Vengence

Chapter 11: Nine

I trailed through the woods, clutching my stomach as it grumbled again in hunger.

I had ran out of water two days ago and if I remembered correctly I only had a few days left before my body would begin to shut down.

The trees were beginning to blurr and everything was starting to look the same.

Frowning I stopped and looked around. The trees were beginning to come closer squeezing themselves tighter making it impossible to see the bright sun.

The birds above began to chirp louder as if the sound in the forest had been turned up all the way.

I covered my ears and spun around trying to find an exit, I had to get out of here.

Seeing only a sliver if an opening I ran forward, tripping over fallen tress branches as I crashed through.

A sharp pain went through m cheek and I raised my hand to see blood.

Continuing to run forward, forcing myself to run faster, the noise seemed to follow, the trees continued to press against me.

My foot got caught on the log, sending me forward crashing into the dirt.

I hit my head hard and felt blood began to trickle down from my temple.

My vision began to grow blurry and my eyelids became heavy.

Up ahead the trees parted slightly and a peircing white light flashed above me.

The leaves crunched slightly as the figure stood above me.

I craned my neck, feeling myself drift away.

"Dad?" I asked as the figure knelt down beside me, just as I went unconscious.

                     *   *   *

"You remember this?" Blake said across from me as he plucked a cherry from my drink and popped it in his mouth.

I giggled as he chewed for a bit before sticking out his tongue revealing a tied cherry stem.

I laughed and clapped, "Very good Blake! Someone's been working hard while I was gone."

He bowed formally just as our pizza arrived, large hand tossed meat lovers pizza with five cheeses and a side if cheesy bread.We thanked the waiter and began to pile slices on our plates.

"I bet you missed this when you were gone." Blake said taking half of the cheesy bread and putting it on his plate before licking the grease off his fingers, completely unaware of the look of sadness that crossed my face.

When he looked up probably catching up with his words, I gave him a reassuring nod.

"I missed a lot of things." I agreed biting into his pizza.

Blake sighed and pinched his nose,"God I'm such a douche bag."

I shook my head and reached forward and gripped his hand tightly.

"It's not your fault, and it's okay to admit it you know."

He looked at me with wide eyes as I smiled again."You know? How is that even possible."

I shrugged my,"You used to always talk about it when we were kids so I figured by now you would have made a move."

Blake stared at me for a few moments after which made me slightly uncomfortable as I chewed on the delicious pizza.

"Did I mention I missed you dearly?" He spoke finally causing me to laugh as I took a sip of my soda.

I nodded,"You may have mentioned that once or twice."

                    *   *   *

The smell of a fire roasting nearby caused me to awaken.

My head hurt and I raised my arms to rub my temple but realized that they were bound by a thick rope.

"You must be hungry." A voice said causing me to spin around way to fast to see a man about dad's age sitting across from me.

I looked around and took in what seemed to be another cave except this one was way better than the other one, a small bed lay in the corner followed by a curtain of leaves.

The man sat near the fire, his long dark beard giving him the appearance of a cave man as he dug dirty fingers inside a bowl pulling out meat and plopping it in his mouth.

My stomach grew hungry at the sight.

"Wanna tell me how you got here kid?" The man asked.

I opened my mouth to speak but a small sound came out, I quickly closed it and cleared my throat trying again.

"My - my - shipwreck," I said finally. I raised my hands and gestured to my wrist.

The man leaned forward and revealed a knife in which he swiftly cut off the rope allowing me movement again, I rubbed my wrists as he sat back down.

"And what of your dad?"

I turned my head refusing to look at him.

"He's dead." I said my voice clipped.

"Sorry for your loss."

There was a moment of silence and my stomach let out a loud grumble.

"Here," he leaned forward again holding out a small bowl of something brown.

Taking it, I began to shove it in my mouth greedily as I let out of sigh.It tasted like chicken and my stomach felt so much relief.

"Thank you," I sighed as I leaned back against the wall.

"I've never seen someone eat possum like that."

I turned my head just in time to wretch in the corner, when I was done I wiped my mouth the man was there laughing.

"It was bird actually." He cocked his head to the side,"What's your name kid?"

I cleared my throat again and handed back the bowl."Aylin Dilaurentis."

I half expected him to recognize my name or something but given that he looked as if he hadn't seen civilization in forever, I wasn't shocked when he just grunted and continued to eat the possum or bird.

"How - how did you get here?" I asked curiously as I scooted closer.

The man shrugged and burped loudly causing me to almost jump out of my skin before setting down the bowl.

"It's to much of a long story kid."

"Well do you know how to get back home?"

The man let out a laugh and stood up towering over me.

I found myself scrambling up as well as I followed him outside.

"If I knew that kid, I don't think I'd still be here."

He gestured before him revealing a wide view of the island set out like a maze.

We were as high as the trees and birds flew above us, the ocean was to the left it's strong waters crashing into rocks while to the right a lone mountain stood towering over everything. It was absolutely beautiful.

"They call this place Jigoke it's Japanese for Hell." His dark blue eyes roamed over the land, and I wondered just how long he had been here, and how such a magnificent place such as this could ever be called Hell.

"I've told you my name but you've never told me yours." I said finally crossing my arms as he smiled down at me.

"That's because kid, your safer not knowing."

"Then what am I to call you?" I asked frustrated.

"Nine."