But what made Rylie’s stomach twist wasn’t the filth or the silence. It was one of the older boys. He had his shirt lifted just enough to show fresh stitches across his belly, right above his kidney.

No. This wasn’t just kidnapping. They were harvesting the children.

Her fingers curled into fists so tight that her nails dug in, nearly breaking skin.

Rage spread like frost under her skin. Cold. Sharp. Dangerous.

Then the door slammed open.

A crewman walked in, neck thick as a tree trunk, smoke hanging from his lips. “Quit bawling, you little freaks! Keep crying and I’ll slice your tongues out and toss ’em to the sharks!”

He twirled a baton in his hand, and the second they saw it, every child fell silent. None of them moved, but their shoulders trembled anyway.

He marched straight over to the girl in the corner and kicked her in the ribs. “Shut it, you mute brat! Your singing’s giving me a headache!”

She gasped, hugging the unconscious boy tighter. She didn’t cry. She didn’t even speak.

The man’s eyes scanned the room, glinting like he’d found treasure. “Alright, you rats. Tonight you eat. Anything you want. Feast it up. Because the day after tomorrow…” He grinned wider. “You’ll be heading out on a special trip.”

“You… you said I was going to see my daddy.” A girl near the wall, gripping a torn-up doll, found the strength to speak.

The crewman’s grin shifted into something greasy. “That’s right. Once we dock, you’ll all see your parents again. Just close your eyes, take a little nap, and — poof! — it’s reunion time.”

The metal door slammed shut behind him. The boy with the stitched wound gave a sharp, bitter laugh. “We’re not getting off this boat. I woke up here after they dragged me from Oiscoll. They cut into me. Took something out. We’re all dead already.”

Most of the younger kids didn’t understand every word, but they still went pale. The fear in their eyes said they’d figured out enough.

Rylie stayed completely still, though her thoughts moved fast. The day after tomorrow. That was two days earlier than she expected. There was no way Brad’s fleet could arrive that soon. Even if the pirates skipped a few steps, they’d still need time. Bad weather would only exacerbate the situation.

If she stuck to the plan, these kids wouldn’t make it. They’d be torn apart and dumped overboard before anyone showed up. She was still sorting through the options when the boy suddenly lifted his head. He looked straight toward her — right at the metal grate hiding her from view. Somehow, through all that rust and shadow, he saw her.

Their eyes locked. And in that second, something unexpected flickered through her chest.

The boy was sharp and alert.

After thinking for a moment, Rylie opened the vent grille and slid down from the duct with ease.

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