Driven to Addiction [A LOTF Reader Insert]

Chapter 5: Beastie

You slammed the rock down on the cloak, little droplets of water spraying into your face. You kept on beating the black piece of clothing until you decided you did it enough, then submerged it under the pond. Moving the cloak around a bit, you raised it out of the water and grabbed it on both ends, then twisted your hands in different directions so it twisted and released streams of water back into the pond. Waving what was left of the water after some more twists out into the pond, you proceeded to straighten the cloak out and hang it on a branch next to five others.

You sighed, swatting your bangs out of your face as you admired your work. There were three other cloaks that you had to wash, so you got to work.

~~~~~

Waving your arms around wildly, you rolled your long sleeves back up, ignoring the pain it rushed up your arms as the cloth scratched your scars. You waved your hair around next as water droplets flew everywhere. Pushing your hair behind you with a smile, you began to walk back to the shore.

The sun was about to set, but it still blinded anyone who dared to look upon it. The sky was a jaw-dropping array of orange and pink, with cotton candy-colored clouds moving slowly along their paths. The absence of bird songs slightly unnerved you, but you paid no heed as your walk turned into a skip. Your lips parted in ways of singing your favorite song as you danced and twirled your way down the slope.

When you had left the forest, you saw that everyone had already gathered on the logs once more, and that Ralph, Jack, and Simon had returned. You approached the group slowly, hands intertwined behind your back. Ralph didn't notice you behind him until he turned his head.

"Yes. There are pigs on the island."

Jack and Simon began to speak loudly.

"We saw-"
"Squealing-"
"It broke away-"
"Before I could kill it- but- next time!"

Jack slammed his knife into a trunk and looked around challengingly.

The boys quieted down.

Ralph spoke again, "So you see, we need hunters to get us meat. And another thing. There aren't any grownups. We shall have to look after ourselves."

You hadn't noticed your fist was clenched until you had looked upon your hands.

"And another thing. We can't have everybody talking at once. We'll have to have 'Hands up' like at school. Then I'll give him the conch."

From that point on, you sat down and zoned out after listening to some of the rules. You were pretty sure you would have fallen asleep had a small boy on the verge of tears not stepped up. He had a mulberry-colored birthmark covering the entirety of the right side of his face. His name was Nathaniel, you recalled.

You watched with pursed lips as some little boys pushed Nathaniel forward, whispering harshly for him to speak up. After several moments of yelling to give Nathaniel the conch, everybody settled down and let him speak. Alas, Nathaniel was still too mellow to be heard, so you came forward and bent down to his level to whisper in his ear, "Nathan."

Nathan looked up at you quizzically for the nickname, but nodded in acknowledgment.

"Tell me what you want to say and I'll say it out loud."

Nodding again, Nathan leaned in close and whispered back in your ear. You looked back at the crowd once he was done. "He wants to know what you're intending to do about the snake-thing."