Morpheus' Curse...
...or...
The Chapter Mel Wrote Nearly Half Of...
The song is reaching its final note. And the titles just get more and more obscure. Yeah, Mel surprised me by writing almost half of this chapter.
Forest...
The camera flickered on. A small line of static slowly moved down the screen as a hand fiddled around in front of it.
"Thank God it still works..."
The voice was scratchy for a moment. Everything cleared up after a few seconds and a dark setting came into a clear view. The dark-haired teen sat down on a log. He put his fingertips together, nervously.
"I've been threatened... all my life."
He sighed.
"But... I could shake 'em off. Knives I could dodge. Guns I could avoid. People I could shun."
He stood up and began to pace. Finally, he stopped in front of the camera.
"But then I got stranded here! On this stupid island. Shunning people... was kicked to the curb. I opened up. I got to know them. And they know me a little, too."
He looked at the camera directly.
"Now... I'm facing a new threat. And it's not exactly one I can ignore. I have family now. Melissa, Daley, Nathan, Lex. They're my family."
Gritting his teeth, the boy appeared to be forcing back tears.
"I can't... I can't even bear the thought of losing them..."
Sighing, he looked to the side.
"So... for now, I'll go with Abby's threat. I hate every second of it. I sense her eyes on the back of my head. I feel her breath on the back of my neck. I hear her voice in my head. It won't go away... I'm getting paranoid... This waking nightmare..."
The haunted eyes looked at the emotionless eye of the camera. Neither blinked for a long time, before Jackson closed his eyes in a solemn manner, before shutting off the camera.
Fireside...
In contrast to the tension of yesterday breakfast was noisy and jovial. There was an abundance of light chatter and laughter as Eric cracked a few jokes. To most of the group, everything seemed fine. Abby and Jackson stayed quiet, but this went unnoticed, as neither was known to be very talkative anyway.
Towards the end of the meal Lex announced he had something to show everyone. Nathan suggested he get it now and Lex scampered off looking like an outgoing kindergarten kid at show and tell time.
He returned and held the object up for everyone to see.
"What is it? It looks like the top a flashlight" Taylor asked.
"You're close," Lex said, "It's a signal light. I have rigged it to blink. We can charge it during the day and set it up each night to trigger passing ships while we're asleep."
"Lex that's a great idea," Melissa said smiling.
Lex beamed and took his seat.
"Thanks. I just hope it works."
Following Lex's little presentation, Daley stood and took on leadership mode once again. "For today's chores, the plane's still coated with dry leaves, so that's good," Nathan nodded in agreement, and Daley continued.
"Jackson and Lex, collect fruit and give us a rough estimate of how much we have left out there. We need to keep watching our supply."
"Melissa and Jory collect and boil water. That will allow one of you to keep an eye on Ian." Jory shot Daley a smile of thanks for understanding.
"Abby and Eric if you want you're welcome to hunt, anyone who does not want to eat it will have fruit. Meanwhile Taylor, Nathan, and I will set up the light Lex made." Lex came forward and handed her his latest invention. When it was clear everyone knew their assignment they dispersed.
Forest...
Lex picked up the discarded fruit easily, as he chattered away on some topic or another, of which Jackson had paid little interest to. Jackson caught his name and looked up.
"Uh... yeah, sure," Jackson said casually.
"I just asked if you believed in dinosaurs," the younger boy sighed, "ignored again" he muttered.
Jackson felt a small uncharacteristic moment of remorse. He wondered when Lex's opinion had started to mean so much. "Sorry," he said earnestly.
"It's okay I am used to it. Just-" Lex cut himself off, watching Jackson's eyes dart back and forth. "what are?"
"Shh" Jackson hissed. They stayed tense for a moment. Then Jackson visibly relaxed, exhaling. "Now what were you saying?"
"I was just wondering what's wrong. You seem on edge."
"It's nothing. Let's just keep moving," They broke out in a short sprint, and Lex had trouble keeping up with him.
"Jackson…slow…down," Lex pleaded between pants. But just as Jackson started to oblige he saw a shadow of Abby up ahead, just to his left. He heard her voice ringing in his ears as if she were calling him.
Don't slip up. I am always watching you.
