Survive

Three

As fast as I could, I grabbed a dry Palm branch with my good arm, and brushed it over the fire. With a blazing weapon, I waved it in front of the trees. "Go away! We don't want you here! Don't harm us!" I swished the branch as fast as I could in front of the trees. The figure shifted about frantically, it was in a panic. Then it screamed. I dropped the branch immediately. T was a scream of terror, like it was in total shock, and I sympathized with it. Then it shuffled coward slowly, bent at the waist. The shadow, was a she. Cole and Mason sat in complete confusion and shock where they were sleeping.
"Lepase, rham no." She came forward with her hands by her head. "Rham no." She kept repeating. Mason slowly stood, being careful not to startle her. Cole stayed put, terrified. She  inched closer to the fire, "ierf odog. Odog ierf." Slowly, she circled the fire, and drew closer. I could hear a shuffle behind me and before I knew it, she had flung fistfuls of sand in my face and bolted for the jungle.
"God damn it!" Wiping away the sand, I only made it worse. "Why the fuck is it only me?" Cole rushed up from where he was and helped me clear the sand away.
"Are you ok?" He sounded really panicked now.
"I don't know, I think so. I'm more pissed off than anything that little-" I was so mad I couldn't even insult her.
"Jesus, what did you do?"
"I didn't do anything! I went to...go look for that thing...and then she was in the jungle right at the edge and the next I knew she was running towards you guys! I started running and I thought she was gonna kill you or something." I could never describe the look on Cole's face. It was awe, but horror, concern, but relief, and mostly, a hint of compassion. He was really relieved that I was ok.
"Well, the good thing is she didn't." He lead me over to where he was laying, and sat me down. "Just relax here for a bit, alright? No more running off."
"Alright, fine." Cole walked over to Mason and placed a hand on his back. Mason jumped at this as if he had just been broken out of a trance. They began whispering and what they were saying was inaudible. I sat where Cole had placed me, doodling in the sand, feeling guilty for everything that happened. Cole came and sat beside me. "What's up with him?" I asked.
"I think he's lost it. He said he's 'never felt that way before.'" Cole repeated mockingly.
"What?! After she assaulted me with sand?! I tried to save your sorry asses!" I was confused and enraged.
"That's what I told him. I think he's just looney from lack of sleep. Which, by the way, you should get some of that."
"I don't need sleep. I'm fine." I wasn't fine. I was dying on the inside. I felt terrible and guilty, like these two would be better off without me there.
"Well Dr. Willow, I do believe even bats need their sleep, so lay down and relax, I'll keep watch, alright?" He brushed the hair out of my face and looked me sincerely in the eye. A rising flutter arose from my stomach to my head. Since I couldn't think of any reason to object, I did as he said. I laid down by the fire and stared blankly into it until my eyes burned and weighed so heavily, I had to sleep.
  It was a while before I woke up, the fire was down to near embers, but I could see the two bobbing figures of Cole and Mason sleeping beside the fire. I threw a smaller branch on the glow to keep it light a little longer and started unwrapping my bandages. I still didn't think I needed them, but I was rounding day three now, so they were coming off. Then, another shuffle in the leaves. I quickly searched the sight only to see the boys asleep. Before I knew it, the intruder was on top of me, and had me gagged. She bound my hands and feet together so I couldn't fight. And dragged me out of ear shot.
"Listen here, I don't know who you are, or what you want. But this is my island. I found it first. I don't need you three coming along, and ruining everything I've worked for," she pulled out a knife and cut my gag, "got it?"
"You can speak English! I knew it. Anyway, you're the one whose been stalking us. Honestly, were too afraid to go into that jungle and-"
"Enough." She cut me off and nearly slit my throat with the blade. "If you pull a stunt like you did tonight, it'll be your last. Am I clear?" She pressed the knife closer.
"Yes."
"Good. Now run along back to camp, and if you say a word." She motioned dragging the blade from ear to ear. She then cut me loose and vanished into the trees.
"What the hell?" I got up and brushed myself off. "Why is it literally only me?" I felt like crying, but I wasn't going to. I wasn't going to let depression or anger or confusion beat me. I'm stronger than that.
  I finally stumbled back to camp, and to no surprise the boys were still asleep. I don't know why, but I got this warm feeling inside when I saw them, almost like they made me feel like I belong. Somewhere at least. I didn't go back to my bed though; I went and laid next to Cole that night. It was cold, and he especially felt like an older brother, like a safety blanket, and that's where I stayed. He didn't seem to mind that much anyways.