kettle full of hot water for tea-brewing with a few options depending on what one found comforting (florals, mints, or fruits). 

They’d settled on mint for themselves and had just begun blowing across the top of the steaming mug when the caught sound of footsteps headed their way had them instinctively freezing. Shaking it off, -safe they were safe here- they looked up and found a newly-familiar face walking past them. Dani thought for a minute of just letting them go but…maybe nobody should really be alone today. 

===***===

“Is it okay that you sealed that plant up in my leg?” Marcus interrupted before Tomas had a chance to answer Dani, and he gave a brief, irritated grunt. 

“I’m not gonna patch you up in a way that’ll cause me more grief down the road, Marcus,” Tomas said. “The bandage sap will wear away in about two days and your wound healing is going to push out the plant naturally. It’ll just keep things clean and keep it from festering in the meanwhile. Okay? Now we gotta go. Behave yourself.”

Picking up, Tomas tugged Dani’s sleeve, saying, “C’mon, let’s see who else we can find who needs tending. Seems like the whole place is littered with them.”

They shuffled along in the sand – the safest way to navigate the ever-thickening fog, Tomas declared – and he pondered Dani’s question. “I’m not averse to hunkering down! We’ve got the best place on the island to hole up in right up towards the hill. The farm’s more or less fortified, full of food, the hill’s a vantage point should this ever-fucking fog actually clear, there’s worse places to be.”

But almost as soon as he finished saying that, Tomas heaved a heavy sigh. “I don’t know. There’s a case to be made for just about any course of action right now, don’t you think? Bunker up, or keep moving, or concentrate on other people.” 

It wasn’t time for another honk from the hell-horn again, but the beam of light moved – maybe? or it just seemed that way? – and Tomas frowned, looking out at it. “Anything but trying to get out to that boat-that-isn’t. I don’t even want to start trying to puzzle out what it is for real.”

~~~

Dani’s brow furrowed at the man’s disgruntled question more out of confusion of what else could possibly be used to seal up a leg wound that could get infected and kill him before remembering these were likely newcomers to the island who weren’t used to…resorting to what was. He’d learn. They all did eventually - well, the ones that survived anyway. Dani wouldn’t put much of their faith in that one being one of the survivors but they’d been surprised before. 

Go? 

Tuning back in, Dani stood at the tug and gave a quick nod. Yes. Tending to. That Dani knew how to do. Not exactly with Tomas’ tools but it brought a deep sense of relief to be useful again even if they were going to learn on the fly. Tomas’ quip that he would be open to hunkering down surprised them but he had a good point. The farm was easily defendable, had food, and was away from the trees and water which could only be a bonus - especially in the fog. “That’s true.” Dani allowed…but the point remained Tomas was here on the beach tending to the desperate souls and not up in that perfectly fortified farm. 

Deciding to let it go, they just made an agreeable noise at the given observation. This seemed just as futile as going back would but with just enough altruism to take themselves out of their own heads for a bit. Dani would argue this was the more appealing course at the moment but being this close to the water left them uneasy. They didn’t want to be anywhere near the beach when darkness fell. They didn’t know why or if it was even rational but they’d retreat before then. 

“It’s just the Labyrinth.” Dani offered with a little shrug. “Lots of …” What was the word? Tricks but visual ones. “Illusions! Lots of illusions in there. Although…not usually with such loud sound. That’s an unwanted improvement.” 

Frowning, they took their chance to tug at Tomas’ sleeve and guide them towards one of theirs. Dani’d hoped against hope that the “jungle people” would have known better but … apparently not. “Hey.” Dani greeted quietly as they kneeled down next to her. “S’just me. This is Tomas. Have you met him yet? He’s a good guy. Is it okay if we look at your head? And your hands?” Dani wasn’t sure how the injuries occurred - maybe she dove into too shallow water - but she was cradling her hands to her chest and doing nothing to get the hair out of her face. 

Still, they waited for a nod before gently reaching out to move aside some of the long locks and offer a small smile. “Hi there.” 

Dani had pastes and salves made that could relieve pain but they didn’t know if Tomas had a better way of assess or relieving pain so they deferred back. “Usually, I look first -“ Dani said quietly. “To see if a break is there. Then try to lightly feel. Ask if they can move fingers…but its usually pretty painful. If they can’t - I use sticks and vines to stabilize it with salves for comfort. Do you have a better way?” 

❦

Walking the sands of Meridium, cast into unfamiliar view by the fog and the ruthless voices, Magnolia tried not to listen, tried not to let the old, wretched hope whittle its way back into her head again at the sound of old friends, confidantes, and allies. It was a losing battle and at the nearby sound of child’s laughter, she raised her gaze expecting to see Rosemary again. Her daughter had been ducking in and out of the fog for hours now, a child one moment, a distantly familiar adult the next.

It was not her daughter, but another little girl once entrusted to Magnolia. Helen. Beside her another familiar figure who had stumbled their way into one of her homes only recently. Dani turned towards her, melting in what appeared to be relief only to crumple into denial and fear again. What they saw on her face she didn’t know, but the persistent want to comfort them, the desire she’d felt the moment they’d first wandered, overwhelmed and weary, to her homestead rekindled.

“Kiddo?” she called gently, approaching with slow steps, wary of any madness that had encroached into their head. She already bore the bruises of other people’s fears. “Dani, I know it’s scary, but it’ll be okay. It’ll all pass.”

Dani’s eyes fell past her and Magnolia froze and turned on instinct, only to see another figure, too. Edmund, a tall pocked faced boy made of all gangly limbs and hyper confidence. He’d been among the first children ever dropped at the orphanage, but he kept coming back over and over, sabotaging the homes he was placed in because he always wanted to return. He became the big brother and minder to many other children who passed through the doors.

“Mrs. Beau!” he cawed, bounding like foal to her side and latching on to her arm. Her head told her to shake him off, to heed Dani’s fearful repetition of not real, but her heart couldn’t push the boy away. Could never. “Knew I’d see ye soon, I told them-the other kids, I did tell them. Right?” Edmund looked up to Dani. “Tell her, Helen, I told her!”

Magnolia’s eyes stung and she patted the boys cheek, glancing only briefly to Dani in apology for engaging with something surely they were unable to see. “You did, Eddie, you did so well to tell them.” The boy beamed, toothy and proud. “I’ll always be coming back. Always.”

Edmund cawed again, this time in exuberant laughter. “Right o’, you will! Helen was all teary eyed when you left, sorry to say. Dani wasn’t much better, were you, Dani, you were all upset like. Just like a baby.”

Too caught by the phantom boy, the child she’d schooled into near adulthood, repeating her promise to always return to them with such confidence, Magnolia didn’t catch what he’d said right away. Edmund had called to Dani, had said their name just as he had Helen’s. That couldn’t be right, it shouldn’t be possible. Laboriously she dragged her gaze from Edmund to Dani, her throat thick and heart thudding. “Dani?” she asked, voice just a croak. It couldn’t be them, it just couldn’t be. Not after a hundred years, not here.  “Who are you seeing?”

