The Island

(Chapter 16) An Animal I Have Become (Revised)

My hand reaches for the door handle, with a breath of regret I pull. A little bell in the diner plays as I step through. My eyes scan the room searching for the man, the man that took everything from me, the man who left me. My eyes find him sitting at a booth sipping on his coffee reading a newspaper. My hands tighten forming fists, my anger is interupted by a woman to my left, "Hello there, my name is Karen and I'll be your server."

I look at her and respond, "I'm here with the man sitting in the corner, I'm just going to be talking to him."

She nods, "Well okay then, if you need anything than my services are available to you, have a nice day."

I slowly make my way to his table and set myself down. His eyes glance over the newspaper and a lite whisper comes from behind the paper, "Sir, as you can see, I have this table. I would appreciate it if you find yourself another one."

I snatch the paper from his hands and lay it on the table, "No, I believe I have the right table because I was looking for my father, I think I may have found him."

He smiles, "Kevin, I thought you were going to visit next month. Why the fuck do you look so different, have you been eating too much fast food?"

I pound my hand on the table, "My name is not Kevin! It's David, the name you gave me 21 years ago."

His eyes widen and his breaths quicken, "David?"

I find it hard not to cry, not because I missed him or anything, just...hard to remember all the things he's put me through. My voice clears, "Now, you're going to answer my questions honestly and to the best of your ability. When I am done, I will walk away, the police officers sitting behind you and the ones behind me will wait until you're finished with your food before they take you. Any questions?"

He looks up and down my face, "David?"

I twitch and my hands reach for a knife, slamming it right into the table, I scream, "Yes! If you haven't guessed it already its David!" With my other hand, I crumble the newspaper, "The first question; Why did you leave?"

His hands shake violently, "I don't know."

We sit in complete silence for a minute before I close my eyes and say as calmly as I can, "That is not an answer for this type of question. Try again, you can even take a sip of your coffee if it helps you think." Silence falls and my hands start to shake, balling up into fists of rage, I slam the table leaving a surprising dent, "Answer me!" All I get is a look of concern, of worry. I raise myself up and grab his shirt, "You are going to answer my questions either now or behind bulletproof glass!"

He pushes me back, "What do you want me to say? That I regret leaving you, that it keeps me up at night wondering what I have done? That I know that I have a son out in the world hating every fiber of my being? Uh?"

I walk around the table and grab him by his shirt and lift with my right hand. I lift him up to eye level and angrily say, "I am not looking for apologies or regrets! Answers are what I want!"

The fear in his eyes becomes prominent, "David, please."

My eyes shut and I drop him, "Kevin is my brother isn't he?"

He sniffs and nods, "Yes. . ."

I put my finger up before he can continue, "I don't care who the mother is." My feet turn and drag to the door, "Enjoy your coffee." pushing the door open, I wake up.

Henry is laying beside me asleep, reminding me of my blood-related brother still out there. Lifting myself up I head to the beach, still nothing to report, just an empty sea of salt. I kick the sand and throw a branch into the water out of rage. My screams call to be heard, but just the crashing of waves reminds me that no one listens.

I hear footsteps behind me, "Bro, you okay?"

I plop down on the sand and answer, "No."

He walks over and sets himself next to me, "Well, care to tell me what's on your mind?"

I take a deep breath and begin. We sit on the beach for what feels like hours talking. Kevin, mom, dad, Melissa and the raptors.

The sun begins to come up and I take a final look out into the waters, "Do you really think we can help these animals?"

Henry puts his hand on my shoulder and says, "Whatever you feel you need to do, I'll be right behind you. I still don't understand how they can understand you."

I shrug, "They need help, but so do we. Though, I feel like I belong here."

I hear a chuckle come from Henry, "Really? You like having to wipe your ass with a fucking leaf, which is not as nice as people made it seem by the way."

A smile crosses my face, "Maybe there is something about this place that calls to me, something I need to understand. Why this place calls to me, why it feels like... home."

He laughs and pats my back, "Well, good luck with that, I'm going back to bed."

I turn and call out, "The sun just came up, what are you talking about going back to bed?"

He replies, "Well, you did take up half my night talking asshole."

Henry walks into the bushes and disappears. Silence falls over the area and before I know it my hands begin to shake violently. I feel hot and my blood begins to boil. I fall to my knees and cry out in pain, my stomach begins to rip apart. My whole body ripples, I call out to Henry, but get no response, I stretch my hand out and black out.

Distance shouts drive me to listen, "What the hell, get back!" My eyes fly open and glance upon Henry's bloody body. I gasp and run to him, but before I reach him I take a right hook to the face. Henry then grabs a branch and holds it in front of him, "I said, get back."

I look at him in confusion, "What the fuck, Henry?"

He lifts himself up and asks, "Did you just speak?"

I nod, "Ya, I know English dipshit, fuck that hurt."

The branch in his hand shakes, "David?"

I get up, "Who else? Were you expecting God?"

The branch falls and he screams, "David look at yourself man?"

I sarcastically say, "Oh yes, just let me pull out the mirror I carry with me."

He points, "Look at your hands!"

I then mock him, "'Look at your hands.'" I jump back, "What happened to my hands?" Looking down at my body I find reptilian skin and claws at the ends of my feet. I shriek in terror and hit my head against a tree, knocking myself out.