by M H Ryan
We walked back through the forest, through a thick section of ash that made my legs gray all the way up to my knees. The ash almost seemed lighter than air and floated around in variously sized chunks from the tiniest specks to dime-sized pieces that I’d occasionally have to brush off my shoulders.
I tried to stay out of my thoughts, but each time I went there, it was like jumping into a pit of self-doubt. I kept pushing the thoughts out. I wasn’t making the wrong decisions. I wasn’t going to let any of them die. I was going to make sure they lived through this so they could live full and happy lives. Damn right we were getting rescued!
However, the ashy ball of despair grew, and I slogged through the destroyed foliage at a slower pace with each step. I wasn’t sure how long we’d been walking, but I was ripped from my maudlin reverie by Benji’s scream of joy.
She shot past me, and in a few leaps, she had reached the raft and the woman sitting on the edge of it.
Chapter 20
Benji laid a hand on her shoulder, but the woman kept her head down, and much of her raven hair covered her face.
“Kara?” Sherri said, rushing to join Benji.
Kara sat on the edge of the raft. The waves rolled in and out behind her and a light haze of smoke wrapped around us. The sun was low and at our backs, sending the trees’ shadows over us like a spider web of dark and light.
“What’s wrong?” Benji asked, taking her friend by both shoulders.
She looked up at Benji with tears flowing from her eyes. Her dark eye makeup had run and given her a raccoon kind of look. Her legs and hands were covered in ash, and bits of it stuck in her hair. I remember her from the ship—the only one with vanilla skin that seemed to have never been touched by the sun, or it just merely repelled it. A few tattoos ran up her leg and over her chest and back with paragraphs of small writings on her side.
I walked closer, hoping to hear her story as Benji, Sherri, and now Aubrey peppered her with questions.
Kara stared at each of them, tears streaming from her eyes, but she kept silent. As I got closer, I noticed the sea cat was in her lap, and she was petting it. Some of the black goo was on her hands now, in stark contrast to the painted rainbow of colors on her fingernails.
“Something’s wrong with her,” Sherri said. “I’ve known her for two years, and she isn’t a mute.”
“Kara,” Benji said. “Are you hurt?”
Kara looked down at her body and shook her head. She wore a black bikini with strings that weaved around her body from the top to the bottom of the bikini. It was edged in an elegant white line on the trim. She was stunning, and I hated seeing her in this pain. I moved forward and kneeled right in front of her.
Seeing the terror and hurt in her eyes made me want to cry. I wanted to make it better, but I wasn’t sure how.
“Hi, Kara,” I said. “I’m Jack Sawyer, from the boat. Not sure if you remember me, but we’ve all ended up on this chain of islands. Can you tell me how you got here?”
She stared at me with those bright blue eyes, all the more startling with the dark makeup circling her eyes. She shook her head.
“Okay, don’t worry. You are in good company with that, because we have no idea how we got here either. Are you alone here?”
She nodded, and then her chin shook, as if the question itself upset her.
“Don’t cry,” I said and reached for her hand.
The sea cat meowed, but she took my hand in hers and kept eye contact with me.
“Can you get some water for her?” I said.
Benji went to the raft and pulled out a bag of water, tossing it to me.
“You must be thirsty,” I said, and put the bag of water in her hand.
Kara looked down at it and then drank from the bag in deep gulps. She finished the bag off and handed it back to me.
“Now, can you tell me if you are injured? Maybe a burn?”
She shook her head and went back to looking at the ground. She absentmindedly stroked the cat while it purred on her lap.
“One last question. Do you have a camp here? Somewhere we can stay the night?”
She looked up and shook her hand and head frantically.
“No,” Kara said. “We can’t stay here. We can’t stay here.”
She crawled further onto the raft and laid down in the middle, pulling her knees to her chest. The cat curled up next to her.
“I don’t know what her deal is, but staying on this island for the night sounds terrible,” Sherri said.
