The Island

(Chapter 18) Help (Revised)

My eyes dart around, my arms shake and so does my hands. I walk around slowly in the darkness, waiting. My mouth can only make out a faint whisper, "Hello?"

A bush to my left rustles, a dark figure appears growling and hissing, "You shouldn't be here."

I stand completely still and reply, "I need to talk to Father, it's important."

He walks closer and sets his jaw on my shoulder with a faint hiss, "Give me a good reason not to kill you where you stand?"

I shiver and my body begins to respond, backing away slowly I bow my head, "I'm sorry I know, it's late in the night, it won't happen again. I just need to talk to Father."

He growls and jumps on top of me, pinning my legs to the ground, "No, it won't happen again, because I am going to kill you!"

As if all the fear built up inside of me disappeared I begin to morph, my hands turn to claws and my skin becomes rough. Buddy jumps off of me and calls out into the night air. I walk forward and screech, "Leave me alone!"

We stand there motionless. Before long, Father comes running and slides between both of us, "What are you doing in our territory?"

My anger falls and my body transforms back into my regular self, "I don't know what is going on with me, I need your help."

Father looks at me in complete confusion, "How did you do that?"

My face drops, "I thought you might have had that answer for me."

The darkness has masked his face, but I can feel his concentration, "Buddy, I need you to keep watch over him tonight, we will deal with whatever this is in the morning."

Buddy whimpers, "Father, you know how I feel about the..."

Father growls, "Yes, I know full well that you despise there kind. That is why I'm putting you to this."

Buddy's eyes stare into my very soul with intent to kill, "Your kind killed my parents, that will never be forgiven."

I walk over to Buddy and raise my hands to the sides, "Then take your revenge and kill me, kill the man who had nothing to do with it."

Buddy bites down on my arm and throws me against a tree, "I already acted on my revenge when I tore every limb that man had."

Rage takes over and I punch Buddy across his face, "Then stop treating me like I am some vile animal! It wasn't my fault your parents died!"

Buddy's face hardens and he attacks, tackling me to the ground. His claws dig deep into my gut sending pain through my body. My hand reaches for a nearby stone but comes empty-handed. Buddy continues to cut into my flesh, my other hand desperately tries to cover my face from his teeth. Anger rushes up through my body and into my head, "I am not dying today!" My hands morph and my body follows behind. I roar into the night and bite onto Buddy's neck. My head swings him off of me and I lift myself off the ground, "I didn't kill them! So, why do you hate me so much!"

His eyes fall to the ground, his face softens, "I just don't trust you, I don't trust any of your kind!"

I hiss at him, "Do you think I am my kind? Have you ever seen my kind do what I just did? My kind abandoned me on this island, my kind kills each other every day, my kind kill innocent creatures for fun! They are destroying this planet!" My eyes find the floor and a sort of calmness rushes over me, "I am not a human, not anymore."

Father walks in between us and roars at Buddy, "Don't lay one single claw on his body, do you understand me, Buddy?"

Buddy whimpers, "I promise."