9 Chapters 23, 24, and 25

Lines along the breakfast buffet were buzzing early as news surfaced of a girl who had turned up missing. Some children were saying she'd been quietly ushered across the lake in the middle of the night. Others said she began menstruating and God considered her unclean.

Her cabinmates didn't want to talk about it. They deflected blame by insisting that she'd talked to Petrov a couple times before he left. It was a lie, but the children saw puberty as a sickness and no one wanted to appear contagious.

This is why the children kept their distance from Edward and his cabinmates, as if the phenomenon could be blamed on them. Cabin Five was being quarantined. Even the girls who'd been desperately smitten with Tommy began averting their eyes as they neared. Which was fine by him.

It didn't particularly trouble Billy, so as long Sophia still talked to him. Edward didn't seem to notice—he spent most of his morning watching me, waiting until I was alone so we could talk. Fielding questions on history and theology was not why I had been brought to the Island, so I did my best to appear busy all the time.

Ossie and Simon were both annoyed by their status as pariahs and secretly hoped that more kids from other cabins would grow up and be banished across the water so blame would shift somewhere else.

God walked into the mess hall. Slowly, the children quieted as they noticed Him scanning their faces.

"Is He checking us for acne and arm hair?" Ossie whispered.

"Okay, I'm just going to say it," Simon said as he sat across from Ossie. "God creeps me the F out."

Simon hunched down and glanced over his shoulder, expecting an angel to grab him. None appeared, so he leaned over the table to further push his luck.

"He looks like some perv you see on To Catch a Predator."

"I don't know what that is," Edward said.

Ossie laughed and looked behind him at God sitting down at my table. "You're right! With those '80s aviator glasses, thinking he looks like Tom Cruise."

"Or Jackie Gleason from Cannonball Run," Simon said.

"I love that movie!" Ossie beamed. "I know I should be ashamed to say that, but I do! I hid a copy of it in my bedroom so my friends wouldn't know."

"I don't know what that is either," Edward said.

Ossie and Simon laughed and began reenacting scenes. Billy grumbled, stood up and walked away. Simon shrugged and put hash browns over his lip to emulate a bushy mustache, then let out his best Burt Reynolds laugh.

Billy crossed the mess hall and cleared his throat as he neared my table. God turned toward him, took off His glasses, and began buffing them with His shirt. His eyes were silver, almost reflective, which unnerved Billy enough to avert his gaze.

"Yes?" God asked impatiently.

"Could I have a word with you?"

God nodded and settled back in His chair. Billy looked around at the other children, not wanting anyone to eavesdrop. He took another step toward the table and waited for children to pass by on their way outside.

"Can you tell me anything about Petrov, how he's doing?"

"Why do you care?" God asked, glancing up at Billy momentarily, then returning His focus to His glasses.

"He's my friend. I'm worried about him."

"You know, this is something I don't understand about humans," God said, putting on His glasses. He stood and looked down on Billy. "You come to Me, this is the first time we've talked, and do you ask Me a real question?"

God studied Billy, let the moment stretch for several heartbeats.

"No, you ask Me about your friend," God said. "Your friend who shrugged off this gift I gave to him."

Billy shook his head and walked away from the table.

God huffed and knocked on the table to get my attention while He waved "bye." He scanned the mess hall one more time, then sauntered out the door.

Billy dropped down in his seat.

"What did you talk about?" Tommy asked.

"Petrov."

"What did He say?" Simon asked.

"Jack squat."

"You shouldn't do that," a female voice called to Billy. He looked up at Martha walking toward them, holding her food tray with three of her friends following close behind.

"Do what?" Billy asked.

"You need to respect your Creator," Martha sneered.

"He's just a man," Billy said. "A man who's going to get just as much respect from me as He deserves."

Billy noticed Sophia watching. She frowned, which made Billy sorry he'd said it. He wasn't going to show it though; he wouldn't give the Martha the satisfaction.

"You're going to end up banished just like your disgusting friend," she said.

"Is that right?" Billy asked, sliding his chair out and facing the girl. "What about you? Gluttony is a sin, and here you are, ninety pounds of beans stuffed into a twenty-pound bean bag."

It would take a person who knew Martha very well to interpret the parade of subtle facial ticks to trace the emotional journey that sting inspired. I knew her that well. Billy did not and just assume he'd simply insulted her and savored the ten seconds of awkward silence before Martha finally responded.

