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While Mulder, Skinner and Follmer were trying to erect a small building, using whatever scraps and leaves they could find on and beyond the beach, Scully and Monica were sitting beneath a palm tree. The men were slaving away in the sun's merciless heat. They didn't like to approach the jungle after sunset unless it was absolutely necessary. Whatever was waiting for them did not feel eager to show its true form. They didn't know what they were being afraid of – their sixth sense told them to be careful and it takes a stubborn soul to ignore such a wise and powerful warning.
Monica and Scully were lost in thoughts. Both women were having trying to understand why John Doggett had suddenly disappeared, not just out of sight but also out of their hearts. Was he just playing around? Had it been Barbara all that time? Were they simply too blinded by love to notice? But John Doggett seemed to like them both. And yet, he didn't look like the kind of guy who enjoyed and savoured to get a woman's attention only to dump her like a dirty old rag afterwards. No, he wasn't like that. He was honest, warm, loving. All gone, out of reach. (oh! How they longed to be able to hold him at night, to be held and hugged and kissed by him!) Nothing you can do about that, just accept what you have lost now belongs to someone else.
'Hey, uhm, ladies! If you don't mind, we'd sure appreciate some help, y'know!' Mulder's voice interrupted the steady flow of thoughts that kept Monica and Scully silent. They sighed and got up.
'You forgot to say the magic word' Scully said dryly.
'Oh, right' Mulder paused. 'Ehm, please?'
'That's better!' Monica grinned.
'What can we do, gentlemen?' Scully asked as they approached.
'Whatever you please' Skinner replied. He pointed at the stack of wood and leaves on the beach.
'And you're sure you can turn this, errr, stuff into a.. what?' Monica looked slightly puzzled.
'A building, Agent Reyes.' Skinner sighed at that much ignorance.
Monica could sense the hostility that was directed toward her and her mouth tightened into a thin line. She shook her head and looked past Skinner, showing that his comment hadn't inflicted any damage.
'Fine' she mumbled. I'll be off for a walk. Since you're all busy ignoring me this is probably the best thing I can do.'
And so she turned and walked towards the jungle, ignoring the small voice inside of her head that screamed to stay on the beach, where she'd be safe. She couldn't obey, for she had always been a stubborn person. And the one thing she hated more than being physically hurt was being reduced to a worthless nonentity.
'Monica, wait! Where are you going?' Brad yelled but she pretended not to have heard him and walked on steadily. A tear ran down her cheek – it created a glistening trail on her skin and dissolved the moment it hit the sand.
The air was thick and moist. It felt as if every trace of oxygen had been sucked out of it. Monica had to slow her pace. Her lungs were burning already, so dense was the foggy air that hovered through the exotic landscape around her. Trees reached up to the sky and created a green roof through which scarce rays shone down on the undergrowth. Monica liked this place, even though her sixth sense told her it was dangerous out here. Soon, however, she would realize why this voice kept insisting that she should rejoin the others on the beach.
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Some fifteen miles north of where Monica entered the jungle, John and Barbara were following what appeared to be a path.
'John, this path couldn't have been made by animals. It's definitely a sign that we aren't the only humans on this island.'
Barbara's voice sounded excited. She hoped that the path would lead them to these people, and she was certain that they could help them find the way back to the beach. But then she wondered why anyone would like to stay here.
This island isn't the best home on Earth. It feels wrong to make this your permanent home. Even if you couldn't swim any further, you shouldn't stay here longer than necessary, you should try to find a way out of here as soon as possible.
They had to walk slow and the lack of oxygen in the air forced to take a break every ten minutes. They didn't know whether this was such a good idea. Then again, neither Barbara nor John felt like doubting the instinct that urged them to trust the path that led through the dark jungle.
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Monica's eyes grew big and her mouth slowly opened. She held a hand in front of it when a loud gasp escaped. Her breath stalled and then grew faster and shallower.
A few steps further, propped up against the root of a tree, lay a skeleton. It wasn't human, that much was sure. At first sight, this appeared to be the remains of a deer. Monica approached the bones with care. She couldn't tell whether this was some wicked illusion or reality. In the middle of the ribcage was a big hole. It was too big to be caused by a bullet, so whoever (or whatever?) killed this poor animal had stabbed it. But how can you stab right through the ribs like this? No ordinary knife is that sharp – and no ordinary human (or animal?) has that much power. No, it couldn't have been a bear, either. Bears don't live in a jungle, do they? Monica wasn't sure anymore. This island had its secrets, who knows what weird creatures it harboured. For all she knew, the predator who killed this deer was in need of food. There were no visible signs of teeth on the bones, though. Monica knew that most predators liked to chew on the bones of their prey and it seemed reasonable to assume that in order to get all the meat off, you would eventually bite on the bones. Another theory began to take shape. Perhaps this creature was not killed to still a raging hunger. Had it been self-defence? But deer don't attack, unless they are being attacked, right?
Something stirred in the bushes behind her. Monica turned her head towards the sound and then ran back to the beach without looking back.
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The path swirled up to a plain of high grass that was swaying to and fro as the soft gale passed over it. The clouds at the horizon were getting darker – a sure sign of a storm that would soon cover the island in rain and thunder. John and Barbare stood still, observing the landscape that revealed itself tot hem. They had left the jungle behind – but the path kept on going and so there was no time to consider another option. Curiosity got the best of them and they moved on, unaware of the presence of another creature. It was quietly waiting on the outskirts of the jungle. The moment John and Barbara walked on, it got up and followed them. It moved stealthily and swiftly.
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Okay, sorry for the delay. Next time I'll write more. way more. I already have a storyline worked out for the fifth chapter, which is a good thing.
Next week the Easter break begins. Maybe I'll be able to update very soon, we'll see.