“Yep, that’s a big no from me on the demented forest sleepover. I’ll take my chances on the water,” Aubrey said.
“Benji?” I asked.
“Dementors,” Benji said. “You know, from Harry Potter.”
“Yeah?” I asked.
“This island is a dementor. The sand under our feet is sucking everything good from us, Jack. We need to leave here.”
“Wow, a reference that actually makes sense,” Aubrey said. “Plus, can you imagine what this place is going to be like in the dark?” Aubrey said.
“I think she can,” Sherri said, motioning to Kara.
“Okay, I guess we’re going on a night cruise then,” I said, happy that we hadn’t unloaded a single thing. I didn’t want to stay on the island either.
I kept looking over my shoulder, feeling as if something was watching me. The longer we stayed here, the more hopeless I felt, like a weight was being put on me. A dementor island. Definitely.
“You think there is anything we can take from this island? You know, for supplies,” I said.
“No,” they all said at the same time.
“Okay, let’s get out of here.”
Within a minute, we were all on the raft and taking our spots.
“Kara, can you paddle? We could use another hand,” I commented.
She shook her head and curled up into a tighter ball.
I felt bad for her. I wasn’t sure what she’d gone through on that dumpster fire of an island, or how long she’d been on it, but I knew a scared person when I saw one, and this island had terrified her into near paralysis. The sooner we got away from the island, the better.
With everyone set, I pushed off the island with the pole, sending us into the small waves in the shallows. The water flowed over the front of the raft, hitting Benji’s feet but disappearing between the bamboo slats before reaching Kara. I wasn’t sure if she would have even noticed. She seemed to be in a near catatonic state now.
We got out into the deeper waters in less than a minute and were making the best time we’d ever made. I guess we all wanted to get away from that island. As we got away from the island, the sun got further below the horizon.
The sky held onto a bit of light, but the darkness was winning, revealing stars one by one.
“I can see our island still,” Benji said, looking through the scope.
“Thank God,” Aubrey said. “I can’t wait to get back to our camp and just…” I saw it on her face, the realization our camp had been destroyed, and we were going back to more work after a long trip in the dark.
The nighttime ocean had a different feel altogether than the daytime version. The ripples over the black, silky waters seemed to have no depth, as if I could walk right onto the surface of it. There were splashes and bubbles on the surface as the creatures underneath romped and roamed. The energy coming from the sea was totally different than in the daytime, as if a whole new neighborhood had woken with the rising of the moon. Oh, and let’s not forget about the sharks, because they sure as hell weren’t forgetting about us.
The sharks stayed near us for the most part, keeping within ten feet of our raft and even making the occasional bump to our outriggers. Benji wanted to light them up with a barrage of arrows, but as long as they weren’t attacking, neither were we. I wasn’t sure how long our tar strategy was going to work, but it sure made the open waters more manageable.
The steady breeze had died down and gave the ocean a glassy look. The moon and the
stars reflected off the water, giving it a life and glow of its own. It was beautiful and terrifying all the same.
“How do you think she survived the fire there?” Aubrey asked.
“Don’t talk like she isn’t here or can’t hear us,” I said. “Kara, how long were you there?”
She shook her head and pulled the sea cat closer to her chest.
“Kara, we’re taking you somewhere safer,” Benji said.
Benji looked up at me and shrugged. I smiled. I wasn’t sure if where we were going was safer, but it was a lot nicer than the burned island she was on.
The raft lifted a few inches up, and we all went to our knees. Kara made a squeaking sound and covered her ears, hunching over the cat.
“Son of a…” Aubrey said as the shark swam out from under us. “I guess they aren’t scared of the goo anymore.”
“I don’t know. Those other sharks were jumping onto this raft and doing everything they could to kill us. I think these ones are still feeling us out. A more calculated approach,” Sherri said.
“You think they’re stalking us?” Benji asked, touching her bow.
