She recognized the plane by the crimson rose painted on the tail. More importantly, she recognized the pilot's slim build, amber eyes, and warm smile.
"Dad!" Eliza sprang into his warm embrace, choking on tears. "I missed you so much!"
"Missed you too, baby girl," he chuckled.
Eliza wanted to stay there forever until he squeezed around her middle. "Okay, Dad, that's a little tight." His hold constricted, the comforting warmth replaced with a cold, leathery sensation. "Ow! Dad, that hurts. Dad? Dad!"
Eliza's eyes shot open. Her stomach turned when she saw what was actually hugging her. The leering head of snake dangled from tree's branch while its scaly green body entwined her waist and arms. Eliza kicked at its neck and tried to pull her arms free, but the snake only twined itself up to her shoulders.
Panic makes the prey.
Again, how was anyone supposed to not panic? Still, she had more control last time. She relaxed her body and listened. The reaction was faster this time. In a crisis, she knew exactly where to channel her fear. When her fingers tingled, she poked all ten fingers into her binding.
The snake hissed aggressively. The coils around her loosened just enough to pull her arm out and scratch over the scaly surface. The snake's head writhed while the rest of its body slackened, allowing its prey to push its bindings off her body and run, heart hammering. She looked back once to see it slithering away. She collapsed against a tree, hyperventilating until she calmed down.
"Okay," she panted. "No big deal. I'm just stuck on a creepy island in the middle of nowhere, and everything wants to kill me. Ah cripes!" Eliza tugged her head and spent the next few minutes crying. Why did she have to take the stupid doll? If she had left it with Molly…
Molly. Eliza let go of her hair and leaned her head against the tree. With Covington stepping into the Cunninghams' lives, how long before Molly got snatched? A girl half her age with no claws to defend herself caught in the same snake's clutches. Eliza shuddered and looked up at the skull rock. In the daylight, the coloring gave it the appearance of a giant bleached skull. No, she wouldn't wish that on anyone.
Khans don't quit, her uncle said. It was easy for him. He had all the power in Cape Suzette, possibly the world. In a sense, her father owned the world too. He could go wherever he wanted. What was she? A confused kid who…
Escaped Don Karnage. Eliza smiled despite herself. The crazy air pirates seemed a walk in the park compared to these ruthless thieves. But if she didn't let a setback stop her then, why now? "I'm not my dad or my uncle." She stood on shaky legs. "But I'm still a Khan." Waiting here would only help in her wasting away to nothing.
Like a predator stalking its prey, she crept back to her hiding place overlooking the shack, making sure it was clear of other predators. The treasure hunters were circled around a piece of paper, which she could only assume was a map, arguing over the safest route. What did her uncle say about the jungle being like chess? Reading your opponent and waiting for the right moment?
They were the only other people on this heck hole, which made them her only way off. She could take their boat once they were gone. If only she knew how to drive a boat, or how to get back. What was she supposed to do? Waltz up and politely ask them to take her back and would they kindly not try to drown her again?
Yeah, cause they're real good at negotiating. She grit her teeth.
Finally, the men broke up their argument and set course in the opposite direction. Her only chance now was to follow. "Well," she crept to the next tree behind them. "What've I got to lose?" She had just snuck to a thicket of bushes behind them when her stomach growled. The pain came like a gunshot. Eliza reeled over, clutching at her stomach.
"Did you hear that?" said Covington.
Eliza held her breath.
"Ah, you're imagining things," said Wallace, waving a dismissive hand.
"Or trying to distract us," said Arnold, scowling. "So you can make off with the treasure yourself?"
"You just can't take a gentleman's word," Covington sighed.
"Who's a gentleman?"
"Would you two knock it off?" Wallace cut in. "This place is full of animals. You'd have to be real stupid to try anything alone."
Now you tell me. Eliza bit back a lip, trying to distract from the greater pain. She looked back at the shack. Maybe they left some food behind. Once they were out of sight, she could sneak back, get something to eat…then lose sight of them. She'd trade freedom for one night with a full belly. No, it was best to keep going. If she was lucky, she'd find something edible on the way.
Then again, when had luck ever been on her side?