~~~

Dani knew that voice too but she was real so they tried to physically shake the fog’s tricks out of their mind before opening their eyes again and attempting to find Magnolia in the fog. “No?” Dani hadn’t recognized the many similarities between No and the Miss Beau in their head until right now…likely because they hadn’t thought about any of this in lifetimes. And doubly likely that they were just somehow continuing to hallucinate. Maybe there was something in the fog. Or maybe they’d stomped on or somehow consumed some very ill-advised fungi. Unfortunately, the presence of a very real person did nothing to dispel Helen or Eddie’s presence or said hallucination but… “It’ll pass.” Dani repeated. “It’ll pass.” Yes. Wait. What ‘it’? Could No see the little girl? Could she see Eddie? Was that possible? 

Their brow furrowed but before they could get another word out - Eddie was greeting No like Mrs. Beau and he musta seen the similarities too but that wasn’t - that couldn’t be - this was just the fog. Stay grounded, Dani. Don’t - their heart literally lurched in their chest as the familiar-but-long-lost cadence of home spilt into the fog around them. Helen was up now, pushing past Dani slightly to huff at Eddie. “How we s’ppose to know what’s what when ye talk all the time. Right, Dani?”

Little Helen had a grip on their pants now, half-defiantly peeking out to mouth off at Eddie and half still so shy in the presence of adults. Without thinking much of it, Dani let their hand fall on her hair, gently moving back the cooper curls before everything froze. No saw Eddie. No not only saw Eddie - she … she…the puzzle pieces were all dangling right in front of them but they couldn’t get them to fit together. This didn’t make sense. What was happening? Was No not really here? Was someone else there and the fog was just playing tricks? This had to be a trick?

A damn good trick.

No’s words were spot-on to so many buried conversations in their past but then the fog was drawing them back in with Eddie’s familiar teasing and Helen’s indignant shriek at their knee - in fact, they almost slipped right back into familiar dynamics before catching themselves. They were an adult now. This wasn’t real. 

But the feelings were.

Dani’d been used to goodbyes. To disappearances. To good things not lasting…but Miss Beau and Rosemary? Dani’d fought it for as long as they could but they’d well earned Dani’s trust and belief in them, their words, and actions. So, Dani’d not been even remotely prepared for those words and beliefs to blow up in their face and instead reinforce their suspicion that the world was not to be trusted and people would always walk away from them after Miss Beau left one day and never came back. 

Out of everyone, Dani thought she would have told them goodbye.

Even now, their eyes grew misty at the memory so they just shook their head in agreement. They hadn’t been any better then Helen. Worse, in fact, because Helen didn’t have nearly as many years of disappointment and rage looking for an outlet and coming out in ways that Dani couldn’t predict or resist until it sent them on a one-way ticket out of New York. 

Half caught in the past, Dani drew his gaze from Eddie to Miss Bea- No at her words before shrugging. “Ghosts.” They tried. “Ghosts from a long long time ago.” Flushing, they realized their hand was still resting over Helen’s head so they quickly pulled it back despite the grumpy yank of a pant leg that got them. Helen’s dislike of their answer was only growing so they gave in before she made herself as known as Eddie somehow did. “Kids I grew up. Helen and Eddie. You um, you look a lot like someone we knew once. I don’t know what you’re seeing or hearing because this - this can’t be real, right? They’re talking to you but - but you - you can’t - what are you seeing?” 

There was really something seriously wrong with Dani that they’d hope No was seeing other ghosts who were saying other things than even consider that somehow… somehow the one good adult in their life could somehow be here. That this was the end of the mystery and that Mrs. Beau’s disappearance really hadn’t at all been somehow their fault. They hadn’t known what else to do but blame each other and themselves. If they’d tried harder, gotten returned less, done more chores, complained less, ate more vegetables…maybe she would have stayed. 

☁︎︎☽☀︎︎☾☁︎︎

He choked back a surge of emotion and shook his head at their sympathetic apology, “Nothing to be sorry for.” The island had taken him far too long ago for him to still be feeling so desperate to get home. If anything, he felt silly and weak that the loss still felt so new after all these years. He may be a sorry soul, but there really was nothing to be sorry for.

As Dani spoke, Lark felt his heart rate pick up speed in his chest. ‘You’re wonderful and kind and so very special.’ A fluttering in his stomach. ‘I’m glad the water didn’t get you.’ His arms instinctively held them tighter. ‘I appreciate you is what I’m trying to say.’ A part of him wished he could read their mind in this moment, just to know if there was more than simple kindness behind these sentiments. Where this curiousity was coming from, he couldn’t say, only that it was undeniably present. Somewhere deep down, his desires duked it out — the bitterness of wanting to return home to be with Elias again vs. the sweetness of feeling content right here with Dani, in albeit less than ideal circumstances.

He turned his face towards them, cheek grazing their forehead, before resting his lips in an almost-kiss atop their head. They lingered like this suspended in time and relative silence for a while before he replied, “I appreciate you, Dani. And…” he was feeling increasingly awkward and bashful and it was hard to tell if this was simply a side effect of vulnerability or… something else, “I uh… well, I might not always be glad to be on this island, but, right now at least, I’m glad I’m here… with you.”

