The Island - Chapter Five

Chapter Five: Kasim

“In everything there is a season, a time and a purpose.”

These words ran through Kasim’s mind like irritating recordings as he trudged along behind Ryan and Christine. Emery walked beside him and the newcomer, Parker, trailed behind them.

Is this even real, God? Kasim replied every time in answer to his nagging thoughts.

The horrors from the night before flashed before his eyes...there had been so much more that what he had revealed to the others. He dared not speak of what he did not know, nor of what had struck such terror in his heart.

The island was a spiritual habitation, perhaps a portal to hell. He had heard of such things, believed them to be true...but now, after perhaps an encounter with such a virtual reality, he did not know if he was capable of handling such craziness. Not after last night.

Whatever it was the island was of a nature dark and sinister. And though, like the others, the mystery of how they arrived made no sense, it was real. With literally no memory of how such a transfer had occurred, Kasim was frustrated beyond reason. Yet, despite this, he found himself strangely at peace.

Yes, he was on an island. Never the less, God was still in control, and this situation would be used for a purpose in his life.

Only God, if I am to die, let me know why and what for? He prayed silently.

After what he’d seen, Kasim could not help this train of thought...they all might die.

Glancing towards the sky Kasim shielded his eyes from the sun’s glare. Clear blue...no clouds. There not been a cloud since dawn. Kasim lowered his gaze feeling Emery curiously following his example.

“No clouds,” he said out loud to reassure her.

Odd behavior could alarm any one at this point.

Emery nodded,” It’s surreal.”

“You think?” Kasim smiled, the girl’s dark eyes were haunting, and strangely disturbing.

Sad, perhaps; even bitter.

Emery lips twisted into an ironical grin. She opened her lips to reply, only to be interrupted by a shout from Ryan. They both glanced up. He was pointing towards something ahead of them. It was off shore. Kasim saw a cliff jutting out into the ocean’s waves.

“It’s boat!” Ryan explained as they hurried forward,” See just below those rocks.”

“It is a wrecked boat,” Christine corrected him. Everyone could see the jutting holes in the boat’s white stern and bow. A small pleasure cruiser, Kasim surmised.

“Well, let’s check it out,” Parker said suddenly, walking ahead of everyone.

He turned, obviously sensing they were staring at him.

“What?” he raised his hands in puzzlement.

Kasim felt Ryan shrug beside him and reply,” Nothing, come on.”

Kasim knew they’d felt it, everyone, accept Parker; the electrical sense of warning.

Reaching the water’s edge, Ryan and Parker plunged in ahead of Kasim and the girls. Kasim could now see the boat was lying on its side, hull splintered. The round glass windows were shattered, every single one. The water was deep in this alcove. Ryan went under unexpectedly, which gave every one a start, but he came up laughing.

Kasim swam towards the bow. It was facing the sea. Kasim found that odd, normally a ship crashed head first. Gripping a jutting piece of the hull, he hauled himself up onto the tilting deck. He could now see the words,” The Spirit,” painted across the side. The letters were pale blue. Ryan was already at the stern, pulling Emery up beside him.

“Look for the ship’s log,” he said, taking charge once more. Kasim found the guy’s strong personality could not help this attribute.

Kasim didn’t mind, Parker glared sulkily, no doubt wishing he had said it instead.

Christine was staring through the shattered windows with an absent gaze.

The door to the main cabin was on Kasim’s end of the boat. Fingering the jammed latch, Kasim muttered in frustration. Stepping back he kicked the door inward.

A comfortable, though molding lounge, met his eyes. Water was nearly half a foot at the lower end. Hanging onto the wall for support, Kasim eased his way inside. Christine and Parker followed.

“It stinks,” Christine observed, wrinkling her nose.

“It’s been here a while,” Kasim grunted. He glanced around and noticed a stairway leading deeper inside.

A scuffling sound, told him Ryan was forcing his way into the captain’s bridge at the front of the cruiser. A quick estimation told him the boat was nearly a hundred feet in length.

“Parker, why don’t you two check these cabinets? We could use food if there is anything.”

“All right,” Parker gave Christine a hand, helping her inside. Continuing on, Kasim splashed through the water as he stumbled towards the stairs. A cold mustiness, tangled with the aroma of salt water tickled his nose.

Wishing for a flashlight, he placed one foot gingerly on the first step.

************************************************************************


The scout discovered the five young strangers two hours after dawn.
They had found the cruiser.
Pale eyes squinted through black binoculars; peeling lips twisted into a sardonic frown.
Guilty fools.
So the Great Brother had delivered the antidote like promised.
Children of the gods...unstained by real evil.
That would change...and very soon.


************************************************************************

Christine

Christine gagged in disgust as over-ripe cheese met her nose, mingled with that of rotting bread. She slammed the cupboard shut and turned away holding her nose.

Parker glanced across the room balancing a can of beans in one hand

“Jack pot over here.”

Christine frowned, climbing her way around to where he stood.

“I’m feeling watched or something,” she shivered, as a cold breeze blew in from the broken windows and doorframe.

Parker turned around, eyes skimming over her body.

He’d been doing that for the past hour. Christine felt like slapping him. Instead she glared and grabbed the can from his hand.

“How many are there?” she asked.

“Twenty or so,” Parker replied.

Ryan and Emery’s voices could be heard through the thin wall as he spoke. Christine could not understand what they said, but the tone was excited.

Then, suddenly, from the depths of the ship, Kasim let out a cry of alarm.

Fear froze Christine’s heart. Parker dropped the cans he was holding and stumbled to the top of the stairs.

“Kasim!” he shouted.

Christine could hear Emery and Ryan scrambling to reach her side of the deck.

Kasim’s voice carried upward,” I’m all right. I found the captain’s body...”

Parker let out a sigh of relief and glanced over at Christine with an appealing smile. Ryan and Emery appeared, just in time to hear Kasim’s answer.

“And we found the captain’s log,” Ryan said, holding up the object in his hand.

“...there are more bodies down here,” Kasim’s voice echoed up to them.

Christine’s feet shifted uneasily in the shallow water.

Parker hesitated, glancing back at the others. Christine guessed he felt slightly squeamish about plunging down into the dark hold of the ship. She didn’t blame him.

Christine turned to Ryan who was already pulling himself along the side of the ship to get to the stairs. He had left the log in Emery’s hands.

“Christine look for a flashlight,” he said coming up behind Parker.

Christine, clinging to the wall, quickly searched through the cupboards, as Ryan shouted back down to Kasim.

“Stay there, I’m coming down!”

“There’s nothing Ryan,” she shrugged.

“Ok,” he squeezed around Parker and disappeared down the steps. Curious noises followed; a lot of splashing and grunts.

If Christine’s fright had not outweighed her curiosity she would have joined the two young men. But she had no desire to see dead bodies. As it was she stood trembling in the cold water, sharing glances with Emery and Parker as the seconds ticked away.

************************************************************************

Ryan

The lighting was dim, as Ryan sloshed down into the knee deep water at the bottom of the ship.

“Where are you Kasim?” he asked, noticing the patches of light streaming in from several portholes that were above the water line.

Despite his brave rush down the stairs he had no desire to encounter a floating body without warning. No doubt that was what had happened to Kasim.

“Right, here,” he felt Kasim’s hand touch his arm. Even still Ryan jumped.

“It’s a horrible, sight. I would warn you not to look,” Kasim cautioned. Ryan could see the young man’s eyes now as his own adjusted to the dark.

“But I found something, maybe you should see.”

“What?”

Kasim pulled Ryan farther away from the stairs, near one of the portholes where they both could see.

“I don’t want the others to hear...look,” he handed something to Ryan,” It was sticking out of the captain’s front pocket.”

Ryan glanced down at what felt like paper and stared for moment, unable to answer.

It was a picture of Parker...water stained, but obviously the pretty English boy.

“What...how...?” he eyes shot back up to Kasim.

“Exactly...how did a picture of that fellow up there, get on this boat? I thought he was one of us,” Kasim shrugged,” maybe he can’t honestly remember. Perhaps we all got here on this boat, but still I do wonder. Do you think we should show it to him?”

Dark suspicion immediately crept in to Ryan’s heart.

He shook his head,” No...let’s wait and watch him. Did you find anything else?”

Distractedly he stuffed the picture into his jeans.

Kasim shook his head and motioned towards the corner of the room, which was a small stateroom; doorways led in either direction to adjoining bedrooms.

“What of the others bodies?” Ryan asked peering around Kasim. He could just see the outline of several dim forms floating in the shallow water.

“Two women and a man,” Kasim’s lips tightened,” Their faces were marred beyond recognition.”

Ryan muttered a curse under his breath,” The water did not bring them back to life...strange?”

