The Rules of Lost Boys

Chapter 12: Sanity of The Scorned

•William Franklyn Miller•

I watched Alex's smooth face relax as his dreams consumed him. I couldn't help but stare. I was slowly becoming obsessed with him within these last few months. No one could make me feel like he did. I thought maybe it was a fluke. Maybe he was just a really good at pleasing people. That's what Alex did. He wanted everyone to be happy, especially me. How could I not fall for someone like that. Although, it also made me realize that he was my weakness. He was the only one who had any ounce of sway with me. If he wanted something I'd get it. If he wanted me to only be with him, I'd gladly do it. If he wanted me to never speak to him again, I wouldn't. He had a hold on me that I envied more than anything.

With I sigh, I walked out of our hut, onto the quiet camp grounds. It was the middle of the night, so I didn't expect anyone to be up. My eyes shifted over to the bright camp fire which was still ablaze. Sitting on a log right in front of it was Athena. Her long brunette hair flowing down her back and over her shoulders. She was the only person besides my younger brother who knew me before the shipwreck. Our parents were best of friends so it was only fate when we ended up dating. I thought I had life figured out back then. Every decision I made was predicated on the best outcome. She'd make the perfect wife and we'd be successful. It didn't matter if I loved her or not, but fate had a different trajectory. I couldn't predict being stuck on an island and meeting Alex.

"Will, I know your there," her soft voice mumbled from where she sat. I walked towards her, wondering what the hell she was doing here this late at night.

"Shouldn't you be in bed?" I questioned her. Her eyes looked deep into the fire in front of her. I could tell that her mind wouldn't allow her to rest. She was a women scorned. A broken hearted girl who wanted revenge in the worst of ways.

"Do you know what it's like to get played like a fucking flute? To be lied to by someone you trust?" She asked. I knew that feeling all to well. It's why I'd do anything to keep myself in control of everything.

"Athena, I tried to warn you about him. He acts like he's a gift from god, when really he's just a confused boy who doesn't know what he's doing," I responded. Athena's darkened eyes looked at me with so much hate that I felt my heart jump in my chest.

"He chose Alec! Over me! Over the girl he's been with since we wrecked here. Over the girl who's currently..." my thoughts finished her statement as my eyes widened. She was pregnant. Of course she was. She wouldn't be the first girl to get pregnant on the island. We didn't exactly have many forms of contraceptives other than the basic pull out alternative.

"Does he know?" I had a funny feeling Patrick had no idea. If he did, he would've had more reason to push Alec away and stay with Athena.

"Of course not! Why would I tell that sack of shit anything?! He chose that runt over me! Then after everything I've done for Alec, he chooses to stay with Patrick despite me being there. I..."

I placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, to calm her down. She was waisting her sanity bickering away like this. Even I knew it was unhealthy. "Then what do you plan to do about it? You have something that could break Patrick. Something that would have him bending at the knees to protect you. Once he finds out your carrying his child, he'll come running after you while exposing everyone else to danger. It's just who he is." Patrick was an idiot who would sacrifice everything to protect what he loved and his version of protect meant proximity to him.

"You're a real peace of work William. We're talking about using an unborn child as a distraction so we can overrun their camp. You do realize we could do that at anytime. We have the man power and weapons. It's..."

"At what cost Athena? As crazy as this sounds. I don't want people loosing there life in a pointless fight over power," I explained.

"Are you serious?! You of all people should be for it!" She argued. I guess she really didn't know me. The innocent deserved to live and the guilty deserved to receive what ever punishment karma handed to them. Death was a punishment someone received for taking someone's life. That's the only time I ever wanted death.

"I'm not some insane lunatic who wants to murder everyone. I just need people to understand that I'm in charge here. I won't kill unless the circumstances call for it," I explained further.

"But you'll dangle the relationship Patrick and his unborn child have in his face to lure him into a trap?" Athena questioned with hints of disdain. Her judgement was misplaced. I'd never do such a thing. She needed to look within herself and come to a conclusion on whether she'd allow Patrick to be in the child's life. The decision was completely hers.

"I'm but a whisper in your head Athena. You're the one in control. It's just a matter of how much you hate him," I smirked, while turning my back to her. Athena was quiet for a moment, her breathing becoming rhythmic.

"You've changed Will. Who would've thought..."

"Im stronger than I was. That boy back then was to afraid to do what he wanted. He was a coward."

...

I wanted to be there when Alex woke up, but was disappointed when I found him bright eyed and smiling when I entered our hut. He was only half dressed, his bare chest exposed to the open air.

"There you are, I was wondering where you went last night?" He said as he stood up to hug me. A voice in my head was telling me to push him away. To not give in to this softness, but I couldn't help myself. My arms draped around the boy as I planted a tender kiss on his lips.

"I couldn't sleep last night, so I went for a little walk around the camp," I replied. If I told him about Athena he'd get upset. I didn't need him all bratty right now. It would only annoy me. He didn't like me being alone with her.

"Oh, is everyone okay?" He asked. I pulled him even closer to me so that he was right up under my nose and smiled at him.

"Yes, everything's perfect. As long as I have you here, I'll be fine." I wasn't sure if I was reassuring myself or him. At times it felt like I was going crazy. Everyday, the voices in my head were getting stronger. It was only a matter of time.

"I love you William."

"I know."