Turning sharply to his right, Jackson pressed himself up against a tree and waited. Her voice continued echoing
Take my secrets from me, I'll take your family from you. You'll be alone again.
Meanwhile, Lex caught up with Jackson's frantic pace. The leaves under his feet crunched, and Jackson stiffened, collecting a stick to defend himself.
Lex arrived on the other side of the tree and Jackson jumped out in front of him, stick poised.
"It's Lex!" The small boy cried, terrified.
Jackson drops the stick immediately, "Oh. It's just you."
"Who else would it be? Wait. Don't answer that. Let's just get back to camp."
"Yeah. Back to camp. Right." And they walked in an uneasy silence, Jackson tensing at every noise, like a child after a first "scary" movie. Lex took note of it all, but asked no more questions.
Fireside...
Melissa felt as if she were dragging the jugs the last few feet. Slightly winded, she finally allowed herself to collapse into the soft sand. "I don't think I'm cut out for this."
Ian jumped as he experienced a fresh stab of pain. "It's your fourth trip today," he said through gritted teeth.
"And your last, so don't be so hard on yourself," Jory added with a smile.
"Thanks, guys," Melissa looked over the pair and their adoration for each other warmed her. She loved the way they were, each gazing gently into the others' eyes. It felt so magical, just like a good romance novel.
She wondered if she and Jackson would ever be that at ease with each other. They would someday, she hoped. She shook head to clear her thoughts and tossed Jory a water bottle.
Jory immediately knelt next to Ian and carefully poured some into his mouth, then straightened up and took a drag for herself.
"Thanks."
"Don't mention it."
Melissa smiled again. Beauty in the horror. That's what they were.
Forest...
The hunters crept, silently, though the woods. Very few leaves crunched beneath their feet, as they made sure to step on their tip-toes, looking about carefully. Eric's eyes darted about almost erratically, while Abby's slowly scanned the area. They stepped along, each bearing a spear.
"There," Eric hissed, pointing.
Abby looked where he pointed and saw the pig. It was a somewhat small pig, but she knew it would be fine. She licked her teeth, an evil grin on her face. Eric looked at her, his brow raised. She nodded, approvingly, and he smirked.
Eric and Abby advanced towards the pig, slowly. They held gripped their spears tightly. The pig sniffed at a tree. Abby tapped Eric's shoulder. The cue. The spear flew. It stabbed the pig in the hind leg and it squealed in pain, falling on its side, helpless.
Abby walked over to it, slowly. Blood gushed from the pig's wound and it continued yowling. She stared down at the beast, snorting.
"Weakling."
The spear went through its head, and the squealing stopped. Abby looked over at Eric, who seemed to be breathing heavy. She sighed, as he shook himself.
"A-Abby... l-let's go..."
Abby rolled her eyes.
"Don't puss out on me, Eric," Abby snapped.
Eric looked towards her, his nostrils flaring. He had been through too much to suffer that indignity.
"What was that, Abby?" he growled.
"You heard me, Eric."
Eric started towards Abby, angrily. She smirked. Eric was the right choice after all. Get him a bit more stable in his survival instinct and he'd be the perfect father.
"Don't think I won't hit you cuz you're a girl," he hissed.
"Don't think I wouldn't like that."
"Yeah."
Eric paused after a moment.
"..............Wait. What?"
Abby snorted, "Try not to be so predictable in the future. In the meantime, let's get this back to camp."
Eric arched a brow, but didn't question it any further. With a sigh, he picked the spear up, pulling it out of the pig with relative ease. The other came out with a little more difficult. He tossed both sticks to Abby, who inspected them for a moment. She held one end of each up, then looked at Eric.
"Get some vines. Tie its legs to both sticks. That'll make it easier for both of us to carry it," Abby said.
Eric nodded and started on the task.
Beach...
Setting up the light had proved to be a longer task than the three had anticipated. Earlier on after brief discussion it was determined that a new pole was necessary for greatest visibility. Daley scouted for a suitable plank while Nathan started the hole.
"Found one," Daley called as she dragged the sizable branch into view. Walking backwards and slightly hunched over, 'the view' was enough of a distraction for …
"Nathan, you're ruining the hole."