Kasim stared out the window thoughtful concentration covering his dark face.

“Perhaps the water can only heal those dying, not those already dead.”

Ryan glanced around the ship,” Maybe...”

It made sense...in a crazy way.

Kasim sighed,” All four including the captain have gun and knife wounds to their neck and body. I think they were already dead, before the ship crashed.

Ryan had no evidence to refute this statement.

Kasim continued,” If so these bodies are several days old. If we were on this ship, or if Parker was, both would have had to been out for quite a while.”

“This raises a lot more questions,” Ryan crossed his arms, growing angry,” We should search this ship from top to bottom. Any clues could help.”

Kasim nodded, appearing to agree.

“But this is enough for now. I found the log book and some papers. Let’s go back up, and take a look at those,” Ryan was nearly gagging at the stench. His head was also spinning, again nothing was making sense.

“All right, let’s not tell the girls about the picture either,” Kasim suggested,” For now...”

Ryan agreed and they hurried back up the stairs.

Some thoughts of the seasons...

There and Back Again (something I wrote for English class)


I love watching the seasons change. All four are special in their own ways. Each one has different meanings, different feelings, and different memories. Winter is my favorite, but spring and autumn to me are the most significant. I believe it is because of the pronounced change that occurs with each, and how they are directly related to winter, only in opposite ways. One is going into winter; the other is leaving it. Spring is the birth of new life. Babies are born, flowers burst into bloom and the grass explodes into the most brilliant green. The cold of winter disappears, replaced by the most healing warmth. The sharpness of grays and pale blues fades in the vibrancy of pinks, and purples, and yellows, and reds. A sense of newness and expectancy lies in the gentle whisper of the warm springs rains and the clear sunshiny days. The end of school is approaching, and the beginning of summer’s bliss is within sight. No longer is everyone bogged down by the belief that winter might never end. Beauty is beckoning and bringing hope. And if you stand still, sometimes you can hear music singing through the air.
Autumn is a time of dying, which is beautiful in its own way, since it carries on the circle of life, but often times sad and dreamy. Trees lose their leaves, gardens are harvested of their produce, and the sky’s radiant blue begins to fade. The warmth of summer fades as well, replaced by an aching chilliness. The colors change to realistic hues of browns and greens and maroons. Longing lingers in the atmosphere, begging for mystery, but demanding that you keep to the rules. School begins, with all its tedious schedules and rigid unyielding demands. People bustle about, frantic to undue the laziness of their guilty summers and pursue fresh visions with renewed enthusiasm. Truth, in all its practical reality, demands that watch your step and watch the road. The voices of a hundred reasons crowd your mind with confusion.
Spring lifts the veil of snow, like a bride’s lacy mantle, revealing the shining glory of brand new splendor. Death has been nurturing a seed; hiding its growth until the proper time. Once revealed, the beauty is three times more than what could have been imagined. Young love is discovered. The soft kiss of wonder touches the earth with its unending discovery. Autumn gently buries its beloved. It scatters the petals of its wilting blossoms; yielding its fruits, so that others may live. Life peels back its outer shell, revealing its heart, even as the leaves fade to dust, and are carried away by the cool winds of the north. Gratefulness is shown, in the touch of a hand, the kind tone of a word; the quiet tears of an aging saint.
Spring, even in its all its majesty, knows that autumn will eventually come around. It always does. Spring embraces its youthful exuberance, but willingly lets go into the wise arms of the coming seasons. Autumn, in all its melancholy sorrow, clings to
the hope of spring’s new beginnings, even as it painfully surrenders to the hard coldness of winter’s ultimate death. The promise has never failed, nor will it ever. Spring will always take you there and back again....and autumn will too.

mmmhhhh...

This looks like an awesome movie that is coming out the end of this month...the little boy is one of the best child actors I've ever seen, Freddie Highmore...

August Rush


here's a clip from a movie he was in several years ago...so sad, just look at his eyes...

(Finding Neverland)

On My Shoulder

I love the words to this song...hehehe...as I've said before I measure my life by the songs I listen to...

On My Shoulder - Westlife

All around the world
All around the world
Someone needs somebody
Let me be a shield
All around the world
All around the world
Someone's feeling lonely
But I know you never will
'Cause when it all gets too much

Put you head down on my shoulder
A little warmth when it gets colder
Now I don't know the things that you're going through
But you can put your head down my shoulder
Wear the snow till it blows over
I know you're there for me too
Know I'll be there for you too

You've waited for a change
You've waited for the day
And all that you remember
Is with you once again
There's a long road ahead
It stretches out for miles
And if you want some company
I'll walk with you a while
Oh, and when the road gets too rough

You can put your head down on my shoulder
A little warmth when it gets colder
I don't know the things that you're going through
But you can put your head down on my shoulder
Wear the snow till it blows over
I know you're there for me too
Oh, I'll be there for you

For you
For you, oh
When it all gets too much

Put your head on my shoulder ( on my shoulder)
Put your head on my shoulder (on my shoulder)
Put your head on my shoulder (on my shoulder, now)
You can put your head on my shoulder
A little warmth when it gets colder
But you can put your head down my shoulder
Wear the snow till it gets colder
I know you're there for me too
Oh, I'll be there for you

Deeper...

Its the middle of October right now and I don't know why but for some reason this month seems to be dragging on forever. I find myself strangely stalled; like my feet are moving but I am just not getting anywhere. School is slow and predictable, my writing is going no where at the moment, and my social life is at its slimmest. I'm not complaining; I would rather my life be boring and stable, then insecure and dangerous, but I can't help feeling just a tad bit bored. Spiritually bored, mentally bored, physically bored...how many ways can you explain bored?
Then I look outside and see the beautiful autumn weather, and I feel ungratefully lazy in this attitude. Its not like I have nothing to do. Every day has something to occupy my time, whether it be studying for class or cooking meals for the family, but its like just in my spirit I feel restless. It always seems that with the changing of season, the heart as well adjusts to its own changes, after all the spirit and the physical are always combined.
Let the cold winds blow, so to speak, and clear away the heat of summer's blissful fantasy...crisp reality has arrived.
Or maybe I'm being to severe. Perhaps life is keeping this steady to pace, to balance out who I am. I've decided to never believe I know anything any more. Without God I know nothing, I am nothing, and everything else is nothing. Whatever He allows is good, whatever He withholds is good, and whatever He is doing is good. So I even in my growing faith, which still feels like a tentative, wobbling baby at times, I cannot doubt who He is, even if I doubt myself. And even as I doubt, it is like there this growing warmth inside me, pushing out all the dark ugliness and unwanted sin, squeezing slowly, each little issue one by one to the surface...they linger, if only for a moment in view of all...and then suddenly they disappear, and the warmth remains in their place. When someone asks to be emptied, I don't think most people realize the actual reality of what they are asking of God. In order for something to be emptied, what is inside must come out...it's not all glorious and inspiring to find yourself being poured out. Its not pleasant...but somewhere within all the unpleasantness of it, you actually find God in ways you couldn't before. Somehow His presence is that much sweeter, His forgiveness that much realer and His love that much more precious.
Now what does it feel like to be completely empty?...I can't answer that, cause I haven't got there yet...but oh, how I want to reach that sweet bliss, that reckless abandon of only Jesus.
Today has just been an ordinary day, full of ordinary things...but somehow I think in all its ordinariness, something extraordinary has happened...is happening every day. I think once again God is taking out another piece of this heart of stone, and replacing it with a piece of Himself...His heart of flesh. And somehow this comforts me...and tears away my bored, lazy mind...making me feel wonderful once again.

Everything
Lifehouse

Find me here
And speak to me
I want to feel You
I need to hear You
You are the light
That's leading me
To the place
Where I find peace again
You are the strength
That keeps me walking
You are the hope
That keeps me trusting
You are the light
To my soul
You are my purpose
You are everything

And how can I stand here with You
And not be moved by You
and You tell me how could it be any better than this
yeah...

You calm the storms
And You give me rest
You hold me in Your hands
You won't let me fall
You steal my heart
And you take my breath away
Would You take me in
Take me deeper now

And how can I stand here with You
And not be moved by You
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this
And how can I stand here with You
And not be moved by You
Would You tell me how could it be any better than this

'Cause You're all I want
You're all I need
You're everything, everything
You're all I want
You're all I need
You're everything, everything
You're all I want
You're all I need
You're everything, everything
You're all I want
You're all I need
You're everything, everything

And how can I stand here with You
And not be moved by You
Would You tell me how could it be any better than this
And how can I stand here with You
And not be moved by You
Would You tell me how could it be any better than this

LOST.....and Brian Mcfadden

This one of my favorite tv shows...and the guy singing, one of my favorite music artists.