"You are going to Hell."

"That so?" Billy asked.

"Yes it is. You and all your friends."

Martha took a step toward Billy and dumped her tray on Billy's feet. Billy stood up, kicked the tray away and glared at the girl. The mess hall was deathly silent. The other three girls held their trays firm and took a step toward Billy. Billy didn't acknowledge them other than to say, "You'd better rethink that."

They did, and retreated. Their leader's thin smile wavered. She spun away and led the others to the dish pit to deposit the trays, then out of the mess hall. Billy kicked the food off his leg and sat back down to finish his breakfast.

He ate slowly as he fumed. His cabinmates waited silently for him to finish.

At the next table, Barry tapped his fingers impatiently before finally standing and making his way over toward Billy and the others.

"Can I talk to you guys?" Barry asked.

"You going to throw food at me, too?" Billy asked.

"No."

Tommy motioned Barry to sit down next to Edward. Barry leaned in over the table, his eyes fixed on me to ensure I wasn't listening.

"Mary and I want to go across," Barry said. "We've been trying to … grow, but haven't been able to."

"So?" Billy asked, not looking up from his food.

"That one girl got her period, but she didn't even want it," Barry said. "We're not sure what we're supposed to do."

Billy glanced up at Barry, then scanned the mess hall to find Mary three tables down, watching intently.

"You don't have to grow to go over there," Tommy said. "If you want to go, just go."

"I don't think I'd feel comfortable taking Mary over if I wasn't big enough to protect her. We really need to be adults."

Sophia walked by with a group of girls taking their trays to the dish pit. She bent over to pick up the tray Billy had kicked, then gave Billy a sympathetic frown. Billy winked back at her.

After she passed, Edward said, "You don't know what's over there. I don't think you …"

"If you really want to go," Billy interrupted. "I'll help."

"How?" Barry asked.

"I'll tell you, but there's something you need to see first," Billy said.

"Billy," Edward warned.

"Shut up, Eddie—it's their decision, not yours."

Barry looked across the mess hall towards my table. I pretended not to be paying attention. Barry turned back to Billy and nodded, whispering, "We're sure."

"Okay," Billy said. "First things first, have you been up to the volcano?"

"What volcano?" Barry asked. "You mean the mountain?"

"It's a volcano," Billy said. "I assure you. Go up there, then come back and talk to me. If you still want to go to the other side together after that, I'll help."

"Me too," Tommy said.

"Me too," Edward echoed, though he didn't want to.

Barry stood, shook Billy's hand, then Tommy's. He nodded at the others, then turned to look at Mary. She grabbed her tray and stood. They met at the door and hurried out of the mess hall.

"You shouldn't have done that, Billy," Edward whispered.

"They are just wasting their time here, Eddy," Tommy said. "We're doing them a favor."

"You don't know what happens on the other side of the Island."

"You're right," Billy said. "That's the point."

******

Barry and Mary grew into teenage bodies on their way back from the volcano. Mary had a full, athletic figure and short, brown, curly hair. Barry was stocky with a barrel chest, but his face was still soft and warm. They were a charming pair.

Though shaken by what they'd seen, their devotion to each other only seemed to strengthen. God, to my surprise, decided not to separate them. He did isolate them from the rest of the children, but kept them in Cabin Zero together. A first time for everything, I suppose.

I took the couple across the lake after dinner. The children watched and whispered theories. They began to fear that none of them were safe.

Billy decided not to discuss the couple when he met up with Sophia that night. When she arrived, she smiled weakly and they sat together without a word.

Tommy disappeared that night. Edward went to go look for him and was gone most of the evening. They returned together, walking along the shoreline before returning to the cabin.

The girls in Martha's cabin worked all night collecting any fabric they could forge, whether extra clothes or sheets. By the time the morning bell sounded, they'd turned short sleeves into long sleeves and shorts into pants. They used what fabric was left to make head scarves to cover their hair. When they were done, only their hands and faces were uncovered.

Over the course of a week, the girls and boys became progressively more distant, to the point that they barely even spoke to one another.

The camp was as silent as it had been since the children arrived. Even Edward and his cabinmates fell in line with the others as everyone tried to process their new view of the Island.

