by Marien Dore
Taking a deep breath, my shaking slowed greatly, and I immediately acted. I raised the flint and struck it down along the side of the stone. I did that many times as fast as I could until I saw a few flashes of sparks in the dark. That was all I needed.
The sparks fell on my pile of brush. Instantly, the night was no longer dark. It spread the moment those sparks hit, making me back up several feet. Flames engulfed the dry nature and quickly jumped to the other dead trees I splashed too. It started to spread more, becoming brighter and brighter as my eyes grew.
I felt my smile grow at seeing the wild orange light become bigger. Brighter. More noticeable from a distance. I dropped my stones and grabbed the end of a long branch, the other end on fire. Picking it up, my feet swiftly moved to a dead tree a few yards down. I needed to speed up the process, making this fire as big as I could and as fast as I could.
A second or two later, the flames slowly started to expand to the dry bark of that tree. I smiled as the tree trunk started to burn, slowly moving up the branches. I did that to a few more dead trees until I realized I did not need to.
Everything that was dead and dry was now burning, moving along the tree line of what was dead. It wasn’t just the dead and dry burning, though. The fire grew and became so intense, flames began engulfing trees that were alive and flourishing with leaves. The licks of deep yellow and orange raised higher, became stronger, and traveled faster and wider. The fact that some spots of grass were also dead around here made it expand that much further.
Looking around me, I saw it was taking everything up in flames. A foggy and huge cloud of smoke was now covering the sky. The helicopter would see this. The pilot had to. Despite how far it might be now, the flames were growing. Growing more and better than I had hoped. Then even more…
My eyes scanning over the burning woods before me, my heart jumped. It was growing too fast. Faster than I wanted it to. It was spreading out of control, going in every direction. Including Casey’s. Camp was up the creek a ways, and when I started the fire, it was even on the other side of the creek. However, the fire was already spreading deep into the woods. And I knew based on how intense it was getting, it could get across the small little divider of water.
I wasn’t done with what I had to do now that I was standing before this crazy fire. I needed to hurry. My initial goal was to get the pilot’s attention. Backing up on the beach a little, stunned, I looked up over the trees and saw the fire was covering much more than I expected and fast. I now had another goal because it would spread, move towards our camp, closer to Casey.
With hope, much more hope than before, I ran. Ran back to where the creek was parting the land. I knew that even through the stream parted the land, it wasn’t a wide creek. That fire could reach to the other side with how some trees hung over the creek. When that happens, I need to make sure he gets out of there alive and safe.
Racing the fire, getting to the creek, I froze instantly. I did not believe my eyes, and I felt myself gasp. The flames... it reached the other side. Our side. And they were spreading which it made much worse. I couldn’t even take our usual path along the creek; it was in flames!
Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Casey....
I felt my chin trembling and throat burning. I ran slightly more down the beach, and when I looked to the forest on my left, I saw the fire didn’t get too far yet. It was okay to run through the dark forest so I dug my feet into the cool ground, turned, and moved deep into the woods. I knew our time was getting close.
As I ran, to my side, I saw that deadly light in the distance. However, from where I was, I judged that the fire was moving closer to him. Please, please, please. Let him be okay. Let him live, let me get there in time.
Whipping my head to the side again as I moved parallel to the creek, I didn’t see the fire nearly as much as before. With that, I turned and ran towards the creek. The trees started to thin, and it became grassier. Eyes wide, full of scared tears, I moved closer and broke into the familiar opening. I was standing along the stream’s bank, the water glowing from the reflection of flames coming up and closer. I beat it. I was here among the low trees that didn’t catch on fire. It slowed down a lot I noticed, that was for sure. I had to guess it was because there was nothing dead this deep in the woods to keep it as strong. Regardless, it was still easing closer.
I turned, moving to where I knew Casey was up the bank more. The few yards more I ran, my mind was pounding before I saw him. Ripping the hanging low leaves out of my way, I saw him. Lying in the grass, I gasped and froze for a fraction of a second. His eyes were closed, cheek against the grass… he looked unconscious!