Bryan Mcfadden - Demons



Real To Me


Irish Son


Like Only A Woman Can


Sorry, Love Daddy


Almost Here


Everybody's Someone

The Island - Chapter Four

Chapter Four: Parker

It was dark. Not just the dark you see at night lying in your bed, but the kind of dark that freezes you with fear that there might never be light again. The kind of dark that squeezes your lungs...choking out any breath.

Add on top that exhaustion, hunger and dehydration and you would find a perfect case of sheer terror. Not to mention you were crammed into some sort of box, with no hope of getting out.
Parker Eaton wasn’t even sure he was breathing now. Every breath was a forced thought. His limbs had already grown stiff with numbness. He couldn’t feel his feet. And what was worse; his hands were tied behind his back. Parker had no doubt his feet were as well...but of course, he couldn’t feel them, not mention move them.

Three hours ago he’d worn himself out screaming. So his voice was now gone. Only one thing kept him living; the small hole above his head. Second by second it leaked air into the tiny compartment. Stale air, yes, but air.

Like anyone, his mind whirled with terrible assumptions of how he would eventually die. Alone and slowly.

Someone was taking revenge. He’d already figured that one out. He had a dozen enemies in San Francisco who would gladly see him done away with. Parker was not a professional gambler, no, he was a professional actor. But he couldn’t help getting a thrill out cheating people out of their money. Now perhaps he was paying dearly for it.

But what kind of psycho would tie a sleeping man up in a box and leave him there to wake up in absolute terror? Parker couldn’t remember falling sleep...but he must have. How else did he get here?

The last thing he remembered was drinking at the local pub. Of course he must have gotten drunk...and then this had happened when he was out of it.

His resolve to live was weakening as the hours ticked by. With the numbness of his limbs, came a numbness of the mind.

He’s was nearly frozen now, with full belief that whatever life remained would only be within this ghoulish nightmare.

Then a voice spoke.

Above his head? Next to his ear? Inside the box?

He had no idea. A voice just spoke. It could have been a man’s or woman’s...Parker had no way of telling.

The voice said,” You will trust in me before the end, Parker Eaton. Remember that...when all hope fails, you will trust me.”

Parker felt himself tremble. That is what little he could feel of his body trembled. He could not stop it. A massive presence seemed to surround him inside the tiny box.

He did not understand the words...but he knew something, or someone was outside his tiny prison.

“Get me out of here,” he tried to scream, but only a breathless whisper escaped from his lips.
Silence was all that followed. No footsteps, not voice, no nothing...

His breathing began to increase, as the panic returned.

Without warning his box was suddenly suspended as if on thin air. And then he felt himself hurled by a great unseen force. Head over heels his box began to catapult. Parker weakly tried to brace his body against the brutal jarring. His head smashed against the top of the box, shooting flashes of pain through his skull. Parker groaned, losing his grip. Every feeling in his body came alive, as his bones, skin and limbs were smashed again and again against the flimsy wooden walls of his box-like prison.

Then, with out warning, the box crashed into something solid and shattered. Parker’s head and left shoulder made direct contact with the jagged side of a granite boulder.

He fell to his back, amidst the splintered ruin of the box. Vaguely he felt the soft cushion of feathery grass and gravelly sand beneath the splinters. He smelled the breeze of a summer night. Then he saw a dark sky, barely lit by shadowed stars, and the silhouette of two palms trees.

Then this new world faded to nothing but black....once more.

***********************************************************************

Christine

It was the lap of the tide that awoke Christine the next morning. She rolled over, slowly opening one eye at a time. Then moaned as she realized the nightmare had not been ended by a night’s sweet rest. Pushing herself up Christine glanced around. Both Ryan and Kasim were still sprawled out on the beach, sleeping soundly. Ryan’s bare chest rose and fell with even breaths.
The sun was peeking over the endless ocean line. Emery was no where in sight. Christine stumbled to her knees, brushing away the sticky sand. Her eyes ran along the coastline.

No human figure.

Where could Emery have gone? Into the forest?...surely not. No doubt to relieve herself. But girl had been given last watch. She should be within calling distance.

Christine rose to her feet, trying to decide whether or not to wake the boys.

“Emery,” she said in a soft voice, stepping away from the shield of the boulders.

The early morning breeze sent chills skittering down her spine as it lifted her golden hair off her shoulders.

“Emery...” she repeated and then stopped.

The dark-headed girl was sitting on the opposite side of the rocks, staring out to sea. Both arms hugged her bare knees.

Emery glanced up at Christine’s voice.

“It’s beautiful,” Emery breathed softly,” I can’t believe I think so, after yesterday.”

Her dark eyes gazed dreamily towards the rising sun.

Christine tucked both hands into the pockets of her shorts and softly tiptoed forward. She leaned against the rock bedside Emery.

The girl seemed subdued, nearly gentle in the early morning light. Christine guessed a night’s sleep had changed them all.

And it was breathtaking...

Streaks of orange and pink danced across a light purple sky. The waves of the tides crashed against the beach one after another, in a relentless rhythm of beauty. The smell of the salt water was heavenly.

Christine shook head, confusion crashing her back into reality.

“We’ve must find a way off this place.”

Emery slowly raised her head to stare at Christine.

“First we should find out why we are here.”

The girl’s words slowly faded into the waves. Christine was silent, staring at the bubbling water.

The truth sunk in.

This island had a purpose...they had a purpose for being here. It made absolute no sense...but then it did.

“If you think about it too much its makes you crazy,” Christine said, letting out a sigh.

Emery merely nodded.

“My family is probably going crazy, right now, with worry,” Christine couldn’t help saying.

Images of her strong father with his stern smile flitted through her mind...of her gentle mother who still insisted on calling her every night to say goodnight and her obnoxious brothers with their never ending jokes. All fading fast into life she felt was already slipping from her fingers.

Emery’s cold voice jolted her back to the beach.

“It wouldn’t matter where I am, no one is worried about me.”

The girl stood to her feet and brushed past Christine.

Christine let her go, wondering at the bitterness to Emery’s tone. In fact suddenly she found herself angry as well...though she could not understand why.

A slight wind began to blow off of the ocean. Not ready to join Emery who was beginning to wake the two young men behind her, Christine began to slowly walk along the beach line, letting the cool waves lap at her ankles.

And that was when she saw the sprawled figure laying among the boulders nearly a hundred yards towards the western end of the beach.

Well, at least it looked like someone was lying there. Christine threw a glance back over her shoulder, nearly yelling out an alarm to others. But something stopped her.

What if it was just a piece of driftwood?

Driftwood?

Christine picked up her pace ever so slightly and hurried forward.

If it was another person would they be torn up as Emery was...or worse, dead?
The closer she approached the more she was convinced it was a human being. Behind her

Christine could now hear the curious shouts of Ryan.

Reaching the edge of the rocks, Christine stared wide-eyed. It was an another young man. He was lying motionless face down, among the rocks. His dark clothes, jeans and a t-shirt, were torn and muddy. She couldn’t see any blood.

Christine knelt, hesitantly touching his back. She started, realizing the guy was breathing.
Gripping his arm she rolled him onto his back, revealing a starling handsome face. Nearly too perfect to seem real.

Dark hair was matted against a high forehead. And huge purple bruised marred the left side of his temple.

Christine swallowed hard, and turned glancing back at the campsite, where the others were emerging.

“Christine what is it?” she heard Ryan holler.

Christine just raised one hand, motioning for him come over. Then bending she listened to the stranger’s heart beat. Deciding he was only unconscious, Christine slapped his face, weakly hoping he would come to.

The young man groaned, eyes beginning to twitch.

Ryan was about fifty paces away now. He saw the figure lying across the rocks, and shouted for Kasim and Emery.

Suddenly the young man’s eyes flew open, and one hand jerked out violently grabbing Christine’s wrist. She screamed in terror, trying to jerk away.

Ryan’s footsteps quickened across the sand.

“Who are you?” the young man demanded between clenched teeth, his words spoken with
distinct British accent. His dark blue eyes were wild with terror.

Christine winced in pain at his tight grip, but tried to answer.

“It’s all right...I’m not gonna hurt you.”

His hold did not loosen.

“Let go of me...” she grunted.

“Christine!” Ryan shouted stumbling towards her. He stopped in surprise staring down over her head at the stranger.

The grip on Christine’s wrist slackened at the sight of Ryan.

“Where am I?” he asked, gaze jerking between the two of them, like a hunted rabbit.

“It’s an island,” Christine said,” We all trapped here.”

Kasim and Emery came racing into sight, skidding to a stop at the edge of the rocks. Both were staring in surprise.

The question danced through everyone’s eyes but the British stranger’s.

How many more were on this island?