The light entering the shed had dimmed, night must be drawing near. A large yawn overcame him and the expanse of the day weighed down his eyelids. “It’s getting late.” His body began to slide to the floor, somewhat against his own efforts to stay upright, pulling Dani down with him. Hugging them close to his chest, he laced his fingers with theirs. “If you want to leave and go find the others I understand,” please don’t leave, “but I might try to get some rest and um…” please, “I mean, if you want to stay…” please stay with me, “I wouldn’t mind.”

Could they also hear his heart pounding at his sternum or was it just his attunement picking up on it? He loosened his grip on their hand, but didn’t completely let go incase staying sounded like the better option to them. At the close of his eyelids Lark was no longer thinking of Elias, or stressing about making it home. And, though the whispers still surrounded them, they didn’t bother him. He felt at peace, present, secure, and even… was it happiness or something other? Something close, but different… Maybe these feelings would accompany guilt when he woke, but he didn’t think about that now, he just let the sound of their breaths intertwining lull him into dreaming.

~~~~

Dani wasn’t sure how their words would land or if they were something Lark was even in a place to hear but some of the anxiety disspated as Lark continued to draw them closer instead of shoving them away. Phew. They meant it though. Lark had been the first to show Dani kindness and acceptance despite their rocky mistrustful start to beach life. Dani wouldn’t be where they were now without his influence, patience, and kindness and there’d been no real good way to return those gifts before tonight. When for once, maybe they could be the one that helped for a bit. 

A small shiver ran through their body despite the layers of heat now wrapped around them as Lark moved, somehow getting even closer. It’d been many years since they’d found themselves in such a space and warred between being desperately relieved and absolutely terrified of it. Nobody who’d wrapped Dani up like this before was still alive to repeat the experience despite all their best efforts. But now wasn’t the time to think about it. They were already here. Lark’d be fine. Dani’d be careful. Very careful…but surely…one night would be alright? Especially a night like this with the fog for cover. 

Sighing softly, they turned into the touch a little more just in case it was the last one for another many years until Lark spoke up and again rendered Dani speechless. Lark appreciated them? Dani couldn’t help but peek up and grin a little more. “I’m glad you’re here with me too.” Was it getting late? How could one tell? Dani’d lost all sense of time many hours ago but they supposed it was getting darker. “D’you want me to start a small fire somewhere before it gets dark?” Some people found the flickering flames comforting - but others found them unsettling and Dani wasn’t sure where Lark fell on that. 

Except the world started to tilt and Dani had to swallow down some giggles on the way down because apparently that’s what sleepy Lark felt about that. Not that Dani minded. On the contrary, they rather delighted in being someone’s teddy bear from time to time. Their eyes watched their fingers interlace which made the words a little amusing. Go ahead and go despite both my arms and hands asking you to stay. Wouldn’t it be easier to just…oh. There it was. He could ask. 

“I’m here.” Dani reminded quietly. “I’m staying. Go ahead and close your eyes. I’ve got you.” Maybe Lark would wake up and find this was all just a weird shared bad dream. Maybe the others wouldn’t be too angry with him for giving into the desperation that’d sent so many into the water today. Maybe they’d find themselves in a similar situation with a lighter mood one day.

Maybe, maybe, maybe.

They noticed the loosening of their fingers so they just tightened the grip, shifting closer, and purposefully settling their weight along Lark’s side - physically signaling their presence as much as they could. They’d keep a lookout and make sure Lark could get some rest. It was the only other comfort they could offer besides their continued presence at this point and was still woefully inadequate. 

But here they were.

Dani stayed still, eyes carefully tracking between Lark and the rest of the shed, alert for any signs of unease or sneaky danger. They didn’t trust this fog. And once Lark went lax with sleep - the voices just seemed to get louder and more so after the last rays of sunshine slipped away - now it wasn’t just snippets of words or murmured voices - these were voices and sentences Dani knew. Ghosts of lives long past. 

But just voices.

The shed remained dark.

And Lark thankfully seemed to remain sleeping peacefully. Dani could only hope they were sparing his dreams. Seconds, hours, minutes passed - Dani was fully disoriented to time now - but something moved. Their whole body went rigid, sprung tight and ready to defend Lark with any means necessary, but nothing. No new sounds, no new voices, no sudden movements. Seconds ticked by with the beat of their racing heart until more flashes of movement had unease growing to the point that getting up to double-check the shed was safe and empty was the only option.

ᵒᴼᵒ▫ₒₒ▫ᵒᴼᵒ▫ₒₒ▫ᵒᴼᵒ▫▫·∙∙∙✈

“Okay. Right. Good. Glad you’re doing alright so far.” Iyaz was nodding, surveying as best he could in the fog. Again, it was very hard not to be a doctor. Especially with Dani, the person whom he’d tried to make sure took at least a little bit of a daily rest on the beach. But Dani was an adult, an adult who’d handled themselves in the labyrinth and it wouldn’t do to patronize them now.

“Yeah. Right. Let’s just hope nothing today requires me to describe my big toe in detail because I am literally inches away from missing it completely.” Iyaz also drew closer to Dani. The lack of visibility made him feel somewhat vulnerable, no telling what was out there. There was at least some safety to be found in numbers.

“More people so far than me it seems. I- er- hope they’re all okay.” Okays and alright’s, it all felt so trite and and not enough. There was something wrong on the island, the fog, something calling to them that could even be their chance for rescue. Here they were on the beach minding their business and something was being done to them, and here Iyaz was with empty words of hope the best he could offer. “Fuck me. I feel like an idiot in this pea soup. Stumbling around like a blind giraffe. Not knowing where I’m going in the slightest-” 

Iyaz stopped, almost gaping at Dani. He might be embarrassed if the other could see it but mostly he didn’t care as a smile broke out on his face. “Dani. You’re brilliant. That’s so brilliant. I could kiss you. Or hug you, whatever comes first.” He snorted, feeling some measure of relief for the first time today. “I am a real tit not having thought of that before, counting my steps in one direction. Of course, count on the experts at finding their way through a maze for the tricks getting through this.” 

He clapped a hand against Dani’s back, grin not yet dropping as a corner pulled up more wry. “Yeah. Yeah, two hundred and fifty then.” He looked back behind Dani, as if he could will himself to see the orchard. Impossible, of course, he’d have to do something about his silly bouts of hope that got him nowhere. It was Dani’s selfless intent that pulled him out of that potential spiral into more self-defeating thoughts. 

He blinked and looked down, of course Dani, sweet survivor that already endured so much, was thinking only about helping others. Whatever other emotions they were wrestling with at the moment were completely lost on Iyaz who stood there wetting his lips, looking back and forth as he thought. “Food isn’t so bad. Fresh water would be good too, enough people are exhausting themselves a little bit of energy is needed…” That he’d been one of those very sad and angry people was not lost on him. Iyaz very much doubted that bananas would help that growing turmoil within him, but making a clear path to the farm certainly wouldn’t hurt.

“It would be easier, I think, If we put markers every couple of steps. Probably best to use yours for gauge the markers,  yeah?” He offered the suggestion as his answer. “That is if you don’t mind back tracking a bit to the orchard first and show me the way. I expect it’s easier to find markers there and I’ll be able to grab what I’m looking for before we head out toward the beach. At least with that bloody light you can’t miss the shore.”

