Kansnubra Island: (HARRY POTTER) Inspired

CHAPTER 16

The next morning, Jorge woke Garley up as he had requested. It was a sunny day. Some of the savages were playing a strange game, throwing a silver skull to one another like it was a ball, not letting it touch the ground.

Alix and the others sat at an improvised table and ate Laura's healthy cookies.

"We're leaving soon," said Laura. "I want you all to pack up." "Pack up?" Jorge mumbled.

"That's right. All of you pack your things up," Laura ordered, in a thin and sleepy voice. She then looked at Johnny, who was pretending not to listen. "That goes for you too, Johnny."

"Yes, yes, I'm on it," he mumbled, obviously in a bad mood.

Laura gave a long sigh and turned back to her food. Garley pulled a stool with a wobbling leg, and sat at the table. "Will we reach the mountains today?" he asked Aldrich.

"I think so, as long as we walk quickly. Once it gets dark, it won't be safe to keep going," Aldrich replied, emptying his cup. "There is also the unfortunate possibility of running into more creatures on the way. That could slow us down and drive us off course."

"Next time, I'll be the first one running, and I'll try not to slip," said Jorge, biting his lip.

"Honestly, the best we could do was shoot arrows to try and distract that beast, Jorge. And even that turned out not to be very useful," replied Aldrich.

Alix showed them an arrow bag. The arrows were longer and sharper than theirs were. "The savages were able to take it down easily with their arrows because a powerful toxin covered their arrowheads. And of course, they were bigger than the ones we were using," She smiled. "The chief gave me these. Aldrich got some too. Well, it was actually a trade. We gave them a flashlight, along with some other things we wouldn't need."

"Hey, that isn't right. That's what our ancestors did with the natives when we colonized," said Garley.

"It was just a bargain. If we were demanding gold in exchange, I'd probably agree with you," she changed the topic. "Aren't we climbing the mountain today, Aldrich?"

"I don't believe so," he replied. "But we can never tell what might happen, can we?"

"Climb?" Jorge asked, clearly frightened by the thought. "A mountain, hundreds of feet high?"

Alix tried to muffle her laughter.

"I almost forgot you're afraid of heights. Like the last time we went rode the Dragon Roller Coaster at the Carolinda Amusement Park."

"It's not my fault if the seatbelt on my cart was loose, all right?" "Sure... From what I remember, I was the one who held you on your seat, wasn't I?" she asked, bursting into laughter.

"But that was a long time ago," said Jorge, blushing.

"Last year," said Alix to Garley. 

Garley began to laugh as well, imagining the scene.

"Alright," said Jorge. "I bet that if we do have to climb the mountain, it won't be only me who will be scared."

Garley had almost nothing to pack—just his jeans, a leather jacket, and some other clothes that Jorge had given him.

While the others packed their things, Garley sat on a wooden stool and watched the savages. He still felt a little sleepy.

He tried to imagine what his parents would be doing at that precise moment. Frightened by their son's sudden disappearance, for sure. Desperately searching for him, while Billy would be up to some mischief in his room, taking advantage of Garley's absence to mess with his things. That little brat, he thought, smiling.