Fallen from the Sky

Chapter 17

Jazz

I wake up from a deep sleep to find that everyone else has left the shelter. I probably overslept because of the busy hunting I carried out all of yesterday, although I came back with no meat. However, on my way back I had the decency to grab some grapes, so the trip wasn’t a total failure. I sit up and walk towards the entrance. I stand out into the boiling sunlight and look around me. Alex and Harriet are sat in a tree together on the outskirts of our clearing, however no one else can be seen.

I walk towards them where Luna and Andrew walk in, they stumble in backwards, eyes closed, kissing. I turn and run, repulsed, and somehow crash into Harriet and Alex’s tree. I look up to find them staring at me with distaste, as they yell at me to go away. I run down the path until I reach the lake where I find Josie’s body swimming before me. Repulsed, with sick on the side of my throat, I walk backwards into a tree. Suddenly, parrots erupt from the tree, squawking angrily as a few even stop to peck my head. I flee further down the path where I find Daisy rowing with Courtney, where Harriet angrily yells that I am not her friend. Luna, Daisy, Harriet and Courtney all form a group together, lecturing me for wasting the day. Then Andrew starts insulting me while Alex describes every mistake I make while hunting. I cover my ears and desperately run further down the path until I reach a shore. Beautiful, warm sand, completely unexplored. I let my pace slow down as I walk on the sand, and breathe in the salty air. I walk slowly towards the water, and soon I walk into the sea. Deeper and deeper, I walk, I don’t even pay attention to the depth until I realise, I am far too deep in to stand and I suddenly am plunged underwater. I fight with the currents and desperately try to make my way back to shore, but all I can hear is distant malevolent laughter and the water pushing me further to the ocean floor.

I wake with a start, cold sweat trickling down my body, shivering. I take some deep, calming breaths in an attempt to subdue my jumpy attitude. It is just a dream. It is just a dream. I sit up and rub my eyes. I look up, and find that Harriet and Alex are the only ones left in the shelter. They are sitting very close together, and Harriet has a slight redness to her face. I see…

“Hi.” I say, studying them suspiciously.

“Hi.” Says Harriet.

“What were you doing?” I ask, slowly.

“Nothing.” Harriet says quickly, going instantly redder as she finished.

“Hmm…” I say. “I see.” She goes even redder.

“No. It’s not… It’s not what you think…”

I look over at Alex, and he raises his eyebrows.

“What?” He asks innocently. I laugh.

“Don’t “what?” me!” I say incredulously. “Just tell me!”

Harriet shakes her head slightly, extremely red in the face, and walks out. I turn to Alex.

“So, what’s that all about?” I ask. He goes slightly pink too.

“Me and Harriet were talking.” He starts slowly.

“And?” I question.

“And we disagreed?” He continues, slowly.

“Why the question?” I ask.

“Well, she got a bit heated, and she went a bit red. Before that we were kissing. So maybe she was embarrassed?” He says; I shake my head.

“You seem pretty embarrassed to me.” I say, making him go even redder.

“Well, we were talking about… things…” He says nervously, fiddling with his hands.