~~~

If this situation ever calmed down, Dani made a mental note to remind Iyaz that humor was a very important doctoring-thing because they were feeling loads more stable the longer Iyaz drew out feelings of amusement. The bit about his big toe drew actually audible sounds of momentarily levity before reality came crashing back down. Iyaz hadn’t come across many people? Then again, he was pretty far from the shores so that was probably understandable. “So far so good.” Dani confirmed - there hadn’t been anything too alarming that they’d come across yet.

“The fog looks like pea soup to you?” Wasn’t that green? And like…chunky? Gritty? Dani got caught up in the turn of phrase and was wrinkling their nose before Iyaz broke off mid-sentence and seemed to just be looking at them. What? Was pea soup really popular in Iyaz’s time? Had they caused some sort of offense? Their gaze briefly moved away as they thought they caught the sound of someone else nearby but it was probably nothing so they refocused on Iyaz before double-taking. He was smiling. Why was he smiling? Dani’s brow furrowed slightly as Iyaz began stating they were brilliant. They as in Dani. Dani was brilliant? 

The rest of the words drew another amused sound from them as they shrugged. “I like hugs. But what’d I do?” The steps? That’s what made them brilliant? Oh, boy. Did Dani have things to teach him one day then. “I mean, it’s not…” Dani cut off, uncertain if they should share more if it’d take the smile away again…but safety was important. “The labyrinth moves.” Dani began cautiously. “So sometimes counting helped because if you knew you took seven steps even though the picture around you changed…you could take those seven back and hope you got home. But…I don’t know if - so far the farm hasn’t seemed to move but …” The fog definitely could do some rearranging without their notice. “It’ll probably work.” They decided with a bit more confidence than they actually felt. 

The touch was welcome after the abundance of not-so-friendly ones that took up their morning and they let themselves have a moment of allowing some of the tension in their body to shake out while they re-centered themselves in having an ally and a goal. A smart ally. Of course, water too. They could probably find some containers to put the water in and bring it too. Maybe in pouches they could carry. “You’re brilliant too.” Dani offered with another slight smile. “Water’s smart.” 

Markers? Dani wasn’t sure what that meant but fought the urge to elbow the other as he decided Dani’s steps were probably better. There was probably a tease in there but they let it go in favor of thinking briefly about what Iyaz might need in the orchard and how they could help. “Okay.” Dani began. “I can take you back to the orchard…but it’s probably better if you hold on however’s comfy for you.” They carefully turned completely around before stepping confidently into the fog heading back the way they’d just come. They walked quietly for a few beats wrestling with another question despite the numerous reminders and experiences of Iyaz being patient and willing when explaining. For no reason they knew of - Dani still felt hot and awkward to bring up yet another area of confusion. But as they neared the orchard - they ran out of time and had to act. “What are markers? It might help in knowing which part of the orchard to go if I knew what to guide you towards.” 

—

“Doesn’t have to be a tree, but that’s a fair point.” Luke admits. The only reason why he can haphazardly run around in the fog is because people make sounds. Finding a tree in this weather, especially considering that they are at the beach, would be difficult. “You don’t happen to have any rope on you, huh? Guess we’re gonna have to improvise.” 

He flinches when he feels a hand grasping at his clothes. He resists the urge to pull away, since that would be easier for the other– he doesn’t even know their name, it occurs to Luke– to follow. “Alright.” He grumbles and leads them toward the direction of the sounds. “What do I call you, by the way? Can’t exactly call out ‘hey, you’ if you get lost.” He asks, “you can call me Luke.”

