Ship Wrecked

Chapter 15: Can't Run or Hide

Jules laid on a blanket near the dying fire and was having the best dream of her life. Her heart was full just seeing Carter's face and hearing the sound of the village chaos. She saw her parents dancing in the ballroom without any music and she felt her scalp feel the wind as she rode on Vanilla across the meadow.

Her dreams were shattered before her eyes as Sarah shook her awake. "What," Jules snapped, "What do you need? Can't you see I am sleeping!" Sarah rolled her eyes and grabbed the princess's wrist.

"Have you seen Matthew and Jae?"

"No. Why?"

"They're not in their hammocks! Do you think?

"No, the grenolds, they-" Jules began before she heard the pounding of footsteps in the distance. They were coming closer. "Sarah, wake everyone up. We've got company." Sarah leaped up from her position and bolted over to Thomas. Jules crawled over to Emrys and shook his shoulder. "Emrys! Wake up," Jules replied. She glanced down to see Zankari curled up against Emrys's chest; whimpering inside his throat. Jules grimaced. She hated seeing people in pain and suffering because she knew about the pain and suffering Zankari was going through. Emrys moaned and opened one eye. "What? I haven't slept in days so please let me sleep," Emrys complained. He closed his eyes and turned away from Jules. Jules sighed and smacked him on the head. Emrys jumped while rolling onto his side, "What in the blazes did you do that for!" Jules could see Zankari blink slowly at them with wide eyes.

"Emrys, we, Sarah and I, are concerned that the grenolds have come to kill us all and we all need to be on guard," Jules replied before she helped up Zankari. He wrapped his arms around her waist and cried uncontrollably into her torso. She patted his head and lifted up his chin so he could look her in the eye, "Zankari, everything will be alright. We just have to be brave. I am scared too and I haven't used any weapon if the sort." She giggled to herself and patted Zankari's cheek; reassuringly. The little black boy tried with all his might to smile and walked over to Emrys to help him up. Emrys supported himself and took Zankari's shriveled hand. Jules smiled and glided over to Noel and Eila who were whispering in low voices. "Hey Jules. Why did Sarah come and wake us up?" Noel yawned while taking glances over at Eila who was having trouble staying awake and alert. The half-asleep girl collapsed on Noel's shoulder.

"Eila, you need to stay awake! If you fall asleep, I will too," Noel replied while shoving Elia off her shoulder. "Sorry," Elia murmured as she rubbed the eye muck out of her eyes. Thomas was walking over, slowly, and he had his machete in his right hand

"What is going on Sarah?"

Jules strained her ears to listen to the two comrades.

"Jae and Matthew are missing."

"What in the devil! Why are they missing?"

"We don't know. I am assuming the worst is that they were killed by the grenolds."

Matthew ran his fingers through his messy blonde hair. He started to shake doing all he can to fight back from screaming. "No, Sarah. Jae is much stronger than that. Wouldn't she have fought back and helped Matthew? Wouldn't the grenolds take all of us?" Sarah shrugged her shoulders and wrapped an arm around her friend's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Thomas. I wish that things didn't turn out like this," Sarah replied as she guided Thomas to a broken log. Jules hung her head when she heard voices.

Her head turned slowly to see Matthew breaking through vines with Jae behind him. Something is chasing them! Grenolds! Jules' head screamed at her to run, but her feet buried themselves into the ground and started to grow roots to hold her in place. "Jules, are you okay?" Noel replied when she saw what the princess of Minuta was staring at. "Matthew! Jae!" Noel shoved Jules to the ground as she took off through the tangled vines and claw-like roots. Noel stopped dead in her tracks. She wheeled herself around and booked over to the clan of castaways. "Run!"she screamed.