DAY 1
The sun glistened down onto a small wooden hut in the middle of a dense jungle. The jungle was on a tropical island in the middle of a glittering sea. Five teenagers lay passed out in the center of the hut, circling a small wicker table. They stirred awake, and looked precariously around at each other and their surroundings.
A boy with blonde hair and blue eyes was first to speak up, "Where the heck are we?" he asked. The others shrugged, for they didn't know either.
Then a shadowy looking girl piped up, "What if we read the note on the table?" she asked, in a melodious voice. The rest of the group looked startled at the table. They hadn't even noticed the letter.
They all nodded in agreement, and she picked up the note and read aloud:
Hello. You five have been chosen for the infamous J Project. Our goal in this project is to see if five unprepared teenagers can survive in a jungle. You will be given no outside help, even though you are being watched at all times.
You're goal, on the other hand, is to survive. You'll need to learn skills you never had been taught back in your other life. We need you to survive, and ultimately thrive. It may seem harsh at first, but we know you'll adapt. It's the only way. We have also been generous enough to leave you five a few weapons. Please choose each weapon to your skill level.
-The Creator Z
After the girl had finished reading, a fiery red headed girl, with brown eyes spoke, "This can't be happening, it HAS to be a joke." The others didn't say anything, "Right?" The rest of the teenagers shook their head.
A brown haired boy with deep brown eyes was next to talk, "Look outside. It really is a jungle. They actually expect us to survive."
Everyone rushed to the door, and peeked outside. They all gasped in horror and fascination of the world before them.
Oddly enough, they didn't panic, or freak out. They stayed calm as if they knew this would happen to them. The group all knew that their world would have no problem doing this to unsuspecting people. Their world was cruel and had little emotion.
"I don't remember anything." a boy with blonde hair stated. "I would never leave voluntarily for this sort of thing..Do any of you guys remember leaving your homes? he asked.
The group all looked around the room at each other, not saying anything, but showing the answers in their eyes.
After a short moment of silence, the shadowy girl spoke up, "What do we do then?" she asked again, her black hair reflecting blue, against the sun.
The red haired girl talked again, "We might as well get to know each other. Who knows how long we'll be here and if we're going to survive we need to work together."
"Ok," the rest of them replied.
"So, who's going first?" asked the blonde boy.
"I will," said a girl, with brown hair and blue eyes. She hadn't spoken until now. The others nodded in agreement. "My name is Kimberly and I'm 16. I come from Senoise Valley in region 6. I love to play lacrosse, it was my favorite sport. I am referred to as a leader, due to my strong personality. My parents are my biggest fans, and I ache to see them right now," she sighed, but kept her face strong, "Can someone else go?" Kimberly asked.
"I will," said the brown haired boy, "My name is Blake, and I'm 14. I come from Riveroa in region 8. All my friends say I am super sweet. A little too sweet. I enjoy being outside whenever I can and I love hunting. I also love to play sports, but I am not much of a leader. My parents say I am a great problem solver, and..." he stopped, nonchalantly coughing to avoid going on, hurt in his eyes. "I'm sorry, can someone else go now?"
"I guess it's my turn," said the girl with the raven black hair, "My name is Taryn and I'm 14. Yes, I am 14. I may look small, but I pack quite a punch, so try not to get on my bad side. I absolutely hate shoes, and will defy you all and not wear them. I love being outdoors, and hunting is my favorite sport. My parents died when I was little so I've been living with my aunt ever since. I hope she can stay in her house, in Grancely, region 4. She was so frail when I left her..." she stopped talking and looked up, as if deep in thought.
"I will take my turn now." Said the girl with red hair. "My name is Gwen and I am 15. I come from Surti in region 2. I am not much of an athlete, but I love to climb trees. I am also very fast. One of the fastest from my region. I am not much of a leader, but when it comes to saving one of you, I will definitely arrange a rescue party. I am not very good with weapons, except with a small dagger. When I was 2, my parents dropped me off at my grandparents house and never came back. I am not sure where they are now or why they just left me there, but I still miss them like crazy. Especially my grandparents..." Seeing her sullen eyes, the next teenager piped up.
"That leaves me," said the blonde haired boy with a smile, "I am Alex and I'm 15, and I'm from Justeva in region 10. I am really smart and I am always inventing new things. I love staying indoors, and I hate the outdoors. Too many things can get you. I suck at fighting, except for some odd reason, when I'm threatened or cornered. I never met my parents so I guess, I can't miss them. I live with my oldest sister, who is 24 right now."
There was a moment of awkward silence, as everyone revisited their old lives, no one dared to break the silence. They feared they would lose their memories if they did.
Then, Kimberly spoke up. "I think we should choose our weapons now."
"Figures," muttered Taryn.
"So what do we have to choose from?" asked Blake.
"Let's look," said Gwen, who walked over to a bin, "We have a sword, 3 daggers, 2 bows, and about 50 arrows, 3 weird metal star things, and blow darts, that appear to be poisonous. Who wants what?" she asked.
