Disclaimer: I do NOT own Ghost Hunt, just use them for my own torment..
Chapter Two: Stranded
Mai POV
"Can you be an Angel?" I heard a woman whisper in my ear, feeling light as a feather.. I stood in front of a tall brown tree... Lifting my gaze, a tree house came into view.. An old tree house, that seems to be ripped and decaying, but covered with long branches and beautiful green leaves.
"I'm no angel.." I whispered, intertwining my fingers together.. Feeling a hand on my right shoulder, a soft, gentle ease dawns on my heart.
"I need your help.. Free us." a soft whisper in my ear, sounds more like a woman's voice.. Turning my gaze, a woman with long dark hair, that reaches her mid-back, wearing a long white dress stares at me with her brown soft eyes.
"Free us? Can you explain? I'm lost." the woman thinned out her lips, pointing up at the tree.
"New home.. Remember now alone, you two are in danger.. He won't let us go.. So please free us.."
"Who's he? Can Gene help.. I mean he normally helps me in these cases.. I want to help." I offered, turning to fully see her. In doing so, my eyes widen in fear, watching for the first time that her legs are on fire. In deep flare of the fire.
"What the?" I stretched out my hand to help her, but the woman waves her hands to stop me.
"No, you'll get burn. Only a few of us are good, most are just so lost that they can't distinguish good or bad.. Just be careful.. And help us.." then she fades, turning into nothing.. My heart leaps, when an eerie cold blast of air surrounds me completely.. Rubbing my arms, I took notice that I can see my own breath.
"What's going on?" my jaw started to raddled, then I felt it. A hand wrapping around my ankle.. Looking down, a head appeared from no where crawled down on the ground, staring up at me.. With two bleak white eyes.. I jumped up in fear..
"Eii," I screamed, as the figure just smiles at me, noticing how white his face is.
"Another victim.. How delightful.. Now I can be free." It said, not in a human voice, but a dark echoed one, that send shivers down my spine.. Then it disappears, as everything around me faded into darkness.
I felt a pressure on my chest, my lung burns... Then I felt two wet lips on mine, breathing in some air..
'Why is that person kissing me?' somewhere in me thought, but then I felt more air pressure on me..
'No, not kiss, but air, am I dying?'
"Damn it Mai, wake up."I heard at a distance.. One last press on my chest, it released the water trapped in my chest, causing me to cough the water out.. It felt good, but it didn't feel good to cough it out. It was bittersweet.
"Are you okay?" I heard, as I stood up, taking a hold of my chest, trying to regain my senses, as I cough even more.
"I.." I couldn't even speak.. My chest burns, as well as my throat.. I felt a pat on my back, gently at that.. After a few minutes, I stopped coughing, sniffing hard, trying to regain my senses.
"Naru? No, I'm not okay. What happen?" My voice is scratched, dried, and worse of all, it tasted horribly like salt..
"You almost drowned and I saved you. Now we are trapped.." I heard.. Turning to meet with Naru, he is wet from head to toe, paler than the normal, and his eyes dropped a little.
"Huh?"
"Look around you, and tell me when you remember," I could tell he wasn't in the mood to explain it.. So I did what he asked me. Looking around, my eyes landed on the deep greenish bluish waters, watching the waves.. Beyond that you can see the horizon and large rocks on the different sections. Then I kept roaming to see a large mountain on the right side, with coconut trees and bananas. Then my memories return to me. I cover my mouth with my trembling hand, gasping.
"What the.. I was knocked out of the ship? And.. The ghost lady.. She.."
"Ghost Lady?" Naru asks, lifting his leg up, so he can lean against it with his arm.. I gulped, timidly nodding my head.
"Yes.. She was showing me a tree house, and there was a man.. He had white eyes, and white skin. White skin, as though it was made of paper.."
"We'll worry about that later.. Right now, we need to see if we can spot the ship.. Its only been thirty minutes. I think." he whispers, running his right hand through his wet hair.
"You think?"
"Yes, I think.. For a reason, my watch stopped working.. And I feel unease about this place. Its to peaceful for my own liking." he admits, lifting his gaze to stare out.. I follow his gaze, to see that he's watching the ocean.
