The Survivors

“The thought whispered beneath the rush of a wave. The undertow pulled again. He fought it, briefly, then took another step.”

The author begins the narrative with a haunting scene where a man watches a woman near the water and considers whether to take some undefined action. Using figurative language, the author describes the man’s thoughts as if they are external voices. The intense pull of the waves mimics the strength of his intrusive thoughts.

“She dropped her skirt, the hem falling just clear of the water, and ran a hand distractedly over the back of her neck, lifting her sheet of blond hair away from her skin in a thick, messy handful.”

As Bronte walks near the water, the author echoes the Prologue as she makes similar movements to the unidentified woman. As the events in the Prologue appear to foretell a catastrophe, the author hints the mystery woman being pursued by the man in the Prologue may be Bronte.

“‘But it’s funny how often people’s free will turns out to coincide with exactly what you want, mate.’”

As the friends reconnect after several years apart, the conversation is tense and the air thick with the past they share. Sean makes small talk and suggests Ash forced Kieran and Mia to come out despite being exhausted. His comment is meant to be humorous, but it is laden with the suggestion Ash tricks people into thinking they are making a choice but instead are doing what he wants them to.