I cried out as I ran to his side, dropping to my knees. Though the fire slowed, it was still coming. It didn’t help that we were under a tree blanketed in leaves and branches.
“Casey!? Casey, baby!” My sob ripped through my lips as I shook him. He was not gone yet. He was not that weak yet! “I’m right here, just like I said—”
His eyes opened that moment, looking tired. His lips turned up in a small smile for me too. I took in a huge gasp of relief. He was only resting his eyes. “You’re here,” he whispered lightly, eyes loving.
I nodded, moving away from him and looking hard into his eyes. “Yeah, I’m here,” I said.
He grasped my hand and spoke before I could tell him what was happening. “Honey, lay with me. Lie down with me and let me hold you.”
“No.” I shook my head. “T-There is a helicopter!” I got out, knowing we had no time. “Come on, we need to go!” I started to tug at his arm, gesturing for him to get up with me. He just stared at me, eyes wide. Shocked.
“What?” he asked.
“Yes! Now come on!”
I heard the fire, and it was closer now. It was only a few short yards from the tree! “What is that?” he asked, tilting his head towards where the flames were coming. His expression showed confusion and even more shock. Then, his weak and red eyes found me. “What is going on? What did you do?”
“The helicopter couldn’t see me so I needed to get its attention!”
“So you lit the fucking island on fire?”
I groaned. “Are you kidding me? Ask questions later. Get up! We needed to go!”
The flames moved in off to my side, into the forest more too. It was going to be surrounding us soon, especially when the fire was only a few feet from this tree’s leafy covering. He understood and nodded, trying to get to his feet and grunting. It made me pause for the first time in this entire situation.
I didn’t expect what just happened. I did not expect that he was that weak already, that he was struggling to stand. I knew time was closing in, but it was sure taking its toll on him faster than I thought it would. I saw that tiredness in that one attempt where he didn’t make it to his feet. He looked panicked now, looking up at me as he tried getting up. He fell back to the ground. Trying again, muscles tight and trying, his body seemed too weak. The evidence was in his tired and redder eyes, how frail his body was. We did not have time, though. I grabbed his shoulder and helped him stand.
He wrapped his arm around my shoulder for my support, his eyes wandering unnaturally. He swallowed hard, moving with me. Our feet moving through the grass, we went slower than I liked. His legs were weak, his whole body was. I was just happy he wasn’t weak enough to not walk at all.
We moved out from under where the tree began to burn and hurried up the bank of the creek as best as we could. He was struggling, and I had to pull him along. I wasn’t sure he would be able to make it to the beach at the pace we needed. That wasn’t acceptable, though. We made it this far; he had to live.
Moving up the bank, we got to where the lake met the creek and turned, moving towards where our shelter was. As we passed it, we turned and rushed through the woods, moving towards the ocean. As we moved along, in the corner of my eye, I saw the fire slowly coming closer, sweeping gradually over the forest in the distance.
We moved, struggling all the way. Abo
ut halfway, Casey was done. His legs gave out. Too weak, too tired to be using energy like this. He collapsed on the ground, grunting as his arm that was around me slipped away and to the ground with him. Groaning, he looked up at me, and I didn’t stop. I knelt beside him, wrapping an arm of his around me and helped him up. He had a harder time getting up than before. So much so that he barely had enough strength to pick his body up.
“Casey! Come on, get up!”
He tried, glancing to his side and seeing the fire coming in the distance, burning through the trees. I knew our shelter was up in flames, and everything we had was gone. It had a while to travel until it would get to us but we weren’t exactly moving fast either. Finally, he managed what I was pleading for him to do. His legs moved, bending, and he got to his feet with my help. He moved a few more yards with me but fell back again, his whole body seeming numb.
“Get up!” I grabbed his arm, trying to get him up but he only grabbed my arm with his fragile hand.
“It’s okay,” he moaned, barely. “Go. It’s okay.”
