Unreal Happenings

The Waterfall

P: I smile, he smiles. I pull my hand from his as I remember Geromy, my fiancee.

He stops and places his hand on my shoulder, “Taji are you okay? Do you want to stop, we can go back if you like.”

I shake my head, “No, Ray. I am fine, just remembered my mother and how she passed away.”

One big fat lie is was Ray gets. I know he doesn’t deserve it but I can’t bring myself to tell him about Geromy.

“Lets keep going then, Jacki and the rest are waiting at the waterfall.”

I nod and we keep trekking up the path until we reach a small clearing in the tree’s.

I go to step on the grass but Ray harshly pulls me back.

“Stay back Taji. You should know bet…”

He stops as he remembers I am not from their tribe.

“Sorry Taji. I forgot.”

“Well, tell me why we paused.”

“This is, well, was a nuclear bomb site. You don’t breath it anymore but if you touch the ground the fumes seep into your clothing and then attack your skin. Eventually it reaches inside your body and leaves you dead or dying.”

I open my mouth, “I could have died if you didn’t save me!”

I collapse with shock and then laugh nervously, he kneels down beside me and cracks up too. We laugh for a while and then continue around the patch.

We seem to hike for hours, which was only twenty minutes, when we hear the sound of water dripping. Then rushing water echoes through the tree’s, we follow the sound and then reach the waterfall.

It starts from high up in the tree’s and vines on a rocky ledge. It then falls hitting the rocks at the bottom. Its blue and white colours smudged together is breathtaking. Ray catches my amazement and smiles, “Beautiful, isn’t it.”

“Huh.. oh yeah. Uh huh.”

I turn my gaze to the other side of the large pool of water and see Jacki and a few of her friends playing in the water. I watch as Jacki shoves a boy down the side of the pool and he goes riding down the river. He disappears in the distance.

Jacki starts cackling and I start to giggle under my breath.

“Jacki, Rowan, Hayley! What did you do to Mason?” Ray calls.

Jacki bites her lip then sighs, “I pushed him down the river.”

The air goes silent and then I start to laugh.

Jacki turns, “Taji, come in the water. It is nice, warm but cool. Come. Now.”

I shake my head, “Nope.”

Jacki glares, “Come now. I order you to.”

I start to smile, “Nope.”

Jacki screams at me, “PLEASE COME IN NOW!”

I place my hands on my hips and sigh, “Well all you had to say was please.”

Jacki laughs, “You joker, go get changed.”

She points at the bag and then at the jungle. I walk to the bag, fumble around until I find a swimsuit and then walk into the jungle. Calling after me, “Now you boys, don’t you dare come in here peeping about. That is none of your business.”

I hear a groan and continue until I find a nice bush to get changed behind.

I strip and then slide into the cool fabric of the suit.

I grab my clothes and walk back to the river, Ray is already in and swimming about. I look away, shy all of a sudden. I then throw my clothes onto the rocks and run to the edge, I reach it then jump. I dive in without a splash and emerge at the surface.

“10 out of 10!” Ray shouts, “Nice!”

I giggle and then swim under the water, the water feels nice and warm. But cool just like Jacki explained. The sun splashes in rays down onto the water and causes the water to be smudged with yellow. I turn, hold my nose and look up. The tree’s look beautiful under this blurry covering. I feel peaceful for a few seconds when all of a sudden something grabs me and drags me down.

I scream and kick, getting dizzy from lack of air. I suddenly feel sick and then I pass out.

I hear screaming in the distance shouting a name, something like ‘Rowan!’

 

E: I wake up and Ray is above me along with Jacki and Hayley. But no Rowan.

“She’s awake!” Yells Jacki. I sit up still a little dizzy and I am on the rocks with a beach towel underneath me. I cough up some water.

“What..what happened. What was that.” I say shaking a little.

“It was stupid, idiotic Rowan. He thought it would be funny as a little joke, but he didn’t realise you were running out of breath. He went down the river to find Mason. He felt so bad. He said that when you woke up could he ask for your forgiveness please.” Explains Hayley.

“Yes, it’s ok. I don’t feel sick anymore, and it was only an accident. Can we please go back into the water now?” I say.

“Are you stupid!?’’ Shouts Hayley.

“Honestly, I feel fine.”

“Are you kidd-...” Hayley was stopped by Ray’s voice.

“Let her do what she wants, I’ll keep an eye on her.” Says Ray. Hayley and Jacki ran back to the water and dived in. I walked up to the water and slowly walked in with Ray by my side. He led me into a cave behind the waterfall and we sat there with our toes dangling in the water, just talking.