Fire

Chapter 4

"What are you looking for? Whats out there?" Taking a calming breath he crosses through the makeshift camp and crouches in front of me, his sandy bare feet contaminating my clean blanket which was just big enough to accommodate both of us.

"Why do you ask so many questions?" Is all he mutters, his cold minty breath blows in my face before making some big deal of walking the perimeter. Something had to be out there for him to be worried.

"Same reason you're avoiding mine." I throw out, keeping an eye on him as he passes back and forth periodically looking at the forest.

"It's not that I'm avoiding your questions. It's just, please understand that I am under obligation not to disclose information to... well... Outsiders." The sun glitters in his eyes warming the coldness a bit as he talks. I can't help wonder what his obligations were and to whom. I want answers on how I ended up on this peculiar island as opposed to drowning in the sea and Island savvy David knows them.

"Can you at least tell me why you were standing on the beach like you were waiting for me?" I press on anyways hoping that for some reason I would get a different outcome this time.

Mumbling something to himself he abandons his pacing and crouches back down in front of me, head tilted, thinking.

"Are you deciding the best way to lie to me, David?" I ask receiving a sly look from Mr Eight pack.

"Wouldn't dream of it. No, I happened to be fishing, you know for food, and just happened to see something wash up on shore." If he was lying he sure did a hell of a job hiding it. I for one don't buy what he's saying for a minute, who the hell fishes that late at night? But I accept his answer, albeit false, because what else did I have to go on.

"Do you live here by yourself?" Before I finish speaking David jumps up scanning the forest. The hair on his arms stand on end, and he mumbles something under his breath. Questioning were over.

Dashing across the clearing David dived into the tent, like literally dived. Hands out into a full dolphin like stream line into the open tent. What a weird human being...

Grunting with the effort I stand up on jello legs. How dare he just run off in the middle of my questions.

Narrowly avoiding crashing into me with a massive stick David decisively dashed to the edge of the clearing standing like he was ready for war.

Catching my breath from nearly being trampled I pivot on my heels before slowly making my way back to where he stood.

"What are you doing?" I ask, resulting in him jumping. Standing by him seemed easier than sitting and possibly having to get back up.

"Don't speak. Go to the tent slowly." Through a hoarse whisper I barely caught what he said, but the urgency in his voice caused the hairs on my neck to prickle. Still, I ignore his advice and root myself in place, swallowing my questions on what was going on.

I smelt the burning trees before I saw them. A stench far worse than just a palm tree beach ablaze. David's body went ridged as he fiddled with his leather gloves as he gripped the staff tightly.

"Promise not to breath a word." he growled over the rising roar of the incoming inferno peaking out above the trees line.

"What?" I whisper, breaking my temporary vow of silence. Turning to peer at me I caught the annoyance in his look. I don't move, just stare at him and the trees. I stumble as he pushed me harshly in the direction of the tent.

"Promise. If you tell anybody I will have to kill you, and whoever you told, and I really don't want to do that." He repeats, forced to drag me along by the hand as my body stays frozen.