The stranger released Christine’s wrist, seeing the others. Then with a moan he closed his eyes, easing back down onto the rocks, one hand covering his face, as if to block out the nightmare. Not unlike the reaction they all had experienced.

Christine stood, shrugging, glancing at Ryan for help. She didn’t know what to say to him. Ryan did not look too confident now.

Emery was turning away, a look of bitter anger flashing in her dark eyes.

This was not fair to any of them....why did they deserve all this?

Strangely enough it was Kasim who stepped forward, helping the young man to his feet.

“What’s your name?” he asked the dark-headed young man.

The young man glanced around, eyes sweeping the girls first as if seeing them for the first time, pausing on Ryan next...then stopping at Kasim.

“Parker,” he replied shortly, still looking scared.

Christine did not recognize the name.

************************************************************************

Parker

He didn’t remember taking drugs, but suddenly Parker felt that something like that had to have happened while he’d been out drunk. He wished he could just close his eyes again, vainly bring back the darkness from before. Could it chase away this reality?

It felt like reality.

Four strangers were staring wide-eyed at him. Bruises covered his left shoulder and forehead. Waves crashed against a beach. An island stood to his left.

“Hey, listen, man. We all in this together,” said Arab looking guy,” and this is all real.”

Parker turned, catching a gaze with the young blonde who had first woken him up. He must have frightened her to death, grabbing her wrist like that. He felt bad about it now, she was exquisitely beautiful, even covered in dirt. So was the other girl, he also noted, though he was not altogether as fond of brunettes as he was of blondes.

Parker rubbed his forehead,” I’ve been trapped in a box for days...” he began, but then stopped, wondering why he was telling them this.

Maybe, because they are the only human beings around, dummy, his mind told him. But how did he know they were real?

“Look I hung in net for hours...” the Arab guy replied.

“ I was torn up and nearly dying when these two found me,” the dark-headed girl pointed out, indicating the blonde and the second guy.

Parked glanced at them, slowly feeling himself relax. The box was indeed gone now.

“You don’t look hurt,” he said.

The brunette rolled her eyes.

“The water healed her,” the second guy explained.

“It did? How?” the Arab guy was now the one looking lost. That made Parker feel better, at least he wasn’t the only one.

Everyone appeared uneager to answer this. Finally the blonde spoke.

“We don’t know.”

Parker a shot a look at the Arab,” You haven’t been here long I gather?”

“Just since last night.”

There was a moment of awkward silence.

Then the blonde spoke again,” I’m Christine,” she held out her hand, a soft smile creasing her face. Parker was taken back as he slowly slipped his hand into hers.

Introductions were made all around, and they led him across the sand towards their campout.
Parker followed, oblivion wracking his brain.

************************************************************************

Emery

Emery sat down in the sand against the rock, covertly eyeing the new guy. He looked suspicious. Too cute and too naive. But then again, that was just her. There others seemed to accept him easily enough.
That’s your problem, Emery, you never trust people, she chided herself.

“We need to hike around this island...” Ryan was saying,”...see what it offers by way of protection and provisions. Maybe afterwards build up a signal fire to attract boats.”

“Boats?” Emery said cynically.

“If we were dropped here on purpose, don’t you think whoever it is will keep us here on purpose, without a chance being given for rescue.”

Ryan’s cheek twitched his eyes dropped to hers.

“I’m trying to hopeful, here, you could help by agreeing.”

Emery rolled her eyes,” Sorry.”

“Are you sure this is an island?” Kasim asked, putting some more wood on the fire.

“Yes, we’re pretty sure,” Ryan crossed his arms confidently,” the girls and I walked all afternoon yesterday. The beach went straight for nearly a two miles and then curved inward. We could see no connection to a land mass.”

“Ok...wait,” said Parker, raising up his hands,” How long have ya’ll been here?”

Everyone turned towards him.

Of course, he wouldn’t know.

Emery nudged Christine,“ You tell him, you and Ryan have been here the longest.”

Christine looked uncertain, even a little confused, but she quickly explained her experience since waking up. Ryan added his own side.

As they ended, Parker was cradling his head, wearily.

“I can’t take this...”

Emery rolled her eyes, disgusted with his cowardice.

“Look, kiddo, we’re all having to take this...so buck up. Help us figure out what to do.”

The guy slowly raised his deep blue eyes to meet hers, and they flashed with anger as he cussed at her.

“...you’ve had nearly twelve hours to let this sink in. I’ve only had ten minutes. You were healed miraculously. I was smashed inside a box. Don’t tell me to buck up.”

Emery nearly threw one of the sticks at him.

But Christine’s touch on her arm stopped her.

“...stop it. You are just gonna make things worse,” Christine broke in, tossing Parker a glance.

Strangely the blonde’s words silenced the new guy.

He turned his face away to the other young men.

“Ok....” Ryan began again,” Lets started walking around the island. We will leave this fire here as a land marker, so we’ll know when we’re back around.”

Everyone seemed to agree to this, though Kasim did point out, it could be days, if the island was
big.

Trying not to dwell on this thought to long, everyone stood to their feet. Then with Ryan leading the way, they started their trek down the beach.

Speaking of dreams...

...nice music video I wanted to share...

From the Irish boy Band Westlife - "I have a dream"



and here is all the rest of my favorite music videos from these guys...I'm into pop at the moment as you can tell.

Queen of My Heart


My Love


Swear It Again



If I Let You Go


Seasons in the Sun


More than Words


Tonight


World of Our Own


Be With You


On My Shoulder


My Girl


Uptown Girl


Why Do I Love You


What Makes a Man


Written in the Stars


You Make Me Feel


Medley Live


I Lay My Love On You


Total Eclipse of the Heart


The Rose


You Raise Me Up


Amazing

Dreams...don't give up

Sometimes I see this little girl running barefoot and carefree down a dirt road, flowers in one hand, skirt waving in the wind. But then most of the time that memory seems so far away, as though it happened to a completely different child. That little girl is now a grown woman. The dirt road has changed to a narrow slippery precipice. And she is hanging by only one hand. Not exactly because of any choice of her own, granted she's made her mistakes, but see, the only way to get to that castle on top of the mountain is to scale the cliff. There is no other way. The castle holds a wealth of glory untold...she cannot turn back, with such a prize within her reach. It is the storehouse of her dreams. The little girl could not have climbed the mountain, but the woman can, even as she struggles with every breath.
But then her glance seems to falter, as though she cannot remember why she is hanging off the cliff. She glances down, tears of fright coming to her eyes as she realizes there is nothing to catch her fall.
Why am I doing this?
The pain, exhaustion and hunger surrounding her weak frame, suddenly take hold, freezing her in doubt. Confusion muddles her mind.
What if there is no castle? No dreams?
Her hand suddenly slips as this doubt takes possession of her. All hope fails...
Then suddenly strong arms surround her...holding her up, carrying her...and she founds herself staring up into the kindest, gentliest, most lovely face she has ever seen...a man's. He looks familiar...but she does not remember where she has seen him.
"Don't look down," he says and she gasps in wonder as he scales the horrid slippery rock with one leap. Then they are both standing on a wide, even cliff face, covered in trees. An open trail appears through a gap in front of her.
Gently the man sets her down.
"Look what you would have missed," he says with a smile, pointing to the turretts of the castle, jutting up from the behind the trees. It is still a long ways off...but surprisingly within sight.
She breathes out a sigh of relief staring at this distant encouraging sight. She had nearly given up...
Then she turns to the man to thank him. But he is gone!
Suddenly she remembers. He was the prince...the one who told her of the castle. Who inspired her dreams!
Of course...
Weeping tears of joy, she looks towards the trees and the distant castle again. Her dreams were within reach once again...


....for those girls who have forgotten their dreams...don't give up, Jesus is always there to catch you. :)

The Island - Chapter Three

Chapter Three: Ryan

Ryan watched the trees constantly as he trudged ahead of the girls down the beach. Ever since waking up he’d felt apprehensive about the forest. Not that he wasn’t just a little aprehensive...worrried...frightened about the whole nightmarish ordeal he’d found himself in.

The entire island screamed insanity at him. But the forest was weird.

Ryan glanced back at the two girls. The blonde and the brunette. If he wasn’t so freaked he might find the whole experience a little interesting. Who would have guessed he would get two at once?

But he didn’t have time think about it. He was still struggling with the whole experience with Emery...which unsettled something deep in his gut. The girl shouldn’t be alive.

And as for Christine...there was a strange strength about her that intrigued him. Most women would have gone ballistic at the sight of Emery, torn up and bloody. Christine had flown into action immediately at his side. He had no idea of her past, but he felt she was dependable. He would need that...if they were to survive the island.

“Who likes coconuts?” he asked stopping near the tree that stuck out from the treeline.

