Page 67 of The Curse Breaker

“No,” Benny said. “We have to—”

“Kid. Focus.” Kimble stared at her. “We have to do this. Now, where is your treasure?”

Benny held it up to show him and Kimble swiped it from her hand.

Benny looked down at her hand in surprise then up again and saw Kimble running across the sandbar toward the island without her.

“No! He’s got both coins!” Grace cried wading into the water. “Stop him! Grab the girl!” She reached for Benny, and Benny knew she only had seconds to make her move. She didn’t hesitate. She grabbed Grace’s hand and yanked as hard as she could till she got the ring off her finger. Grace screamed and grabbed Benny’s hair, pulling her back. Benny was quicker; she kicked at Grace’s legs, and the woman let go, Benny jumping up on the sandbar and running after Kimble now, ring in hand as she headed toward the island. Kimble turned and saw her. He turned and blocked her way.

“What are you doing?” he shouted. “Get back to shore, kid!”

“Not without you,” Benny cried. “You can’t give them the treasure chest. But you also can’t just stay there and curse yourself forever. I know that’s what you’re thinking.” Kimble looked away. “I’m the curse breaker. I’m supposed to save you. Evelyn made me promise.”

“Kid.” He put his hands on her shoulders. “You already have saved me.”

Benny knew what he meant. He was her dad. No matter what happened, his lineage would go on. “Don’t go,” she begged.

He grinned cockily, his swagger returning. “You know I have to. It’s the only way to protect the treasure.”

“But if you can’t get off the island—” Benny was afraid to finish the sentence. She held tight to Grace’s ring in her hand. It felt hot to the touch. She didn’t think Kimble saw she had it.

“You are smart. You are going to figure this all out.” His eyes glowed bright as he held her own. “Find Adrienne’s coin. Talk to Aggy about Evelyn. Find out if Evelyn ever got ahold of Grace’s other coin. I know you can solve this. Oh! And there is one more thing you need to know. About Evelyn. Who she married. She—”

BOOM!

Behind them came an explosion. Purple smoke plumed in the air. Benny saw Zara and Gil racing along the beach, shouting to her as chaos exploded on the shore, people running in all directions and yelling. Behind Kimble, the sandbar started retreating. They both had to go. Now.

“But what if I can’t fix this—” Benny protested, the sand starting to sink beneath her feet.

“You will,” Kimble said again, shouting to be heard over the wind. There was a flash of lightning and the sun shooting out of the clouds all at once. “I know you can do this, kid.”

“How do you know?” Benny yelled, her heart in her throat.

Kimble looked back at her and grinned lazily before shoving her off the sandbar, back into the sea. “Because you’re my kid. I wouldn’t expect anything less.” And then, he and the sandbar disappeared.

Twenty-six

Benny

Benny tried to swallow the sob that escaped her throat as she waded in the water, bobbing among the waves. Dad.

Then someone grabbed her arm.

“Come on!” Gil instructed, pulling her parallel to the water, swimming away from the mayhem and continuing to swim along the shore till the smoke dissipated. Benny felt numb. She spotted Zara waiting a ways down the beach and snapped to attention. Benny remembered her backpack and reached for it, finding it wet, but still there.

Zara held up another smoke bomb. “Ready? I’m going to give us more cover to get away.” She threw it as far as she could, and rainbow colors filled the air, covering them again. “Go!”

They took off running down the beach, not stopping till they reached one of the cliffs and a spot where they could slide between the rocks and hide. They slipped into the small crevice and tried to catch their breath. Benny didn’t hear anyone coming, which was good because she just wanted to cry.

Was the island gone for good? Was Kimble trapped? “Dad,” she whispered. What was he trying to tell her before the explosion? What did Evelyn’s marriage have to do with anything? How were they going to deal with Grace? Where was Axel? Benny threw herself at Zara. “Thank you.” Her friend hugged her back.

“Hey. That was fun. But did I hear you say the word dad?” Zara asked inquisitively.

Benny let out a muffled sob. “Yes. It’s Kimble, and now he’s gone and—”

“Breathe.” Gil patted her back, then looked at her. “This isn’t over.”

“How do you know?” Benny asked, trembling.