Trust did not exist on the Isle. Plans would fail. Food barges were late. Allies waited for the opportunity to stab each other in the back. Trust didn't exist. Carlos was brilliant. Evie's timing was impeccable. Jay guarded her back like it was his own. Mal didn't trust. Mal knew.
:::
Everything hurt, and Mal was past the point of pretending otherwise. She curled up on whichever bed Jay had settled her body on and pretended she was still asleep, lying to convince herself Evie's quiet humming wasn't a comfort, forgetting to protest when Carlos tucked a blanket around her shoulders.