Both girls grimaced.

He guessed that was a no.

Ryan blew out a breath,” Well, it’s all there is right now.”

He gave the tree a thump with his fist and a couple hairy fruits tumbled to the ground.

“Impressive,” Emery said with a smirk, crossing her arms.

Ryan frowned, kneeling and digging in his pocket. Nothing...he’d forgotten he’d already checked his pockets for his knife.

He muttered a curse under his breath.

“Find a rock or something we can break these on,” he told the girls, picking up the fruit.

Christine immediately bent retrieving rock from the sand.

“Here.”

He took it and bashed the fruit against the stone. He handed it to Emery. She took it with a disgusted look in her eyes.

“We’ll have to learn to like it, unless we can get the courage up to enter that forest and find something else,” he told her. Then he broke the other fruit and handed it to Christine.

“What’s wrong with the forest?” Emery asked, making a face as she took a sip of the coconut juice.

Ryan glanced at Christine. She shrugged. Obviously neither knew how to explain it. But both knew the other had felt something earlier.

“It’s just weird, that’s all.”

Emery starting laughing.

“What? You’re afraid aren’t you?”

Ryan stood to his feet, feeling angry at her jab.

“Of course not...but I’m cautious. We don’t know anything about this island.”

Christine stuck her finger into the coconut’s soft inside, and then licked it.

“I don’t know how people eat this stuff.”

Ryan sighed, glancing from one to the other.

“Ok...what’s the first thing people do when they are stranded on an island?”

“Scream for help,” Emery stated sardonically.

The girl had a mouth on her.

Ryan grinned,” No...good try. They find water, food and shelter.”

Christine just smiled at Emery’s quip.

“Why don’t we keep going down the beach,” she suggested.

Ryan turned away and began walking.

“Come on then.”

He heard Emery drop her coconut into the sand as she and Christine followed him. Neither said another word...so he didn’t either.

Three hours later they were standing on a rock-strewn promontory, staring out into the endless sea. The island still continued on, continuously it seemed towards their left, curving sharply inland.

The sun was beginning its downward descent to the western horizon. A brisk wind blew into their faces.

Ryan shielded his eyes from the glare.

“This is real,” he stated out loud.

Both girls stared at him. They all knew it was true.

“We should build a fire,” Christine said quietly, beginning to shiver. The evening breeze coming off the water was a bit chilly.

Ryan and Emery agreed so they climbed off the rocks onto the beach, searching until they found a nice hollow behind a large boulder that shielded them from the wind.

Ryan scavenged for stray branches near the forest’s edge, still hesitant to enter the place. The girls sat back against the boulder, talking in low voices. About what, Ryan didn’t wonder.

Returning to them, he attempted to light a fire. Unfortunately it didn’t work at first since he had no flint and no matches. He could feel Emery’s angry eyes on him, not that it was his fault.

“Wonder why our kidnappers forgot to stick a lighter in your pocket?”

“Mmmmhhh...wonder why?” He shot back irritably.

Christine sighed," I’ve seen people do the whole boy scout thing with the sticks. Maybe that might work.”

Ryan glanced up at her, exasperated.

“Look do you want to do it?”

It wasn’t fair of him to take his frustration out on her, instead of Emery. But he did.
Christine crossed her arms, looking down, obviously hurt.

Eventually he gave in to what she’d suggested and the fire did indeed start. All three huddled together as the evening shadows crept across the beach.

Ryan leaned his head back against the rock, glancing at both girls who were silently staring into the firelight on either side of him.

“So...maybe we should figure out what we have in common that would give someone a motive to put us here?”

Emery was the first to respond. Christine was silent.

“We’re about the same age, other than that I don’t see anything similar.”

Ryan felt a coldness in her tone. What was with the girl?

“Listen, I’ve never seen either of you before in my life, but that doesn’t mean we’re not connected somehow.”

Both girls looked apprehensive about this statement.

“Or maybe we’re just victims,” he added.

Both tended to agree more with that.

“You don’t think we’ve all died and this is the next life?” Emery suggested out of the blue.
Ryan noted the abrupt tilt of Christine’s chin at these words. She immediately replied.

“Of course not. If I was dead, I would be in heaven. And if this was heaven, you two would not be the only ones around.”

Emery’s eyebrows lifted slightly,” Well, I can see you’re a religious nut. How can you be so sure you would go to heaven?”

Christine’s shoulders stiffened, and Ryan felt another dispute coming on.

“Look,” he intervened holding up his hands,” I agree with Christine, this couldn’t be heaven. Obviously we are alive...so what could we have done to give someone a reason to put us here.”

“You mean like criminal record or something?” Emery asked.

Ryan shrugged,” I suppose.”

“Well, I don’t have one,” Christine said quietly.

Ryan wasn’t sure, but he thought Emery’s eyes darkened slightly. Maybe it was just a trick from the firelight.

“There’s no reason not to be totally honest here, I’m mean what have we got lose?” Ryan added, grasping for anything.

“I don’t have one,” Christine repeated, she threw him an irritated glance,” Do I look like a criminal?”

Ryan shrugged,” No...sorry, I’m just trying to figure things out.”

Suddenly her tone had grown angry. Ryan hadn’t expected such a reaction out of Christine.

Emery was watching them both, eyes lowered..

“So what about you?” she asked, leaning back against the rock.

Ryan crossed his arms,” Me? Nothing really. Highschool stuff...you know messing around and things.”

That was truth...well most of it. But the other no one knew about, not even the cops.

She lifted an eyebrow, locking stares with him.

Now Ryan was sure her eyes darkened, despite the fact they were already a deep brown.

Then he asked the question on the tip of his own tongue," What about you?”

She fell silent, not replying. Ryan felt Christine stir beside him, glancing between the two.
Then before Emery could speak, a human voice split the night air with a loud cry.

It came from the forest. All three jumped to their feet.

“Ok...I’m scared,” Christine admitted stepping behind Ryan.

“What are we gonna do?” Emery asked him. He noted her ready stance for defense. Feet planted wide apart, arms ready. If he wasn’t wrong, the girl could fight if needed.

The cry rent the silence once again. The voice was pleading for help. A man’s voice.

“I-I think maybe we should see who it is,” Ryan dared to suggest.

“And if it’s a trick?” Emery lowered her voice.

“You weren’t...and we helped you,” he pointed out.

“But she wasn’t in the forest,” Christine added.

“Then I’ll go by myself,” Ryan said quickly, bending to grab a stick for a makeshift torch. He was not flaunting heroics...what if someone was really in need of help?

“I’ll go too,” Emery said quickly, following his example.

The voice now began moaning, the sounded carried in on the breeze.

“Well, I’m not staying here by myself,” Christine stated, she fell in step behind Ryan as he walked into the darkness outside the ring of firelight. Emery strode towards his right.

Their smoldering torches only put off a weak light.

He heard Christine muttering something under her breath. No doubt praying...since she was a religious nut, as Emery had put it.

If it helped, fine, he wouldn’t complain.

He believed in God...it had just been a long time.

Ryan stopped that train of thought before he got distracted, knowing he needed to focus on the situation at hand.

They reached the edge of the forest and then paused. No matter how brave his words, about going in alone, Ryan couldn’t help the hesitation.

There was just something about the forest. It unsettled every feeling within him.

The voice began moaning again, the words now vaguely audible. Something about God and forgiveness.

Christine sucked in a breath beside him.

“Ryan...” she whispered. He wished she wouldn’t talk like that. The fear in her voice freaked him out.

“All right, stick close,” Ryan tried to say calmly, stepping off the sandy beach onto the cool moist earth of the forest floor.

The thick trees immediately shrouded them in a deep darkness. And an eerie noise, like the scurrying of a hundred mice erupted around them. Christine let out a small shriek, and grabbed Ryan’s arm. Emery’s hand went to her mouth as everyone’s eyes shot to the ground. But there was nothing there. The sound still persisted.

Ryan motioned to keep going and they continued on, following the distant voices. Thick roots threatened to trip them; wet sticky branches slapped their faces.

Ryan could hear Emery grunt every time one hit her and Christine’s small cries were punctuated with gasps. Other than that the only sound was the constant pitter patter of tiny feet from some invisible animal. Ryan gripped the torch tighter and plunged farther on. They were nearing the voice now.

Ryan climbed over a rotten log, turning to help Christine, when they all froze as the voice spoke directly over their heads.

“Help me...”

***********************************************************************

Christine

Christine was not sure what they were seeing. She touched Ryan’s arm.

“What is it?”

As he and Emery held the torches high, all she saw was a tangled mass of black rope hanging from the nearest tree.

Ryan slowly lowered his torch. Emery crept closer, sliding over the log, her arm brushed Christine’s.