That.
Nathan regained his composure, blushing as he started to undo the damage. "Sorry," he mumbled sheepishly.
"It's okay, lover boy," Taylor mocked. Though there was a difference to this snipe; it was less cruel more simply bemused.
"Okay guys I think I got it deep enough." Nathan declared setting down his shovel.
"Only one way to know for sure," replied Daley.
She carefully slid one end of the branch into position near the hole, and on three Nathan hoisted the opposite end, where it thudded into place.
Taylor dropped the vine she was working on and shoveled in the excess dirt around the pole.
"Whoa, Taylor," Daley said, "No offense, but I am shocked we didn't have to ask."
If Taylor's action was cause for amazement, her words were even more so. She looked up and smiled, "death kind of changes your priorities, you know?"
Nathan then took to steadying the pole. For a moment, Daley looked thoughtful.
"Taylor, go get water, the wet sand will act as fake cement until Lex can devise something better."
The blond nodded and rushed off.
"Nathan, I kinda wanna know... how should we go about things when we get back home?"
"What? Us dating?" Nathan asked.
"Yeah... I mean, my parents said they're not encouraging me going on dates. In fact, they discourage it. Last time I tried dating, they looked for excuses to ground me."
"Oh my... Well, the only thing I can think of right now is for you to avoid your parents-"
"If I do that, they'll ground me because I haven't spent that much time with me. Tried that."
Nathan seemed deep in thought, "Well, I suppose we'll just have to deal with that as it comes. Maybe their opinion changed? I mean, we've been gone for a month. Maybe they'll realize how much their girl is grown. And, hey, if they see that we've been on this island for that long, and haven't done anything with... risks... they might trust us. And maybe... just maybe... They'll like me."
Nathan stroked his chin, smiling lightly, "I like this train of thought. I'm going to stick with it."
Daley chuckled, before seeing that the pole was starting to shift. She gripped it tightly.
"Keep it steady, Nathan," she warned.
"Mind helping me out?" he asked.
"Can't take Taylor too long, I suppose."
They held the pole, then, together, each lost in fantasies of understanding parents and nice dates.
Fireside...
"So, Jackson, what's up?" Nathan asked.
"Huh? Oh... dull day."
"I'll say. You've barely said two words. It's almost like you've switched back to how you were back on the first day or so," Nathan replied.
Jackson shrugged. It had been a while since he felt like speaking. Lex was fine, but he couldn't tell the boy. Or... perhaps he could. He looked up to see Abby standing at the edge of the forest. Jackson's breath caught in his throat. She looked at him with her eyebrows raised. Eric stepped out of the clearing a moment later, carrying the small pig. Jackson forced himself to look away and saw Taylor, looking deeply agitated.
Melissa scooted closer to Jackson, and the black-haired boy pushed his hands through his hair in a restless manner.
"You alright?" Melissa asked.
"Probably tired, eh? I saw you walking back from the woods, when I woke up," Nathan said.
Jackson silently cursed Nathan and all of his family. As if his position wasn't suspicious enough if Abby chose to tell everyone. His whole figure began to shake for a moment, before he calmed himself. Eric and Abby carried the pig over to the fire, where they proceeded to prepare.
"Want any?" Abby asked, looking at him, slyly, "You could probably use some other meat in your diet, besides all the... fish."
Some caught the disturbing innuendo, through the strange vocalization in her voice. There's always a tone in someone's voice when they're trying to express something specific, and Abby's voice sounded like it came straight from the gutter. Lex snorted in surprise, his eyes wide. Nathan immediately began rubbing his temples, trying not to imagine Jackson and Melissa alone. Daley groaned in disgust. Taylor caught Abby's strange facial expression and something else clicked in the girl's head. There was no way, though. Melissa blushed and looked away, angrily.
"Fuck off, Abby," Jackson snapped, the primal anger in his eyes.
"Mmm... you'd know plenty about that, now, wouldn't you?"
Jackson stood up and walked off, growling. Daley turned to the grinning girl.
"Abby... I'll say this once. Knock it off."
Abby shrugged with a smirk, before she turned back to the pig. She and Eric continued preparing it. The others trickled away, quickly, and it was just the two inmates of the insane asylum, delighted in their feast with all the jailers looking the other way, aside from the unwavering sea, the prisoner of them all.