There were no more banishments, no more periods, no more growth spurts. God felt He had finally brought the children into line.

Simon began disappearing at night and wouldn't allow anyone to come with him. He only said he was practicing and didn't want anyone around.

When Billy and Sophia met at night, he could feel the gap between them widening. He wanted to say something, to salvage what intimacy they'd once had. Most nights, though, they said nothing at all.

Sophia lost her faraway gaze, and spent most of her time staring down at the sand. By the sixth night, she left after only a few minutes and Billy let her go.

Chapter 24

Billy wasted no time the next morning. As soon as the children left the mess hall, he returned to his cabin and told the others his plan. He had snuck some extra food from breakfast and planned on going to the other side of the Island. He didn't ask for volunteers to join him, but they all followed without a word.

Edward knew Billy was doing this for Sophia, but had no idea what Billy hoped to accomplish.

Jay had forgotten to assign any children to the dish pit, so it was left to me. Again.

After I'd scrubbed all the dishes and put them away, I went to talk to the children. I had hoped to finish in time to catch Billy, but the cabin was empty before I arrived.

Tommy and Billy set the pace for the group, whispering back and forth as they crossed the campground. Edward jogged to catch up, and their voices hushed as he neared.

Jealousy boiled in Edward's stomach when he saw Tommy whispering to anyone other than him. Edward felt ridiculous for being envious of such a small thing, but knowing it was ridiculous didn't make the jealousy burn any less.

Edward eventually fell in line with the others. They crept past Cabin One and then disappeared into the woods. Billy was going to retrace the Summer's path the best he could. If she made it across, so could he.

They stayed close to the lake, always keeping the water within view. Billy wasn't sure if there would be a place they could cross the water or if they would have to swim. If he could just get close enough, he was sure there would be a way. There was always a way.

The group shared a sense of urgency, a need to explore and make sense of the Island. They traveled quickly, creating paths through thick webs of branches and weaving between thorn patches.

Edward glanced over the water and noticed that it was flowing like a river, traveling in the same direction they were headed. The waves were no longer lapping at the shore, but were streaming toward the mist.

"Take a look at that," Edward called to Billy. He motioned at the water and the expedition came to a stop. Billy walked to the shore. As he left the woods, he studied the lake, the trees and the shore to make sure no one was watching them. He couldn't do anything about an angel, but he didn't want any other kids trying to trail them.

"You were right," Billy said. "Flowing right toward the fog.

"Maybe it's a waterfall?" Tommy ventured. "Water moving this fast is either moving down a mountain or rushing off of something."

"What are we going to do if we can't get across?" Edward asked

"We'll get across," Billy said, putting his hand in the lake. He cupped water in his hand, lifted it to his mouth and took a drink.

"Do you think we'll see Petrov?" Ossie asked.

Billy stood and glanced at the others. He peered into the fog, but it was too dense to see anything. Without answering, they walked back into the woods.

******

The fog wafted in slow swirls, drifting like waves through the trees. Dense, gray plumes would pass along the woods like small clouds breaking off from a storm system. As with the volcano, God used the mist to veil the Island's secrets.

It wasn't a deterrent, Edward thought. It couldn't be—God knew humans too well to think that they could ever ignore the unknown for long. It felt more like a trap, which troubled Edward deeply.

"Stay close," Tommy called, looking back at Edward. Tommy winked, and turned just as the fog enveloped him.

Simon jogged behind, and the rest fell in line. The dense fog veiled the children so that they only saw each other as dim shadows. Edward thought about suggesting they hold hands but wasn't sure if that would come off as too suggestive. It annoyed him that he had to recalibrate his social instincts.

Billy ripped a branch off a tree, and swung it back and forth in front of him. It clacked against tree trunks and served as Edward's best guide as to which direction to walk. Only trees within a foot of him were visible, and only the part of the trunk that was at eye level. Branches reached out from the fog like claws.

Simon was exhilarated and anxious as he thought back to clichéd horror flicks with long winding trails and sexually-charged and naïve teenagers. He often bet against his friends which drunk jock, whorish cheerleader, or gossipy frat girl would be the next to go. He wondered if someone was watching them and had their money riding on him to be the first to die.

"Always bet on the black guy," Simon whispered as he looked over to Ossie's silhouette.