“Yes, and once they feel they have an in to attack us, they’re going to take it,” I said. “So keep your weapons at the ready. There’s other things down there, too, so just be alert.”
“So are we saying night swims are off the table?” Aubrey said.
Sherri laughed. “Just keep paddling, you hag, you’re making the raft turn.”
“Well, maybe if I had those orangutan arms like you do…” Aubrey said with a smile.
“Are you saying you can’t keep up with me? Are you admitting I’m stronger?” Sherri asked as she paddled.
“Oh please, you’re talking to an all-around here,” Aubrey said.
“Pretty good at everything but great at nothing,” Sherri sang, and I could tell from the smiles and tones that this was nothing more than some friendly lady ball busting.
“You want a challenge?” Aubrey asked.
“Bring it. What are we playing for?” Sherri asked.
“Well, I hope you brought your pocket rocket, because whoever wins gets to sleep next to Jack tonight,” Aubrey said.
“Oh, it’s on. I’m going to paddle hard enough to make this raft move in circles,” Sherri said and raise the paddle high before digging it viciously into the water.
“First to turn the raft to their side wins,” Aubrey said.
“Wait, who’s getting to sleep next to Jack?” Benji said, taking an interest in the conversation.
“Girls, I’m not up for auction, you know?” I said.
“Please, we’ll decide who gets what here,” Aubrey said as she paddled harder than I’d ever seen her paddle—and we’d been attacked by sharks just earlier in the day.
Sherri jumped into it as well, and soon we were going about twice as fast.
I glanced down to Kara. Her narrow gaze held mine. I knew when a woman was measuring me up. Go ahead, Kara, measure away. I had sharks to keep at bay and you to keep alive.
The sharks kept their distance as we made amazing speed across the smooth waters. Sherri and Aubrey were pushing each other to the limit. After about twenty minutes, their bodies were slick with sweat, and they breathed deep in rhythm. The sharks were getting more aggressive, though, and I feared that soon they’d lose all the fear of the raft. And if these big boys swimming next to us wanted to start something, I wasn’t sure we would be able to handle them unscathed.
It did make me realize we needed a bigger raft, and maybe even a total redesign. Even with Sherri and Aubrey killing it with the paddles, the raft went through the water like it was dragging an anchor. As I sent the pole back into the water, I ran through the different materials we’d need to make the changes and the work it’d take to do it all.
The shark bumped the craft again, but this had happened so often now that not even Kara took much notice. She kept laying there with her new friend, stroking his head. At least we weren’t far from the shore now. We just had to go around to our side, and we could get back on land.
“Got anything left?” Aubrey said, breathing hard and looking worn out.
“I’m just getting started,” Sherri said, breathing just as hard and dripping sweat.
Sherri dipped her paddle and then just slumped forward, pushing the paddle through water as if it was drying concrete. Aubrey looked to have about the same amount of energy left.
“Why don’t you two sleep on either side of me and call this a draw?” I suggested.
“Fine,” Aubrey said quickly.
“I don’t think I can move any more anyway,” Sherri said.
“Ladies, just relax for a bit and let Benji and me cruise us in,” I said.
They both tossed the paddles onto the raft and lay on their backs, trying to get their breath back.
I didn’t like seeing them so spent; we could need that energy for another attack, but now I at least knew the top speed and limitations of this raft. But damn, they were some tough women. They just did the equivalent of a thirty-minute sprint, something that would kill most.
We guided the raft onto the white sands, and I’d never been happier to be on an island. The sharks behind us gave us one final splash in the shallows before swimming off. Good, bastards, get out of here, and don’t come back.
I took in a deep breath of the water island air. The air always felt different here, as if it lifted me up just enough that I felt better with each breath. Sherri and Aubrey got to their feet and were breathing normally now, though the sweat still dripped from their bodies.