Another cry erupted, coming straight from the dark mass.

“Oh, God help me!” and then followed a series of strangled yelps. A man’s voice; without a doubt.

The ropes started squirming, jerking and convulsing. Christine jumped in fright.

“There’s someone in there,” Emery gasped in horror.

Ryan stepped forward.

“Hello!” he shouted.

The convulsing instantly stopped.

Christine held back a scream, as a hand suddenly popped out of the black mess. The fingers groped the air.

“Get me out of here, I beg you,” the man pleaded.

“How did you get in there?” Ryan asked, Christine saw him scan the area around the tree.

What if there were other traps? She suddenly felt her limbs freeze, terrified to even move one foot.

“I don’t know,” the man replied, his voice did sound disoriented.

Ryan threw the girls a glance. Could this person have simply woken up in that net?

“Here,” he handed Christine the torch.

“What are you doing?” she asked in a whisper.

Ryan didn’t reply but shouted to the man.

“I’ll try to get you down! Just wait a minute!”

“Ryan...” Emery began, but he cut her off, with a swift shake of his head.

“I’ll be all right, you two don’t move,” then he slowly began to walk forward, testing the ground with every step.

Christine watched, hardly breathing, until he reached the base of the tree trunk and turned around.

“I can’t feel my legs,” the man said in a hoarse voice.

“Just hang on,” Ryan replied.

Christine watched as he disappeared into the branches of the tree. She and Emery waited, listening to scraping of his feet against the rough bark. Then he suddenly let out a delighted shout.

“What is it?” Emery hollered. The tree limb above the net was shaking.

“There’s a knife up here, tied to the branch,” Ryan said.

“Well, that’s a good thing,” she replied.

“Yeah...” his voice trailed and then silenced followed.

A strangled gasp escaped the man’s lips suddenly. It sounded like he was dying!

“Ryan hurry!” Christine urged, panic capturing her voice.

A grunt was the only reply and more frantic scraping. The rope and entire netting began to tremble.

Christine and Emery waited, eyes tense, watching the black forest around them. The eerie noises still persisted, circling their small rings of light.

Suddenly the net collapsed in a tangled heap on the ground. Christine and Emery glanced at each questioningly. What if there were more traps?

The figure inside the net moved, arms and legs trying to detangle themselves.
Christine jumped forward at that, not caring about the danger. Emery followed and they both began pulling away the mass of heavy thick ropes.

Christine grimaced as strange smell met her nostrils. Something was on the ropes and it left black smudges across her hands. She wiped them on her shorts and continued tugging on the ropes.

Ryan then appeared, a long knife in his hand,” Here I’ll get.”

He began slicing the ropes away from the body that lay enmeshed under them. Emery help pull them back as Christine held the torches above them for light. The man groaned as he was freed, and stirred from his position lying face downward on the earth. Ryan knelt, one hand on the man’s back. He rolled him over.

The man was young, most likely their age, and of middle-eastern descent. Dark curly hair, framed nut-brown angular face. Blood covered his lips and chin, apparently from a busted nose, during the fall.

His eyes fluttered open, revealing dark brown irises. Ryan ripped off a part of the man’s tattered shirt to staunch the bleeding.

“Sorry about that, it was the only way to get you down,” he said, holding the piece of cloth to the man’s mouth.

The stranger pushed himself up, taking the cloth away to hold it himself.

“Who are you?” his dark eyes darted from Ryan to Emery and then to Christine.

“We’re friends...I think,” Ryan said,” but the real question is who are you? And why are you here.”

“I am Kasim Ahmed...” his voice faltered, as he stared into the dark forest,” And I don’t know why I am here.”

“That makes it unanimous,” Ryan chuckled sardonically and stood; extending one hand to help Kasim to his feet.

“We’re all stranded on this island, but no one knows how we got here.”

“Island?” Kasim’s dark eyes flew in confusion, but he let Ryan pull him to his feet.

“Yeah...an island,” Emery repeated.

Kasim’s winced as he dabbed the blood on his lip.

“I thought I was dreaming.”

Christine and Ryan actually shared a small smile.

“...more like a nightmare,” Kasim added, his face was remarkably pale,”...there is something in these woods.”

Everyone shared a common stare of fright.

“Lets get out of here then,” Ryan said, grabbing the torch from Christine.

No one questioned this statement. Everyone ran after him.

The pattering feet intensified. And suddenly there was a low groan in the trees around them...or maybe it was above them...or behind. The sound could have come from anywhere.
Christine let out a small scream, tripping into Emery. Emery grabbed Christine’s hand and pulled her as the two girls broke into a hard sprint.

Kasim was pushing them from behind. Ryan’s single light bobbed ahead.

“What it is it?” Emery panted, eyes frantically darting over her shoulder.

“Don’t look back!” Kasim warned in a frantic whisper.

Another groan echoed behind them. The four young people ran harder.

Then suddenly they stumbled out onto the sandy familiar beach line. They all fell to their knees only a couple yards away from the glowing fire.

Everyone’s breath came raspy and sharp. Christine couldn’t help the tears of fear falling down her cheeks. Their heads whipped around towards the forest.

Another groan, that sounded more like a growl than anything else, erupted from just inside the tree line. The forest was itself completely black, the darkness of night no longer invaded by their weak torches.

Ryan was the first to crawl towards the light. Emery followed. And Christine felt Kasim pulling her arm...but she couldn’t move.

The growl had struck such a deep terror in her heart. Like perhaps, someone would feel from something that threatened their life. Christine had never had her life threatened before...she wasn’t sure if the feeling was real.

Kasim grabbed her by the waist now. She could feel his arms trembling as he dragged her after the others. But still she was frozen with fear.

Ryan was throwing more wood on the fire, heating up the flames so it would cast a wider circle of light.

Christine let Kasim set her down beside Emery who was huddled beside the boulder. The other girl’s brown eyes were wide.

“What’s her name?” Christine heard Kasim ask Emery.

Emery replied accordingly, voice nearly a whisper.

Kasim touched Christine’s face.

“Christine, snap out of it,” he ordered firmly. Christine heard him, saw his face only inches from her own, felt his hand, but somehow she felt disconnected, the fear still tightly clutching her heart with icy fingers.

Then he slapped her.

Christine leaned back against the boulder, her eyes slowly locking into his. The stinging sensation brought her back to reality. She glared at him. How could he be so calm and collected after they had been the ones that had rescued him?...his strangle cries still echoed in her ears, like and eerie melody. Those had been the screams of terrorized man. And now he was calming her from her own terror.

“Sorry,” Kasim apologized sitting down beside her. She immediately forgave him, closing her eyes, trying to breathe evenly. What ever he was, she was grateful.

Emery’s hand crept over hers. Only a couple of hours and already the two girls were bonded by the mere fact of survival.

Ryan sat down on the opposite side of the girls, and the four of them huddled together, eyes frantically searching the distant, very dark tree line. Ryan and Emery whispered their names to Kasim.

No more noises followed the last growl, nothing moved...just silence.

“Did you see anything when you were trapped in that net?” Ryan asked, peering around Emery and Christine at Kasim.

Kasim didn’t answer at first, his eyes downcast towards the sand under their feet. Christine shoved back her hair, waiting for him to answer. Her eyes still watched the distant forest.

“Well...like I said, I thought I was dreaming,” Kasim began,” and maybe...perhaps at one point I was, how else....how else...” his voice trailed.

Christine swallowed and glanced at Ryan. She couldn’t help looking at him for assurance, for guidance...he seemed so strong...but then so did Kasim, despite his apparent disorientation.

“And?” Ryan encouraged Kasim on.

“Well...how else could I have seen myself?”

“You saw yourself?” Emery asked incredulously.

Kasim shook his head,” I must have fallen asleep in that trap somewhere in there,” he looked just a little freaked even by his own words,”...it was a nightmare, hellish and indescribable in depth. I barely recognized myself.”

Christine wasn’t following, or maybe she was just trying to convince herself she wasn’t.

“What do you mean?”

Kasim shook his head,” I don’t know...it was like...it was like nothing I have ever seen before...”
Words seemed to fail him as his eyes darted towards the forest again.

Ryan then spoke, changing the subject, obviously understanding Kasim’s reluctance to explain what he’d seen.

“So where exactly in the “real world” are you from?” Ryan couldn’t help the sarcastic lilt to his voice.

An odd smirk creased the young Arab’s dark face.

“I was a second year seminary student in the United States.”

Christine thought that was ironic.

He continued,” My home country is of course, Iraq.”

“What did your family think about that?” Christine asked; that meaning seminary school.

Kasim’s smirk faded, as a heavy shadow seemed to cloud his dark eyes.

“I was pretty much disowned.”