"What?" Ossie asked.

"Nothing."

Edward heard something like rustling leaves, but there were only pines around them. He listened more intently and realized it was rushing water. It still seemed far off, but as they walked deeper into the blanket of fog, the sound grew distinct. It was a waterfall, but not as loud as ones he'd heard back on Earth. It didn't sound like the water was falling into anything. He could feel water vapor collecting into beads on his face. The pine needles of a nearby branch had droplets of water clinging to the ends. He brushed his fingers along the needles and felt the water drip down his hands. The water was warm, as was the fog.

The rushing water was close. Soon, Billy's branch swung only at air.

"I can't feel any more trees," Billy called over the sound of rushing water.

"Hold on," Simon said.

The group stopped. Billy poked his stick on the ground, feeling it give. It was moist like sand or mud.

The fog began swirling, slowly at first. Then the swirls formed into funnels and began lifting the fog into the air. The water ahead of them came into view, the grass and sand along the shoreline. Edward saw Tommy and walked over to his side. The fog continued to lift, unveiling the waterfall's edge.

"What's happening?" Ossie asked, then looked at Simon.

Simon's eyes were closed and he had both hands held ahead of him, palms up. He breathed long and steady. His face remained relaxed, but his fingers curled and twitched slightly like he was a puppet master pulling the strings of the funnels ahead of them. The fog now lifted high enough that they could see the other shore. It was about fifty feet from shoreline to shoreline. The water was moving quickly as it streamed to the edge of the Island and tumbled over.

Billy walked toward the Island's edge. The water plummeted toward the heavens below, but dissipated and turned into fog toward the bottom edge of the Island. That fog then crept back up the edge of the Island.

"What now?" Tommy called to Billy, shouting to be heard over the rushing water.

"We cross," Billy said as he walked back along the shoreline.

"That water will suck us over the edge," Edward yelled.

"The angels caught Tommy last time that happened," Billy said. "They'll do it again."

"We don't know if the angels are out here," Edward said. "What if we just fall, what then?"

Billy spun to face Edward. "Then go back! I'm getting across no matter what! Who's going with me?"

Ossie raised his hand, then Tommy. Edward sighed and raised his hand.

"Simon, you coming?" Billy asked.

"Shut up," Simon called without opening his eyes. "You're fucking up my chi."

"Are you coming?"

"Yes!" Simon replied, opening his eyes.

The fog began drifting back over the water. Billy looked across to the other shore. He thought he saw a figure watching them, but the fog quickly overtook the water again.

"Oh, great, you happy?" Simon said. "Now I lost my flow."

"Well, it was going to happen eventually," Tommy said, shrugging as he walked to the water.

"Hold on," Billy called to Tommy, grabbing at Tommy's shadow.

"What?"

"I think someone is on the other shore."

Tommy tried to look through the fog.

"How can you tell?" Tommy asked.

"I thought I saw them while the fog was lifted," Billy said. He cupped his hands over his mouth and shouted, "Hello!"

They listened, but heard nothing over the waterfall.

"Petrov?" Billy called.

Still no answer.

"Maybe they can't hear you," Tommy said.

"Might have just been my imagination."

"Should we go back and get rope?" Edward asked.

"There is no rope," Billy said. "I looked this morning, I couldn't find any we could take with us. We'll just have to hold hands."

"Eww, fag," Simon grunted. "No offense, Edward."

"None taken."

Billy grabbed Simon's hand, Simon grabbed Ossie's, Ossie grabbed Tommy's. Tommy grabbed for Edward's hand.

"You go ahead of me," Tommy said. "I'll catch you if you slip."

Tommy was close enough that Edward could see him smile. Edward responded with a clumsy smirk.

Billy waded out into the water, taking careful, steady steps. The sand gave way to large, smooth rocks. The current was strong, but Billy was confident that he could push through it.

Billy took a few more steps, pulling the others behind him. A rock shifted under his feet and he fell into the water, but quickly pushed his way back up to the surface.

"Shit!" Billy gasped.

"Careful!" Simon yelled. "You almost pulled me down."

Billy chuckled and looked back at Simon. "What's wrong, can't swim?"

Billy trudged farther into the water until it rose to his waist. He struggled to keep his footing as the current rushed against him.

"If it gets any deeper than my waist," Billy called back, "we'll turn back, okay?"