The good feeling dipped as I was reminded of the wreckage left from the birds attack. The shelter was still in shambles, just like we left it. One thing missing was the dead birds. Drag marks scoured the forest floor and sand, leading to the ocean. Damn crocs probably took them. Guess we weren’t having a mutant chicken dinner tonight.
“We’ll rebuild,” Benji said, putting a hand on my shoulder.
We hopped off the raft and grabbed it, pulling it out of the water. Kara got on her knees as we pulled the raft.
“It’d be easier if you were off the raft,” Aubrey said.
Kara let go of the cat, and it walked off the edge and jumped onto the beach. Kara stared at the trees and the bushes. Her gaze moved to the camp, or what was left of it, and then to each of us. She stood and walked off the raft. She stepped up to me and touched my chest—not a sultry touch, but more of a poke, as if to see if I was solid. If I was real.
“What happened?” Kara asked.
Chapter 21
We spent the next couple of hours making a basic shelter that was pretty much logs on the ground with a blanket roof and a fern floor, covered by another blanket. Kara hadn’t spoken another word since we landed, but she did help some. She seemed to enjoy breaking down the ferns and creating a softer bed for us to lay on. I kept catching her staring at the ground, or the sky, and even me sometimes. Tears would fill her eyes at times, and she went to each of the girls, touching them, rubbing their shoulders, and sometimes, just staring at them.
By the time we finished, we were all beat, but Aubrey and Sherri seemed on near collapse. They groaned with each lift, and I could see the weariness on their faces. I, too, was exhausted, but I had no right to complain while working next to the likes of them. They were truly remarkable. They all were, even Kara. I wasn’t sure what she’d gone through, but I could see that healing was starting to take place.
At least the fire pit was an easy thing to put back together and there was wood scattered around our camp and easy to collect. And that was good, I’m not sure if I had it in me to gather more wood. There wasn’t much, but it would be enough for the night.
“Why don’t you make the fire tonight, Benji?” I suggested, both exhausted and trying to encourage her to practice her skills.
“Okay!” Her eyes lit up, and she rushed to the bag with our supplies.
She spent a few minutes setting up a nice batch of kindling and
pyramid of sticks. She lit the kindling with one match and placed it in the teepee of sticks. In a few seconds, the flames were licking up the sticks and giving us the first light of the night. After a few minutes, Benji had created a nice fire and started placing the larger bits of wood on it.
“Nice job, Benji,” I said.
She took a bow. “That was fun.”
Kara stared at the fire, looking terrified, and said, “Everything burns.”
“What?” Benji asked.
Kara didn’t answer.
“Kara,” Sherri said. “You know you’re among people that love you, right?”
Kara glanced at me and then back at the fire.
“When you’re ready, Kara, we’ll be here to listen, or if you just need someone to hold, we’re here for you,” I said.
Kara glanced around at us and went back to watching the fire.
Aubrey groaned as she cleaned the cat with more soap bush. “Freaking starving. Maybe we should cook up—”
“Don’t even say that cat,” Sherri said.
“I’m not that hungry, jeesh. I was thinking about the jalapeno mango salsa Benji made for me once.”
“Sweet and spicy,” Benji said.
“I think Kara could use one of those dishes right now,” Sherri said.
“We should make a trip to Food Island tomorrow,” Benji said, full of excitement. “And get as many mangos as the raft can hold. I could mix it with other stuff from the island,” Benji said.
“She’s right,” I said. “We are out of food, and we’ll have to make the trip tomorrow.”
“Already?” Aubrey said.
“And we’re getting low on everything else as well. I think it’s safe to say the EPIRB isn’t working at this point.”
“It’s the emergency beacon we have, but it’s apparently busted,” Benji said with a sigh to Kara.
Kara didn’t respond but glanced at me again and then back to Benji. I thought she was going to speak, but she didn’t.
“So we’re going to have to start making stuff with what we have around us. I don’t think we need to get into it tonight—we’ve all had a long day—but tomorrow, we’ll need to start figuring out a way to live off what these islands provide us.”