"Oh.. Okay.." lowering my head, the sudden eerie feeling ran down my spine..
'Either way.. I'm thankful that Naru is with me..' I thought, trying to calm my nerves.. I gave Naru a secret look, so he won't catch me looking at him.. Noticing how deep in thought, he is in.. I licked my dry lips.
"Why do I feel as though is the last time we see our friends?" I whispered to myself looking back at the ocean, pressing my palms in the warm sand.. Feeling the grains passes between fingers.
"So you feel the same," Naru replies to my own loud thoughts, causing me to look back at him.
"What?"
"I have this strange feeling as well. Since the ship.. Not sure why though.." he admits.. Standing up, he dust of his black pants, making the sand drop down, then he extends his hand towards me.
I arched a brow, looking up at him, luckily since he's tall, he blocked off the sun rays.. It was like an eclipse he was forming.. I mentally chuckle at that.
Taking his warm sandy hand, a warm feeling passes my body. Naru just stares at our joined hands, but no emotion passes his cold blue eyes.. I gulped, as he pulls me up.
"Thanks," I whispered, retreating my hand back from him.. Naru took his hand, looking down at it, but then shakes his head.
"Let's go," he suggested.. Nodding, I shyly walk behind him, staring at the ocean, then at the landscape, that seems like a sandy hill going up, with trees scattering all around.
"I wonder where we are.. Is this part of Iwo Jima?" wanted to have a small conversation.. This island seems dead yet alive at the same time.. Sending shivers down my spine..
"No.. If it was, we should have run into some villagers or some fishermen by now." He explains..
"What if they're back home due to the storm? I mean.." Naru stops in his tracks, making me bump into his back, hitting my nose.
"Ouch.. Warn me next time.." I complained, rubbing my nose. Naru turns around once again, he signed.
"I know this is not part of Iwo, if it was.. Trust me, I would know and we weren't' even close to the island.. We needed two hours more to reach at least the Coast of it.. This place seems dead.. Not alive, yet alive more than we know it.. Its a strange feeling.." he admits.. Frowning at his explanation, I moved closer to him, afraid that he'll leave me alone..
'He feels the same way I do.. I wonder what does this island have to feel this way?' I shakily thought.
"Then shall we try to find our ship?" I asked him. Naru glanced down at me, nodding softly..
Like Naru said, time seems endless here. It feels like forever since we started to walk down the shore.. Yet now we are climbing a small hill, heading for the high rocks, that overlook the ocean..
"Here," Naru offers his hand so I can take it.. Gladly, I did, as we jump a small brackish point, that disconnected the rocks..
"Thanks," I whispered, walking ahead, to reach the edge of the rock.. Naru remained quiet feeling him stand next to me.
"So, do you see anything?" I asked, while I covered my forehead with my hand so I can see better..
"Darn it, I forgot my spyglass at home," He sarcastically remarks, causing me to feel annoyed by his remark.
"Ha,ha,ha, it was so funny that I forgot to laugh, I think I left that at home as well.. Really Naru, do you see anything, cause right now I don't.. Just water and rocks, and oh yeah, and more water.."
"I see the same Mai.. I'll look at my right, you look at your left.." he turns heads towards the opposite side of the rock.. I rolled my eyes, doing what he orders.. Looking out, I saw the mountains, and some tropical birds fly by.. Then I looked out at the horizon, to see nothing..
"No luck how about you?"
"Same.." Naru answers, turning to face me.. I gulped, rubbing my bare arms, as the wind picks up.
"I think we should leave a massage or something, and find shelter and food, and not vast to far from the ocean.. Just in case.." Naru suggested once again, watching as the wind play with his hair. I nod, turning to head down once again.
"Thank God, I decided to wear sneakers today.. Or not, this climb will literally kill my feet," I chirped out, watching Naru hop towards the other rock and stretched his arm for me.. Like last time, I took his hand and jumped into his side.
Climbing down slowly, I took notice that Naru took his time as well, watching if I would be okay.
"I knew one of these days, saving you will lead to somewhere not good.. And look at this, I was right." he mumbles, as he takes me by my waist, causing me to blush at his sudden display, then he moves me up, amazing thing was that he did it as though I weighted nothing, and lets go of me as fast as he could.. I blushed even more, but cleared my throat.
