The Island

(Chapter 23) Pain (Revised)

"Eat."

I protest, "But, I'm not hungry."

"Eat it."

I fold my arms and turn away, "No."

"Eat it or so help me God, I'll shove it down your throat!"

I take the green fruit and bite into it, "It tastes like shit."

Henry laughs, "Jesus... I tell you to eat it and only when I threaten to hurt you, do you comply."

I shrug, "I guess I got hungry at the last second."

Henry's hands turn to fists, "Next time when I tell you to do something... DO IT!" he then storms off toward Buddy's home.

Father comes from behind me and takes a chunk off of the fruit in my hand, "You know... maybe you losing your memory has made you two come closer together."

I nod slowly, "But why? He hasn't told me why he was mad at me in the first place." I then turn to Father, "I need my memory, I need to know what is going on. For example, who's Melissa?"

Father bites down on fruit that remains, "Well, surround yourself with things that you do remember, then have Henry take you to the things that you don't. Eventually, you'll remember.

Henry walks back and hands me a bottle of water, "Take this."

I reach for the bottle, but stop myself, "Hey, to help my memory, would you mind taking me to places that I am supposed to remember."

Henry's eyes fall to the ground, "To be honest with you, I don't want you to remember."

Henry has never shown this much distance. Something keeps him away from me. I want to know what is keeping him away. I grab his arm then insist, "Why do you hate me? What did I do that was so wrong?"

His anger blazes out toward me, "You don't remember, so why would I remind myself of a time that my brother chose reptiles over me! Why would I subject myself to that kind of torture..." His face falls, "You and I were close once, but you just had to go and choose a family that hasn't even known you for that long. You betrayed my trust, and we were supposed to get off this godforsaken island, but..." He looks back up at me, "... But... You decided that it was better to stay here."

I step back, "Why? Why would I do that to you? I don't believe it." My hands fold over my chest.

Henry steps forward and grabs my torn shirt, "Well, believe it, David. You chose THEM... because you are one of them."

I smile and break out laughing, "I am one of them? Now that's rich."

Henry throws me back, "Yes, you are, I've seen you turn."

I shake my head, "Forget this." then I point toward the creatures, "If you want to make stuff up to justify hate you have for me, then maybe it was a good reason I didn't stay with you."

Before I knew it, Henry's fist flies and hits me right in the face, "You know what happens when I'm accused of lying!"

I wipe the blood from my lip, "Yeah, I do." quickly, I lunge out at Henry and tackle him to the ground, "You have no reason to be mad! But here you are lying!"

A voice from behind me stops me from landing a punch, "David." It's Father, he stands near the bank of the lake, "Your brother is telling the truth."

Before I speak again, Kid runs by and calls out, "The forest, it's on fire!"

Henry, in a quick sense of reality, jumps forward, "Must have been from the lightning last night."

Father looks back at Kid, "How far?"