Authors Note: After a long hiatus, due to various reasons, this story is back in running (on a hopeful regular basis or at least where time restraints like school would allow).
Sincere apologies for the time taken to submit this chapter but hopefully it is entertaining and that the future submissions planned would be up sooner than later :)
CHAPTER TEN
Ebony had always been an early riser. Well, since the Virus anyway. It came naturally, it was all about survival 'the early bird got the worm' or what not.
So in the beginning of one specific morning she saunters to the door leading to the balcony of her splendid Presidential Suite. 'To think, you're going to abandon all this' she thinks, reviewing her talk with Slade the night before.
As she begins to rustle the supple curtains she gazes at the morning sky which seems to go boundless and is curiously more mysterious than the royal blue of the ocean beneath it. Like her dreams.
'Everything has a potential', Ebony muses, as she lets the breeze scrape her face.
It was then, she witnesses something.
A girl with a blue patched cap, frisky, agitated fingers, hands wavering around, mouth wide open swallowing the sea breeze, emitting great cries of "Ruby, don't! Don't leave us!" Ebony examines the girl closely and soon after another girl who is setting up a boat catches her eye.
It was Ruby. The one she'd wish to disappear away to the far, far ocean. Ebony gazes at the blonde girl as her face etches a sly smirk. It was precious. The start of the day seemed to go on pretty damn well…
-x-
The scene changes to the island beach which is clustered with two figures sitting down in the sand close by a glistening shoreline. The winds and waves are audible, emitting silent hisses- the signs of a morning storm dawning in.
Lottie: Why did you want to leave Ruby?
Ruby: I didn't want to leave, but, you know there are some cases that you have to…
Lottie: You don't have to leave. No-one's forcing you to go. The Mallrats accept you. They even accept me even though I steal their stuff.
Ruby: No it's not that. You know, some day when you're older you might understand. There's many reasons, many irredeemable actions, pointless revenges, crazy and unrealistic thoughts and fantasies… You'll realise I'm just a plain fool some day.
Lottie: But I won't think you're a fool if you kept my promise and stayed.
Lottie begins to cry and she starts begging – "Please don't leave"... Ruby sighs and stares at the ocean for a minute.
Ruby: Lottie, I'll cross my heart with your promise. I'll stay with you and take care of you, and teach you about the goodness of this world, okay?
Lottie: Thank you Ruby.
There a brief silence while the wind blows into their faces.
Ruby: A storm is coming.
The two depart.
-x-
The Mallrats are set up for the day. Lori has already arrived with several of the Islanders to critique the Mallrats for their 'job interviews.'
Lori: Thank you for the most of you who have rose up early for this ever so important meeting between our tribes. As you all know, or at least heard, I'm Lori, the leader of the 'Islanders', so without further ado, let me explain about how this is to be dealt.
The jobs we're offering are cleaners, fishers, gardeners, hunters, traders, cooks and anything we can think of really. You're not to apply for a job, but rather we choose one for you based on your interview. Depending what job you are allocated, you may or may not work more.
Now let me explain about traders. As we have said before, every week we sell our produce to the markets in the central 'Island market'. You will need to take a boat there and you'll just follow our boats there since you've never visited.
If you get caught stealing from the produce or misbehaving, our whole contract will be broken and you'll all have to leave.
And before you protest and organise all these shenanigans, we have offers up our sleeves. Like all jobs you will be paid. And quite well, if you ask me. For example food from our lavish veggie patch. Who wouldn't ask for more?
After Lori's speech, the interviews begin. The Mallrats are lined up, Lex volunteers to be first.
Lex is then escorted to a private interview room. There is the spinning chair taken from the hotel receptionist's table for Lex to sit on. A rectangular glass coffee table separates him from Lori and her fellow Islanders who are seated on black leather seats. Charm is among the panel of judges.
Lori: First things first. We are going to keep this professional. Your name?
Lex: Lex.
Lori: Now tell, me Lex… what are your qualifications?
Charm interrupts.
Charm: Oh Lori. Don't bother. Just look at him. He'd be darn well in cleaning, don't you think?
Lex: I think you lot need some good security here. I was once City Sheriff and I have lots of experience at anything to do with fighting. Anything physical, keeping the place safe, you count it. In fact, I once was a City Gladiator…
Charm [giggles]: A what? Oh puh-hlease.
Lex snorts.