"I have no idea how you saved me. You should have let me drown or something.. I mean.. I never asked you to.." A small pain crawled up my heart, while we finally reach the sandy floor.
'I'm just a bother to him. Nothing more..'
"It would be a pain to hire a new assistant, and it became second nature to save you.. It comes with the job." he simply replies, walking ahead of me.. I had no idea if I should feel offended or complimented by his smart remark.
"Oi, you are so mean Naru.. Is that to offend me or compliment me?" I yelled, running to catch up to him. Naru shrugs his shoulders.
"Take it as you like.. I just simply told you the truth.." and with that, he remained quiet for the rest of the day..
Naru POV
"I hope this work," I sighed, wiping my sweaty forehead, dropping the branch tree, that I found near the shore..
'SOS!'
I wrote in the sand, big enough for a helicopter to catch.. I hope it holds up, before the ocean water erases it..
Turning my gaze in front of me, I watch Mai lay against the palm tree, closed eyes, noticing that her clothes and her hair is finally dry, just like mine.
I signed, moving towards her.. Knowing her luck, if I take my eyes away from her for a brief second, she'll disappear or worse get hurt..
I feel wronged, strange, in this island.. After I saved Mai, with the last bit of will power, I manage to get us both to safety.. The strange white light guided my way to this isolated Island, that seems so dead.. I have no idea why I feel that way. Yet, for a reason feels so alive at the same time.
Sitting next to Mai, I raise my leg up, placing my arm on top of my knee. I glance at Mai, noticing how tired she looks, she looks paler than the normal.
'She looks exhausted.'
"I think we should get the coconuts up there. I'm dying of thirst.. It feels like hours since we got here." Mai suggested, without opening her eyes.
"You look tired." I finally spoke to her, after the silence treatment.. Mai snaps her eyes open, to stare at me.
"Oh, now you talk to me.. And I am.. I just want to sleep. My whole body hurts.. My eyes are closed, and yet.. I'm scared and hungry. I can't sleep.. I want to go home. Or to an island that has people." she groans even more, leaning her head against the bark.
"Well, I wasn't planning this. I'm actually loosing time.. Either way.. We need shelter.. Let's go, because I have no idea what time is it.. Since it feels like hours now.." My body fights me.. It needed to rest, forcing myself to stand, I take Mai by her arm.
"Hey.. I just want to sleep.." she protested, like a child.. I just stare at her.
"If you want to sleep in an open area where we have no idea what lurks around, be my guest, just don't call out my name to save you." I threatened. Mai eyes widen. Taking a hold of my arm.
"No, I'll follow directions. I promise.. I'm just so sleepy.. So tired. I think almost dying took a toll on my body.. And.." she paused, looking up at me, her eyes soften a little.
"And Thank you.. Thank you for saving me once again.. You should be more than tired, exhausted, since you had to swim for me.. I have been just a luggage.. Either way.. I'll pay you back.. I don't know how, but I will." she gives me a weak smile, but I can tell from her brown eyes that she meant it.. I felt once again, my heart thumping hard against my chest.
'Your not a luggage, you were and never a burden to me.' I wish I could tell her that.. Stepping away from the palm tree, I look around to see if I can find a rock, anything hard..
"What are you looking for?" Mai asks. I lifted my gaze, and automatically answer her.
"Something hard to hit the palm tree.. I'm thirsty as well." I admitted.. Mai eyes light up at the mention, then she started to look around. About five minutes later, i think, Mai came up to me, holding four rocks at hand.
"Will these do? I tried to find the biggest once." Taking the first big white rock, I position myself in front of the palm tree.
"Whatever works, and it seems the right size.." I told her, a little proud.. Mai smiles broadly at me.
"Go, and hit that coconut, I'm thirsty." she cheered me on.
Without any word, trying to calculate in my head, I threw the rock, and hits my mark, making two coconut fall down on the sandy floor.. Then I took another rock, and did the same, having four more falls.
"We have to divide it, two for now, and two for later on, okay. We'll take some bananas as well." I whispered, moving up to grab them. Yet, Mai beats me to it.
