The Land of the Lost

Ch.9 The Shed

The wind was whisking around us harder now. Jack was holding his hands above his eyes to prevent debris from hitting his face. He no longer seemed scared, but rather worried. And not necessarily for himself.

"DO YOU HEAR YOURSELF?" I yelled over the howls of the wind.

"HOW CAN YOU EXPECT ME TO BELIEVE YOU?! First you tell me I was unconscious for FOUR DAYS! Then you tell me that you're from the f***ing 1800s! And now you're telling me that my eyes are glowing?! Do you think I'm that f***ing stupid!"

[ I mean, I am pretty stupid.]

"Vee..." he tried to start.

"Don't 'Vee' me! For all I know you're with the other two and are just trying to trick me!"

I stopped yelling for a moment, my throat already hurt from the screaming. On top of the ache in my throat, a wave of fatigue passed over me.

The wind died down a little.

The earth trembled a little more quietly.

The expression on Jack's face changed drastically at the mention of the strangers. It was now full of rage. He stood up straighter, his hands were now gripped in tight fists. He took a step towards me.

"HOW DARE YOU!" he bellowed as he pointed a finger at me. "I let you into my home. I took care of you. I tried to explain where you are, tried to give you proof. All I've done is helped YOU!"

He took another step towards me.

I took a step back.

The wind died down a little more.

The earth no longer trembled.

"And to THINK... For YOU to think for one moment that I'm somehow against you? If I was against you, I would've killed you already and wouldn't have wasted my time! He- "

His voice echoed in the now quiet forest. We both stood still, the only sound was Jack trying to catch his breathe.

He?

The tables had turned. I was the one cowering from him. I was so confused about everything.

What was happening to me, and what was going to happen?

I don't know where I am in the god-awful forest.

I don't know how I'm going to get home.

I'd lost control of my own body. I've seen one man brutally stabbed, another shot in the head.

The images played in my mind over again. The sound of the blade whipping through the air, digging into his chest. His eyes, staring back at me.

His final words, echoing in my ears.

The whisper knawing at my temples.

And then, the sound of the arrow...being ripped from Seth's head.

Tears started to well in my eyes. I locked sight with him again. He saw the fear in my eyes, how terrified I was of the situation I was in. His brows unfurrowed slightly, his face softened. He unclenched his fists and dropped his hands to his side. Jack dragged his fingers through his hair and walked towards me, not stopping until he was only a foot away. He looked deep into my eyes, and I into his. Trying to comfort me, he placed a hand on my shoulder.

I tried not to recoil. I didn't like people touching me, but I knew it was more for him than me.

"Vee, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled. I know this is all very new to you. I understand ending up here is-," He paused a second, looking for the best way to phrase it.