Shadow Island

Chapter Three

A Short Time Later...

We sat together around the round wooden table, quietly eating the noodles my mother had given us. The steam from the pasta mixed with the smell of the rain that had started falling outside, creating a strangely comforting atmosphere. Jonas took a long swig from his bottle of cola and suddenly asked, "Did you guys bring any bedding?" His voice was casual, but there was a hint of worry in it.

"Yeah, of course. Didn't you?" Tim asked, raising an eyebrow at Jonas.

Jonas shook his head slowly, "Not really. I kind of thought we'd have everything we needed here."

Tim laughed softly, "Well, at least we have beds, right? That's something," Jonas added with a shrug, trying to brush off his mistake.

After dinner, we spread out across the floor, making ourselves as comfortable as possible in the small space. I glanced out the window a few times, noticing how it was beginning to get dark and the rain was now coming down steadily. A distant rumble of thunder rolled in. "Great," I muttered under my breath, feeling a little uneasy as the storm picked up.

That evening, we decided to turn in early. We needed to be up at 4:00 a.m. the next morning for our first task—something about lighting a signal twice before dawn. We would have to wake up in the middle of the night, but none of us were really thinking about that yet. The growing storm outside was a far more immediate concern.

The sun had long since set, and the wind was howling around the small house as the rain lashed against the windows. It felt like the island was becoming smaller, more isolated with each passing minute. The thick fog creeping in from the sea didn't help.

"Guys, we're the only ones on this island, right?" Jonas asked after a long stretch of silence. He was lying next to the window, his head resting on his pillow as he gazed out into the murky night.

"Of course. Who else would be here?" Tim replied, sounding a bit confused. I couldn't help but agree—why would anyone else be on this remote island? That's what I thought too. "There's no one else. We're completely alone," I reassured him.

Jonas shifted uncomfortably, "Yeah... maybe. It's just... I can't shake the feeling that we're not alone."

I glanced at him. "What do you mean? Are you trying to freak us out or something?" Tim asked, his tone light but curious.

"No, seriously. Have you guys heard about what happened here last year?" Jonas continued, his voice dropping lower.

Tim leaned forward, clearly intrigued now. "What are you talking about?"

"There was this biologist, a well-known guy. He came to the island last year, doing the same job we're here for. He stayed for about four weeks... but when he went back home, he was a completely different person. Came back sick, mentally unstable."

I felt a chill run down my spine. "I haven't heard anything like that," Tim said, sounding skeptical. "My mom told me it was just a bunch of kids messing around, pulling pranks or something."

Jonas shook his head. "No, I don't think so. The guy was diagnosed with severe psychological issues, even though he was perfectly healthy when he left home."

Tim laughed nervously, "Oh come on, it's probably just some stupid story. He didn't get sick because of some birds or anything, right? Maybe he just had a bad week or something."

In the Middle of the Night...

I woke up to a strange sound. My heart was pounding before I even opened my eyes, that eerie sensation of waking up without knowing why. My bed was right above Jonas's, close to the window. I turned my head slightly, squinting into the darkness outside. Rain still streaked the glass, but it was quiet now, except for the soft rattling sound.

"Jonas?" I whispered, hoping to hear a reassuring answer, but all I got was the steady rhythm of his snoring. Tim was also fast asleep, his breathing deep and even.

I held my breath, listening again. There was that sound—was it footsteps? My mind raced. Was the door locked? Had we made sure? I felt a growing knot of fear in my stomach, and after a moment of hesitation, I decided I needed to check. I couldn't just lie there wondering.

Quietly, I climbed down the ladder, my heart pounding in my ears. I glanced at my watch. 3:00 a.m. We still had an hour before the alarm would go off. I tried to calm myself down, but every shadow in the room seemed to loom larger in the dim light.

"Guys?" I whispered again, my voice barely audible, but no one stirred. I reached for the door, my hand shaking slightly as I turned the knob. It was locked. Relief washed over me, but only for a second. I couldn't find the key. Where had Jonas put it?

And then I heard it again—footsteps, clear and deliberate. My heart stopped for a moment. What if it wasn't just an animal? What if someone—something—was out there? Fear prickled at the back of my neck, my imagination running wild. Was it a ghost? My sister would laugh at me if I ever told her this. She never believed in anything like that.

I took a deep breath, trying to reason with myself. The door was locked. We were safe in here. Maybe it was just some creature, something native to the island, harmless. We could figure it out in the morning.

Slowly, I climbed back into bed, pulling the covers up to my chin, willing myself to relax. My heart was still racing, but eventually, the exhaustion took over, and I drifted back to sleep, though the unease lingered in my mind.