The Island

Chapter 2 - Sticks and Stones

Nighttime.

The four decided to take turns staying up, just in case a wild animal or something came over. It was Ben's turn, and he tried hard to resist.

Some part of him knew that going to the trees was a bad idea, that he shouldn't go. He had to stay put.

But another part of him, spreading through his mind like a parasite, wanted to go into the forest. "Come," the trees called. "Come to us."

But Ben didn't want to leave his friends.

The trees kept calling. It was getting harder and harder to resist. "Come!" By now, the trees seemed to be commanding him, not asking as they had before. "Now!"

Ben struggled, the disease-like feeling was strengthening, though. There was a rustle to his left. His head shot to it, worried. 'Thank goodness' he thought, it was just Hailey moving in her sleep. She had the last shift and was still not in deep sleep.

Though Ben wouldn't be relieved- or himself- for a long time.

The feeling got to him, completely taking over his mind and body. Ben got to his feet and limped towards the forest as fast as his leg would allow.

Ben reached the forest, coming back to himself once he was in the brush. He looked around. The pines cast creepy shadows all along the ground, and they seemed to be watching him. Ben tried to turn back, but the branches reached out and pulled him back, corralling him into the woods.

Ben was terrified, but he didn't dare scream, sure that something worse would happen if he did.

"What the @#$%?" Ben exclaimed as he struggled to get out, he sidestepped and just got a branch full of pine needles to the face. No matter what he tried, the forest kept pulling him back in.

So Ben decided to run through the forest to the other side.

Ben turned and ran, well, tried to run anyway. The trees swarmed him as he bolted, somehow Ben managed to run full sprint through the forest, adrenaline and terror fueling him.

After what felt like ages, Ben couldn't run anymore. He walked, dazed, the pain returning to his leg and shoulder.

Ben kept going anyway.

The trees were still smacking him, harassing and trying to beat him senseless. Ben thought about what Todd had said on the boat.'What's the worst they can do, fall on us? Kill us?'

Ben fought the impulse to laugh. If only Todd could see him now.

He kept walking, ignoring the pines that were still coming at him relentlessly. A few started throwing pinecones at him. Ben sighed and pushed on.

An hour or so later, the trees began throwing rocks. Ben tried to dodge but to no avail. They pounded on him, feeling like heavy bullets. Ben cried out in pain, finally, he just gave up and dropped to the ground, curling up to try and protect himself. The rocks kept coming.

They pounded him relentlessly, Ben could've sworn the trees laughing. Ben dipped in and out of consciousness, his peripheral vision tinted light pink, turning slowly into red.

Covered in blood, and aching head to toe, Ben was miserable. Every part of his body ached, and he was sure that this was the end, that the trees wouldn't stop until he was dead.

With every hit, the trees would 'laugh' even louder, some even cheered. "Stop," croaked Ben, wincing in pain.

The trees didn't listen, they kept pummeling him. Ben called out for help, but he knew he was too far for his friends to hear. He regretted ever listening to that stupid voice in his head.

Ben tried to crawl away, but a big rock hit him in the wrist, breaking it. Ben tensed up in pain and pulled his hand back.

The rocks were flying in faster. Ben didn't see any way or reason that he could get them to stop.

A rock hit Ben in the small of his back, sending a horrible shuddering tingle up and down his spine. Ben cried out, and the trees cheered.

Ben found a pretty big log and somehow managed to hoist it up and onto himself so that it was pretty much the world's worst shield. That didn't stop the trees though, one of them reached out with its spiny branches and ripped the blood-sodden log off of Ben.

He wasn't sure whether the blood was already on the log, or if it was his own.

Covered in blood and bruises, hollering in pain, Ben got that feeling again. He was sure he was going to die right where he was, alone and afraid.

Stars were swimming in front of his eyes, Ben knew he had a terrible concussion. Most of his bones were injured in some way.

Ben screamed as another boulder hit his kidney, sending tendrils of pain through him.

No amount of adrenaline, Tylenol, or bravery could help him now. He was alone, and he was going to die. He was sure of it.

This was terror. This was pain.

"Stop," Ben said softly. "Please."

'Don't worry,' The voice said. It was like knives scraping a chalkboard. 'Your friends will join you soon enough, Benjamin Tremblay. Just you wait. Until then, nighty night.'

A particularly big rock hit him in the back of the head and he blacked out.