The Island Princess

Chapter 10. Parents

{Location: Chen's island/eastern jungle}(Skylor's POV)

I hate these cuffs. It's hard to climb trees with these. Once I get to the top I pull off my sneakers and socks. I have no idea why but climbing trees barefoot has always been easier.

Ronin walks below me, holding some kind of ninja star in his hands, "Come out, Skylor. I've got dozens of other jobs to do. Can ya help a guy out and just come down?"

No thanks.

I tuck my socks into my shoes. I don't want to be with my father and I'm going to get all the time away from him I was promised, I steady myself on two branches, waiting for the right moment to throw these at Ronin.

He moves slowly, possibly a little hurt from the crash but I honestly don't care about him, "Skylie, come out, come out wherever you are."

Now!

I throw both shoes at the same time and disappear into the leafs.

"OW!" Ronin yelp, scaring birds.

I look down with a smirk. What a dork. I slowly breath to not shake the leafs and give my position away.

Ronin rubs his head, "There you are." He stabs the tree trunk and starts climbing.

Time to go. I take over, rustling the leafs as I leap between branches. I take it a little slower since it's been forever being back on the island and I have my hands cuffed.

Somewhere far behind me, Ronin reaches the top, "Oh COME ON!"

I stay quite, focusing on not tripping on losing or new branches. Think, I can't run forever, there's only so much island. I need to hide. Where to hide?

I know.

The spot my father would never look at. My old swing set.

It's a little more of a dead tree with a tire swing. I'm not even sure if it's still there but other then my room it's the only safe place here.

I slow down, catching my breath and dead thirsty in the hot and humid sun. I lean on the tree trunk as the birds chirp. I don't like it here. This island, sure it's big when you're visiting it on vacation but when you spent each and every day surrounded by the same jerks and their even jerker leader, it gets crammed and cloutraphobic.

And the things my Father did....well, I'd rather swim back to Ninjago.

I check behind my shoulders, Ronin's not nearby at all, probably slipped on a leaf or something. I keep tree hopping until I run out of branches. I get to the ground only to land in a mud puddle, "Perfect." I wiggle my toes in the mud before heading to a cliff.

If you could call it that. It's about 30 feet from the water but at the top is my tire swing. Looking at the deep sapphire blue crashing waves.

But it's not there. My tree is gone. I tilt my head, I must have taken a wrong turn. Instead of endless ocean, there's a tiny island just off the coast of the island. It stands tall and a good 30, 40 feet away from the island. On top is a tiny cage with only a dangerously thin looking bridge link the two land masses.

The leafs rustle and branches snap. Ronin must have caught up with me. I turn around, looking for trouble, "Really Ronin? Just come out and fight. My hands maybe cuffed but I've got a nasty kick with your name on it."

The leafs from a tree rustle but it seems to be nothing more than wind. I watch it, trying to decide if it has stopped or not when my hair is touched.

I whip around, keeping my hands up to my face, "Who are you?" I snarl at an unfamiliar person. I think it's a she with her thinner face. Her ribs show a little in her rags, her brown hair is a disaster and her lips look cracked. Kinda of like how a homeless person would look after getting a home and a job. Far from their past but not quite back into society again.