Did… did he just say that? Did he just he just tell me to leave him? After we were so damn close?! My lips parted, jaw dropping and not letting his words sink in. He was getting his ass up, and we were going to leave this place. Leave it and have our life together. We couldn’t stop here.
“Go?” I asked. “Are you kidding me?! Get up and come on!”
He shook his head, eyes closing. “Sweetheart, I can’t move. I—” he tried again, just because he needed to, wanted to so bad. Wanted that future so bad, to live. He wanted it. This wasn’t him giving up. This was him physically unable to get up. He grunted, and it turned into a frustrating yell.
“We are so close!” The fire was coming closer, but it was still few feet away. “I’m not leaving you here!”
“You aren’t. You will always be with me,” he murmured, eyes wide and in mine. He wasn’t ready to die yet. He was just too weak. “Go. Go home. I’m okay.”
“No!” I growled and gripped his arm, pulling him up into a sitting position without much help from him. I wrapped an arm up and around his back. “You can do it.” I gripped him tighter, forcing ourselves up and trying to balance.
I was able to take most of his weight somehow as I began moving with him again. So close! So flipping close. The fire was closing in more as was the sweet sight of the ocean a few yards away.
“Janice, I love you. Go home. It’s okay.” He was mumbling now, and I didn’t think he knew what he was saying as we moved.
“You are my home,” I told him. How could he think I would leave him there? Why would he? He probably knew I wouldn’t leave him there without me dying trying, but he tried to convince me regardless. Even in such a weak state, I came first to him. “We are almost there. Stay strong.”
Not a few yards away - a few little yards - I felt myself lose the grip I had on him. I yelped, seeing the fire maybe a dozen yards away to our side or more. The clear and safe beach was a few yards ahead of us too.
He was more conscious now, and he blinked a few times. I knelt next to him as he spoke the second he was down. “I broke my promise. I said I would never leave you. I’m sorry,” he said with panic, trying to find strength to move but unable to. He was getting too weak for this.
“Look at me!” I screamed at him. I couldn’t take it. We were so close, and we were going to make it. We just needed to hurry. “Look at me!”
Those sweet brown eyes met mine with his. I looked at him so deeply, so hard. I remembered we could both take power from each other’s gaze. His gave me a push to try, and I needed him to react the same. “Don’t stop looking at me. Don’t close your eyes,” I cried, moving around to his legs. Standing, I grabbed both of his legs and began pulling him back. “Keep your eyes on mine. Stay with me.”
Of course, it was only a few more yards. I had no other choice but to drag him the little ways left. His gaze stayed locked on mine, shined with so much love and hope. I knew they were tempted like mine to flash to his side to see how close the fire was. It didn’t matter, though. We were ahead of the game.
It was unbelievable. Unreal. No, not real. This had to be a dream. It was too close, way too close. But when my foot took another step back, and I felt the rough texture of the sand, I knew it was too good to be true. I gasped at that realization, dragging him out of the forest and into the sand.
We were safe. Well, in a way. He was still weak and dying. Plus, I didn’t hear the helicopter. I moved forward, kneeling next to his tired figure in the sand where we rested. All we could do was wait. Wait to die or for help to come. One of those were going to happen, and it still involved waiting.
I brushed his hair back, leaning in. His eyes were still in mine, our breath hard. My tears began falling harder before I softly kissed him. Then I looked into his eyes, happy with mine. “We are so close,” I whispered.
He was very weak, but he wasn’t dead yet. He struggled because of the lack of energy he had to get where we were. Now, though, I would say he could stay strong enough to hold on for a couple more hours.
Looking hard into my eyes, he brushed his soft finger over my cheek, catching a piece of my hair and curling it around my ear. As his eyes dug into mine, I heard the most wonderful sound in the world. Glancing up slightly, I saw it nearing. It saw us! Saw us thanks to the island going up in flames.
We made it…. Jesus Christ, we actually made it.
