(Author's Note: This story is the original version of my short story Know. I wrote this piece and was then immediately challenged to write a flash fiction variant which became the first story I have published on here. When you break the two stories to their most basic form, they are essentially the same. However both go down two completely different paths, in writing style, and in terms of narrative. There are parts of both tales that I really like, but as to choose a favorite I cannot decide. I strongly encourage you, if you have any comments or suggestions, to tell me what you liked, what you didn't like, which version is better, and why. Thank you Reader, for taking the time to view my work, and I truly hope you get something out of it.)
“Hu-eh! Agggh ack!”
A violent wave of saltwater had poured into Jack’s mouth.
“Hu-eh ack!”
The foamy stream pounded the inside of his lungs as they began to overfill.
He was lying face down in the water just before the edge of the ocean. He groggily lifted up with his arms and supported himself with his hands and knees.
“Hu-eh aggh ack!”
He vomited all the water out of his system. Miniature waves crashed into his backside. Jack reluctantly lifted his head and thought: What the hell? Before him he saw a beach, with white sand, and a forest of tall trees with dark green leaves.
I don’t remember being here? I’m positive I’ve never been here before in my life.
Another wave crashed into him right before he thought the ultimate question.
How did I get here?
He stood up and trudged through the water towards the shore. Drops of ocean continually slid down his face, and tickled his nose as each drip separated from his skin. He blew away the water lingering around his lips, and dropped his head to notice his apparel: a white t-shirt accompanied by white pants. I certainly wasn’t wearing this earlier…was I? He paused and allowed the warm sand to greet his feet. Jack turned his head left and right; yet only saw more sand and more trees. He straightened his vision and—
His heart sank.
Standing on a low cliff farther up the island he saw the back of a man in matching white shirt and pants, walking deeper into the island.
Had he seen me? Jack wondered. When he had gone out of sight, Jack impulsively made his way up the beach towards the man’s direction, eventually crossing over into the forest. He caught sight of the man’s blonde hair amidst the sea of green tree leaves, and began to trail him. He delicately placed his steps; careful not to step on a weak twig, or trip over anything, so he wouldn’t alert the stranger. What if he is hostile? Jack quickly sized up the man. He was a little over 6 foot he reckoned, and a little bit on the scrawny side with little muscle mass as far as he could tell on his arms. Jack quickly made his way from tree to tree, hiding behind each, only going so far as to peak his head out to see where the man would go next.
After a few more minutes of walking in the forest, the man exited the trees and walked to the shore of a lagoon. He paced towards the edge of the water and came to a halt. Before him was a waterfall that led down to a clear body of water. Had he been alone and less concerned about his surroundings, Jack would have instantaneously burst into a sprint and dove into it. The man paced towards the edge of the water and came to a halt. He slowly bent down, cupped some water in his hands, and began to spread it on his arms. He stood back up and began to stare at the waterfall.