As they reach their target on the edge of the water, Luke hears his colleague(?) going for a tackle and some thrashing– from the sound of it, it’s not going well. He jumps into the fray, sprinting toward their runner. He tackles the person down by their waist and stands on top of them. They put up a fight, kicking at his stomach and Luke winces at the impact. “Okay, this is self-defense,” he groans before punching them across the face in return. Shaking his hand off, hissing from the aching pain in his fingers, he shouts, “hey, a little help here?! I’ll grab the legs, you get the arms.” 

~~~

Rope? Once upon a time Dani had carried rope-like materials everywhere they went but apparently even they had gotten lax after so long on the beach and its misleading calm. Figures. They made several strong mental notes to stay prepared like they’d meant to before glancing up at the other asking what to call them if they got lost. Hmpf. Why were they the one getting lost but then their eyebrows smoothed out. “Oh. People kept telling me I should find you. You’re the fishing guy?” Was that right? Now they were doubting themselves but they just shrugged. “I’m Dani.”

And super frustrated.

Why did people lack any kind of self-preservation whatsoever today? And couldn’t they be just a little bit nicer about it? Luke, unfortunately, didn’t seem to be having any better luck with the rambunctious soul, so Dani picked themselves up to go and grab the arms are requested. They got themselves an elbow to the face as the water made getting and maintaining a solid grip difficult but eventually gave Luke a nod that they were set and followed their lead to bring the person to a safer place until they’d calmed down enough to gain some wits. Hopefully. 

And this close to the water even they could catch the splashing of someone else making their attempt and just shot a weary glance up at the other. “There’s gotta be a better way.” They said again as they glanced around their immediate area. Their eyes caught on some seagrass which had them hesitating before gesturing towards it. “I could weave small bunches of that together to be kind of like a rope but - I don’t know if it’s worse to leave them tied up and defenseless and not be certain we could find our way back to free them once they’ve calmed down again. Thoughts?” 

☁︎︎☽☀︎︎☾☁︎︎

Dani’s delighted response to the sweater was exceedingly endearing, there was nothing Lark loved more than seeing joyous surprise on others’ faces. When they wriggled into the oversized thing and looked so contented, a huge smile broke across Lark’s face and he couldn’t seem to break his gaze from them. “Nonsense, something tells me if I ever get too cold, you’ll still feel the chill more than I will.“ As if by some magnetic force, Lark was inexplicably drawn closer to them. A spark of boldness overcame him and he added playfully, “No, if I’m ever cold I suppose we’ll just have to cuddle.”

Like some ghostly, harrowing wing-man the horn blew again, shocking both of them and sending them closer together. He laughed, slightly shaken, then wrapped an arm around Dani’s shoulder. “You’re welcome,” he replied softly to their gratitude.

They sat in a comfortable silence for a minute and it was nice… it felt safe. Just as he was building up the courage to explain his breakdown, Dani’s question broke the silence and gave him pause, wondering for a moment if they’d read his mind. He nodded slowly, “I don’t mind talking about it.” 

He curled in and took a deep breath before mustering the words, “I really thought that light was salvation,” he admitted, a twinge of shame on his voice. “When I saw it, everything I’ve grown attached to on this island just faded away and I just had to get home or die trying. It was like… it’s been so long since…” it felt strange to tell Dani about Elias for the first time while they were in his arms, but he supposed it was far from the strangest thing that would happen today, “…since I’ve seen my boyfriend’s face so clearly in my mind… and, with that light, it felt like he was reaching out to me and everything about my life outside felt so vivid and close… attainable.” Almost forgetting the wound was still fresh, he felt a sharp tug at his heart and his breathing went shaky, “Becca stopped me from getting very far… and it’s just been a long, emotional day ever since.”

Though this summary only just scratched the surface of what had happened to Lark today, he felt like he’d unloaded a flood of information onto Dani, but he had just a little more to add, “When you found me I was feeling terrified, empty, and so alone… it felt like it would last forever.” He made a point to catch their eyes in his and continued, “I know you say I have nothing to make up for, but you truly saved me, Dani. You woke me up.” A blush swept across his face and he quickly shot his eyes down to his lap, waiting anxiously to see how they would react.

~~~~

Dani wasn’t quite sure what to do with Lark’s full attention now that it was trained on them besides flush and try to keep the conversation going. They burrowed a little more into the fluffy warmth at Lark’s gentle tease that if he got cold - Dani’d be freezing - before nodding their agreement. “Ok. Cuddles with the fluffy shirt and me when you’re cold.” That seemed fair enough to them and all the more so when hypothetical became realized with Lark swinging an arm around their shoulders and bringing them closer together after the stupid horn shattered their fragile moment of peace. 

They wanted to grumble but something about being safely tucked against someone else allowed the day to catch up to them for the first time and bring with it waves of exhaustion. They let their head rest against Lark’s shoulder and eyes close as they focused on just listening to their slowly calming and synching breaths until they felt less like they were going to take their turn at shaking apart under the helplessness and vulnerability of the talking fog. That’s when they spoke up - though they were surprised that Lark agreed to share their story.

Oh.

Sitting up, they were careful to not dislodge Lark’s touch but move just enough to be able to see him as he talked - just in case those tears decided to make a comeback. Salvation? From what? Ooooh. There was a home to get back to. Of course. Dani forgot sometimes that the people here had lives elsewhere - lives that hadn’t been eaten away by time, circumstance, or both like their own had been. There might be someone waiting for Lark to come home still. 

Boyfriend?

Dani didn’t think their heart could hurt more for the other but it did as he described how it felt like his boyfriend was reaching out for him and so close if he could just reach the light. That - Dani couldn’t even begin to imagine what that was like. But they did remind themselves to do something nice for Becca soon. “I’m so sorry.” Dani offered quietly. They were likely feeling the loss all over again and there was nothing Dani could offer to lessen that. Except, apparently they had.

Surprise colored their face as Lark commended them for saving him and waking him up and that was - no. “I …” Dani blinked a few times before their thoughts came back online. “I just reminded you of something.” Dani pointed out gently. “Give yourself some credit. You went through something terrible - again and again and you’re still here. Maybe you need a reminder that you weren’t alone and I’m happy to provide that - but you - you’re the reason you’re still here. You’re wonderful and kind and so very special. We’re the ones who are lucky. I’m glad the water didn’t get you. I’m not glad that … you’re here instead of back in your life before but…while you’re here - I’m very honored to know you. To get to see these bits of you and hear the stories you want to share, you know? I appreciate you is what I’m trying to say.” 

===***===

“Expert, survivor,” Tomas said, “tomato, potato. You’re the de facto expert between the two of us because I, kiddo, know absolutely nothing about the Labyrinth aside from what you and Libby have told me. That makes the whole bunch of you our experts.” Dani moved back a touch now that Tomas had taken over with putting pressure on the bandage, but Tomas was pleased to see not too far. Keeping close in this ever-thickening fog was the best idea for them all.

“Libby told me about a cove near a waterfall, one that got flooded,” he said thoughtfully as Dani started explaining about the Labyrinth routing them whenever it seemed they’d found someplace hospitable to settle for a while. “So that was a regular thing, huh? You could never stop for too long at any one place. That sounds exhausting.”

Every time he heard about life in the Labyrinth, Tomas either thought or said out loud that he wouldn’t have survived long. Constantly moving, forever on your guard – it would’ve worn him out before long. “Pawns,” he repeated, rolling the word around in his mouth to test it out, see if it made him salivate any. See if it got any juice going. 