The others nodded. Edward could barely make out Billy's silhouette. He turned back to Tommy, who was watching the water warily. Edward squeezed his hand, and Tommy glanced up at him.

"It'll be okay," Edward said, trying his best to brave.

Billy pushed farther into the water. It raised a few inches, but leveled off just above his hips. The rocks became smaller and were overtaken by mud. Simon jerked as he felt something brush against his leg.

"What?" Billy asked.

"I think I just felt a fish," Simon said.

Billy smiled and kept on pressing across the water. Edward was now waist deep. He guessed they'd reached the halfway point and Edward was more confident they could actually make it.

Billy dropped farther into the water, almost to his chest. He quickly rose up to his waist and glanced back at Simon.

"Watch out for that drop-down!" he called but Simon had already begun sliding down into the underwater pit. Ossie tried to pull him up but lost his balance.

"Hold on!" Billy said.

Edward braced himself and tugged on Ossie, who was beginning to slide and drift toward edge of the waterfall. Ossie jerked and jumped until he got a foothold. Simon stood up, lifting his head out of the water. He laughed and looked at the others.

His smile faded.

"What?" Billy asked.

"Oh no," Simon said, looking out toward the lake.

Through the fog, a wave came barreling toward them. It pounded into the group. Tommy lost his footing and began tumbling toward the waterfall, yanking Edward's arm. Edward tightened his grip as the children were pulled toward the waterfall. They fought to get their feet under them. When one finally dug his feet into the bottom, he would be pulled on by the weight of the others. They all held on and were swept toward the edge of the Island.

Tommy was just six feet from the waterfall when Billy, passing a large rock, wedged his feet under it. Simon managed to stand up and brace himself, but Tommy lost his grip of Ossie and Edward's hands. Ossie reached and grabbed Edward's collar, holding him back from the waterfall. Tommy continued whipping forward until he rammed against a large rock at the lip of the waterfall. His face was barely above the water.

Tommy looked over the edge and saw the heavens below. He pushed himself up on the rock and tried to move back against the stream. He slipped and fell underwater. His head surfaced. He shook the water out of his eyes and braced himself on the rock.

"Déjà vu, huh?" Tommy called to Edward.

"Go back," Billy said, pulling the others toward the shore. "We need to find a long branch so we can reach Tommy."

Edward reluctantly followed, clasping hands with Ossie and trudging back to the shore.

"Here comes another wave!" Simon called.

Edward braced himself just as the wave pounded against his back. The group lost its footing and swept toward Tommy, who braced himself on the rock and prepared to reach for the children. Simon, Billy, and Ossie were too far away as they were pulled by the current off the edge of the Island. Tommy lunged for Edward, managing to clutch his hand as Edward tumbled over the waterfall. Tommy held Edward's weight briefly before Edward's fingers slipped through his grasp.

And Edward fell.

The children plummeted down the edge of the Island. Edward grasped through the falling water for the stony face of the Island, but couldn't reach. The water dissipated around him and the blanket of souls appeared beneath him. He could see the other children below him, screaming and groping at the empty air.

Lights appeared all around them, scooping up the other children below him. Edward felt himself slow. Light glimmered around him. He came to a stop, then was jerked back up the face of the Island, over the side of the waterfall, and above the water as the others also floated around him. The only one not being carried by an angel was Tommy—he was still clinging to the rock at the edge of the waterfall. He watched the others float by and disappear into the fog.

The angels dropped the children on the shoreline and floated away.

"Go get Tommy!" Edward yelled, but the balls of lights faded into the fog.

"Tommy!" Edward peered into the mist, but couldn't see him. Edward could barely make out the blur at the waterfall's edge. "Hang on, we'll get you!"

"Simon, lift this fog again!" Billy said.

The fog started swirling again, forming into funnels and lifting. Edward could see Tommy clearly; he was struggling to keep his face above the rushing water.

"Hold on, we'll get you," Edward said. Tommy carefully raised his hand up to signal he was okay, then clung back onto the rock.

"We need a long branch or something," Billy said.

"We need rope, dammit!" Ossie shouted.

"Well, we don't have any, so get some branches!"

"Here comes another wave!" Simon shouted with his eyes still closed.

Edward ran to the shoreline. "Here comes another wave!"

