Stranded

Chapter 2

"Come on, you can lay down over here," Gage told me. "Get some rest. We've got a lot of work to do tomorrow."

"Work? Where are we? What are we even doing here?" I asked him.

"Well, no body knows. We all just woke up here," he explained.

"Here? Where is here exactly?" I was starting to panic.

"Macy, we are on an island somewhere in the middle of the ocean," he began before getting cut off by someone else.

"Stranded!" The voice snapped. "We are stranded! You know that, I know that, and she now knows that. Don't even try to make it sound like we will get off one day. No one is looking for us," he finally ended.

"How do you know? I had a family and friends! They are all looking. I know it," I defended myself.

"Sweetheart, we have been on this island for a little over two weeks now. I can assure you, if anyone was looking for us, they would have been here by now," he said.

"What do you mean two weeks? That can't be. I just woke up. The most we could have been here is maybe a little over one week, but two? That's not possible. I would be dead by now," I stumbled.

"Well, you're still alive and breathing aren't you? I wouldn't feet over such an absent problem. Especially when we have others who have not and never will wake up again!" he growled at me.

"That's enough Nathan!" Gage stepped in.

"I told you," he began in a lowed, steady voice, "it's just Matt." With that, he stormed away.

I stood still, my eyes wide with shock.

"He has gone throw a lot these past few weeks. Just ignore him for the time being. Now, you said you just woke up, is that correct?" Gage changed the subject.

I nodded my head.

"Well then, you must be starving, as well as parched," Gage said.

I nodded again.

"Great! Then let's go get you something to eat."

I followed him down a trail, occasionally turning from off onto another trail. We ended up at a small camp ground area. There was a bonfire burning, with some kind of animal roasting over the top.

People were sitting around the fire on logs. Wow, I thought, they must have gotten a lot done while I was sleeping.

Gage led me to the other side of the fire, and sat me down on one of the logs. "The pork will be ready soon," he said before walking away.

I sat there in silence, waiting for him to get back.

"Hey! I haven't seen you around... Where did you come from?" Asked a female voice, behind me.

I turned my head, my eyes stopping on a girl with long blonde hair stopping right above her waste. Her face was very clear, and she had the biggest brown eyes I had ever seen. Her eyelashes were long and dark, so it looked as if she were wearing mascara.

She wore a crooked smile on her face as I answered her question. "Ummm, my name is Macy. I don't remember much. All I remember is that I woke up this afternoon in the middle of the forrest, and I have no idea how I got there."

"Well, it's nice to meet you Macy. I'm Ansley," she said.

"I see you have met my new friend Macy, huh?" Gage asked Ansley, walking back up to us.

He handed me a bottle full of water. "Thanks!" I said taking the cap off and nearly swallowing the whole bottle in one gulp.

"Dinner!" Someone yelled, and everyone started to line up in a single file line by the fire.

"Gage?" I asked as we got in line.

"Yeah?"

"How many people are there stranded her?" I asked him. It didn't look like many, maybe thirty-five or forty tops.

"Well, we had forty-five to start out, not including you. We lost three, and then we had a few others show up, and then you, which makes about forty-seven I think," he explained.

"You lost some? Do you mean they died?" I asked, swallowing the lump in my throat.

"Well, yeah I guess," he finished. I waited for him to tell me how, but he didn't so I assumed he didn't want to talk about it, and decided not to push it.

We got our pork, and ate up. I didn't realize how hungry I was until I had my first bite. They allowed me to have seconds, only because I hadn't eaten in two weeks and I need to get my strength up for tomorrow.

I had no idea what kind of work we were supposed to be doing without any kinds of tools to build with. I supposed I would find out the next morning.

After dinner, Gage walked me back to the place that he had told me to take a nap at, the place where I got yelled at pretty much for having hope.

Then, I decided to crash. I needed a good nights sleep.

If only it were that simple. Sleep did not come as fast as I had hoped. In fact, sleep did not come at all. I pretty much tossed and turned all night, until I finally gave up and decided to go for a walk on the beach.

Finally, I found my way out of the tangle of trails that were made. When I reached the shore line, I got a wave of chills flash over me. My toes just about to reach the water, my hair down and swaying in the wind.

It was a beautiful night, perfect for watching the stars. I took a few steps back just barely not touching the water with my toes. Slowly walking backwards, I looked up at the stars.

They were amazing, flashing, twinkling. I lied down right where I was standing, star gazing.

My lids grew heavier by the second, minute hour, however long I lied there watching the night sky. I was almost asleep when I was interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat.

Peaking one eye just barely open, I groaned in annoyance. "What?" I snapped.

"What are you doing?" He said as I sat upright.

"Well, I was almost asleep. Do you know how long it took me to finally get close to even drifting into sleep? I have not been able to sleep all night! I got up, and wanted to take a walk on the beach. Then I decided to lie down and watch the sky, and finally, my eyes got heavy and I got tired. Now though, I'm wide awake thanks to you!" I shouted.

"Ummm, okay? Well it's not good to sleep on the beach. You should go back to your bed or whatever you were sleeping on. It's not safe out here at night," he said a lot calmer than I would have expected.

"Not safe? How? Is there some kind of insane stalker kidnapper that's going to come kidnap me or something?" I said jokingly.

"Actually, yes." His voice was all serious.

"What? We are on an island. Who is going to come kidnap me?" I asked confused.

"Well, not exactly kidnap I guess. There are guys on this island that need things. And a pretty girl like you won't last long on the beach all alone at nighttime," he finished.

"Needs?" I scoffed, "I doubt anyone would come and rape me on the beach. And if they try, I can always scream and I'm sure someone would come running. I'll be fine, thank you."

"Come on," he said taking me by the arm and dragging me with him.

"Stop! I'm not going with you. I'm a big girl and I can take care of myself. I struggled to yank my arm free, but his grip was too strong.

"Macy, there are some bad guys on this island," he began, "hell, there are some douche bags that think they have needs to fill. You will get eaten up. You are coming with me," he finished.

"Stop. I want to stay. This is the only place that I will get any sleep!" I refused to go.

"Fine," he said. "Stay here. I will be right back. Scream if you need me," he said walking into the trees.

"Wait, what are you doing?" I asked.

"I'm going to get my stuff so I can stay out here with you," he said not even turning around.

"But why?" I asked, but he was too far away to hear me.