"Okay.." She picks up three, as I picked up the rest of them.. Then went to get the bananas, near the forest. Up the shore.
"Now, we need is Shelter." I told her, feeling a bit uncomfortable with the situation.. Mai nods rapidly..
Sighing once again, we headed towards our left, entering now into the depth of the mysterious Island..
Mai POV
"You know, this isn't bad," I broke the silence after a long while of just walking, inside of a forest, I think.. Throwing the coconut on the ground, after Naru opened it.. I can say is the best drink I ever had.. Wash off the salty taste right off.
I wish I can have more, but since we need to adjust, I have to do what Naru says. He knows more than me.
Since is surrounded by huge trees, and more trees.. With wild animals around, I mean just monkeys so far.
"Is that so.. We haven't found no shelter.. If stranded on an Island is not bad, I wouldn't want to know what's really bad," I heard Naru mumble, stopping on his tracks..
"Spoil sport.." hissing under my breath, a sudden chill ran down my spine once again.. Looking around to see if I can spot it, a sudden realization hits me.. Reaching out, I took a hold of Naru arm, tugging.
"Err, This is the same as my dream. The tree." I whispered, looking around to find myself standing at the same spot in my dream, the trees, yet, what jogged my memories is the huge tree that stood at front of us.. For a reason, it looked familiar, which is weird, since all the trees for me looks the same.
"It is?"
"Yes, and if it is.. Then there's a.."
"Tree house," Naru finished my sentence, while he lifted his gaze up, with narrow eyes. I followed suit, to see the same tree house, in my dream. Old, falling, decaying, and lack of brown..
"I wonder who use to live here before?" I whispered, remembering that I did mention it to him earlier about the tree. So I started to head towards the tree, but Naru takes a hold of my arm pulling me back.
"Don't, we need to check if it's safe.. And maybe the woman of your dreams lived here." turning my gaze up, I arched a brow.
"What makes you think is hers?"
"I'm just theorizing, why in the world would she show you this?"
"Maybe she pity us? I don't know. What made you want to come through this path in the first place? This is not just a mere coincidence," I challenge back.
"I.. I just felt like it was right. I don't know.. Can we stop arguing and see if that place is good for us to take refuge?"
"Fine, whatever, we talk about it later.. The first question should ask, how in the world do we climb that? I'm not good at climbing trees," I whispered, looking up.. Naru signed, shaking his head.
"Why are you even taking this so calmly? Shouldn't you be panicking, or something?" he throws that question out of the blue.. I stare at him.
"Panicking wouldn't solve anything.. And why are you even asking?"
"Cause normal girls would be crying and such. Panicking.. And here you are, wanting to go inside of a tree house that we have no idea about, or who inhabits it. There could be monkeys or some sort of other wild animal living there.. Looks abandoned for years now.."
"One, I'm afraid, very afraid.. That my heart feels like is going to leave me.. Second, I am panicking, but I'm using my brain.. If not, everything would go not smoothly. And three. I trust you.. You're the only human right now that I trust.. Since you have saved me countless of time.. I know that we will leave this place in one piece.. I don't know when but we will." Naru stares at me, not sure how to name the his stare, is just plain.
"You sure have changed a lot over the past year."
"Since I live in the ghost realm all the time, I think it's time to stop whining like a child. And start to become stronger." I felt somewhat relief..
"Remember this Mai.. No matter how much you put on a brave face on.. Your still Mai.. And nothing about that changes.." I had no idea what he meant by that, when he starts to look around the tree.
"At least I won't be a burden to you.. I'll try my best." I whispered so low, so he won't listen. I'm afraid he'll tell me that I'm right..
Rubbing my arms once again, the sudden chill ran down my spine.. Shivering, I felt a hand on my shoulder, causing my eyes to widen.
"He knows, both of you are here. Keep your eyes open and keep as one.. Don't separate for no reason.. I'll shall come again, when he's not around!" the woman's voice echoed, yelping, my heart racing, I turned around, only to twist my foot, and landed on someone's chest.
"Ah," yelling this time, covering my face, its hand firmly presses on my shoulders.
"Do you want to wake up the dead?"
