The Island

(Chapter 4) Re-Born (Revised)

I awaken to the sound of waves crashing against the shore.

"Am I alive?" I ask the night sky. The stars look brighter than when I was in the city. It's beautiful.

I try to lift myself off the ground and find a sticky substance on my stomach. I reach and take a hold of it and pull it off of me, the area around my gut feels soft, almost like a new born babies skin. "What is going on?" I ask again.

My eyes shoot back and forth, how did I end up on the beach? My eyes start to feel dry and my lips begin to beg for water. I lift myself into a standing position and wipe away the sticky substance from my stomach. Holding out my hands to catch my guts, but not receiving them. What happened?

I limp around the beach wanting answers, but only getting the crashing waves beneath me. It begins to get cold and my breaths are seen in the air.

I feel better, even though I shouldn't feel better. Why do I feel better? I look back down at my stomach, could it be the sticky substance? Quickly, I run back to where I awoke.

The substance is gone, no way it could have grown legs and walked away, right?

My mind then solves this puzzling question. I must be dreaming, why else would it have disappeared?

I lift my hands and call out, "Hello! Wake up!" I stomp around the beach, desperately trying to wake myself up, "Wake up!"

After a few minutes I come to the conclusion that maybe, just maybe, I might not be in a dream.

My confusion starts to weigh down my mind, "What is going on? Why can't I get some answers?" My anger blazes and I kick the sand around me, "Wake up!"

The rustling of the bushes brings me to a halt. Immediately, I reach into my pants trying to find a weapon. The bushes russell even more so, sending chills up my spine. I fumble around my pockets trying to find something to defend myself with, but when I come out empty handed I conclude, RUN! My mind says and I quickly obey.

I head back into the forest, letting my hands cover my face as the leaves and brush swing like crazy. I hear something behind, running after me. My hands swing back and forth as I gain more speed.

The smell of pine and blood hit my nose, it seeps into my skin. Wrapping around my waist and tightening. My breaths quicken and my body starts to tire.

I jump back into a sprint wen I feel something grab a hold of my shirt.

I fall forward and roll on the ground when I see a cliff in front of me. I quickly lift myself up and look behind me, with full confendece that this is a dream. My smile goes away when something from the darkness jumps at me and tackles me back to the ground.

My hand tries to feel around and it comes to a tiny stick, with it, I jab it into my attacker. A cry comes from it and I jump back up. Turning around I head toward the cliff. My body begins to feel numb and for a split second I feel like I can fly, with my left foot I launch myself over the chasm. As I near the other side I reach out and grab onto it. Hoisting myself up I turn around to find the creature staring at me from the other side. It cries out and limps away.

My breaths start to slow down and I begin to walk along the cliffs edge. The darkeness seems peaceful now, it could be because I finally know how my dream ends.

I grab a tree branch and lift myself into the leaves, totally concealed and safe. I lean my body against the tree and let my eyes slowly drop.

The last thing I remember is a whisper in my ear, "Don't leave."

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The next day, I fallow along the edge of the cliff wondering where Henry and Melissa might have gone. I remember a river, but that is about it. I don't even know what side of the island I am on. This could be an island or it could be the beaches of Florida, but from the creatures I have seen so far. . . I am pretty confidant that this is not Florida or any place where we can get human help.

I stick with my island theory and head further with the canyon. My eyes continuously dart back and forth, alert for anything that might be lerking in the bushes, waiting for my guard to be let down. I know I can not let that happen, I can only keep my guard ready for anything.

At around midday, I begin to understand that this revine, might be going in circles. I have only been taking rights. I set myself down and start to think. No more than 3 minutes later I hear a scream. My body jumps up and tries desperately to find the cause.

Another scream sends my feet into a frantic and I run towards the direction of the screams.

The screams start to fade and with another launch of my left foot, I fly over the cliff. Landing the same way I did prevously. The screams get louder and louder, burning my ear drums with the cries of pain. As I jump out into a clearing I jump back and hide behind a tree. I try to slow down my breathing and concentrate. My head peeks over and I see the creatures feasting on a body. My mouth hardens and I feel like puking. The blood pours all over the floor and the tearing of human flesh hurt my ears. They rip out flesh and organs from the body and swallow all they have in their bloody mouths. Their serrated teeth dig deep into the body, ripping meat from bone. I then look at the face of the body, relief sets on me, its not Henry, nor is it Melissa. His eyes set on the distance, glassy and dead.

I turn and run away from the horrific scene. My eyes begin to water and my stomach starts to hurt.

My pace quickens when I hear the waves of the ocean crash against the beach. When my feet hit the sand I fall to my knees. My face turns upward in pure emotion, "Why?"

I don't know if I'm trying to get an anwer from god or if I want to know why He would alow something like this to happen. AND none of that bullshit of, he may of deserved it. No one DESERVES to die like that, no one.

As I begin to feel calm, the ground begins to tremble. Birds in the distance sound a warning call and hide. My feet fumble back up and before I know it, my shadow in front of me begins to cast a different figure.