“It's amazing the things you'll do for the ones you love,” Logan said quietly. He glanced at me for a moment before shifting his gaze. A lump formed in my throat that threatened to strangle me.
“I'm going to that shed,” Maddy announced.
“No,” Logan said firmly. “If I'm wrong, and he's still in the building, you need to be here. Besides, you have a cast. I'll go.”
“I'm going with you,” Dr. James informed him. “You don't know where you're going, but I do. There's raincoats in the service entrance.”
Keiko opened the door for Logan and handed Dr. James a flashlight and walkie talkie from beneath the desk. I followed behind them, glancing back at Maddy before disappearing into the hallway. She nodded at me. She wanted someone to go with them who knew Tyler.
The sound of rain and wind echoed into infinity against the concrete walls as we hurried inside. Neither man said anything to me as we pushed down the corridor. Dr. James led with his flashlight ready in case the power went out. In these enclosed hallways, it would be pitch black the second the lights failed.
We passed the room where Spock had been staying. The light was still on inside, illuminating the fact that the boy and his dog were missing. I swallowed hard, fighting to stay calm against the panic growing in my chest. Tyler had to be okay. He had to be.
We walked quickly and silently. The howl of the storm filled our ears like constant thunder the closer we got to the exit. Finally we came to a heavy door at the end of the hallway. Dr. James went to a panel and pulled out three raincoats. Mine was too big, but I put the yellow plastic jacket on anyway.
“This is as close as we can get to the storage shed,” he told us and then checked in with his walkie talkie. I could hear Keiko on the other end. Dr. James looked at the two of us and then turned and opened the door.
The sky was molten lead. Rain was pouring down and bouncing off the already saturated ground and then hurrying back to the sea to do it again. The trees on either side of the door struggled against the wind as their roots barely held them in place. Leaves, rocks, and pieces of wood littered the ground in haphazard piles that fluttered in the wind and then flew into the air. Every fiber of my being told me not to go out in this storm. The fury of the storm terrified me. The last time I had been out in the storm, it had been a delicate spring shower compared to this.
The walkie talkie squawked just as Dr. James was about to step out. He held it to his ear and then cursed. “Shit. There's been an accident. Window broke and someone's been cut. I have to go back.”
“Go,” Logan told him. “I know the way.”
Dr. James evaluated him for a moment and then nodded solemnly. He pressed the speak button on the walkie talkie and held it to his mouth. “On my way. Giving the walkie to our searchers.” He handed me the heavy plastic device and flashlight. “Good luck, you two.”
I watched him speed back down the flickering hallway. We were alone now. I didn't dare look at Logan. As Dr. James disappeared around a corner, a little more fear crept into my heart.
Logan didn't hesitate. The moment Dr. James was gone from sight, Logan struck out to find Tyler. He squared his broad shoulders against the wind and tucked his head, moving forward with purpose toward the storage shed. Luckily it wasn't far. I took a deep breath, stuffed the walkie and flashlight into my pocket, and stepped out into the storm to follow him.
The strength of the wind took my breath away. It was as if the air were moving too fast and was filled with too much water for me to be able to breathe. The rain pelted my raincoat with tiny, angry hammers. A gust of wind caught me, and I felt my feet slide out from under me. I wondered for a moment if I would simply fly away like a kite, but instead I fell into a puddle with a thud.
Logan reached down and picked me up. “Hold onto me,” he shouted. I clung to his waist, using his weight and size to stay anchored against the wind. He pushed relentlessly on toward the shack.
The wind whipped at my too-big raincoat, alternating between turning it into a second skin and trying to tear it from my body. I was tiny and powerless against this storm. Without Logan to protect me, I felt like I was going to be ripped up into the air at any moment.
He stopped and pointed to the shed. It was still there, but it didn't look like it was going to stay that way for long. Most of the roof was missing with the broken pieces scattered around the ground. My heart was pounding in my throat. I prayed that Tyler wasn't in there. I needed him to be safe and sound somewhere far from the rain and wind.
Together we crept forward, finally coming to the door. Logan pushed it open, and I shined the flashlight inside.
“Tyler?” Logan boomed, but his voice only lasted a second before the wind stole it. “Tyler!”
A small movement caught the edge of the light. “Tyler!” I screamed, launching myself forward to get to him. Logan stopped me in my tracks with his arm and shook his head.
“It isn't stable,” he shouted into the wind. I looked at him and realized I could hear the building creaking and groaning. I peered into the shed, moving the flashlight back and forth, desperate to save Tyler somehow.
Debris was scattered randomly among upturned jet-skis and miscellaneous water-sport equipment. My flashlight bounced off two glowing eyes. Spock woofed gently, his tail wagging in greeting as he recognized us.
“Come here, boy,” I called, kneeling down and patting my leg. Spock took a single step forward before sitting down next to an upturned jet-ski and pile of plywood. I gasped as I recognized Tyler's shoe poking out from under the wreckage.
Logan saw it, too. “Wait here and give me light,” he commanded. I barely heard him over the wind, but I nodded and focused the yellow beam of light on Tyler's shoe. Logan stepped gingerly over the threshold, glancing nervously at the creaking building.
My heart was simultaneously in my throat and stomach. I wanted to follow him, to do something helpful, but I knew providing the light and not getting in the way was the best thing I could do. I bit my lip, nearly drawing blood.
Logan lifted a broken piece of wood from on top of Tyler and hurled it to the side. A toppled jet-ski had pinned Tyler's leg to the ground. Logan raised it, struggling with its awkward weight for a moment before righting it. He picked up Tyler's small form and cradled him to his chest. Tyler's hand dangled limply to the side.
“Tyler...” I whispered to the wind. A sob caught in my throat. He was so small and fragile in Logan's arms. The limp hand moved and balled into the coat at Logan's chest. My heart decided to beat again as Logan exited the shed, Spock right at his heels.
I led the way this time. Holding onto the makeshift bandana collar Tyler had given Spock and the flashlight, I took us back down the beach to the heavy hallway door. Spock pressed into my leg, as if he knew that if I let go he would fly away. Logan held onto me while he shielded Tyler with his body as sand and water peppered our backs. At least it was easier going this way.