“Maybe,” Tomas said slowly as he lifted the bandage to check on Marcus’ bleeding, “the island separated us out into groups for a reason. The same way I sometimes think that it gave us certain attunements for a reason.  But that’s because I tend to think of situations in terms of testing, and evaluation, and not even necessarily in a punitive way; possibly to teach us and prompt us to evolve in a certain direction.”

The wound was drier now, the mashed plant matter starting to thickly clot enough that the bandage came away without any fresh blood, and Tomas extracted two long grasses from his satchel, folding them over and over themselves. “But your theory comes at it from another angle, as a game. I see it as a lesson, you see it as chess. Or hell, snakes-and-ladders.” Tomas snorted, breaking the ends of the grasses and painting the oozing liquid over Marcus’ wound. “Maybe the island doesn’t think we’re sophisticated enough to be chess.”

Tomas sat back, occasionally tapping one of his fingertips against the edge of where he’d painted, testing to see if the grass-sap had dried. “But I think we are. And I think that’s the island’s interest in us. If it could control us, then it could entirely control the outcomes of its games, couldn’t it? Its experiments would all have predictable results. But they don’t, because there’s the element of free will that we bring to the table. We’re unpredictable, we’re dynamic, we evolve in chaotic ways, even though – and this is my pet theory – the island likes creating links among us. Either biologically through phenotypes, or through interpersonal means. So what I think is that the island brought you here, you castaways, for this exact reason.”

He gestured between the two of them, then clicked his tongue in annoyance to realize the gesture was more or less lost in the fog. “This, us interacting, getting to know each other. It wanted to throw two groups together, some of us with intense existing bonds or maybe bonds that are gonna come about in times of extreme duress, like this damn fog, and see what happens. When in doubt, fuck with ‘em, that’s its motto.” Tomas gave a cynical laugh, tapping Marcus’ wound. “Good. That plant sap is a liquid bandage, Marcus, it’ll hold you, but please do not fucking attempt another butterfly crawl tonight, okay? Jesus Christ.”

How could Tomas have lived so long on the island and have no knowledge of the Labyrinth? It just didn’t make sense to Dani given how omnipresent it felt for so much of their life. Tomas had to know more than he knew he did and maybe just referred to it in another way. Dani was almost-sure that there was no way the Labyrinth’s influence ended with the trees. But if Tomas wanted to view them as some sort of expert - it was apparently there was no changing his mind, so Dani just let it go. Sure. They were Dani the expert now.

Dani’s stomach dropped at the mention of the cove, but they just gave a small nod. “It was exhausting.” But in a way, they’d adapted to it. It became almost an ingrained habit to already be ready to grab the essentials and move on -to not get attached to places (they had a harder time not getting attached to people), to always be ready. They didn’t think that was a terribly bad way to live - it’d kept them alive, but they were slowly acclimating to the slower pace of the beach-crew. That had its perks too.

As Dani’s gaze moved from the wound back up to Tomas as he mused outloud about Danis’ perspective before switching to sharing some of his own. He believed the island put them into groups for a reason? Gave them abilities for a reason? Their eyebrows rose as Tomas furthered the point that this may have to do with evolving them as a species and not just…hunting them for sport.

Huh.

They hadn’t considered that before. 

Nor had they seen anyone fold grass like that before and it captured Dani’s interest as they sat forward a little more, still listening, but also tracking what Tomas was doing. There was so much to be learned by this group and maybe that was the point of it. Maybe…they had some kind of skills to offer to? But for now, they just shot a quick smile up at Tomas with a shrug. “Was more of a checkers person myself.” They were fascinated by the idea of using grass-goo as bandages though and had a dozen questions they’d like to ask one day when they weren’t surrounded by suffocating fog and desperate islanders.

For now, Tomas was bringing up another good point. What would be the point of the games if the Labyrinth had complete control? It couldn’t. “Oh.” They breathed out. It did feel like the things that happened could be reacted to in a number of ways and they’d stressed over perhaps not have reacting in the right way before but they’d had a choice. The island couldn’t account for all of them. Nor influence all of them. Like this - Dani’d come to trust Tomas but there was no way the Labyrinth could have known whether they’d have clashed like they had with Emre originally or if they’d be in the position they were with more tentative friends than enemies. 

Free will.

After several hours, Dani’d given up on the hope that the fog would lift and made the reluctant decision to head back into it. They needed warmer dryer clothes as they were hesitant to start a fire big enough to dry off with visibility so low. They’d thought they were on the way back to Magnolia’s but given that it was a path they were still learning - not yet familiar - it was really anyone’s guess where they actually were between the Farm and her house. 

The voices seemed like they’d gotten louder the thicker the fog got and no amount of ignoring was making them go away. Dani’d given in about three minutes ago to covering their ears and narrowing their focus on their feet and immediate surroundings to avoid running into things which is the only reason they spotted the figure off to the side. 

At first, Dani just noticed a small child which immediately sent their heart dropping with panic setting in because where they lost? Where were their parents? Did they get separated? Did they need help? They’d gotten as far as kneeling in front of them before scrambling to their feet in horror. No. Another island trick. This had to be a trick. 

Their eyes squinted shut as they held their breath for one, two, three, four beats before exhaling it out and nearly startling out of their skin at the small face still there and upturned towards them. No. It couldn’t be. Helen was long dead by now. She wouldn’t be a child of five still running around the island. 

Not real, not real, not real.

But then the voices all around them sharpened - disciplinarians, tutors, horrified foster parents, teasing other kids - this was Dani’s past before their admitted past. The past they never talked about. Why was the island showing them this now? Half the voices caused a yearning so deep into them they couldn’t find words to describe it but the rest was trying to retreat and withdraw the same way tiny Dani learned to in order to fit into this world. 

“No, no, no.” They mumbled.

They turned away from the child before they caught themselves even doing it and nearly burst into relieved tears at the sight of a figure who’d taught them the hard lessons - but with understanding, with acceptance, with knowledge - it wasn’t okay to be Dani everywhere…but it was under her watch. Dani’d missed her. They took a few steps towards her before remembering this was the fog’s doing and not real. 