Tommy nodded and braced himself. The water rammed into the rock. It tipped. Edward's breath caught. Another wave hit, forcing the rock out of the mud and rolling over the side, taking Tommy with it. Edward ran to the edge and watched in horror as Tommy fell towards Heaven.

"Where are the angels?" Billy asked, looking into the sky.

The water evaporated around Tommy as he plummeted. He fell and screamed. Edward waited and watched for the angles. Tommy reached the bottom edge of the Island.

His body burst and disappeared.

"Tommy!" Edward yelled. He fell to the ground and continued staring over the edge. "Tommy!"

Billy looked over the edge and waited for Tommy to reappear. He searched their shoreline and then the far shore. The water. The woods.

"Tommy!" Edward called, but received no reply.

Billy noticed the same hazy figure on the other side of the waterfall. For a brief moment, he thought it was God watching. Then the fog fell again and covered the water.

"Simon, lift the fog!" Billy shouted.

"I can't," Simon said. "Someone else is controlling it now."

"Tommy!" Edward called again, turning in circles to scan through the mist, but Tommy was gone.

Chapter 25

Distant clangs of the lunch bell woke the members of Cabin Five from their daze. They sat in the mist near the edge of the waterfall, lonely, confused, and reeling from the regret of losing another friend. Edward cried silently as Ossie put his arm over Edward's shoulder. Billy grunted, stood, and led the others back to the campground.

Simon lingered and stared at the fog for a few moments. It swirled and a thin funnel cut through the mist and revealed the other shore. The funnel veered left and right, surveying the land like a spotlight. The funnel spun slower until the fog overtook it. Simon jogged to catch up with the others.

The lunch bell clanged again as they approached the mess hall. I met them near the woods.

"Where's God?" Billy asked as he strode toward Cabin One.

"Why?" I asked, jogging ahead of him and blocking his way.

"We need to talk," Billy said, pushing me aside.

"Not like this, Billy," I said, grabbing at his arm. Billy jerked it free. "Billy!"

The front door to God's small house opened and Jay stepped out onto the front porch. Jay took a wide stance, arms folded. Ready like a bouncer guarding the VIP lounge.

"Go eat, Billy," Jay said.

Billy stepped onto the porch. "I need to talk to God." Jay grabbed his forearm and Billy jerked free. "Out of my way!"

"You need to settle down, Billy," I whispered. "Lower your voice, and let's go talk about this."

"I'm tired of talking to God's messenger boys," Billy said, grasping the door handle. "I'm going straight to the source—now, get out of my way!"

"Billy," I said, holding his forearm. "This will be bad for you, and for everyone else in Cabin Five."

I eased his hand off the door handle.

"Now, let's go talk about this. If you can calm down, then I'll discuss the matter with God and see if He'll meet with you."

Billy glared at me. He turned from the door and stepped off the porch. I sighed and glanced at Jay, who nodded his head and followed Billy.

Edward stood in front of Cabin One. I tried to lead him away but he resisted.

"Where's Tommy?" he asked, staring at the cabin.

"Not here, not now. We will talk, I promise."

"I want to talk now!"

I looked back at the cabin and saw a hint of movement within.

"I can't," I whispered. "I can't talk here, okay? Go eat, then we will talk. I promise."

Edward frowned, fixing his eyes on me for several seconds before turning to walk with the others.

"Go ahead and I'll be right there," I called to them. I then turned toward Cabin One. I looked back at the remaining members of Cabin Five one last time before walking into God's house.

Billy strode quickly toward the mess hall and Jay hurried to match pace.

"Back off, parasite," Billy said, who was already halfway to the mess hall.

"I'm just trying to make sure you don't do anything you are going to regret."

Billy stopped and swiveled around to look at Jay. "Back off!"

Ossie tried to step between them but Billy nudged Ossie back and took another step toward Jay.

"You want to try to stop me?" Billy asked. "Do you really think you can?"

"Don't snap at me because your little friend fell off the side of the Island. You led them there—it's your fault, not mine. Certainly not God's."

Billy's nostrils flared. Ossie stepped in again, along with Simon. Billy backed off, turned, and continued toward the mess hall.

"Pretty soon, we'll be rid of you and your girlfriend," Jay called.

