Chapter 20

Minatory- [min-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] Menacing; threatening.

Angela woke up first and yawned softly. Stretching lithely like a cat, she nearly knocked her arm into the hut wall behind her. The morning sun rays filtered in through the cracks of the hut and vaguely she wondered if today would be the day of their rescue. Not wishing to entertain such hopes, she stood up shakily and frowned. After good night's rest, usually she felt full of vigor and ready to approach the day with a positive attitude. But today was different and she understood immediately what was happening. Malnourishment mixed with dehydration was beginning to take its toll on her body. Looking down at her sleeping friend, Bella, she could only imagine how much worse her friend happened to be.

Rising from her engraved spot in the sand, she brushed off the excess and walked to the entryway of the hut. Her peripheral caught movement and she found her eyes drawn to the neighboring hut. Surprise colored her face as she noticed that Jessica and Lauren were up and walking towards the forest. "Hey!" she called out.

The girls in question froze in their place before swiveling their heads around in shock. "What do you want?" Lauren asked after a beat.

Angela walked over to where they were standing and frowned. "Where are you going?"

"Why do you—

"The bathroom." Jessica interjected before Lauren could make a snappy retort.

Angela nodded in understanding. "Okay. Well if you see any coconuts or fruits not berry related, will you pick them and bring them back here?"

Lauren rolled her eyes and Jessica shrugged. "Whatever." Then before another word could be spoken, the two snooty girls turned on their heels and left Angela standing there in discontent.

Once they were a good distance away, they turned down the familiar path towards the spring. In order to reach the path, they had to pass by the old banana tree that was sans fruit. Walking down the slight trail, not too long later they entered a small clearing the spring became visible. Beauty in its finest, even the girls could appreciate this miracle. In the very center of the clearing sat a small crystal shimmering pond that branched off to one side with flowing water that led to the ocean a few yards down. What kept the pond in motion of constant flowing water would be the mini waterfall behind it encroached with many stones to build its height to a possible fifteen feet. The trees surrounding the pond were pale greens and few sunny yellows most bore fruits that the two girls were going to commence with consuming much after a needed drink. The waterfall in itself was a miracle on the island. The water itself came from within the earth and sprung from the cracks in the ground at the peak of the waterfall. The never ending flow of water was so pure that it even tasted like heaven. Although, to such dry and parched throats, anything would taste wonderfully delicious.

Jessica made her way around to the side of the waterfall and cupped her hands before outstretching it and capturing some of the fast-pouring water. Leaning down her head, she drank deeply and released a pleased sigh when she'd gotten her fill. "Oh it's so cool and refreshing." She murmured in delight.

Lauren giggled before walking over to one of the mango trees and knocking down a couple with a nearby branch. Picking them up she jogged over to where Jessica was sitting beside the waterfall in the luscious grass and took a seat beside her friend. Jessica claimed one of the mangoes and soon they were feasting heartily. "Oh it's so sweet." Lauren murmured appreciatively.

"I know." Jessica replied in happiness. "Too bad there isn't much shade here though. We're going to have to head back to that boring beach soon."

Lauren rolled her eyes. "I'm not up for hearing having everyone try to make us work. It's annoying."

Jessica nodded in agreement. "Yeah. But we can't stay here forever or they'll get suspicious. This is our secret place. I want to keep it a secret."

Lauren closed her eyes while leaning against the smooth rocks. "I hope we get rescued soon."

Jessica drew her eyes to the cloudless and sunny sky above. "Me too." She whispered softly.

~S.O.S~

Jacob stared down in horror at the snake curled into a tight spiral against the bottom of Felix's foot. The colors of the serpent is what drew Jacob's attention and made him fear for the life of his new friend. Red, black, yellow, black, repeat. He recalled once being in class and learning about such a snake. As the name of said snake flashed through his mind, coral snake, the fact that it was very venomous is what had the cold tendrils of fear to spike down his spine.

Felix had long since broken out in a cold sweat. As tough as he could be, snakes were his kryptonite. He just couldn't bring himself to get over his aversion to the limbless creature. His hands shaking imperceptibly were gripping the earth beside his body fiercely. "This has to be the most rotten luck I've ever encountered." Felix muttered through clenched teeth.

Jacob laughed half-heartedly. "Don't worry Felix. Somehow we'll get you out of this bind."

Felix snorted his response and continued to clench the small blades of browned grass beside them. "Well, can you come up with a solution quickly? I have to pee." He grumbled tiredly.

Neither of the boys had been able to sleep very well last night and were as drained of energy as the girls on the beach.

"Well, it's asleep right now right? Maybe I should try to pick it up with a stick or something."

Felix sighed. "I don't care what you do. Just don't agitate it and get it off!"

Jacob jumped to his feet and made his way over to a tall tree off to the side. Finding a long branch he picked it up hesitantly before walking back over to Felix. The boy lying down looked over at Jacob before flickering his gaze down to the sleeping serpent curled on his foot. "Please be careful." Felix griped through clenched teeth.

Jacob nodded before his eyes widened in surprise. "Did you just say 'please'?" he asked incredulously.

Felix scowled and ignored the question. "Hurry up!"

Jacob stifled a simper and stood warily a foot away from Felix's foot. Leaning forward, he took the branch and gently coaxed it under the belly of the snake. The snake stirred and Jacob paused while Felix waited with bated breath. When the snake did not move he tried again but even slower. Minutes passed and soon the sun began its ascend into the sky and afternoon was approaching. By this time, Jacob had managed to get the snake halfway off of Felix's leg. Hope began to reign and Felix's lips curled into a small smile. "Maybe I'll survive today." He whispered.

