Under the Palm Trees

December 26, Tuesday

After Ethan found me by the lake, we started wandering back to the place he left his dad alone. We walked hand in hand and I felt as a little blush painted my cheeks red. I know that we have been together for almost two weeks, but the effects of his touch and kiss were the same. It did not change, not even a little bit. And I don't think it will...

When we got to the place where his dad stayed, but we didn't see him around. All we could see was a cigarette and some red liquid on the branch he sat. I instantly stopped as I noticed the iron smelling red fluid trickling down to the ground, making a massive scarlet puddle. I have never seen that much blood before. And I wasn't ready for it. 

Ethan noticed my horrified face and took a protective step towards me. He looked around with narrowed eyes and eyebrows. He didn't notice the blood yet. And although I knew I would have to show it to him, I really didn't want to. I didn't want him to feel worried or hurt.

"Hanna, what's wrong?" he asked, his worried tune tinkling in my ears. I couldn't say anything. My throat was dry and I was entranced by the blood. 

I reached out my pointing finger towards the puddle of rose blood and I saw as Ethan's face gets a tense twitch. He stiffened, like an old statue and just looked into the great amount of blood with wide eyes. 

...

We started to look for Finn as soon as our muscles let us move. We walked around the small space, looking at each bush and upon each tree. But we didn't find him. Yet. 

Right after we got back to the space, which was our meeting point, we heard a rustling from the bushes. We also heard a hurting cry from the right and saw Finn stumbling towards us from the shade of the palm trees, with bloody legs and face. I took my hands towards my mouth in shock of seeing him hurt and so vulnerable. 

Ethan ran to him, grabbing his arms around his neck, helping him to bring his injured, red body. He lay down on the branch and fell unconscious instantly. Okay, I thought, this was our chance to clean his wounds. 

"Ethan..." I said, reaching my hand out and resting it on his tense shoulder. "We need to clean the wounds," I said, looking at his aching eyes. He nodded and it started to take off the rags off the unconscious Finn's body. 

...

We don't know yet what happened to him. Who hurt him. Or how did someone hurt him? I know it sounds stupid, but I think it might have to do with my brother being here. Did they bring him here too, for the same reasons?

After we cleaned the lesions of Finn, we ate an exciting dinner (coconuts again yaaaaaay) and went swimming into the cool, wavy ocean. We caught some fishes for Finn, so when he wakes up, he could have a proper dinner (as proper as it could ever be on this island). We didn't talk for hours. We were deep in thought. I was thinking about my brother and Nanny and the connection of them being here. And I guess Ethan was thinking about his dad. 

Later, we sat down by the rocky beach and watched as the sun fell under the horizon, leaving orange clouds swimming in the sky. I remembered the day at the resort, on the hill, when we first kissed. Now that seemed like such a distant memory like it happened years ago. Since then, we found his father, we got to this island to die. What a nice shift!

"Hanna..." he said, taking my hands into his, examining my tiny fingers. His hands were much bigger then mine, the fingers hugging mine with a soft, warm sensation. 

"Yes?" I whispered under my breath, totally lost in his navy eyes, curly hair and sharp jaw. His touch made a knot in my throat and I felt the heat making my face tomato red.