"SHURIKENS!" shrieked Taryn.
"What's a shuriken?" asked Gwen.
"The metal stars," replied Taryn, matter of factly.
" I will take 2 daggers," said Kimberly.
" I will take the last dagger, it's all I'm really good with," said Gwen.
"I got the bow, and all I need is about 15 arrows," said Blake.
"I guess I'll take blow darts," murmured Alex.
~-~-~-~-~-~
Kimberly, being herself, decided to take charge at once. She stood up, showing who was the boss.
"We need to divert into groups, no one will go out there alone," said Kimberly.
Taryn moaned, "Who died and put you in charge?"
"Your mom," replied Kimberly, and everyone stared at her with blank eyes. Taryn, hurt, rushed out the door and into the majestic forest, that seemed to call her.
"Kimberly, that was really harsh and cruel," seethed Blake.
"I didn't mean it in a bad way!" she argued.
"You're lucky she has her shurikens. She'd be dead without them," he said as he grabbed his bow and arrows and rushed out the door.
She obviously is used to running outdoors, because I don't hear her anywhere, thought Blake.
Meanwhile, up in the trees, Taryn was swinging around, trying to find a little niche to sit in and think.
As Taryn settled, she heard a sudden sound from her left as if something was running right towards her. God! Why doesn't ANYTHING let me think for at least 30 seconds? pondered Taryn. She wondered if it could be dangerous, she decided either way it would be useful to the group- as long as it was dead. She looked out of her small gap in between the branches to see what it was, it was a juvenile tiger. It looked awfully starved, and deprived of nutrition. She further noticed that it was chasing something. She thought it was just some other animal, but when she turned to see what it was, she saw who it was. Blake. As she tried to register the thought in her mind she quietly hopped down from the tree.
She grabbed her shurikens as quickly as she could. Immediately, she began to run. Dashing on the tail of the tiger, she followed it. Her main goal was to not have Blake eaten.
Wait. I swear Blake had a bow and arrow, Taryn wondered. Where is it? Or can he not use it, or did he drop it? Thousands of questions went through her head as to why he didn't kill the tiger yet.
Then it happened. Blake tripped. He more or less stumbled, but either way he landed on his face. The tiger took its opening, and prepared to pounce.
Blake whimpered, as if he knew this was the end.
"Don't cry just yet, you little baby," yelled Taryn, as she jumped in front of Blake.
"What the hell?! Taryn, I've been looking for you forever. You're the reason I'm in this mess," said Blake.
"I will also be the reason you'll live, unless you have other plans," she retorted.
"Touche."
The tiger looked hungrily at them. It studied the girl, and knew she was dangerous, and the boy just laid on the ground. Obviously frightened.
"Seriously. You're just going to lay there?"asked Taryn.
"That was my plan," Blake replied.
"Well now get off your lazy ass, and help me here," yelled Taryn.
Blake surrendered, "FINE." He hopped up next to her, and showed he obviously had his bow and arrows.
"That's sad," Taryn murmured to herself. She grabbed her first shuriken and started to taunt the kitty, "Here kitty kitty, come get the little girl." The tiger, obviously persuaded, changed its focus to Taryn. It stared at her longingly, just about ready to pounce.
This isn't very big, Taryn thought. There must not be many food sources out here... She pushed that thought to the back of her mind as she saw the tiger pounce. It landed on her, pushing her to the ground.
"TARYN!" Blake screamed in a shrill voice. "Ohh noo. Oh no. This is not good.."
The tiger began to move again, but wasn't making any sound. Taryn popped up from under the tiger, rolling it to the side. "Calm down, I'm fine." She said.
Blood was splattered, all over the ground. It gushed a deep crimson red. She had hit the main artery in the neck. The kitty-cat lay on the ground. Dead.
"That was easy," said Taryn, as she retrieved her blood covered shuriken. The red glistened in the sun.
"I think I am going to throw up," said Blake.
"I thought you said you loved hunting."
"It never had that much blood."
Taryn shrugged, "Well. Now we have dinner. Help me carry this thing. It's going to be heavy.."
Blake, disgusted, went to pick up an end of the tiger.
"Oh, and by the way, you scream like a girl." Taryn laughed as they picked up the dead kitty-cat and started making their way back to camp.
~-~-~-~-~-~-~
It had been quiet as they walked back to the hut, but then Blake spoke up.
"Hey, sorry I was being a jerk earlier."
Taryn shrugged, "I don't really care. Kimberly was more of a jerk than you." They were covered somewhat in the blood from the tiger.
"Yeah, as soon as you left I told Kimberly how rude her little statement was and came looking for you."
"And then you almost died," she snickered.
" Yeah. I almost did...." He sighed heavily. "Thanks for saving my life. If you hadn't showed up, I would have been that tigers dinner."
"Yeah, well we all die at some point. Right? And being mauled by a tiger would've been pretty awesome. In my book anyway," she replied, "But, why didn't you use your bow and arrow? I mean,I would've if I was running for my life."