In their mind, though, the prison was a world in which they could flourish.
Forest...
Lex sat down uncomfortably next to Jackson. He didn't want to pry, both out of a need to avoid alienating Jackson, and out of a fear he would not like the answer. Still it had been over an hour since lunch and frankly Lex was learning not to want anyone alone for too long.
When it became clear Jackson was perfectly comfortable continuing his schizophrenic scan of his surroundings for entirety, Lex spoke up.
"What's going on?"
"Nothing."
"Then what happened earlier. And don't say nothing. You practically attacked me."
The older boy opened his mouth and shut it. He wrestled with his own conscience. Lying would be so easy. He could say he's just gearing up for Eric. Lex knows Eric's a threat. And living with a murder was enough to drive anyone over the edge.
Still he wanted to tell Lex the truth. He knew he could trust the younger boy. Besides he had to get it out before she did more damage.
"It's driving me insane," Jackson's own voice startled him and he jumped at the sound.
"What is?" Lex asked gently.
"Keeping such a secret would tear at anyone, Jackson."
Abby's voice preceded her as she stepped into the clearing.
"This island. I have to get off this island. I have to get away."
Jackson stood and Abby gave a twisted smile.
Abby's smile gave way to menacing laughter and the three parted ways, the empty, hollow sound ringing in their ears.
Tent Area...
Taylor walked by the fire pit and saw Eric sitting lazily on the log. She stopped in her tracks and looked at him. Abby was nowhere around, strangely.
"Eric...?"
"Yeah, Tay?"
"You... okay?"
He sighed. Well, Taylor was still alright, surely. Sure, she had abandoned him, but maybe he was the one at fault. Everything had gone wrong, since then. Eric looked to the side to see a familiar face. Black, flowing hair, a toga, and vines bedecked his form.
"Shouldn't worry, boy. She reminds me of the Bacchanals when they're not tearing things apart. Talk to her. It'll be good for you."
Eric looked towards Taylor, "A lot's wrong."
Taylor sat down, not expecting this.
"I just... I just hated this group so much. I was a loaf, sure, but I doubt I deserved as much as I got. Then, I make a suggestion, and everyone stomps it. It was the spur of the moment. I wanted to get away. You chose not to go... but I went, anyways... Everything went wrong... Now, I don't know up from down. Every thing's crazy. Blackness consumes me. I've lost you. And I think I've lost hope."
He looked towards the sea. Taylor scooted closer to him.
"Eric... I'm sorry for ever leading you on. I'm... dating someone already. Allyson."
Eric looked at her, sadly, "I know."
Taylor looked at him with her head tilted to the side, "You did?"
"Taylor... you two were inseparable. You were always at each other's houses. You always had this look in your eyes when you looked at each other. And, while you were secretive about it, you can't hide everything. I saw you two kiss."
"Then...?"
"I still like you, Taylor. And I like Abby. But at this point, it could be the insanity talking. I don't know what to do anymore. Where to go. Who to turn to. Whatever happens, happens, and I have, honestly, no control over it. Not anymore."
Taylor lightly shoved him.
"That's not true, Eric. No one's fate is written in stone. Don't give up hope... you can't. Look... I love Allyson. And I could never give her up. I won't. But... I couldn't help it. I hate myself for it. I... kind of like you. I won't go out with you. I can't. But know this... not everyone hates you. So, don't give up on life. If you died... I don't want to think about it."
The man chuckled, "Too true. You have choices, Eric. I can't yet tell you those choices, but your fate is not to die here. Don't wrestle with the Fates. They're vindictive when they want to be... and they control everything, after all."
Eric sighed, looking down, "I suppose you're right. I won't die here."
Taylor and the man smiled.
"Good."
She kissed him on the forehead, "Don't tell Allyson, alright? It's the only kiss you'll get from me."
Eric nodded, "Don't worry. I want you two to be happy... I like it when my friends are happy. I won't ruin it."
Taylor nodded, "Thank you..."
"No," Eric said, "Thank you. You've reminded me... that I can't keep giving up..."
