I opened my eyes to a strange view. All around me was the ocean, no land or boats could be seen. And I was speeding along the waves on a motorbike.

I don’t know how far I’ve gone with my eyes closed. There’s no sign of the ships or any smoke. I know I didn’t have my eyes closed for long enough to get this far, but this bike can do some amazing things.

Go to the nearest settlement.

The bike turned sharply to the right, almost doubling back.

The trip took about half an hour, where I had nothing to do but watch the horizon and think.

Eventually, I spotted where we were headed, an island with massive berths for cargo ships and smaller ones for ferries, yachts and fishing boats. I couldn’t make out much else because of a large cliff.

We skirted along the cliff’s edge for a few kilometres before it ended in a small river with some boat ramps on the opposite side. I directed the bike up the ramp and we cruised around the island for another half hour.

There were only a few multi-story buildings and they didn’t go over five stories. The houses were generally small but the hill on one side had a number of mansions and a small resort.

We pulled up at a car park next to a cafe on top of the cliff. It was a small two-story building with a bakery and a joint restaurant above. Due to the early morning hour, the first story was packed with people getting coffees and a pastry or a full breakfast. I was lucky enough that one of the tables by the counter vacated just as I was passing.

While I was deciding between an omelette and pancakes a group of kids about my age came in and sat down at the table. They were talking excitedly about motorbikes and which one they were hoping to get.

“I hope we aren’t intruding on you. Or that you’re expecting anyone. This was the only freeish table. We can move if you want. Right, guys?”

I looked up from the menu. The girl who had sat down next to me had spoken. The conversation stopped as everyone voiced the affirmative. I would have preferred to have a table to myself but it would be rude to move or get rid of them. Plus if I left I won’t get a chance to eat for a few hours.

“You can stay. I just need to order though.”

“Thank you so much! I’m Lacy and this is Hayden, Ava, Dexter, and Phillip.” Lacy was a redhead hanging off Hayden’s arm. She had a very high pitched voice.

“I’m Willow.”

“Oh, what are you getting? We can order for you.” The boy across from me, Dexter, was peering at a menu. “I’m going to guess it was the...omelettes!”

My eyebrows shot up. That was actually right. I had just decided on them seconds before he’d said it.

“Well? Is Dex right? He usually is. It’s crazy.” Phillip clapped Dexter on the shoulder. “And please, never call me Phillip.”

“Uh. Yeah. Sure.”

“Well, I’ll be back in a few minutes. Their omelettes are amazing, Willow.” With that Dexter stood up and squeezed his way through the tables to the end of the line.

“I can get my own food.”

“Don’t worry about it. We took over your table so its the least we can do. Hey, Lace could I have my arm back?”

I had been wondering that myself. He didn’t look too comfortable and Lacy had started gripping it rather tightly. In fact, his hand was starting to discolour.

“Look.” She pointed towards a boat on the horizon. “They’re back.”

“Who’s back?” It looked like a normal boat. Well, a normal defence force boat. They were pretty impressive structures. Very hard to destroy. Not that I would know anything about that or just done it last night.

“That boat has been going from here out to sea once every two months for almost a whole year now. We don’t know much about it. It’s not one of the navy’s though. We did enough research to know that. Plus with what they do there’s no way the government would allow that.” Phil was somehow both frowning and grimacing.

More people had started to notice the boat and the news was spreading fast. Phones were pulled out and calls made, whispers of ‘they’re here’ echoing around the building. People rushed out while more still rushed in. Some were shouting. Others barely whispering. But everyone was worried and frantic. There was anger too, but when it surfaced it was buried fast.

“What do they do?” I was afraid to ask but I had to know. I had to see if there was anything I could do.

“They come up here and we can’t do anything about it. They have so many weapons. When they get here they take what they want. They don’t pay for food or anything and they take people. We never see them again. Once they enter the boat they’re gone.” Ava had tears trailing down her cheeks.

“We’ll need to be gone by midday. Okay, Lace? We’ll make it.”

“Okay.”

“Our plan won’t work. It won’t. They’ll find it. And then they’ll take us for hiding.”

“It has to work, Phil. It needs to.” Despite her tears, Ava was somehow the strongest.

Just then Dexter returned, the food not far behind.

“We eat and then we prepare. We gather as many people as we can and we head for the cave. We’re still doing that right?”

“Yeah, we are, Dex. Not that I think it will work. Hey Willow, do you want to come with us? You won’t be getting off the island. Not till they leave anyway. And once they arrive tomorrow will seem very far away.”

“Oh. I’ll have to think about it. But how would they find or not find a cave?” Their offer was very generous, considering they had just met me. And even then they didn’t know anything but my name, breakfast choice and the fact that I wasn’t from their island. Though they were talking about it in front of me so they may have felt like they owed me the choice.

“Fair enough. The cave is on the cliffs, at sea level. For about 100m there's no floor, just water. After that is a little beach and then it’s a short walk to a massive cavern. I reckon most of our little population could fit in there alone and it goes further too.

The reason it probably won’t be found is that there is a tiny opening right at sea level. In fact, at high tide it’s pretty hard to even get through on a tinny, we need to duck and the boat scrapes if there’s lots of wake.”

“You’re not making our plan very appealing, Hayden.” Ava glared at him. “Today there is a low tide at midday so we will be fine. Except they are more likely to see it at low tide. Plus if people talk or make any noise, the sound will carry and they’ll hear us if they’re quiet -- which is unlikely to happen. So, you want in?”

They needed my help. Their plan was amazing, they’d clearly thought about it a lot. But they won’t have enough time or the ability to get everyone through. Plus someone might snitch if they don’t come and think it will get them something. Then the boat people will be out looking for this cave.

“I’ll come. I even have a few ways to improve your plan”

Dexter smiled at me. “Well come on then, we should eat up and get going. What sort of bikes are you all wanting to get after this is over?” They all perked up a bit at that. I guess they didn’t really want to think about the boat. Or they loved motorbikes that much.

Everyone dug into their food, which Dexter picked out and apparently helped make. Supposedly he always gets their food right, no matter what they were thinking and how different it is from their usual.

The conversation went from being down about the incoming boat to the complete opposite with talk of their future bikes. They all had a heap of money saved up for their dream bikes. It turned out that once they treated themselves to a nice breakfast they were planning on buying some from just down the road.

During the conversation, I noticed a shift. I knew what had happened straight away. But I couldn’t let myself think about it. I needed to let whoever it was complete their little plan before I did something. Besides, they couldn’t do anything with it and I had all I needed on me.

I became more involved in the conversation, trying to distract myself. If I didn’t it would react and ruin the plan that was forming. I gave my new friends tips on how to drive a motorbike and what to look for in them. After all the tips I gave it was no surprise when they asked how I knew all of that.