CHAPTER TWO

It is a new day and the Mallrats are collecting water from a nearby stream of which Jack and Ellie found. Amber is alone, inspecting some mushrooms and berries, while Trudy comes over. Salene is taking care of the younger ones in the cave.

Amber: Trudy. Just the person I wanted to see. I…

Trudy [oblivious]: Hmm... Aren't they the mushrooms we ate while we were in the Ecos?

Amber: Yeah. The Ecos taught us so much… Well I was saying…

Trudy: Saying what?

Amber: I…I… just wanted to know if you were okay…about yesterday.

Trudy turns to Amber, looking quite weepy. She starts to cry a bit.

Trudy [crying]: I'm scared…scared for my daughter…our future. This a whole new place, a whole new situation…who knows what could happen. And-and you seem so calm and all. You should be worried about your son too.

Amber: Don't worry Trudy; we've been there for each other in our pregnancies, our raising of our children. I'll be there for you. I'll make sure we get through this safely. After all we're as good as sisters.

Trudy: Yea, we are. Thankyou Amber. For what you have done. I don't think I'd survive without you.

Amber: Well, come on Trudy, let's takes these mushrooms back.

-x-

Trudy and Amber come back to the cave with their gatherings. Even amidst the isolated nature of the island and the cramped space of the cave, everyone seems to be preoccupied with surviving or their own business. Slade and Ebony aren't there nor have anyone have seen them since last night, but everyone is too busy to notice.

Meanwhile Slade and Ebony are on their own mini adventure. They had set early and explored the island around for a while until Slade reveals his surprise…

Slade: So ready for your surprise Ebony?

Ebony [blindfolded]: Yea Slade. Come on, we don't have all day.

Slade: As you say so, Madame.

Ebony: Madame? Don't ever call me that again.

Slade: Anyway, now for it…

Slade unmasks Ebony. The shot turns to Ebony as she looks shocked and breath-taken.

Ebony: Wow. It's amazing. Have you told anyone else?

The shot then moves to what Ebony saw. It is an earthy wooden path leading to a luxurious rainforest surrounded resort accompanied with beach umbrellas and tables on both sides of the path. There were slotted lights on the rims of the path and if it were turned on at night, would probably give a fairy light effect. Emerging from the path were some marble steps swirled with grey, which led to another set of tables on either side behind white railings and lush rectangular potted plants. The flooring of the upper half had large white marble squares and was adorned with miniature fountains and tropical flowers. Eventually there was a large entrance with immense glass panels for windows and a door. However, from Ebony's view, the interior was opaque.

Slade: No, not yet. I had to wait for you. We're partners, remember?

Ebony: I can't believe we didn't find this place yesterday.

Slade: I guess it was well hidden in the forest.

Ebony stares at the resort for a while.

Slade: So, what are you waiting for?

Ebony [smiles]: For you to escort me in.

Slade takes Ebony inside the resort. Inside, it is revealed to be very vast and airy. The flooring is of white marble and there is a reception desk, two lifts, and some hallways in the back. In the centre is a white fountain sprouting turquoise streams and on the far sides are beige sofas surrounding wooden tables. There are also fern decorations around them.

Slade: I haven't actually been inside yet.

Ebony: This place is great…it must've been 5 star. Are you sure there aren't others inside?

Slade: Like I said. I've only seen it once.

They examine the place.

Suddenly, they hear a voice behind them.

Voice: Somebody come! There are intruders!

Ebony whips her hair as she turns around. Standing close-by is a girl around her age with an abundance of dirty blonde curls. These shoulder length curls have a noodle-like quality and the only straight hair is a thin strip of hot pink. She has pastel pink eye makeup and a painted hibiscus on her left cheek. She wears a gauzy lemon-yellow dress and black boots.

Anyhow, she seemed harmless.

Ebony [smiles slyly]: Nice place you've got here, honey.

Girl: Why thankyou. Creep.

Ebony: Aw Slade, looks like we underestimated her. She's quite the tough cookie.

Girl: INTRUDERS!

She continues to shout for over a minute.

Slade: I don't think whoever you are calling to will come.

Ebony: You alone?

Girl: What do you mean? I have a whole tribe out there. Then what about you? As far as I know, you are nothing.

Ebony: Ah dear. Nice way to treat a guest.

Girl: You were never a guest.

Ebony: You know what, Slade. Let's just bring the rest here. This kid's probably a stray.

-x-

Many of the Mallrats leave in parties for food and resource foraging. Outside, Ellie and Ruby are weaving fish nets. Lottie is about to join them, until Amber grabs her arm and takes her into the cave.

