Author's notes: Hey everyone. Here's a new chapter for y'all, sorry about the slight delay, I've had computer issues recently.
Thanks to Gin for beta'ing and also for your great review. In addition, thanks to Angela for your review, I'm pleased you've decided to give the story a chance, despite your previous hesitation, and I'm pleased we could discuss the issues you had with the story so far.
Chapter Four
The sky was darkening, and it was just nearing nightfall. Jeanie was barely upright, feeling completely exhausted from walking half way across the jungle in one day. Their group climbed over the last of a small collection of hills, and Jeanie gasped.
Just beyond them, almost blending in with the horizon stood the Temple. It had been years since she'd visited here, yet the ruins still looked the same. Happy memories flooded back to Jeanie and she broke away from the group.
Letting her copper hair stream freely behind her, Jeanie ran towards the Temple, feeling elated to be back somewhere so familiar and calming to her.
Gratefully, she flung the heavy backpack she'd been carrying all day to the ground and quickly climbed one of the two tall tress that flanked the Temple's entrance. Her heart was rushing with excitement and she began to giggle.
Walking quickly in Jeanie's wake, Richard too rushed to the Temple, knowing why the ancient building had caused such a reaction in her. His heart and worries about Ben lifted a little to see her scrambling up the tree and he was reminded of how often she'd done that as a teenager.
For the first time in years, he let himself go too and allowed his backpack to fall to the ground. Then, placing his foot on a knot in the trunk, Richard climbed up the tree to join Jeanie where she was perched on a high branch, looking intently at something inscribed on the bark.
She was lightly stroking carvings in the bark, that read 'Jeanie loves Richard', and he smiled when he saw what she was looking at and pushed her fringe off her forehead as he lightly brushed her lips with his own.
Jeanie giggled against the kiss, before allowing herself to be over taken by the heat swelling between them. As the couple embraced, the remaining members of the group slowly approached the Temple entrance.
Realizing that they now had an audience, Jeanie and Richard broke apart, he gracefully slid down from the tree, and she swung from the branch like the Tomboy she'd always been.
"How about we set up camp here for tonight, and explore the Temple tomorrow when we have more light," Richard suggested to the group.
Everyone uttered their agreeance, and began to unpack and set up.
"I'll go collect some firewood," Jeanie called, before heading off to where there was a burst of denser growing trees.
She kicked her way through the fallen branches and dried leaves, whilst trying to find some good kindling for their fire. She felt so relaxed and happy to be back out in the jungle surrounding the Temple. In her late teens, Jeanie had spent a lot of time here with Richard, finally getting answers to the questions she'd longed to know and learning some of the Island's mysteries.
Flashback
The sun was high in the sky on a beautiful summer's day, and Jeanie felt the glorious weather reflected her mood and state of mind. Since the first time she'd been brought to the Island, Jeanie felt truly happy and excited.
Today, Richard had promised to surprise Jeanie with something she'd always wanted and they were on the way to somewhere special now, for him to reveal everything to her.
It had been almost two years since they'd originally met and Jeanie was fast approaching her seventeenth birthday. Richard felt that it was now time she knew the truth, so that she had enough time to make her decision before the 'day of reckoning' came.
Jeanie could barely contain her excitement, as this was something she'd been longing for since she was fifteen. She had always though that Richard was just fobbing her off to make her happy and that he wouldn't really answer her questions. She hadn't dared believe it was true when he'd announced to her that morning that it was now time everything was explained to her.
Her auburn hair swung like a fiery veil behind her, as they hiked over the small mounds of jade green grass. To their left was a large, but inviting thicket of tree that lent their fresh scent to the air. Wild bird cried over head.
After hours of walking, they were finally nearing their location and Richard began to slow his pace.
"We're almost here, Jeanie,' he informed, as they climbed over the last embankment.
Jeanie looked from where she'd been following a trail of strange looking spiders scurry across the ground. Her eyes scanned the horizon, and her mouth fell open when she saw what was before her.
Just a few feet away from her stood a tall, ancient, marble temple. It was similar to the Greek style ones she'd seen in history books, with the high pillars and slanting roof. However, the white stones were faded and overgrown with vines, making it look as though it had been standing unused for centuries. Flaking either side of the temple's entrance was two of the tallest Kapok trees she'd ever seen.
'Oh my God,' Jeanie gasped in amazement, as she rushed forwards. 'What is this place?'
'This, Jeanie, is the Temple,' Richard said, as if that were enough of an explanation, as he jogged to keep up with her.
Jeanie was through the crumbling marble doorway before Richard could stop her, and he just caught a streak of copper catching the sun light to know what direction she'd disappeared in. Her footsteps echoed as she ran through the high stone entranceway, but then they came to an abrupt stop.
She fell still and silent, as she saw a group of people gathered in the antechamber before her. Jeanie turned, looking for Richard, hoping for an explanation.
'Who are these people?' she asked, her voice quivering with fear and excitement.
'These are my people, the rest of Dharma's so called Hostiles,' he replied in the same quiet tone.
Jeanie looked around, carefully eyeing the group of people, that appeared to be gathered around some type of alter. They were all dressed similarly to Richard; in lose fitting, natural material clothing. They also all appeared to be around the same age, thirty-ish, fit and healthy and in the prime of their lives.
'They...they're all like you,' she stuttered in amazement, silently creeping forwards to get a better look at the flock of people.
Richard put a hand on her wrist and stopped her, 'Not yet, Jeanie, they don't like outsiders,' he warned.
She sighed and took a step backwards, towards him, and he caught her in his arms. All of a sudden, the situation overwhelmed her, and she was quivering against his chest, her heart hammering.
'Come on, come outside and I'll explain everything to you,' he whispered against her hair.
