Survive

Eight

By the time I awoke the next morning, I was outside. Laying on the beach again, next to the two guys I thought I knew. I don't understand, how did I end up on the beach? Wasn't Appele just with me? Wasn't she just mending my wounds? My wounds...crap....I started by wiggling my toes. No pain so far, then I rolled my ankles, no unusual pain. Then I bent my knees, ok that part hurt. Then I moved my hands, arms, elbows, and shoulders. Those all hurt. Next I sat up, my stomach was sore and was covered in bandages but otherwise fine. This didn't make sense.
  Slowly, I made my way up and to the water. It was ice cold and pricked my skin, but felt good on my sore muscles. What if this was all a dream? It couldn't be. How could I feel everything if it was a dream? I let the water rise to the nape of my neck and just relaxed. I became one with the water, free-floating, and it moving. I heard movement behind me but didn't bother to look. I didn't care at this point.
"Willow...?" It was Cole now.
"What." I made my voice colder than the water.
"Are you...are you ok?"
"I'm fine."
"Fine never means fine coming from you."
"Cole, I said. I'm. Fine." He didn't talk anymore but instead mimicked my movements. I didn't want this bastard anywhere near me right now, dream or not. Slowly I inched away, and thankfully he stayed put.
"I understand why you're mad at me."
"Believe me, I don't care." And it was true, I couldn't care less about him anymore.
"Mason seems to think otherwise." Are you fucking kidding me? Mason spilled the beans? What an asshole.
"What do you mean?" I tried to keep my voice level but it clearly faltered.
"He told me what you said, before you....before you jumped."
"I don't know what you mean."
"If you love me so much why haven't you said a damn thing?" At this point I stood so suddenly, whatever wound I had on my stomach reopened.
"Goddamn it! I don't love you! I hate your guts!" I held my stomach in a painful rage, "if it were up to me, I'd let that little bitch you were making out with sacrifice you to whatever fucking god they believe in. Trust me when I say, you're dead to me." I didn't give him the chance to respond before storming out of the water. I could feel the warm blood beginning to trickle down my side now. Once in the sand, I went to the edge of the jungle and put all my weight on a tree. Slowly opening the bandage, I noticed a huge gash that I didn't recognize.
   Later that night, we all sat by the fire. A deathly hollowness filled Masons eyes. A sarcastic yet satisfied smirk took the majority of Cole's face. And I sat stone faced in utter silence. I hated both of these idiots. Mason was the first to attempt communication.
"So..."
"Shut up, Mason." Was all I managed to say. Cole poked the fire with a stick, and glanced between the two of us. When his and Mason's eyes met, both of their mouths fell open and Cole began to speak.
"Willow,"
"What. Do. You. Want."
"Stop being a bitch this is important."
"Make me."
"Mason and I don't think you should be in our group anymore." This hit me harder than the ground after my jump.
"You're...group? You're group? Excuse me, but who saved your sorry asses ever since we got here?"
"It's been an equal effort all around, but for now, we think it best you leave the group until you're stable again."
"So you think kicking me out is the way to go?"
"Yes." I looked from one to the other, but all I saw was red.
"Fine. Well. Burn in hell. Both of you." With that, I immediately stood and made my way around the island and along the beach. I didn't stop until I was certain I had the most distance possible between us.
   I found a patch of soft sand and got comfortable. Leave the group, if anything, that was MY group. I don't need them. But....why do I feel like I do?