"Oh, thank God, and Naru that's not funny, and I just heard the ghost lady. She said that he knows we are here.. I'm so confused, does she mean the man in my dreams?" I turned around to stare at him, but blushed rapidly taking notice how close he gotten to me..
"Maybe.. I found a way up.. Come.. Can you walk?" he asks. I gulped, taking a small step back.
"Yes.. I just lost my balance," I admitted, following him around the tree.. Reaching the right section, along edgy stairs seems some are half broken, or sterdy..
"Wow, whom ever lived here before did a wonderful job building this.. I wonder why?" I thought out loud, following Naru really slowly.. Naru carefully took his time stepping into each wood, to make sure it won't snap or anything.
"Just keep going," Looking up, I watch Naru looking back at me.. Wonder why?
"If you're wondering, I'm just checking if you haven't fallen down.. I'm to tired right now to even save you. I only get to rescue you once a day." Not sure if he did a joke or not, I just stare at him as though he just grew a second head.
"How did you know what I was wondering? Or rather thinking?"
"Let's just say at times you're an open book," he simply replies,
"Sometimes I forget how of an idiot scientist you are, and yet, a genius all wrapped in one.. Wonder how that head of yours doesn't explode," I insulted back.. Looking down at the ground, feeling embarrassed, just like back on the ship..
"You just make my day Mai.. That's all you have to know.. I'll take your remark as a compliment.." I can tell he's being sarcastic, and I just rolled my eyes at him. Finally reaching the small opening of the tree house.. Taking in a big breath, we entered.
"Wow, this is.. Needs a little fixing, but nice." I gasped out, looking around the large tree house, that is covered by an old dusty red old pillow, looks from the late eighteenth early century pillows..
The walls still in intact, but some parts are either falling down, or just rotting away. Tree barks are growing inwards, spreading around, as cobwebs fill the branch.
'Spiders made their home.'
"It looks like its imported from England.. I have seen these designs before. An old friend of my father has the same." I glance up at Naru, watching him wander the area.. There's a five steps heading for the second floor..
"This is gorgeous.. Is like a paradise home.. We can stay here for the night, just have to check for any animals or insects, and we can finally eat the bananas.." I declare, going up to an open cut hole which indicated a window, since it had two white dirty drapes on the side. Placing my hands on top of the flat surface, looking outside. Watching the trees, I took notice from above them, I can see the ocean, at least part of it..
"Look Naru, we can see the shore." I pointed out, feeling Naru move towards my side..
"Strange, but that's good, so we can keep an eye out." rubbing my arms, closing my eyes, a sudden heaviness hits me once again..
"I hope, I'm praying that they come back.. I can't think about staying here. Its scary.. To an unknown place.. I'm just glad that you're here Naru, or not.. I doubt I could have made it." I told him, not looking at him, cause my cheeks were red..
"I have a feeling this wasn't an accident, and it's definitely the ghost doing.. Now, the real question is.. Who is she? And who is he?" I heard him whisper..
"Those are very good questions, but right now, can we just rest.. I'm about to pass out.. And luckily our clothes dried and we have bananas and coconut for the night.." feeling Naru move away from me, I open my eyes, and turned my gaze at him, taking notice that he has his sleeves rolled up..
'Right, he has to be hot, it's a tropical island after all.' I thought.
'If we are going to spend some time together, and try to solve this, and get out of here. I hope we can do it in a matter that we don't' argue.. Cause, right now.. I'm scared, afraid as hell.. And.. You're the only one that is keeping me sane.. So please, God, let us get out of this island in one piece.' I prayed, watching Naru starting to pick up some of the pillows, as I leaned my head against wall, staring at him.
'I hope we can leave soon.'
Little did we know, that this was our journey.. Our Journey of self discovery and surviving this mysterious island.
Thanks for the reviews and the likes, and the Followers.. I hope many will enjoy my story. Its inspiring by Blue Lagoon.. And I wanted to do a story of Naru and Mai trapped on an island, learning how to survive and solve a mystery behind it.. I hope you really feel like you're reading a good romance and adventure horror/mystery.. Sorry for my grammar mistake, and such. I'm not good.. : )