"I.. I really don't know. I guess I was too focused on running for my life then actually figuring out how to save my life."
They saw up ahead that the other 3 had somehow figured out how to make a fire, and followed the light.
"Guess we're here," said Taryn.
"Yup."
They walked into camp arriving with the dinner Taryn had just killed. The others looked at them astonished. The tiger's blood covered the 2 of them.
As they dropped their dinner in front of the fire, Kimberly spoke up.
"Taryn.." She whispered. "I'm sorry about what I said earlier. It was rude. I felt so bad after Blake left to go find you.."
"It's ok. And congratulations. You have officially got on my bad side," she snarked.
Kimberly opened her mouth to protest, but Taryn put her hand in front of her mouth, "Save it."
There was an awkward silence, and no one dared to speak.
Alex spoke up. "Well, we should probably get to work on stripping the tiger of its fur so we can eat it. I'm starving!"
Everyone nodded in agreement. Gwen and Alex were the ones to strip the fur. It was nasty business. The two were careful to not puncture the delicate skin. They were afraid of the rolling out of intestines.
Once stripped of the fur, it was time to clean out the insides. They cut a slit down the stomach. And precariously cleaned out the innards. The tiger was mostly muscle, and bones, so there wouldn't be much to eat. Gwen pulled out a weird red thing, that was squishy.
"What's this?" she asked holding the red blob up to Alex.
He replied, "The heart." Gwen dropped it and screamed. She ran a little ways into the forest and threw up.
"God, that was disgusting, probably the worst thing I've done in my life." she said to herself. She heard a little noise to her left, and out of the bushes came Taryn.
"Are you alright?" she asked. Gwen nodded.
"If that made you sick, I don't think we want you near our kills anymore. You should've seen how gross it was when I killed it. Blake nearly threw up!" Gwen gave a shaky smile, "He also screamed like a girl," Taryn whispered. They laughed together.
"You sure you're OK?" Taryn said, double checking.
"Just peachy," said Gwen.
"Doesn't sound like it. What's bugging you?" Taryn asked.
"I've never been this far from home, I barely know any of you, and I just want to be with my family.." she sadly replied.
Taryn looked at her for a moment and then gave her a hug. "It's okay, we're all scared and we all need each other, we are all going to have to be each other's family for awhile." She assured. "I'm here for you whenever, okay?
"Yeah.. Thanks" Gwen quietly answered.
They both stood there for a moment awkwardly.
"Uhm, I'm gonna go out a little further to use the bathroom, I'll meet you back at camp" Gwen said.
"Sounds good to me. See you in a minute!" Taryn walked away heading for the fire.
She met up with Alex along the way, who was, apparently, going out to tell them the tiger was just about ready to eat. She told him Gwen would be there shortly. They started walking back towards camp when they heard a very shrill scream. It was coming from the direction Gwen had gone.
Alex and Taryn looked at eachother and then booked it, running towards Gwen's scream. They found her on the ground holding her ankle.
When Gwen looked up, they saw the tears streaming down her face.
"What happened to you?!" asked Alex.
"I.. I.." She was trying to talk while wiping away her tears, trying to look strong in front of them. "I was just walking over here and I guess I wasn't looking where I was going and I tripped over a root, or maybe it was a rock, I really don't know. But what I do know is my ankle hurts REALLY bad." she uttered.
"Here, let me take a look at it" Alex said generously.
Gwen gave a nod, "Sure," Still trying to hold back the rest of her tears.
Alex knelt down looking at her ankle
"Don't touch it" Gwen whined "It hurts to much"
"I have to touch it. I promise I will be careful." Alex said, giving a genuine smile.
"I'm out," said Taryn, who went back to camp for some dinner.
Alex looked at her ankle and had to feel around to identify what was wrong.
"You have a sprained ankle. You won't be doing any running for awhile." Alex said quietly. Gwen just looked at him in surprise.
After a moment of silence, Alex offered to help her up. As she stood up she grabbed hold of his shoulders and stumbled a little.
"Wow! Don't go hurting your other ankle too!" Alex said with a big grin on his face.
Gwen laughed softly then looked up. She couldn't help but just stare at his face. "You have the most beautiful eyes" she said dreamily.
Alex stared at her blankly.
"Oh my god, I, uhm, did I say that out loud?" she blushed.
He laughed. "It's all good"
Embarrassed, she let go of him, grabbing the tree next to her to hold her balance.
"I-I think I can walk to camp from here." Gwen stuttered. She tried walking, but failed and fell on her stomach.
"Yeah OK, miss independent," Alex said as he helped her up.
"Thanks," she sighed. She wrapped her arm around his shoulder and started to walk. Alex being the main one walking, trying to keep Gwen on her feet.
Nothing was said on the way back. All that was heard was the eerie noises of animals creeping around the forest.
YOU ARE READING
The J Project
Adventure5 unsuspecting teenagers get dropped in the middle of a forest with no idea how to survive and no food or water. Will they live, or parish with the rest?
