The J Project

Chapter 3

Day 2- Alex

We all pretty much lost it when the helicopter came.
It only took a few minutes to figure out it wasn't landing, and after that we all had our own ideas. Kimberly paced the clearing, mumbling on how they must be planning to torture us with the idea of escape. Taryn was up in a tree trying to get a closer look. Blake started shooting arrows up at it out of boredom. Gwen was sitting in the hut, looking up at the helicopter with her golden brown eyes out the only window. Waiting for something, anything, to happen. I've been known to fall hard and fast for someone. Seems like history is repeating itself here.
I myself am preparing for any situation. If we fight, I have all our weapons laid out and ready. If we run, I have mapped out all possible escape routes. If we stay, well, nothing else I can do there. Suddenly, packages with little parachutes helping them get down descended from the helicopter. I ran out to meet the first one, catching it with one hand. Inside it, a note.
Good morning, children. We are sending you your equipment for evaluation. Individually, you will use these to take measurements of your weight, blood pressure, etc. We need to monitor your status to insure you are doing well. When completed, please leave the equipment in the middle of the clearing and stay inside the hut while we retrieve them. You have one hour. If you finish early we may leave something for you. -The Creator Z
What an interesting turn of events. The others gather around, each reading the note. We set up the equipment inside the hut and examine what we have. A doctor's measuring device for our height, a scale, a sphygmomanometer , and a forehead reading thermometer. There's also a yellow notepad and a blue pen to record on.
We stay silent for a moment, so I offer to go first. The others nod and step outside, leaving me with my privacy. I cover up the window with someone's jacket, looks like Taryn's, then step to the measuring stick. Putting my heels to the base, I stretch as high as I can without being one my toes, then reach above and pull down the marker. 5'11". I write my name on the top of the notepad, then under it "Height: 5'11" ". I go through the rest of the steps, scale reading 150, sphygmomanometer says my blood pressure is normal, as is my temperature. I had to strip down to my boxers for the weight, the reason for the jacket on the window.
I return outside, and Kimberly goes after me. We wait for a while, then she returns. It goes like this, nobody speaking as we all take our turn. When all completed, it only took us about 30 minutes. We push everything out to the clearing then head into the hut, as requested. Uncovering the window, we all watch as a large claw comes down to lift up the equipment one bye one. We hear the helicopter leave, then we spot another package coming down. Our reward.
The box is a smorgasbord of sorts. Plenty of trail mix, some bottled water, and, wait, musical instruments? A guitar, violin, and panpipes. Panpipes?
Taryn is the first to speak up. "Well, the food is nice, but why the hell did they give us these?" she asked confused, pointing at the instruments.
We all shake our heads in disbelief, then Gwen chimes in "Maybe for entertainment. Who knows how long we could be out here, it might be nice to have something to do. Does anyone know how to use these?"
I don't want to admit it, but she looks around so hopefully I couldn't hold back.
I blurt out, "I was classically trained in violin. Not my idea, my parents."
Everyone seems surprised at first, but it loosens them up a bit. Blake adds, "I know some guitar, don't sing though. Ever."
Gwen beams at us, then says, "I could try the panpipes, I guess. How hard could it be?"
She lifts them to her lips, then creates the most hideous sound I had ever heard. I lean across the box, pushing her hand down, and say, "Maybe we could save that for later, yeah?" She blushes, then puts them back in the box. We put the other instruments down and brought the food and water back to the hut.
"Since we don't know how long we're going to be here for, we really need to start figuring out what we're going to do," I said, "We need to figure out our priorities. What's most important, and then we can figure out how to entertain ourselves otherwise, since I'm sure we won't want to just play music all the time."
The others nod, then Kimberly stands up and takes charge. "We need to determine what our roles will be in our mini society here. Alex will be our medic of sorts. Taryn, obviously, is our best hunter, but she needs a partner to watch her back. Anyone want to volunteer?"
Blake raises his hand , a little too quickly, and says, "I'd be happy to watch her back." I'm pretty sure this has two meanings, sneaky guy.
"As for me," Kimberly continues. "I will be the leader of the group and just help with everything and anything you guys need." Everyone nods, except for Taryn, who rolls her eyes. Kimberly looks at her, hands on her hips, "Is there a problem, Taryn?"
Taryn laughs, "Oh, no, ma'am, nothing, ma'am. Just ready to report for duty at your orders. Ma'am." she smirks as Kimberly rolls her eyes at her.
After we all decided what our roles were, we all just kind of parted ways for some "me time". I wasn't quite sure where to go or what to do. I wished to have my family here with me, I missed them so much.. I wanted someone to talk to and I knew everyone was going through the same thing so I couldn't be selfish about it and make it all about me. Gwen seemed like someone I could talk to... After that whole thing with the twisted ankle in the jungle. I've realized over the past few years that I get easily attached to people, and it's not a good thing, because everyone I get attached to ends up leaving me. It leaves me heart broken really... But Gwen... She was something different. There was something about her, something that made her more unique than any other girl I'd gone out with.. Not saying I'm a lady killer or anything, but I have gone out with quite a few girls in the past, who all, by the way, broke up with me.
I walk over to her, mustering up the courage to say something, anything. I begin to open my mouth, then turn around quickly.I go into the hut and sit on the wicker table. Coward. She's just a person. Come on, do something. I do not understand why I couldn't do it. It's always been so easy for me to talk to girls. I decide to do it, and I walk out of the hut again, only to see she was gone. Where she went, I don't know. I was going to just give up completely and go sulk in the hut  when I heard a scream coming from in the jungle somewhere. It didn't sound like some frilly girly scream from some sleepover either. The others heard it too. We all grabbed our weapons and then bolted into the jungle. I was in the lead. We ran and ran and we just couldn't figure out where she was. I waited for her to scream again, although that wouldn't be a good thing, it would help us to find where she was. All of a sudden, from the left, something ran behind the bushes. I stopped dead, making everyone else run into each other. I held up my hand for silence. Trying to listen. Nothing. Then, from the right this time, it ran again..Then, from right in front of us there was a rustle. We all stood there, as silent as mice and waited.
I stood there, putting on a strong front, but inside freaking out tremendously. The noise became louder. Then from out of the bushes, Gwen came running and ran right into me, giving me a huge bear hug. She was shaking and freaked out. I was a little star struck at first, but then I dropped my weapons and just hugged her back. Making her feel safe. Which is all that mattered.