Lori [smirking]: Charmaine, please don't intimidate our new employee. I believe we've got just the perfect position for him. I think he'd do well as one of our traders, don't you all agree?
Turns around to the rest of the Islanders for their opinions.
Lex: What?
Charm: Charming. But don't you think he'd be unsuitable for the job? I mean like he'd totally steal our stuff if he wanted to.
Lori [smirking]: Charmaine, you're always full of opinions on this one. Give our future employee a chance. He may look useless but from what I've heard he's got the qualifications.
Charm [rolls her eyes]: As you say so.
Lex: Wait. You haven't told me why I've gotten this job. Wouldn't I be better off with another job?
Lori: No, no you won't be the one selling the stuff! You'll be transporting the stock to the Island market.
Someone likable would sell. You'll just wait around them and try not to scare away customers or do something useful like fish while you wait.
-x-
The Mallrats are waiting for Lex to return from his interview. Ebony and Slade are quietly chatting to each other.
Lex arrives with a bewildered expression on his face.
Ebony: I'm up.
Ebony heads off to the interviewing room.
Lori: So you would be Ebony, right? Have a seat and detail your qualifications.
Ebony: Okay, if you need convincing, here's my shot.For one, I am a born and bred leader. Listen to me and think about it. I can turn this whole pauper island into an empire.
Those other "trading" islands out there, they won't be for trading anymore, they'd be giving the stuff to you. I've been in control for so long, to know all the tricks.
I can make this happen.
Lori looks at Ebony with no expression.
Lori: Okay, one minute, let me discuss with my committee.
Lori turns and has a quiet discussion with the Islanders. Eventually they come to a conclusion.
Lori: It turns out we all agreed that you have nice strong arms, so I'm pleased to tell you- how about being our cleaner?
Ebony looks disgruntled and shocked but then soon recollects herself.
Ebony: Very well. You guys have just lost the opportunity of your life time.
She stands up and leaves the room before turning back swiftly.
And you're going to regret it.
-x-
Ebony leaves and suddenly sees Ruby and Lottie entering the building. Ebony dashes towards Ruby and pushes her to the side away from view.
Ebony [whispering]: Why are you here?
Ruby: Why can't I be?
Ebony: Don't act ignorant. I saw you leaving. What made you change your mind?
Ruby: Various reasons.
Ebony: Like what?
Ruby: None of your business. But since you were so worried, it's not to do with you, or your precious Slade.
Ruby leaves and joins the line.
-x-
Later…
Sammy waits nervously in line while he sees Gel strut out from the interviewing room.
Gel [excitedly]: I just got offered the role of being Charm's personal make-up assistant! It was so surprising, but then again I'd say I'm the most *feshionable* of us all.
She goes on to pat Sammy on the back.
Gel: Anyway, I'm off to put on some of the coconut cream Charm gave me. Good luck Semmy!
Sammy enters the interviewing room.
Sammy [nervously]: Hi, my name is Sammy.
Lori: Got it. So Sammy, what are your qualifications?
Sammy: Well… I'm a fair surfer and –
Lori cuts in.
Lori: So you can swim right?
Sammy: I guess so…
Lori pauses.
Lori [smirking]: Alright, I think you're lucky because I think I've just got an epiphany on what you could be. How about being a trader with that other red head, Jack or something?
You'll both stand out like brothers!
Sammy: Erm…
Lori holds a short laugh while Sammy is practically shaking.
Lori: This is just perfect. Wait, you know how to count, right? Maybe you won't be that useless after all.
-x-
After a series of interviews, Lori has finished choosing the jobs. By now the morning storm has arrived leaving a shimmer of pitter patter on the hotel rooftops.
Lori: Thank you for your time and patience Mallrats, to reiterate everything, here's what each of you are:
She commences by reading a list:
Amber: Forager, water collection
Darryl: Water collecting, odd jobs
Ebony: Cleaner
Ellie: Gardener/ Veggie Patch Maintenance, taking care of farm animals
Gel: Charm's personal assistant
Jack: Trader - seller
Jay: Firewood collection
Lex: Trader- transportation, fisher
Lottie: Messenger, odd jobs e.g. cleaning
May: Gardener/ Veggie Patch Maintenance, food gatherer
Noah: Trader – transportation, fisher
Ram: Cleaner
Ruby: Cooking
Salene: Cooking, taking care of kids e.g. Brady, Bray etc.
