Heirs to a Nothing Throne

Chapter 2

In the absence of Andrey and Raven, the rest of us worked out plans for making a shelter. It wasn't too hard, taking down branches here and there in an effort to construct something. We used rocks to slowly bring down trees, which were then placed in holes dug in the sand. Branches were placed along these as walls, and longer ones overheard as a ceiling, but constant instabilities in the structure made for frustrating setbacks.

Yesterday's horror was still fresh in my mind, and it kept my mood down. I wondered how everyone else was taking it—we collectively ignored the topic. No one know where the other lifeboats ended up or who even made it off the ship. I was having trouble remembering how many other lifeboats there had been.

As I worked, I couldn't stop thinking about Andrey. It seemed too soon. His attitude didn't match any of his prior actions, and his willingness to participate, especially to that extent, was ridiculous. I supposed it was good he felt up to it, wasn't moping around. But he should be moping around. It's not a positive thing, but it just doesn't match up. It doesn't make sense, given the situation.

The thoughts were pushed aside by Jasmine's entrance, all smiles. Even with sand falling out of her golden-brown hair like bad dandruff, I decided she was still stunning. "You shouldn't be over here, working all on your own, you know. You have something on your mind?"

I shrugged, and let her pull me into a hug before she joined my efforts. "I don't know, I'm just bothered by Andrey."

"Are you worried for him?"

"Not for his safety, no," I laughed, followed by a grunt. Even the sharper rocks were unsuitable for chopping through the healthy branches. "But don't you think it seems too soon? He never said a word after the... ship, not until just then."

"Do you wish he was still quiet?"

"Well, no... I just don't understand why he did that. It doesn't seem like him."

"He always seemed hardy enough to me, didn't he? It doesn't mean he isn't still upset. It might just bother him to sit on the side while we work."

"Yeah..." I considered that a bit more, trying to think from his perspective. "You know, you and me, Victor and Raven, we're still together. We didn't lose each other like Andrey did Lexa." Jasmine nodded. "Eva wasn't in a relationship anyway. Angelique, either... obviously." Jasmine giggled.

"Would you be as upset if I were lost?" Jasmine said, holding my gaze.

I laughed. "Of course I would, you're right." That reminded me of how glad I was she hadn't been. Perishing the thought of her death, I followed her finger to Victor, who was working just a short distance away.

"Why don't we go work by him, closer to the shelter?" Jasmine suggested. I agreed and carried my bundle of sticks over with me. Victor greeted us with a halfhearted grin.

"How are you holding up?" I spoke first, lining up beside him with Jasmine to try and attach our sticks to the shelter.

"I'm... okay, all things considered," Victor replied, glancing away.

"Well, that's... a relief. You've got Raven, at least." I could tell even Victor's spirits were brightened a little by Jasmine's positivity. I looked across the beach to Angelique, who'd rudely insisted on having her own shelter, private from the others, and didn't accept any offers to help with its construction. Her and Victor were both loners, but in vastly different ways.

Victor was staring off into the woods, and Jasmine followed his gaze inquisitively. "What is it? Is something wrong?" He shook his head. "Worried about Raven?"

Surprisingly, he shook his head to that also. "No, it's nothing. I've just felt uncomfortable about this island since we got here." He paused, and we waited patiently. He shook his head once more. "It's probably just residual from what happened yesterday."

"Jasmine and I were just talking about that. About how grateful we are that the other survived. I'm sure you feel the same about Raven."

He waited a moment before nodding slowly. He was so hard to get a read on. "Of course I am. Without her... there's not much to say about that."

No one spoke following that, so I left on my own to retrieve more wood. I lost myself in my work, standing just a bit into the forest, with thoughts of my family.

Mom's probably crying, worried, and with good reason. I'm sure Dad will be the quieter, more stoic one, silently comforting them all. He'll be just as worried, though.

People are probably already searching for us. I'm sure they were aware of the accident as soon as it happened and are searching the area. It shouldn't take too long for us to be rescued.

"No... no one will rescue you. You can't be found." The gravelly voice appeared in my mind. Each word gave me a headache that worsened a little. Shook, I noticed a figure a deep into the forest, looking my way.

I tried to take a step back, only to stumble on my branches. "Who—who's there?" My words betrayed my fright, and the voice laughed, again only in my head. The figure was tall, too tall, with an abnormally large head. His skin seemed to be a pale yellow color, and he wasn't wearing any clothes. I had to squint to notice the most unusual feature, though, and that was his arms—six of them. The top pair was covering his face, gripping it, fingers interlocked. The middle arms were outstretched to either side, hands limp. The bottom pair wrapped around his legs and gripped each of his ankles tightly. My stomach collapsed with fear, and I could only stand trembling.

"You can't be found by others, that is. Those who'd help you. Another group will find you, though... yes, they're on their way now." He never moved during his speech, and the pounding in my head kept making it harder to focus. His voice, it was so grating, like sandpaper against my thoughts.

"W-who...?" I muttered, still too afraid to speak up. He heard me, anyway.

"You'll see..." With that, he took a slow step backward and disappeared.

I fell backward, taken aback by his sudden disappearance. Scrambling to stand up, I turned and ran back towards the others. Eva noticed me, but only had time to shoot me an inquisitive look.

This was when Andrey reappeared, bursting from the woods, red stains on his clothes and face. He had a look of fear, and his head swiveled wildly before settling on me. "Andrey, what..." I started, but he cut me off.

"Stephan! Stephan, we have to run!" He was desperate, and I could see the terror in his eyes. It was as if he wasn't all there, he was only operating on base instinct.

After what had happened just before, I was too rattled to even process this new information fully. "What... who? Again, who?"

"I don't know, I... they took Raven! They're coming!" My eyes widened further than they were already. That explained the blood I now recognized on him. The rest of the group had joined us, although they'd all heard his words from across the beach.

"Run, run, we need to—" He was cut off by a loud crashing in the woods, which drew all our attention. Out of it came a large troupe of men, at least at first glance. Despite the blackish-grey armor, fancifully crafted with swirls and delicate but sharp twists, a second look revealed that there was nothing inside of the open helmet. Rather, it's not that there was nothing, but there was a darkness that inhabited the armor instead, taking the shape of a human body. No face was visible, only a black mass. Steam seeped out from between the plates of the armor, dispersing into the immediate air.

They surrounded us, herding us into a smaller and smaller area.Angelique seemed ready to rush them, but they each pointed a large sword at us,from all sides, which matched their armor in color and design. One said, in a likea strong wind, "By the order of the fourth iteration of Timore, you are all tocome with us."