The spell was broken. Jacob made a move he hadn't meant to make and instead of easing the snake off of Felix's leg, the branch dug into the underbelly of the snake and a sudden hiss filled the air as the creature woke up.

~S.O.S~

Angela watched the two girls return from their long trip in the woods looking happy and oddly enough, refreshed. "So did you find anything?" Angela asked, knowing the answer would be no from their empty hands.

"Nope." Lauren stuck out her tongue then continued talking to Jessica about trivial things on their way to the hut.

For once, Angela was very upset with their attitude. Everyone was trying really hard to survive on the island and helping each other would only ensure their survival. But the two selfish girls barely contributed anything to help and it was finally starting to ground on Angela's nerves.

"Hey!" she called out to the pair standing near the entry of the hut.

Jessica stopped mid-sentence and looked up at Angela with a 'what do you want' look on her face.

"The boys," Angela began slowly. "Did you see them in the woods?"

Jessica's brow furrowed in confusion. "No. Are they still out there?"

Angela nodded curtly. "They are. I was going to give them a chance to get back but I don't want this to be another problem like with Bella's absence." Angela sighed and looked towards the woods. "We need them and I'm going to go look for them. Tell the others I'll be back soon."

Angela trotted off towards the forest and entered through a break in the trees. Keeping a light jog, she made her way through the foreboding shrubbery and skirted around trees when necessary. She had no idea where the boys went but followed her instincts and a manmade path she came across. As she made her way through the forest, the sun crawled across the sky like a critter.

~S.O.S~

Jacob jumped back when the snake lashed out towards his hand. Returning to the warmth of Felix's foot, the striped serpent curled back up and hissed angrily in Jacob's direction. Luck was running thin for the pair, but a drop still remained and Jacob was happy for the small miracle. Since Jacob had been the one to wake the snake, it never seemed to grasp that there were two humans. No, its only focus was the tanned boy a foot or two away. Jacob saw how the snake's gaze never strayed from his own and he wanted to keep it this way.

Felix, for the most part, was handling the situation very well. His breathing was shallow and the rest of his body was tensed in an unmoving position. The pallor of his skin was one to question as it was blanched from fright. Eyes clenched shut, Felix hadn't spoken a word since Jacob had begun his task.

"Don't worry Felix." Jacob reassured him with meaningless words at the moment. "It's not as bad as it looks." He huffed when the snake tried to strike him once more. "It doesn't even see you so make sure you stay still."

Felix's closed eye twitched and he opened his mouth slowly. Making sure to not move a single limb on his body, he spoke. "Shut up."

Jacob couldn't help but chuckle lightly at the annoyance laced in Felix's voice. "Not helping?"

"No!"

The snake hissed, capturing both of their attention once more. It flicked its forked pink tongue out and bared its thin fangs to Jacob before leaning back preparing to strike at the stick carrying teen once more. Jacob dodged back upon the serpent's strike and waved the stick furiously.

"Maybe I can lure it away from your foot." Jacob suggested while waving the stick around in the head space of the snake. Swaying like that of a cobra to a pied piper.

"I thought that's what you were already doing." Felix grunted, still unmoving.

Jacob tried his best but the serpent seemed adamant on staying in its spot. "Move snake!"

Felix snorted and opened his eyes slowly. "I really have to go to the bathroom. Why am I thinking about that now?"

Jacob shrugged. Their banter was so casual, but he hoped it eased some of Felix's tightly strung nerves. By now, the sun was directly overhead and the heat was starting to get to them. Felix began to break out in a light sweat and the snake seemed to notice his presence for the first time. Hissing angrily the snake reared back and Felix's head tilted up to lock gazes with the irate creature. "No." the soft whisper escaped Felix's chapped lips before his eyes rounded in fright and the snake plunged forward sinking it's fangs into the soft skin of Felix's stomach. A shriek pierced the air and many of the tropical birds took flight at the sound.

~S.O.S~

Bella batted her eyes open and winced from the bright light filtering in through the cracks of the hut. A dull ache had started all over her limbs the day before and now her muscles all felt warn and tired. The pain in her muscles distracted her briefly of the still healing cut across her torso. Wincing, she sat up shakily and leaned her back against the hut.

"Oh good. You're up." Spoke a feminine voice beside her.

Bella wearily turned her head before slothfully trailing her eyes up to meet Alice's own. She blinked lazily before nodding to show that she had in fact heard the girl.

"So what's exactly wrong with your voice?" Alice asked confused. "It's been bugging me since I um…came to my senses." She muttered the last part. "Why can't you talk?"

Bella brought her left arm up to her throat and clenched her eyes from the exertion of such a movement. She touched the tips of her fingers to her throat before a dry cough wracked her throat and body. For a few moments she hacked and the dryness of her throat irritated her esophagus and a dark liquid spewed from her mouth.

"Oh my gosh! Is that blood?" Alice asked in shock.

Bella wiped the thick liquid from her lips as was unnerved to find that Alice's assumptions were in fact correct. Her blood pooled into her mouth and she spat it out disgustedly.

"What's wrong with you Bella?" Alice whispered.

Bella dropped her hand to the sand and slowly wrote out the word: Water.

Alice read it before her brow furrowed in bemusement. "You must be really thirsty if you're coughing up blood."

Bella nodded slowly before using the hand once more to lift up her shirt enough for Alice to see the wound she had obtained a couple days prior.

"Oh Bella." Alice covered her mouth in horror. "We need to get you help and soon."

Bella nodded shakily before closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep.

A/N: Omg! Two chappies in a row ya'll reviewed like crazy for ^w^ My oh my, does it swell my heart with joy at how much you all seem to be enjoying this story :3 Thank you for keeping me motivated to update-upadate-update! I was sick these last few days, which is why I didn't get a chance to update. But I'm all better now. ^o^