Amber [Staring at a handmade fern doll]: Nice doll you've got there.

Lottie: Thanks. Her name is Janey.

Amber: Anyway, Gel told me about your theft. Did you know that your thieving habits could have cost your life back at the Mall?

Lottie [crying]: I'm sorry! I'm sorry!

Amber: Just don't do it again, okay?

Lottie: I know its wrong, but I can't help it! I can't stop! I can't stop! I can't -

Amber: Lottie, do you want me to steal Janey? Do you really want me to take her from you?

Lottie [sitting in a foetal position]: No please don't take her!

Amber: That is why you don't steal. If I were to take Janey from you, you won't be that happy, right? That is the same way Gel and many others feel when you take their things. I know that you don't really get along with Gel, but still, there is no reason to steal from her.

Promise you won't do that again?

Lottie nods and Amber gets up to leave.

Lottie: Amber…thanks for saving my life back at the Mall…

-x-

Ebony and Slade walk down a path in the dense tropical forest. The vegetation is lush and bird calls can be heard from above the trees.

Slade [to Ebony]: Can we sit on the log over there?

Ebony: Okay. Why?

Slade [looking sad]: I just need some time and space. To think.

Ebony: Is this about your brother?

Slade: Precisely. I feel guilty for leaving him. He was just a scared kid. I didn't even give him a proper funeral…

Ebony: I felt guilty after the deaths of my sisters too. I should never have left them back when we were Locos. But you know what; you eventually learn to move on.

Slade: But if I hadn't abandoned him, a whole lot of deaths would have been prevented. The city wouldn't have been that chaotic.

Ebony: Chaotic?The city was always chaotic ever since the outbreak of the virus.

Slade: Then, your sisters would not have died. You wouldn't have been brainwashed. The second virus would have never happened. We wouldn't have been stuck in this island. We…

Ebony: We would not have met.

-x-

Salene [looking at Ellie's and Ruby's fish nets]: These nets are looking great.

Ellie: Thanks. And how is the food collecting?

Salene: It's alright. May found some berries. She's gone to check them with Trudy.

Ellie: What about the others?

Salene: Not sure. Sammy, Gel and Lottie have gone off to find them. Amber has been trying to find Ebony and Slade all morning. Have you seen them?

Ellie: Nope. Haven't seen them for a while. Funny how time passes so slowly.

Salene: Tell me about it. Anyway, we are all supposed to be gathered here with all we have found, but it looks like everyone is late. [She turns to Ruby, who has been silent the whole time]. Ruby, are you feeling any better?

Ruby nods slightly with a very sombre expression.

Salene: Good to hear that. Well, then. I better be off to find the rest!

-x-

Back at the resort. The girl Ebony and Slade met previously is talking to a handful of people of all ages.

Random girl: So what did you see, Charmaine?

Charmaine (the girl E&S saw): There were two of them. Those intruders. One of them was called Slave, I think.

Random girl: Slave?

Charmaine: He's probably her slave. The girl was around my age. She looked pretty tough and vaguely like Ebony.

Random Girl: Ebony? Is she the city leader you were talking about? The one who betrayed the city to the Technos?

Charmaine: I don't know if it really her though. I've only seen Ebony in the posters…

Random Guy: I saw a bunch of three kids out at the forest just then. They were too far away. I don't like the fact that they are roaming around there by themselves…

Charmaine: Who cares? We have already got enough people in our Tribe and they are probably part of "Slaves" tribe. More people mean more less room for our stuff.

Random Girl: More like your make-up and clothes. The question is – should we let them stay in our island?

-x-

It is around 2pm. The hungry Mallrats gather to have lunch, carrying their meagre amounts of food.

Amber: There you are, Ebony and Slade! You can't just leave without telling us!

Ebony [sarcastically]: I'm deeply sorry for that. But that's how we work. And since Slade left his bike back at the city, we decided to take a stroll.

Amber: When all of the rest have gone foraging for food and supplies, what do you do? What do you do? Lazing around like you are having the time of your life?

Ebony: Honey, from the many years we have met, you would have realised that I don't work.

Slade: Heh. We were just trying to find a place for everyone to stay. We found one too, but we just have to check if it's safe, that's all.

Ram [quietly to Lex]: So when are you going to tell the rest.

Lex: You know what? I might as well tell them now.

Lex slowly moves towards the middle. There is a smile stitched in his face just before he commences his announcement.

Lex: Tribe! I've got something great to tell you all.