Backwards Into Hell

Part Two: The LFG

Jake's Diary

Tuesday 26th October

That evening, we gathered for our proposed meeting and my knee wouldn't stop bouncing. Every part of me was impatient. I had to kill again.

Soon.

'We should make contact with the mainland,' said David. 'Is there a radio tower on the Island?'

Darren glanced at Anais, who shook his head. 'Unless you count the airport, the closest one's on Benbecula.'

'Well, we could try the airport.'

'It'll be under lock and key,' I added, of course not mentioning the magic key Lily still had in her room.

'Plus, it's a long walk—maybe three hours,' said Anais. 'I think we'd be better to work on the boat and find some food.'

David nodded, putting his elbows on the table and playing with the dry skin on his hands. Somehow, he'd become the de facto leader of our small group. Lottie and Abe were too old, I suppose, Lily and Anais too timid, Darren too slippery, Caleb too young, and me too unwilling.

'It wouldn't hurt to send out a small party before lunch tomorrow, but Jake is right—if we're not careful, we'll run out of food.'

There was a solid supply of dry food in The Lodge—Anais and I had taken account of it while we'd cooked—but fresh food was already turning, and unless we wanted to live on rice and beans, we needed to do something.

Still, I hoped this would be over in a few days.

If I just got a move on...

I couldn't kill anyone that night, I'd decided. With the group so on edge, it would be too risky, especially as we had our partners: Abe and Lottie, Darren and Anais, then Lily, David, and I formed a three. Everyone had been instructed to lock their doors, maybe place a dresser in front of them, and check on their partners before bed and in the morning. The others weren't going to make this easy.

'We need to start farming,' Abe began. 'I can teach you.'

'We grow as much of our own produce as we can, don't we?' Lottie placed an arm on Abe's. 'Tomatoes for the focaccia, onions for the—'

'Thank you, Abe,' David agreed.

Anais leaned over the table. 'We could cycle to the airport. That way, we'll be back before dark.'

David nodded.

'Tomorrow, Anais, Lily, and I can head out while you guys keep watch.'

My heart sank as David excluded me from the expedition. Lily noticed it too, and caught my eye with a sympathetic glance. Was Anais becoming David's new right-hand man?

After the meeting, everyone headed upstairs together. On the top floor, it was just Lily and me.

'Sucks you aren't coming tomorrow,' she said, gently edging her door open.

'Yeah.'

I stood outside my own and tried not to peer into her room. We watched each other for a moment, not brave enough to say what we wanted.

Lily smiled and gazed at the floor. 'I'll see you in the morning.'

'See you,' I said, and watched her go.

After that, I didn't go into my room, of course not. I went to David. If I really had fallen out of his favour, there had to be a way to make it up because no way was I letting cowardly little Anais get in my way.

When I reached the second floor, the moonlight shining from the end window caught me like a deer in headlights, and I found myself moving towards it, looking over Castlebay and remembering the very first day. How we toured The Castle and made jokes and were actually excited to start this dammed holiday.