Christine frowned,” I’m sorry.”

“Yeah...that’s tough,” Emery replied. Christine glanced at the girl, vaguely wondering of her tone hinted she understood disownment.

“It was worth it though. One day I hoped to go back and share the gospel of Jesus with them.”

Christine smiled softly,” That’s lovely, Kasim.”

Emery’s voice was a little cold,” To bad you’re here now.”

Ryan suddenly yawned.

“I know it seems impossible, but maybe we should try to sleep, and take turns watching. In morning light, maybe things will look better.”

Everyone knew that was a wishful thought, but even so a small ray of hope shot through their hearts.

“I’ll go first,” Kasim immediately offered.

“Naw, man...I’ve got it,” Ryan said.

“Please...I can’t sleep right now. Not after the adrenaline rush back there in the forest. Let me.”

Ryan then conceded, and he and the girls sprawled out on the sand. Christine found it uncomfortable, especially when her eyes kept traveling involuntarily back to the forest every five minutes. But eventually exhaustion took over and she fell asleep.

The Island - Chapter Two

Chapter Two: Emery

Emery Stalker only saw a blur of a blue skyline at first. Then slowly everything came into focus. White clouds drifted through the sky like balls of cotton. Her eyes moved around and she nearly started as she saw two people sitting over her, staring. For split second Emery stared back in confusion, but then she wondered why on earth she was lying on the ground. And where was she?

A beach...

Emery tried to sit up and one of the people, a young bare-chested man instantly jumped forward. She thought at first to push her back down, but before she could protest, he was helping her up to a sitting position.

“Are you all right?” he asked, concern written across his young face.

Emery didn’t reply, because she caught herself staring at his unfamiliar features.

Where was she?

“What happened to you?” said the second person, a beautiful blonde girl, around Emery’s own age. She was kneeling in the sand, her blue eyes still staring at Emery like she was some sort of miracle.

Emery didn’t understand their questions or their reactions, as her eyes took in the rolling ocean’s waves to her right and the deep green island to her left.

“Do you remember anything?” the guy now asked, his arms still holding her as if she would fall over if he didn’t.

Emery brushed his arms away, as this last question was one she could actually answer; though how he knew to ask it, still confused her.

“No...I can’t remember anything. I mean...I can’t remember how I got here.”

If she had glanced up then she would have seen the girl and guy exchange a look, but she didn’t. Emery was staring down at her clothes.

These weren’t hers. And why was the shirt so torn up?

Fear and then anger hit her.

“So you’ve never been on this island before?” the girl was asking her.

“Of course not,” Emery snapped,” Why are you asking me all these questions. Can’t you see I’m confused. Where on earth did you two come from?”

The guy, leaning on his knee beside her shook his head,” I’m sorry...we weren’t trying to overwhelm you. You see this is all new to us too. We only just woke up ourselves several minutes ago.”

Emery fists clenched as her eyes met his and then shot to the girl’s and then back again to his.

“What do you mean?”

“We don’t know,” the girl said quietly.

Emery thought for a brief second they were both lying. Someone was playing a cruel trick on her. But then the guy was speaking again.

“What do you remember last...”

Emery began shaking her head, as she realized what her last memory was.

“I was working tables at the diner.”

The words sank in like the ocean’s water did in the dry sand.

She felt the young man moan beside her and the girl just closed her eyes like she was in great pain.

“What?” Emery asked, something clutching her heart like a grip of iron.

The guy stumbled to his feet, walking away from her. His head bowed. The girl’s eyes opened, meeting Emery’s.

“We’ve all been kidnapped somehow...and our memories erased of it.”

Emery’s hands tightened into two balls of anger, clenching the sand in her hands. She breathed in hard.

The girl brushed her hands on her shorts and then held one out. Emery could see her struggling against her own fear.

“I’m Christine,” she said, a small smile playing at her lips.

Emery just stared at the hand for a second. She wasn’t use to friendly people, most particularly girls her own age. But at the moment, they were the only two girls around. There was no choice to but to accept each other.

Emery unclenched one fist, brushing the sand away as well and then slipped her hand into Christine’s.

“Emery,” she said. Christine squeezed her hand gently and then glanced towards the guy, who turned around to face them again. Christine released Emery’s hand. Both could see he was fighting against panic.

“Emery this is Ryan,” Christine introduced,” Ryan, Emery.”

Ryan merely nodded at her, and then held his head.

Emery couldn’t help feeling just a tiny bit of peace settle over at the calm in the girl’s voice. Even amidst this tragic situation the girl was trying to make everyone feel at home.

“We are trapped here,” Ryan told them in a voice nearly drained of emotion.

Emery slowly pushed herself to her feet, sand falling off of her in clumps. For the first time she realized she was dripping wet.

Wait...her mind wandered back to when she’d first woken up. Something or someone had been pouring water on her.

Ryan and Christine?

She glanced at them both. Christine had risen also and was trying to calm Ryan down. Something was missing, but Emery couldn’t place her finger on it. She raked a hand through her hair, realizing she must look a mess, what with the torn shirt and all.

Torn shirt...?


What was it Ryan had first asked.

Are you all right?

Why would he ask that? Emery guessed a strange sleeping girl with a torn shirt might warrant such a question. But it was the way in which he asked it. As if he’d just been frightened and he couldn’t believe she was all right.

Emery stepped towards the two.

“What did you mean when you asked was I all right?” she said.

Both stopped in mid-sentence, stared at her and then slowly glanced at each other.

She knew immediately they were keeping something from her. Emery felt angry again. Perhaps they were indeed lying to her.

Christine slowly stepped towards her.

“Emery...,” she paused, like she wasn’t sure what to say next.

Ryan spoke instead,” You were nearly dead when we found you. Something had torn you up...blood was everywhere...” his words stopped there.

Emery was shaking her head,” No that can’t be, if I was attacked I would felt something.”

Christian and Ryan looked at each other again. Emery was getting irritated at their secret looks.

“It doesn’t make sense, I know, but it’s true...look,” Ryan pointed at the ground just to their left.

Emery’s eyes followed his hand and she flinched as she saw the fresh blood sprawled across the sand. She also saw the trail where they had dragged her towards the edge of the water. A blood-soaked shirt also lay crumpled on the sand. No doubt Ryan’s since he was bare-chested. Emery felt a pang of warmth shoot through her as an image of Ryan tearing his shirt off to save her life flitted across her vision.

“What happened then?” she said in a weak voice.

“The water healed you,” Christine replied with a shrug.

Emery’s eyes shot towards the ocean.

“That water?”

Both nodded. She could see now why they were staring at her with such wonder in their eyes.
She took a deep shuddering breath. She’d barely escaped death, and she hadn’t even known it. What kind of place was this, where the ocean’s water contained healing powers? That is if these two were telling her the truth. But their reactions were too real to be faked, unless they were just really good actors. But Emery was also very good at reading people. And Christian and Ryan appeared to be as genuine and real as they come.

They were obviously confused and frightened, even Ryan. Emery’s eyes periodically shot towards the young man. In a different situation she would have been instantly attracted, but in a different situation he was also was the kind of young man a girl like her was supposed to have nothing to do with. She wasn’t good enough.

“So...so what do we do next?” she asked slowly.

Ryan shrugged,” Explore the island. Maybe will find some way of getting off...maybe even find someone else.”

Both girls stared at him.

“Well...I didn’t expect to find you two...but here you are. Who knows how many people could be here?”

Christine agreed with him. Emery did as well, but she couldn’t help feeling apprehensive. So far they found friends among each other. But what if this island also harbored enemies? It didn’t make sense, but then again it did.

But she did not voice this fear to either Ryan or Christine.

Ryan began walking across the beach and Christine followed him, motioning Emery to hurry up.

The Island - Chapter One

Chapter One: Christine

White light...spinning colors....whispered voices....silence. The girl didn’t feel a thing until a gentle wetness touch her left cheek and lips. She murmured something inaudible and then her hand gripped into the sand lying under her body. Another wave of water lapped at her face. Dark lashes flickered open, revealing deep blue eyes. They widened in confusion and unfamiliarity.

The girl pushed herself unsteadily up, pivoting her head. Long, bedraggled, curly blond hair clung to her head and slim body.

Where am I? She thought in bewilderment as her confused gaze beheld a vast blue ocean, white sandy beach, and a luscious green island. Her hand crept to her face, shoving her dripping hair from her eyes, as she stared around almost in a panic.

The girl jumped, unsteadily to her feet, swinging around, looking back out into the ocean and then towards the island again, her breath quickening.

What is happening?

She took a tentative step further into the beach. The white grains sunk in under her feet, her bare toes dug furrows. Glancing down, she paused in mid-step. Her clothing was not her own. Faded denim shorts and a white tank top; clothing she had never owned. And of course her feet were bare.

