Lost Read Online Free PDF Page A

She made a circle with her hands. “I know you won’t believe me, but there was this thing. This big round red ball in the sky, like a meteor or something. It came right for me, so I ran into the trees.”
    No one said anything.
    Cash stared down at her hands. “I know y’all don’t believe me.”
    Sarah reached out a hand and rested it on Cash’s knee. “We saw it too. It’s why we came to this cave.”
    Cash’s shoulders relaxed. “You saw it?”
    Marco and Nacho both nodded. Yvonna moved closer to John and he put his arm around her.
    Cash shrugged. “That’s about it. I ran to the beach here and I saw your camp. I started to write a warning in the sand, and I guess that’s when I collapsed.” Her voice sounded hoarse again.
    No one said a word. Sarah’s dad and Yvonna exchanged a worried glance.
    Sarah stared at her hand, frozen mid-stroke on Ahab’s head. The red-orb-in-the-sky part was true, she’d seen it with her own eyes. Did that mean the rest was also the truth? Had Cash been a prisoner?
    Sarah asked, “So the message in the sand. Beware the—”
    Cash’s eyes rose to meet hers. “I was trying to warn you. About the Curator.”
    A chill ran down Sarah’s spine. Ahab nudged her hand with his nose. Sarah began petting him again, but noticed her hand was trembling.
    â€œWell,” said John. “I think we should all get ready for bed.”
    Everyone went outside for a bathroom break, and to brush their teeth with small cups of water. Then they settled down, no one saying a word. Sarah snuggled in, Ahab between her and Cash. Except for the blue glow from her dad’s watch, the cave was black. Soon, she heard a few snores, and then, more deep, even breathing.
    Still, Sarah couldn’t sleep.
    On the other side of Ahab, Cash let out a deep, ragged sigh.
    Sarah reached out, making sure that Ahab was still there. Her hand landed in his soft, plush fur. She whispered to Cash, “You were lucky to escape.”
    â€œWas I?” Cash was quiet for a moment. “I mean, technically I didn’t. I’m still stuck on this island.” And in a whisper, she added, “And so are y’all.”
    Sarah’s heart pounded a little faster. She scrunched her eyes shut and thought about California. She thought about her home and her room and her friends. She wondered whether she’d ever make it back, and found herself wishing she was already there.

 
    4
    Marco switched on his flashlight. The cave was so dark that anything not in the direct beam remained only a dim, colorless shape. He pointed the light at Nacho. His eyes were shut, his short hair stood straight up. Marco waggled the flashlight, but his brother didn’t move.
    Then he moved the beam to Sarah. Half her long hair had come loose from her ponytail and was puffed out around her face. She sat up and squinted in the light, then yawned and stretched out her arms, nearly colliding with Cash, who was also awake and stretching.
    Cash didn’t look as haggard as she had the day before, and she held a hand in front of her face to thwart the light. Then Marco swept the beam and caught the empty bedding where his mom and John had slept. Marco grabbed Nacho’s shoulder and shook it gently. “Hey, let’s go.”
    They gathered up all the bedding so they could carry it, then Nacho, Marco, and Sarah grabbed their backpacks. The four of them trooped outside, where the sun was still fairly low, a glowing peach in the pinkish eastern sky.
    Cash yawned.
    â€œDid you sleep okay?” Marco asked.
    Cash nodded. “Better than I’ve slept since I got here.” Her voice sounded much less hoarse.
    Sarah asked, “Where’s my dad?” She glanced around and called out, “Ahab?”
    Marco shrugged. “Mom’s not here either.”
    â€œMaybe they went to get the fire going,” said Nacho. He