Chapter 70
It was a blur. Or it seemed that way for most of what happened afterward anyway. I remember kneeling in the sand, the fire glowing and thriving in the trees, spreading until that was all I could see in the forest. Then, I leaned down and moved him slightly towards me, moving him up to let his head rest on my lap as the rest of his weak body laid in the sand.
The buzzing sound in the air became so loud that I could hardly hear myself think. That’s when I knew the helicopter was landing and would help us, but I didn’t take my eyes off of Casey’s. Brushing his cheek softly, I begged his eyes to remain on mine.
“Look at me,” I whispered calmly with a smile. “We are going to make it. Help is here.” My only worry now was if he would be able to make it by the time we get back. I was able to give him some meds before, but his condition has worsened since then. Unless he is given immediate medical attention, the clock is still ticking. “The helicopter is landing,” I said. Full of glee, I chuckled with delight through my tears.
His shaky hand slid up and grabbed my hand that was resting on his cheek. He wedged his fingers between mine. Holding my hand there, he bent his fingers inward and led me to close my hand into a fist. Gently, he kissed my hand. I saw and felt a smile form on his face.
“You should have left me. You shouldn’t have risked your life like that for me,” he said, closing his eyes for a moment before opening them. Before I could respond to him, I heard something behind me. The shuffle of sand and shouting over the roar of the helicopter.
Help was here. That’s when things became a blur. Everything seemed to fly past me. I think it had to do with how hard it was for me to take everything in.
I remember the man came to us and asked if we were okay. When he saw that wasn’t the case, he looked down closely at Casey. Watching his face, waiting as if he were the man to judge how much longer he had, I saw the pilot grab his arm. Turning his arm over, he looked at the bite that caused all this. He said nothing. Instead, he wedged his arms under him and lifted him up carefully.
“Will he be okay?” I asked as I got up and walked with the man holding Casey back to the helicopter. He didn’t answer - probably because he didn’t know. It put me so on edge. I stayed that way for the next few hours that passed by after that last moment we spent on the beach. The last moment my feet touched the sand of this island that changed my life.
I was shaking. It was early in the morning, and I was sitting in a private room somewhere. The walls were painted a creamy color with light dotted wallpaper along the edges. A couple chairs occu
pied the area too.
I was still trying to grasp what had happened after the helicopter flew us off the burning island, we’ll always consider as our home in many ways. Replaying what I could in my head, the few hours in between then and now, I started to calm down a little. But only a little.
The second we had landed somewhere, Casey was taken from me. I was shaking hard because of it. We were out on a platform of some sort from what I was able to see with the lights illuminating the area. I refused to get a good look though for the fact that I refused to look away from the man I loved. Then, through the dark, a few people rushed to us, taking Casey. I wanted to go with him, but the people that took him and put him on a stretcher wouldn’t let me. I screamed that he needed me, but they didn’t listen, too concerned with getting him help. That’s when I felt the pilot there, grabbing my arm and keeping me in place. I watched in horror when they swiftly took him away.
Then… then I remember more people. Yes, that was right. Soon, people — so many people — were surrounding me. They weren’t like the people that took Casey to get medical attention. Everything became overwhelming. They all crowded in, hands outstretched before me with a microphone or recorder in their hands. Reporters started throwing questions at me when I didn’t know how to process it. You couldn’t blame me when this all happened after I stepped out of the helicopter. It became pure chaos.
“Are you apart of the group of students from Flight 279?”
“Who was the man with you?”
“Tell us about the crash!”
“Why did you try killing yourself?”
“State your name!”
“Were you really stranded in the middle of the ocean for days before swimming to an island?”
“How do you feel about being home?”
“Is it true that you tried burning yourselves alive?”
So much… so much! And all so ridiculous and unbelievable. It all entered my head too fast, my lips parted in shock. I said nothing, not knowing how to answer all those questions, let alone the exaggerated ones. How did they even know some of that? We just landed! I recall hearing the pilot talking over the radio, saying he found two survivors from the crash. That was all he said that was really relevant. It just proves how people are animals only looking for a good story.