Chapter 1
The green welcome sign was trashed. Dents left it to look like a mangled piece of meat, and spray paint covered most of it. The sign now welcomed people to HELL instead of SEASHELL ISLAND. It was all evidence of a little girl's anger, one which she now regretted, but didn't have the energy or need to fix it.
Gathering her basket, Re-Nee headed back towards her house. She had headed to the North beach to gather food, but ended up just sitting in the sand. While watching the waves lick against the shore, Re-Nee thought about her life. It was hard to believe it had been six years since her life had changed, six years since her younger brother and she were forced to leave their dying parents' sides. Until his final dying breath, her father regretted letting his brother convince him that they were saving the world by inventing an anti-aging drug.
Re-Nee's thoughts were broken by the pitter-patter of running feet. Looking up, she saw her nine year-old brother running towards her, followed by their cousin. "Re-Nee!" he whispered harshly. She opened her arms to gather him into a hug. It's still hard for her to think of him as anything other than the whinny three year-old she was stuck with at the age of thirteen.
"What's up?" she asked, looking up at their brunette cousin. Her hair was still long and she wore feathers in it. She had picked it up from the tribes that still occupied the mainland. Re-Nee shook herself out of her thoughts and focused on her cousin. She seemed a little worried and impatient to tell her something. /If it was that important, why didn't she tell the guys?/ Like they'd done since they were kids, Danni answered Re- Nee's unasked question.
"He sent me to get you. A boat has been spotted approaching the island." Panic rushed through Re-Nee. Lunging out of her crouch, Re-Nee grabbed Johnny's hand and began to run. "Which side?" she yelled at Danni who was right beside her.
"They're heading to the South beach," Danni replied. /Another boat?/ Re- Nee couldn't help but think. Seeing boats was an unusual thing. Her brother and she had only seen three boats, each bring refugees to the island. They finally reached the cliff above the beach where the newcomers had landed. Crouching next to a brunette boy, Re-Nee took the binoculars. "Do you recognize them?"
"It's too hard from this distance..." he trailed off. "I just don't feel too good about this group...I have this feeling..." he said as he swept some of his hair from his brown eyes. Like Danni, he came from the mainland. Crouching on the ledge, they watched a little while longer as the group gathered around a piece of paper. The brunette and she could tell that they were arguing about something.
"Ok then Bray, I think it's time for us to meet the newcomers. Go get the others. Tell Cloe that she stays with Johnny and Michael, no matter what. I'll meet you down there." Bray nodded his head and took Johnny. "Let's go and meet our guest," Re-Nee said, turning to Danni.
The green welcome sign was trashed. Dents left it to look like a mangled piece of meat, and spray paint covered most of it. The sign now welcomed people to HELL instead of SEASHELL ISLAND. It was all evidence of a little girl's anger, one which she now regretted, but didn't have the energy or need to fix it.
Gathering her basket, Re-Nee headed back towards her house. She had headed to the North beach to gather food, but ended up just sitting in the sand. While watching the waves lick against the shore, Re-Nee thought about her life. It was hard to believe it had been six years since her life had changed, six years since her younger brother and she were forced to leave their dying parents' sides. Until his final dying breath, her father regretted letting his brother convince him that they were saving the world by inventing an anti-aging drug.
Re-Nee's thoughts were broken by the pitter-patter of running feet. Looking up, she saw her nine year-old brother running towards her, followed by their cousin. "Re-Nee!" he whispered harshly. She opened her arms to gather him into a hug. It's still hard for her to think of him as anything other than the whinny three year-old she was stuck with at the age of thirteen.
"What's up?" she asked, looking up at their brunette cousin. Her hair was still long and she wore feathers in it. She had picked it up from the tribes that still occupied the mainland. Re-Nee shook herself out of her thoughts and focused on her cousin. She seemed a little worried and impatient to tell her something. /If it was that important, why didn't she tell the guys?/ Like they'd done since they were kids, Danni answered Re- Nee's unasked question.
"He sent me to get you. A boat has been spotted approaching the island." Panic rushed through Re-Nee. Lunging out of her crouch, Re-Nee grabbed Johnny's hand and began to run. "Which side?" she yelled at Danni who was right beside her.
"They're heading to the South beach," Danni replied. /Another boat?/ Re- Nee couldn't help but think. Seeing boats was an unusual thing. Her brother and she had only seen three boats, each bring refugees to the island. They finally reached the cliff above the beach where the newcomers had landed. Crouching next to a brunette boy, Re-Nee took the binoculars. "Do you recognize them?"
"It's too hard from this distance..." he trailed off. "I just don't feel too good about this group...I have this feeling..." he said as he swept some of his hair from his brown eyes. Like Danni, he came from the mainland. Crouching on the ledge, they watched a little while longer as the group gathered around a piece of paper. The brunette and she could tell that they were arguing about something.
"Ok then Bray, I think it's time for us to meet the newcomers. Go get the others. Tell Cloe that she stays with Johnny and Michael, no matter what. I'll meet you down there." Bray nodded his head and took Johnny. "Let's go and meet our guest," Re-Nee said, turning to Danni.