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Emre had to perch very close next to Dani to see them in the blasted fog.  But Emre focused intently, watched them.  He could feel Dani tremor slightly under his palm.  Fire-magic people always tended towards cold more than others.   

 ‘The Labyrinth’, Dani said simply, the only explanation needed.  Simultaneously vague yet complete, the same way the Golden Trio said ‘the jungle’.  One word, to explain everything.  Emre’s own brief experiences in the jungle left a deep impression on him. 

Dani had over seventy years of intimacy with the jungle.  But it was Emre who’d dragged something back from the jungle, forcing it into the pond near the farm, where it festered and demanded blood.

Overall, Emre surmised Dani was far less…damaging, than him.

He ignored Dani’s litany of self-soothing apologies, listening as Dani explained further.   “Nah mate, trust: you aren’t so influential.  I’ve only been here four months and madness was happening well before you showed up.  Stories I’ve heard from the long-timers…bloody hell.” 

Maybe Dani needed facts over testimony, so Emre supplied,  “Your Rebecca said fog like this never happened in the jungle.  Fuckery’s new to everyone, innit.”

He gave a gentle snarl.  “Just seems like ‘peace’ to you.  Like you’ve had anything to compare for decades.  ‘Course you’re having a wobbly now.“ Emre let Dani’s shoulder go, and lightly punched their arm.   “Oi - and if anyone’s giving you trouble for it, tell me and I’ll sort them out later, right.”

Yeah, Emre Akbar, the big hero.  The big hypocrite, more like; but he liked being liked too much, to start spilling truths now.

The ship’s horn blasting through the mist, so loud it blocked everything out.    “No,” he said, to Dani’s offer. “Check yourself first, mate.  You’re useless to anyone else right now, innit.” It sounded rude, but Emre’s voice was soft, a rosewater teasing.

“Oi, no wonder Dani’s getting shoved all-sorts, yeah?  Dani of the jungle, bouncing about like a little anxiety ball, through bloody fog and sodding horns and lights in the sea. Yeah? Proper madness.”

~~~

Dani found themselves a little grateful for the steady pressure on their shoulder keeping them from slipping too far into their own head and providing some much needed warmth. They hadn’t realized how chilled-to-the-bone they’d become and would likely have to start a small fire soon or try to find their way back to their shelter to exchange out these clothes for dry ones. Nah? Dani’s gaze had drifted down to the sand looking subconsciously for a good spot to build a fire pit but the other’s words snapped it back. Madness was happening? Here? 

How could that be? 

They had houses. Survivors. Food. A society. No sign of any madness that Dani knew of. 

Though, Emre seemed to switch tactics then and bring up Rebecca which…fair point. This hadn’t happened before. Not like this. It was new to everyone so Dani gave a small nod at that before their eyebrows rose. A wobbly? They tried not to pick up too many of the words Iyaz or Emre used that they didn’t hear elsewhere but that one - that one was going to have to come with them. A wobbly. They were still stuck on the turn of the phrase so were a little caught off-guard by Emre letting go before the offer really floored them.

Tell Emre and they’d sort them out? 

Maybe the ‘jungle lot’ and ‘your people’ didn’t have quite such a divide anymore. 

And maybe that as okay. 

“Thank you.” 

Dani hadn’t expected the conversation to loosen the swirling anxiety in their chest and really hadn’t expected to find some sort of ally who not only try to lift blame but offered to defend innocence too. That was…a little more than Dani had the capacity to wrap their brain around at the moment. But then the horn was back and they did their best to minimize the flinch but their hands still shot up to cover their ears as they winced. 

They had no idea how the air souls were handling this. 

Exhaling, they dropped their hands once blissfully eerie silence came back with the ever-thickening fog and found Emre telling them to get a grip in a surprisingly gentle fashion. But he had a point. This wasn’t something Dani was going to fix…and likely did not cause so they had to find a way to deal with it. 

Emre wasn’t done yet though and now it was Dani’s turn to reach out and shoot a glancing blow at Emre’s shoulder. “Yeah, yeah. Has nothing to do with size and sheer desperation on their part.” Dani mock-grumbled. “But you bring up good points and curse or not - nothing is fixing this right now. So…what do we do besides try to keep people from throwing themselves into the ocean?” Dani’d keep doing it for as long as they could feasibly manage it but even that was going to hit a point of no return too. 

ᵒᴼᵒ▫ₒₒ▫ᵒᴼᵒ▫ₒₒ▫ᵒᴼᵒ▫▫·∙∙∙✈

“A breath, a step. I can do this. Right. Yeah- Yeah I can do this.” Which would be more believable if Iyaz wasn’t giving himself a pep talk outloud. This were things that typically more effective for him just as thoughts, but something about the susurration on the beach needed drowning out. The blaring horn wasn’t helping, so what better to do that than his sound and reasonable self-encouragement.

“Breath, step, breath step” His hands were extended in front of him, as if he were in danger of falling or running into things even with the fog. It’s not like people were going around digging ditches in the beach. It was just so hard to find his bearings, he’d been meaning to reach the apothecary what felt like hours ago. It was so hard to find his bearing in the fog there was hardly any telling what direction he was going in or how much the sun might have risen or dipped. 

At least with all the  fog no one could tell how much of a prat he was being now. 

Until he heard a familiar voice and stilled. Dani– that’s who it wasn’t it- “Dani?” 

What sort of figure did he cut. Hands raised out, looming over the shorter castaway and lumbering out of that fog like a monster movie Frankenstein. If this were any other day Iyaz might have found it funny. The shame about island’s oddness was that the worry and unease sucked the fun out of everything.

“Hell, Dani. Are you okay?” He countered back with a question of his own for them, because Iyaz wasn’t really okay. He was soaking wet and still not unconvinced that he was missing his chance right now. A chance at life, escape, something. Still, the croaking and gagging along the shore of other hopefuls that never reached their intended target was too hard to ignore. Sprained ankles, wet coughs spitting out seawater, chapped lips, hungry bellies. And no one could find their way easily to the farm. 

It made sense for him to try and find the path himself. Right? For supply purposes, not as if he were planning to load up on food and try and fumble his way to some half-made wooden boat and try to set out again. No, that’d be a foolish reason. Supplies were logical, helpful.

“God. I can barely see you.” He held a hand up to his brow, as if that would help. With a frustrated snort Iyaz stepped closer to them. “Are you- I mean, have you see anyone else? Anything else? I haven’t even the faintest where we might be right now. The most I know is sand is beneath my feet and even that feels like too much of a leap. I swear, if I were an inch taller I wouldn’t be able to see my knees through this if I looked down. Can you believe?”

It felt better to be this, brash, clever and incensed. Laugh away at the edges of the fog before anything like fear crept in. “You are okay, aren’t you? I probably look no better but you do seem rattled.”

