This Time

Chapter 3

‘There.’ I pointed upwards, Niall’s gaze following my finger. A dark tree stood before us, tall and bearing bright fruits.

‘How do you know they’re not poisonous?’ He asked.

I smirked at him and said ‘I just do.’

I walked to the base of the tree and kicked it, feeling how sturdy it was. The roots were thick, indicating the tree was young.

Good, it should have many years of fruit bearing left in it!

I climbed the tree nimbly, reaching the top in no time.

‘Heads up!’ I called to Niall as I started to throw down the fruit. I heard several hit the floor, but the others he must have caught because when I climbed back down he sat there with one already open and half eaten, juice running down his chin.

I grinned at him as he hungrily finished it before exclaiming ‘They’re so good!’

I helped gather up the pink fleshed fruit and carried them back to the beach.

Despite our row earlier, Zayn and the rest looked very happy to see me as they gathered around to eat.

An hour later, we were sat around, laughing and talking about everyday stuff. As if we weren’t in danger, as if we didn’t have a care in the world. Although I needed to ask them serious stuff, I decided to wait for the morning.

I guess everybody just needs to feel like things are normal. I thought to myself, as I watched Harry and Louis throw sand at each other childishly, laughing non-stop.

I looked at the sky and saw the stars coming out.

‘Shit.’ I said loudly. Liam, who was sitting next to me, looked over curiously.

‘What’s wrong?’ He asked, not being able to contain the worried tone.

I shook my head and smiled.

‘Nothing, I just left it way too late to set up camp.’

He stood up and offered me his hand, which I took gladly.

‘What do we need?’ His deep voice asked me sweetly.

I looked around and thought carefully. We didn’t have supplies, nor weapons. We had no medical kit, no running water and the only clothes were the ones we wore.

‘We can sleep on the beach tonight, it won’t be cold but we should start a small fire... and maybe something to sleep on?’

He nodded and led me over to the forest. ‘These do?’ He asked, tugging at some big vine leaves.

‘Definitely. About two or three for each of us.’ I smiled at him gratefully and began breaking branches for firewood.

After he had laid down six beds of leaves, I began a small fire and we all took one each.

‘It’s been a crazy day, but I feel safe.’ Niall whispered from the bed next to me.

I smiled and said quietly ‘Good, I want you to feel safe.’

I closed my eyes and began to think of all the things I needed to do tomorrow.

Set up a proper camp, get more firewood, collect more food, find water, figure out a plan...’

I was just starting to drift off to sleep when I heard a slight rustling noise. I opened one eye and saw a figure lying down next to me.

Niall had slid his bed over and was not two inches from my face.

I closed my eye again and fell asleep smiling.

I blinked open my eyes and took in the beautiful setting. The calm water, the rising sun, the quiet air. Stretched out my human body, I slowly rose to my feet.

I looked down at the four bodies, curled up around the dying fire. Wait, four bodies?

I checked again to confirm it. Somebody was missing.

Glancing down at my own bed, I saw the empty space next to it. Niall was gone.

I scanned the beach frantically, searching for the blonde boy.

He wasn’t there.

I shook the other boys awake, stuttering out pleas to help me find him.

They groggily squirmed and asked what was going on, but I had no time to explain.

I ran down the beach a few metres and cupped my hands to my mouth.

‘NIALL?’ I screamed. ‘NI-ALLLLLLL?’ I felt my head get dizzy and clapped a hand to my forehead.

I heard a familiar laugh and a rustling to my left. He emerged from the trees, holding an armful of fruit and wearing a big grin.

‘What’s going on?’ He asked lightly.

‘What..what’s going on? I repeated. ‘What’s going on, is I woke up and you were missing! I thought you were dead!’ I put my hand on my heart and felt it racing.

He laughed again and I glared at him, not amused.

‘I went to find food! I was hungry and I didn’t want to ask you. You looked so peaceful sleeping.’

I frowned slightly, feeling a little embarrassed.

‘Thankyou for helping, but don’t scare me like that again!’

He grinned as he picked up some fruit and began devouring it.

‘No problem’ He said in between mouthfuls. ‘That's what friends are for.’

I froze. Friends?

Yes I suppose we are friends aren’t we. That’s how he sees me now.

By this time the other boys were wide awake and reaching for food too.

I sat back onto my leaf bed to gather my thoughts.

I watched as the boys inhaled fruit after fruit and I wondered how they could be so carefree. The day before we were chased by bloodthirsty Elicks, almost killed by poisonous dust, jumped from a plane about to crash and now we’re stranded on an island with no escape plan.

I looked from one boy to the next, watching their eyes only.

Maybe they weren’t so carefree.

I took a deep breath, preparing for what I was about to tell them.

‘Guys?’ They all looked up, mouths full and juice dripping from their chins and hands.

I bit my lip and glanced down, tearing a small amount of leaf from my bed and fiddling with it.

‘There’s something I haven’t told you yet.’

I peaked at their expressions quickly. They didn’t look scared or angry, just confused and curious.

I continued. ‘I have this power, a rare one. Not every Atar has it.’

I paused, unsure of how to finish.

‘I can kind of transport.’

‘Can you take us?’ Louis asked excitedly.

I nodded but didn’t look up.

There was silence, complete and utter silence.

‘So why haven’t you?’ Liam’s deep voice asked.

I looked up at them. They all had their eyebrows raised. If I wasn’t so worried, it would actually be funny.

‘Because I can only transport to one place.’ I sighed.

Zayn spoke next, his voice cracking slightly. ‘Where?’

I closed my eyes tight, wishing that I wouldn’t have to answer that. But I did. So I blinked back tears and shakily said.

‘To where it all began.’