Billy pushed Ossie and Simon away and sprinted toward Jay. Jay backed up and tried to run, but Billy threw a shoulder into Jay's back, sending him sprawling.

"Stay away from me!" Jay warned.

Jay tried to get to his feet, but Billy kicked him back down to the ground. Billy grabbed Jay's hand and twisted it around so that Jay's arm was held straight out. Jay rolled to his feet, but couldn't get free. Jay winced and groaned as his shoulder tendons strained. Billy forced him forward past the mess hall, toward the lake.

Jay struggled and tried to jerk free. "Stop it! Bali, help me!"

I burst out of the front door of God's house and saw what was happening. I ran to intervene, but I changed my mind. I stopped before I reached Billy. "Be careful, Billy," I warned and left it at that.

Edward watched me carefully. I motioned for him to follow.

Jay tried to squirm, but couldn't free himself. The closer they got to the pier, the more viciously Jay struggled. Billy swung him to the ground and grabbed his legs.

A dozen children were swimming in the lake but they stopped playing and watched the scene unfold.

Billy pulled Jay backwards to the pier. Jay grabbed a plank. Billy yanked at his feet but Jay held tightly. Billy glanced up at Edward. Edward looked down at Jay and bent over. Jay looked into Edward's eyes.

"Please," Jay pleaded.

Edward unlatched Jay's fingers and Billy tugged him to the edge of the pier. Billy then dropped onto Jay's back. Billy latched his arms around Jay's head and neck, lifted him up and pushed him to the edge of the pier.

"No, no, don't!" Jay screamed. "You don't know what will happen!"

"You'll either swim or you'll drown," Billy said.

Jay closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Billy shoved him over the edge.

Jay fell silently and plunged into the water. He sunk and disappeared below. Edward stepped next to Billy and watched. I began walking to the pier. A series of bubbles hit the surface, but Jay remained below.

Billy stared into the water. His fury faded and was replaced by unease.

"He's not coming up," Edward said.

"I can see that," Billy replied.

Billy and Edward kicked off their shoes and socks, preparing to jump in after Jay.

"Don't," I said.

"But he's going to drown," Edward said.

I took off my own shoes, then my shirt. "He'll surface. You can't get rid of him that easy."

More bubbles emerged. They shimmered red.

Jay's body returned from the depths. He was facedown as he floated upward, like a corpse. He lifted through the water, but continued to rise until he was lying on the surface like it was glass. The water flattened out around him like a bloody disc and the waves avoided him.

He lifted his head; his scalp was bleeding profusely. He pushed himself off the water. He stood weakly and looked at Billy and Edward. Blood poured out from his wrists, his shoes were stained red. The side of his abdomen was bleeding as well.

The blood seeped through the lake, engulfing all the clear water in dark red. Some of the children began swimming for the shore; others watched in horror as the blood overtook them.

Jay collapsed and blood continued gushing out of his body. I lowered down into the water and swam to his body. When I touched it, my body was lifted out of the water. I could stand on the surface, which was as solid as concrete.

I lifted Jay's body up in my arms and carried him to the pier. Billy and Edward leaned over and grabbed Jay. They helped me sit him on the pier. Jay rolled over and looked up to Billy. He brushed Billy's cheek with his blood-soaked fingers.

"I forgive you," Jay whispered, then passed out.

Billy turned white and looked up at me, his eyes wide and panicked.

"It's okay," I said, trying to calm Billy as well as the other terrified children. "He'll be okay, but we have to get him to God's cabin. Get his feet."

We lifted Jay by the arms and legs—taking great care not to touch the wounds in his wrists. We carried him off the pier. Edward grabbed our shoes and followed as the rest of the children watched.

Light began flickering on the water, just as it had in the volcano spring. Scenes began appearing around the children still in the water. There were men beating women, children crying, people dying, drugs, screams, moans, sin.

The children gazed at the scenes glittering on the water. The scenes played all together, the sounds drowning each other out, the images and colors running together. It was impossible to tell what was happening on the surface of the water, but each individual knew what time of his or her past life was being replayed.

After a few minutes, the scenes faded and the children began trudging through the water to the shoreline. Some went to their cabins to change their blood-stained clothes. Some sat on the shoreline staring at the waves. The blood eventually sank to the bottom of the lake, and the water appeared clear again.

No one ever went back in.