Taylor smiled, standing up, "See ya, Eric. I've gotta grab some water... for the signal light."
Eric nodded, "alright then."
Taylor got the bucket and ran back towards the others. Eric sighed.
"What'd I tell ya? Good for the soul, a girl is. Or guy. Either one's nice," the man said.
"Who are you?"
The man laughed, "Me? I'm just a largely forgotten party-lover who likes ."
Eric looked at him, strangely.
"Well, I can't hang around for too long. Don't worry. This is hardly my last visit."
The man snapped his fingers. The vines further wrapped around him until he was obscured from view. When the vines fell, the man was no longer there. Eric sighed and looked over at the tents.
Video Diaries...
"Crazy day huh?" He paused for a moment as if expecting the camera to answer, then started up again. "Well not as bad as yesterday, or the day before, or the storm. Okay so maybe this day is more normal than I thought or not normal at all. I don't know." He scooted in closer, before saying "But, I did take a piece of this." He held the cooked pork up for the camera to see before cramming in his mouth. "I said it was above my principles to kill one, not eat it.
"Things seem to be going okay. The runt is working on rescue, Daley's less of a bitch, Melissa hasn't had a meltdown in a while." Her nose scrunched as she settled on a new memory, "except for that poor pig, today was near perfect. Especially that moment with Eric." She gazed dreamy-eyed at the screen. "I am just glad he understands. He's not as bad as everyone says, he's really not."
He looked at the camera, and took a deep breath out before he began. "I haven't told anymore yet, but I am getting scared. Eric's a confirmed murder, Abby's gone feral, and now something up with Jackson. I hope that light works and fast."
Campfire...
Jackson, ready for bed, stretched wide. He walked close to the water, looking out over the sea.
"Will this nightmare... ever end...?"
He looked down, sighing. No. It wouldn't. He knew about living in waking nightmares. It would take something amazing, some kind of miracle... to fix this. He gritted his teeth.
Don't even dare to escape from my grip, or my staff will come down on your skull with all the vengeance of a pissed off monarch. You will not survive.
Keeping such a secret would tear at anyone, Jackson.
Take my secret from me, and I'll take your family from you.
Don't give up, boy.
Jackson was surprised. Amidst all of the threats from Abby, a different voice crept into his head. Don't... give up? He curled his hands up into a fist, his nostrils flaring. What was that about? He punched the air, furiously.
"Hey, Jackson..."
Jackson turned around to see Melissa standing there. He blinked.
"Wh-what's up?" he asked, sounding confident, despite the stutter.
"You've been kind of... distant, today. Quieter than ever. To be honest, Jackson... you're kind of scaring me. I mean, yesterday, you had that fight with Eric. Now, you're retreating from us... Is there something you're not telling us?" Melissa asked.
See that? Your secrets are hurting the ones you love. Far more than what Abby could ever do on her own...
Jackson blinked, hearing the voice's suggestion creeping up in his head. He wondered if it was his turn to go insane now.
Nah. There's enough crazies in this story.
Sighing, Jackson looked at Melissa, who was looking at him, nervously. He hugged her tightly, pressing her head against his chest. Melissa enjoyed the warmth, distracted from her troubles. Jackson's voice whispered gently in her ear.
"There's been something up. I'll be sure to deal with it, soon. You'll probably find out. But there's a threat going on. Don't worry. I'll ask for your help, when the time comes."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
They stayed there, swaying lightly, as the moon began to rise. Finally, Jackson let go, smiling down at her. He kissed her forehead, and she returned a peck on the cheek. It was nice, how almost casual they were about it.
"Go on. I'll stay out here a little while longer," Jackson said.
Melissa nodded and walked off to the tents. Jackson turned around and looked at the ocean, reflecting the stars.
"Hey, uh, Jackson?"
He turned around and saw Melissa, holding up a large, rolled up, set of vines, "Where did these come from? I don't even think I've seen anything like this on the island."
Jackson arched a brow, "Not sure. Ask Lex about it."
Melissa nodded, set down the vines, and walked over to her tent.
Jackson shook his head, looking out towards the water again. He stayed there for a few minutes, until he too went off to sleep, expecting more nightmares.
End of Chapter Eleven