Sammy: Trader - seller
Sasha: Gardener- veggie patch, food gatherer
Slade: Firewood collection
Trudy: Forager, water collection
If anyone's a forgetful fool, I've got the exact list taped on the reception desk so you'll all know what exactly you're doing and when exactly and how often you're doing it!
Amber: When will we be starting?
Lori: How about now?
Trudy: Hey, but it's raining.
Lori [annoyed]: Come on! A little rain won't hurt.
The Mallrats stand there like statues, causing Lori to almost chuckle.
Lori: Oh alright, one hour to get ready!
Lori grabs an umbrella and starts smirking as she and the Islanders begin to leave.
-x-
Once Lori and her tribe have left, Jack and Ellie are sitting in a table waiting for the time to pass.
Jack: The least she could've done was choose a job actually suited. I mean Sammy told me she chose him to be with me as a trader based on the colour of our hair.
Ellie: Yea what a waste of talent anyway. I honestly despise that Lori. Jack could totally turn this place around with that magnificent brain of his.
Jack: We-well there's no computers here or other such technologies but I could surely whip up some more traditional technologies which could help.
Ram walks past.
Ram: It's more of a waste of a talent for a genius like me! Wasted talents to be pathetic cleaners, tell me what kind of disease has the world gotten into?
Trudy who is sitting on a nearby table with Brady overhears the conversation.
Trudy: You know what, I think I do understand Lori's intentions. If people like you got the job they wanted to, they'd just ruin this place.
-x-
It is afternoon. May and Sasha are working together picking weeds off the garden. Thankfully for them, the rain has stopped. Suddenly, Sasha chucks a weed at May's hair. May starts laughing as she grabs a whole bunch of weeds and chucks it at Sasha's laughing face. This ignites a playful weed chucking (and chuckling) battle between the two.
On the other side, Ellie is picking weeds. She is thinking of Jack back at the hotel piling the stock and organising for tomorrow's day at the markets.
Ellie: Quit it, you two! I want to get this done and over.
May: Come on, Ellie, we were just having a bit of fun.
Ellie: Well sorry for being a spoil sport but we've got a ton of tasks left to do and we've not even finished this simple weeding task. Do you want to stay here till night?
Sasha: Ellie, how about May and I finish off the weeds while you start with the other tasks. If there's any other tasks left over, I'd happily finish them off.
Ellie: Fine. I'll move onto the veggie patch, but you guys better hurry.
Ellie leaves.
May: Glad she's gone. But are you sure you'd want to do extra work? Gardening isn't exactly the most fun thing to do.
Sasha smiles mischievously.
Sasha: Oh, I can make it fun. Beside, what does it matter; I get to spend more time with you, May!
They both laugh.
May: Well, I'm not prepared to stay all day weeding. So you'll just have to camp outside and finish it off.
Sasha: Don't be a spoil sport like Ellie, May. I've been around places and I assure you gardening is much more fun than trying to catch a half-insane donkey or trying to escape from not-so-friendly slave traders.
May: Heh, it's like you've been everywhere. And I thought I've been around. I bet you've got so many good stories to tell.
Sasha [looking proud]: A few.
May smiles. There is a pause.
May: Don't you ever get lonely? Travelling everywhere by yourself, with no one to share your experiences with?
Sasha's face changes to a more serious expression.
Sasha [weakly]: I'm always around someone or some people.
May: Then what happens?
Sasha: I leave, they go on with their lives and I meet new people, or in this case meet old and new friends and you.
May: So wait, no-one has travelled with you for long?
Sasha shakes his head. There is another pause.
Sasha: Come on, let's finish off these weeds.
-x-
Meanwhile in another island it is night-time…KC and Alice are still stuck in the cage.
KC [whispers]: Wake up Alice, I think it's happening again!
Alice: Oh, not again. Who's it this time?
KC: They got those two little girls and that boy. I heard them screaming while they were getting tied up.
Alice: Poor souls. KC, we could just be practically counting our days… we could be next.
Suddenly somebody emerges from a distance, their sinister feet clambering those footsteps in perfect rhythm to the thumping hearts of the two forgotten Mallrats. Startled, they both know they cannot escape.
And the truth digs deep...
Besides there was not much they could do anyway. Before Alice and KC can respond, a large black cloth sweeps over and engulfs them.
Darkness.