The Island

(Chapter 14) Unknown (Revised)

When we get to the tree Melissa has a hard time getting up off the floor.

I run over to her hand help her up, "What happened?"

She cries out in pain, "I fell off the tree, I think my leg is broken."

Henry cups her mouth, "Be quiet! Do you not know there are dangerous dinosaurs roaming around?"

She bites him and calls out, "I know that, but I am in pain!"

I set myself next to her and examine her leg. I put pressure on it and I can feel a dip an unnatural dip. Her leg bends at her knee, but it bends to the right. I then look over at Henry, he grabs a stick and holds it in front of Melissa, "Take this and bite it."

She looks up at him, "For what?" her hate still lingering in her words.

He answers, "Because this is going to hurt."

I remember when I broke my arm. I was climbing to the roof of this building because Henry decided to dare me. He wanted to see if I was, "chicken". Unfortunately, right as I reached the top of the building my foot slipped and I came right down on a dumpster. My mom had to do the same thing I have to do to Melissa. Reset her leg back into place. 

Melissa shakes violently, "Get away from my leg."

I look over at her, "You don't want your leg to heal this way, if it can heal at all. I have to set it."

Henry then holds her, "He's doing it either way, I suggest biting down on that twig."

Melissa does so and I take a deep breath. With my hands set on her legs I quickly and violently snap her leg back into place. The snap from the leg and the twig in her mouth sends a shiver down my spine.

She cries out in pain and tries to cover her own mouth. She punches the ground and her body shivers as if it were cold. Tears roll down her face as she tries to keep her pain in.

All I could say was my apologies.

The next few minutes are spent trying to get Melissa back into the tree house, so that her leg can heal. With a bit of brute strength and a lot of luck, we become successful in hoisting her back up into the tree.

The next few days I don't leave her side, whatever she needs I become her. . . servant? Well, nurse would be a little better description.

I don't know what I was thinking, but everyday I recite things I would like to have right at that moment.

"Purified water, strawberries, candy bar, soap. . ." 

Melissa picks up what I am doing and joins in, "Pizza, clean cloths. . ."

Henry joins in, "Mom."

We both glance at him confused, "What?"

He nods, "I would like to have mom. She would know what to do."

I agree and ask, "What do you think she would say to us right now?"

He smiles, "She'd probably say, 'Shut up! Your making me hungry!'"

We exchange chuckles and continue with our list of items we would like.

A roar in the distance silences us. Its low pitched, probably big, whatever made it.

Henry then looks down at Melissa's leg and puts pressure on it, "Does it hurt as much as yesterday?"

She shakes her head, "Not as much, but still hurts."

Then he looks up at me, "Well, aside from the inflammation we need to go down, I'd say it didn't break all that bad. I'd give it a week maybe, but that also means if it stops hurting it doesn't mean your healed, we need to be safe with that. We don't have a doctor and something tells me we are not going to have one for a long while."

I nod, "We can take shifts, I'll take a day to take care of you, then Henry can the next day."

Melissa agrees and lays her head on the floor, "Do you think we are pronounced dead?" The long pause of silence makes her smile, "I'll explain, back on the main land, do you think maybe. . . because they didn't find us they pronounced us dead? I mean, its been what, months?"

I place my hand on her forehead checking to see if its hot, "I don't know, but I do know my mother. She is not going to stop looking for us until she finds a body."

Before Melissa sinks into a deep sleep she mumbles, "If those raptors get to us, she won't find bodies."

(3 Months Later)

Progress has been made and Melissa has gone insane.

"Henry and David, I've got an idea." Her head twitches a little bit, "Why don't we build a boat. Have one of us go out into sea and find help."

I then ask, "Why only one of us go?"

She then answers, "Because their is still a chance that the person who goes out doesn't make it. we don't want to risk everyone lives, just one."

Henry then asks, "Who is going to be the unlucky son of a. . ."

She points to her chest, "Me."

I shake my head, "Maybe it should be me."

Henry backs up, "Well, I'm taking my chances with getting eaten by raptors than drowning."

Melissa shakes her head, "I can't stand staying on this island and doing nothing."

I laugh, "So your going to go on a tiny little boat and do what? NOTHING!"

So, here we are a boat made ready for the sea, food to last her about a month and a sail that we made from a tent. I have to admit, our constructing abilities are admirable.

We decide to wait before sending Melissa on her journey just so we can say our goodbye. The past maybe 8 months have been real nice with her. Shes kind, very quick temper, but I guess that comes with being a soldier. 

She walks over to Henry and kisses him on the cheek, "Henry, thanks for being our comedy relief not needed, uncalled for and pretty annoying."

He snickers and shakes his head, "Fuck you."

She walks over to me and hands me her journal, "If you want you can read it, just promise you won't let Henry read it."

I smile and nod, "Sure."

She hugs me and just before I thought she was done she kisses me. Her lips gently lay on mine and for a brief moment I feel like I can fly. I feel my heart lift a little and my stomach feel like its in knots. My head begins to spin and pleasure takes hold. She backs off and I can see her cheeks turn red, "Welp, time to go."

Henry just stands there shocked as Melissa and I push the boat into the water.

Melissa then says to me, "I want you to promise me, if you are rescued, but I died, then go to my parents and tell them. . . tell them I love them."

I nod, "I will, if you promise to do the same."

The boat becomes smaller and smaller, before long it completely disappears. 

I look down at the journal then back at Henry. He walks over to me, "You prick!"

I tilt my head, "What are you talking about?"

He shakes his head, "I thought she liked me?"

I nod, "She did, just not in the way you thought." Taking a deep breath I head back to the tree house.