Among the Vinca

Chapter 18: Blake

I tried to adjust the profusion of layers I had on. My attempts were fruitless.

Well, they remain rather incommodious, but hopefully they will last us a good while. There was no telling how long we'd be on the island, so I had put on as many articles of clothing that I could fit on my person. I was already perspiring terribly, so I was hoping this particular endeavor would pass quickly. I looked at my pack. I had wrapped several layers of cloth around it, then proceeded to wrap several more layers of waterproof tarp. We would need both of them desperately, for reasons distributing from keeping a shelter dry to crafting bandages. The result, however, was that it had much more mass than it had previously possessed. As an effect of that, it was difficult to carry. Or perhaps, I should say, lug. Still, I felt imperturbable about it's contents. I had them packed in a very specific order, however, so I hoped that the way they transported us was not jarring. Not like those unnecessary tests. The need to hook me to a machine... Hmpf. I heard Sawyer knock softly on my door.

"Come in." He studied me carefully.

"Are you prepared?"

"Yes." I replied confidently. There was no telling what I would find or do on the island, but I was most certainly formulated. He smiled.

"I wish you the most of luck. It is time, however."

Time. Such a fickle thing, something that seems to curse us and heal us, help us and hurt us. We beg it to slow, we beg it to speed ahead. We expect much of it. In a way, I could see why time is so confused. Numerous people depended on it. And nothing can make everyone happy. Therefore, instead of cursing time, I accept it.

"Let us proceed." Sawyer lead me to the room, that, I was certain, would hold our transportation. But unexpectedly, he lead me to a corner and embraced me. He whispered something, but his lips weren't moving, and his voice was so soft that all I could make out was,

"Yo...il...nd.t..m..ng...the.i.ca." Then he straightened himself, and simply told me, "Goodbye, Blake."

"Goodbye!" I called after him. I felt uneasy as Xenophobia washed over me, but managed to open the door. I jumped in shock. A magnificent helicopter was landed in front of me.

"Hey there!" A man that seemed to be around the same age and stature of Sawyer was perched on top of the helicopter, and gave me a manic, wild, grin. The man had frizzy long red hair, and gleaming green eyes. He was also wearing a ski cap, for no reason I could fathom. It was difficult to determine at that distance, but he appeared taller than the average man. "The name's Max. Pleasure to meet ya."

"You are the person who is transporting us?"

"That's right."

"When do we depart?"

"As soon as all y'all show up. You're the first one."

"All right." I looked around the high chamber. There was a contraption similar to a garage door on the end of it. I presumed that was where the helicopter would exit. I had a brief moment of hope where I thought we could escape through it, but then remembered the cameras. Not to mention that the exit was made of very solid metal. I heard the door open, and Eric entered the room. He looked a bit startled, but seemed to recover quickly. He was wearing a few excess layers, but not a multitudinous amount like mine.

"Hi Blake."

"Greetings." I replied. "I never had the opportunity to thank you for preventing me from inflicting injury on the leader. So... I thank you." Eric let out a laugh before realizing I was completely serious.