I’m dreaming.

Feeling the sand on her palms she brushed them against the shorts, still staring at this strange attire. She began walking again. Then an unfamiliar voice stopped her cold.

“Who are you?”

She spun around.

A young man stood ten feet away towards her right, his own bare feet, covered in the tides lapping onto the beach. He wore jeans and grey t-shirt. Water dripped from sun-bleached hair and his brown eyes were as confused and disorientated as she felt.

“I’m Christine Linville,” she managed to sputter out,” Who are you?”

“Ryan Littleton,” he replied and took a step forward.

“How did you get here?”

Christine shrugged,” I have no clue. This doesn’t seem real. I must be dreaming.”

Ryan didn’t reply to this, he looked past Christine’s head towards the island behind her.

“If I’m dreaming than you must be part of the dream,” Christine murmured half to herself half to him.

His eyes dropped to hers,” And what if I think you’re just part of my dream.”

Christine felt herself shudder.

“No I’m real.”

“And so am I,” he replied quietly,” Which means...” his words trailed and his eyes returned sweeping across the beach. He seemed worried about something.

“What’s the last thing you remember?” Christine asked him, beginning to believe perhaps he was real. She stepped closer.

“I was at Boot Camp.”

She must have looked confused.

“National Guard,” he explained,” I was walking towards Sergeant Sims...but I...I don’t know what happened after that.”

Something flickered through his face. Christine shivered again.

“I was driving home from class,” she stated, hugging herself.

“And now we’re here...a place we could not be unless someone put us here,” Ryan’s hand swept through the air.

Simple deductions, but Christine was so rattled at the moment, it didn’t make sense.
Ryan stepped closer to her. They were now three feet apart.

“This can’t be happening,” Ryan arms dropped in despair against his body.

Christine fought back a sudden wave of panic. If this wasn’t dream...if this was real...than she and this boy were in major trouble. But who would do such a thing to them? She frantically tried to remember anything she might have done illegally or just plain wrong that would have warranted being exiled to an island.

Nothing.

Why the heck could she not remember anything between this moment and when she was driving in her car?

Christine found herself gazing up at Ryan, whose own gaze was still sweeping in bewilderment across the beach. He was her only human contact, her only source of hope. She wasn’t alone at least. But why was he here?

She reached out and touched his arm. He jerked towards her obviously surprised.

“I just want to make sure you were real,” she said in explanation, dropping her hand.

His forearm was an iron mass of muscle.

Ryan rubbed his forehead, staring at her again. Christine could see the questions flying through his brain.

“ Maybe we should walk around a bit, check this island out....try-try to wrap our minds around the reality of it.”

He was shaking his head, as he stumbled over his own words. He sounded neither confident nor encouraging.

Christine swallowed hard, nodding in agreement. Ryan turned slowly, as if trying to decide which direction to take.

A sudden eerie howl erupted from the trees. Christine screamed and instinctively reached out, clutching Ryan’s arm. One of his hands slid over hers.

“What was that?” she whispered, as both their eyes shot towards the towering tree line.

“I don’t know,” Christine felt his body go rigid.

“A monkey...maybe?” She suggested wishfully.

They both jumped as something darted through the trees, nearly twenty yards inland under a canopy of leafy branches. It was black and huge. And it was there and then it was gone.

Ryan and Christine just stared for several long moments before either spoke.

“The birds stopped singing,” Ryan said quietly.

Christine glanced up at him and then back at the forest. He was right. Since the moment she’d woken up on this island, some kind of tropical bird had been twittering loudly, an entire flock of them in fact.

Now the birds were silent.

Except for the lap of the tides behind them against the sand, the entire island was silent.
Ryan and Christine waited, breathlessly, afraid to move.

Then slowly the birds began singing again.

Ryan’s hand slipped off of Christine’s and she slowly released his arm.

“Let’s just stay on the beach right now,” he said.

“All right,” she swallowed hard and followed as he turned towards their right and began trudging down the beach.

She didn’t ask him what they had seen, because of course, who knew? But shivers continued to course up and down her spine as she remembered the unnatural howl. Was it an animal or a human?

She wasn’t prepared to find out...everything was just overpowering her too much too quickly. She quickened her pace after Ryan. He would protect her...though she’d barely known him five minutes...she felt deep down inside Ryan was fearless. And she instantly trusted him. What choice did she have? At the moment all they had was each other.

They walked in silence for nearly fifty yards, when suddenly Ryan stopped in mid-stride. Christine nearly plowed right into him. She stumbled catching herself against his back.

“What the...”

Her words faded into a gasp as he took off into a dead run, sand flying up under his bare feet.

For a brief second, fear clutched Christine’s heart. But then she saw where he was running to.
A body lay sprawled on the ground just near the edge of the trees. Christine nearly sprawled as she broke into a sprint after him.

Ryan was already kneeling, gently pushing the person who was lying face down in the sand over onto their back. Christine skidded to halt behind him.

It was a young woman, her own age with jet black hair and a tan face streaked with blood. She wore denim shorts just like Christine, but her sleeveless shirt was brown and hanging in shreds off her thin body. More blood covered her abdomen and legs.

“Oh, my God,” Christine prayed out loud, hand covering her mouth,” Is she alive?”

“Yes,” Ryan was feeling the girl’s pulse,” Help me get her away from these trees!”

Christine grabbed the girl’s feet as he hooked his arms under her shoulders and they dragged her nearly half way to the shoreline.

They weren’t alone? How many people really were on this island?

These questions spiraled through Christine’s mind in a vague confusion, as most of her attention focused on alarm at the girl’s condition.

“How are we going to stop the bleeding?” Christine breathed, as they both knelt on either side of her.

Gashes and cuts covered her body. But blood flowed thickest around her neck. Ryan brushed back the girl’s long hair, revealing an ugly gash, nearly six inches in length.

Christine nearly threw up. She’d never seen anything so grisly before. Ryan instantly tore off his shirt, ripping it into strips and wrapped them around the worst cuts, including the girl’s neck.

“I don’t know what to do,” he admitted, hands shaking, as they tightened the makeshift bandages in place.

Blood covered his hands. His bare chest, which rippled with muscles as hard as those in his arms, began to heave convulsively with panic.

Christine started crying, as she realized the girl would die if they didn’t stop the bleeding. They needed medical help.

She gripped the girl’s hand, feeling the slight pulse.

“Oh, God save her,” she pleaded, tears running down her cheeks.

Ryan sat back covering his face with bloody hands, visibly shaken. Christine glanced towards him, realizing he was already giving up.

“Ryan...” she panicked, hand tightening around the girl’s wrist.

“There’s nothing we can do, Christine,” he said, voice choked, he stumbled to his feet. Christine’s eyes followed him, silent tears running down her cheeks.

They couldn’t just let her die?

“Ryan...” she repeated.

He spun around angrily,” Don’t you understand? We could be next! Whatever tore this girl up could come after us.”

Christine gulped, eyes returning to the girl’s limp form. Blood was seeping through Ryan’s shirt around her neck, pooling into the sand under her head.

Christine crawled away from the terrible sight, to the water’s edge just a few feet away and washed the blood off her hands. She could hear Ryan muttering curses to himself behind her. A dark red trail of blood floated away into the ocean from her hands.

Christine suddenly had a strange thought.

“Ryan,” she said glancing up,” bring the girl over here near the water.”

“Christine it won’t help,” he replied angrily.

“I know...” her words trailed,”...but maybe we can wash the blood away.”

She heard him sigh, but then he bent and dragged the dying girl beside Christine, his shirt falling into the sand. Ryan just left it there.

Christine cupped her hands and poured water over the girl’s face.

She heard Ryan gasp before she could even react, as both stared in wonder at what happened before them. Christine’s hands trembled as she slowly held them suspended in the air above the girl.

The cuts and blood on the girl’s face just disappeared. Christine and Ryan’s eyes shot towards the ocean and then back towards each other.

“What’s happening here?” Ryan asked in a low voice.

Christine didn’t reply but started splashing more water on the girl, cupping it quickly over her bleeding neck. The wound completely closed up and disappeared, without even a scar remaining.
Though her mind couldn’t comprehend this miracle, Christine didn’t question it as she frantically covered the girl in water.

Seeming to recover from his own shock, Ryan started helping her.

“I can’t believe this is happening?” he breathed, as one after another the wounds and cuts disappeared into smooth unblemished skin.

Christine didn’t reply again a she caught a movement from the girl’s face.

Her eyes were opening.

Christine grabbed Ryan’s arm, gesturing at him. He stopped, as they both stared at the girl’s face. She blinked, flashing brown at them; then her eyes opened completely.