~~~~

The question was a relatively simple one but Dani still hesitated a moment as they took stock and tried to come up with an answer. Were they okay? What did okay mean? They were freezing, wet, hungry, bruised physically and soul-wise, terrified for their family, and disoriented but…“I’m not hurt.” Dani decided on finally with a little shrug. Or at least, not in a way that was going to hinder anything and therefore not important at the moment. “I’m okay.” 

Dani took a step forward like that would somehow lessen the fog and improve visibility before looking up and catching sight of Iyaz with a hand up to his brow and that - that drew an exhausted chuckle out of them before nodding at the first question and then waiting for the words to pause and give them a chance to reply. Their amusement grew though and they tried to picture what it’d be like to be so tall they couldn’t see their knees or feet anymore and decided that wasn’t as funny or desirable as one might think. 

“I can believe.” Dani answered first. “Also glad you’re not that tall. Be really hard to walk without being able to see where your feet are.” It was hard enough when you could see your feet but not much around them. “And I’ve seen a few. Your brother. Lark. …a lot of people I haven’t met before. Tomas.” 

As far as to where they were… “I was just leaving the orchard. The warehouse should be…maybe two hundred steps that way? Maybe two fifty depending if we’re counting my steps or yours.” Dani couldn’t resist the tease because they desperately wanted to keep the budding light nearly giddy feeling they had going. They hadn’t realized how close they were to feelings they’d very much never experience ever again and were trying their best to shove down, lock up, and fiercely ignore for as long as possible.  

So. “I’m okay.” Dani repeated like somehow it would become true if they just said it enough. “I just - want to think of a way to get food to the people on the beach. A lot of them are hurt and exhausted and …very angry. Very sad. I know bananas won’t fix that…but sometimes it can be a comfort too?” 

Dani couldn’t provide rescue or a way out to the phantom horn and light but they could offer kindness, food, touch, warmth - and so they would. For as long as they could. “Wanna help? You’re definitely the brains of this duo and I could use you if you got some time to spare. Unless…where were you headed? I could help you first?” 

—

Luke places his hands on the knees, trying to catch his breath. He is beginning to think that this fog is driving people insane, making them run into the sea toward that insidious light, toward God-knows-what awaits them. He has been keeping people out of the water like that summer he worked as a lifeguard, except that he is physically dragging them out and mostly relying on his heightened sense of hearing. 

In all honesty, he could simply let people do whatever they want, endanger themselves with their little delusion. Not his problem, none of his business. Unfortunately for Luke, he is not callous enough to leave people to their death and sleep soundly at night. It’s in his nature– he would rather reluctantly get involved and complain the whole way through, than do nothing and regret later.

After dragging someone out of the water (he couldn’t even see their face), he drops them off away from the beach– with the fog, it will take a while for them to make their way back. Ignoring their curses and screaming, and thinking to himself it would be much easier if he could just whack them in the head and knock them out, he makes his way back toward another set of feet splashing in the waves. He steps out of the way just before bumping into someone, catching their footsteps. He can hear their unfamiliar voice, but can’t really see their face. “I’d say watch where you’re goin’ but don’t think it’s possible in this weather.” He jokes with a dry, rather exhausted chuckle. 

He was about to jog toward the water to catch whoever just went in, only to be stopped by the other’s words. “Yeah, well, somebody’s gotta stop these idiots from drownin’ themselves.” Luke grumbles, looking over the shoulder to where he thinks the stranger stands. They must be trying to stop the others too. “Dunno, gonna need a lot more than two of us to form a chain.” He points out, keeping one ear open trying to track the one in the water. “…or we just chain them to a tree or some shit, hogtie them up so they can’t go anywhere till this fuckin’ fog clears.” He suggests. “But right now, there’s another one swimmin’ about, so I’d worry about the method later. Could use extra set of hands so if you wanna help, follow–” he was going to say ‘follow me’ but it’s impossible to see through the fog. “Just follow my voice, yeah? Or holler if you’ve lost me. I’ll find you.” 

~~~~~

A joke?! Dani’d nearly forgotten what those sounded like and their lips suddenly felt unused to curling upwards after the stresses of the day but it was a welcome sensation. And the stranger’s admission that yeah, they were trying to keep people from drowning too was even more so. Their shoulders inched down a little with the old ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’ adage ringing in their head. They had a point though and beyond the unlikelihood of a chain working - they were a very small chain and there weren’t seemingly many people interested in staying out of the water. 

Although…

The stranger had a point and Dani caught themselves looking for the nearest tree before being rudely reminded that seeing the little bubble they could see in was a miracle in and of itself right now. There wasn’t any hope of trying to reliably tie them anywhere. “Don’t think we could find the trees we put ropes around more than once or twice if we’re lucky.” Dani pointed out wearily before their eyebrows went up.

The stranger must be affiliated with Air - with the super hearing - because Dani hadn’t picked up any signs of someone else heading into the water but they were game. “Okay.” Or…Dani stepped forward and just grabbed a bit of the person’s clothing with a shrug. “This is easier.” And then they were off back towards the water towards another angry ungrateful soul that at least would likely get live long enough to curse them and everyone they’d ever known - if they got lucky. 

It was harder now with the fog thicker and their own affiliation being useless in this context but they tried to go for the low tackle to prevent the figure from making it into the water and narrowly missed a punch to the jaw as they sat back up. “Whoa. Just trying to help. There’s nothing out there! NO!” They shot off the beach again and Dani blew out an irritated exhale before taking off after them into the harsh water and hoping the new stranger was hot on their heels.