Taking his hand, Jeanie let Richard lead her back through the entrance way and into the stifling sun light. Her throat felt dry suddenly, and she gasped for air. Without looking where she was going, Jeanie silently followed Richard as he led her round and behind the temple.
They came out to a camp of small wooden and canvas houses, all situated in the temple's shadow. Here women cooked, chatted and did washing – all of them looking so similar; none showing any signs of age or sickness and all appearing happy and at peace.
Jeanie took in her surroundings in awed silence, trying to work out what was going on here. Why did everyone appear ageless and where were the children?
With a calming hand on her back, Richard led Jeanie into one of the canvas houses and handed her a flask of water.
'Sit down,' he said, although it almost sounded like an order.
Jeanie perched on a small wooden chair, and began to drink greedily from the flask of water. It felt cooling as it flowed through her body, and slowly away from the heat and the Temple, her head began to clear.
Jeanie looked up at Richard, her red hair falling loose from it's braid, a look of doe-eyed confusion on her face.
'What's going on here?' she asked, but he stopped her.
'Jeanie, if I tell you everything now, do you promise to believe me? Do you swear you won't go running back to your camp with everything I tell you?' he asked
'Of course,' she insisted. 'I just want answers...to make sense of everything I've just seen.'
'All right, then I'll tell you the truth. I'll explain everything to you. But understand this, Jeanie, once you know you might feel differently about me, and what I can offer you,' he said.
'Nothing could change my mind about how I feel... you know that. You know what I want, that I'm fall--'
Richard stopped her again, 'Don't say it, Jeanie, just listen to what I have to tell you. I know you'll believe me, because if I didn't think that, I'd have never brought you out here, but that won't make it any easier for you to accept the truth.'
'Damnit, Richard, stop playing games with me. I'm no longer a little girl ,' Jeanie replied in frustration.
'I knew when I met you that something strange was going on on this Island. I knew when I spoke to Ben about his visions and about my powers that something special was going on here. I know all that. What I want is answers to why? Stop treating me like the child I appear to be, and treat me like the woman I am inside. If nothing else, I can handle harsh truths because I've read them from people's minds for too long.'
'Ok,' sighed Richard, feeling foolish for taking for granted how perceptive she really was. That was the problem with knowing Jeanie. At the cusp of womanhood, she still looked like a girl and therefore, people expected her to act like one.
'This Island is special, no where on Earth is like it. Not many people even know it exists, but those who do have come here to learn of its powers and try to use them. That's why Dharma are here and why they brought people like you and Ben here, because you're special too. Both of you have powers that are amplified by the Island, it's why you can read minds and Ben sees visions. The Island is talking to you.'
Jeanie swallowed; absorbing the information she'd been given. Making sense of events that had happened in her past. She was the reason her family had came here, because some scientific group wanted to learn about her telepathic abilities, because they wanted to use her as an experiment.
'Okay, so Ben and I are freaks with special powers, which the Island amplifies, and Dharma wants to use our powers. But what about you? Your people? Where are you here and why does Dharma hate you for it?'
Because I was born here and the Island allows me to continue living here. All of my people were born on this Island and we've lived besides this Temple since. We're the ones the Island talks to and guides and Dharma is threatened by that because they don't have the same connection as we do,' he explained, as she listened in awed silence.
'Okay, and what does the Island teach you? Why do you have a temple built here? Do you worship the Island?' Jeanie asked.
'In a respect, yes we do. We follow the guidance of Jacob, the first person born to this Island. He was so in touch with it finally that he became part of the Island. It's he who we follow as our leader.'
'Right, I think I'm beginning to understand. Because you were all born here, because you follow Jacob, the Island assists you. However, Dharma doesn't follow the Island? They want to harness it's powers for their own selfish reasons, and because of that they fight against you? To gain the power for themselves?'
'Exactly. However, there are some outsiders the Island feels a connection with, and would guide too. People like you and Ben with special powers,' Richard said.
'Okay, I understand all that. However, why don't your people get any older? Why don't you have children?' she asked.
'Because we don't need to. One of the powers of the Island is that we don't grow old, we only evolve.
Once a native to the Island reaches the prime of their life, they cease to age any further, and they have a regenerative quality that stops them getting sick. We don't need to have children, because we don't die out from illness. It's just the Islands way of controlling the population,' he explained.
'So, you're telling me you never get any older? Ever? And if I were to shoot you now, you wouldn't die?'
'No, not at all. The Island could heal us if it chose to, and most times, it does. We are not immortal however. We can be killed just like any other person, we're only impervious to disease and the normal effects of growing old,' he insisted.
'Then... then how long have you actually been alive?' Jeanie asked, comprehension dawning on her. 'If you never grow old, howl long have you been here?'
'Centuries maybe, I try not to count. Once you stop aging, it becomes hard to keep a track of time,' Richard sighed, and she suddenly realized what a burden that would be for him.
'Oh my God! I can't imagine how hard that must be for you,' Jeanie said, not needing to read his mind to know tiring it would be to remain ageless for eternity.
'Yes, sometimes it is. However, it's also wonderful never having to see anyone I love grow old and die.'
Jeanie saw a sudden flash of Richard's parents, they'd been in the Temple. She felt his happiness at never having to suffer their loss. Then she sensed his pain and fear that he might one day lose her. That the Island hadn't yet granted her agelessness and that one day she might cease to be here.
'So, tell me, how do Ben and I figure into all of this? What is it that the Island wants from us?' she asked, hoping for reassurances that she wasn't one day doomed to grow old and leave him forever.
'Well, since Dharma first arrived on the Island, we've been watching them and listening to what the Island had to say. Some people have come and gone. Others, with powers like yours, have joined us. The Island chooses who it wishes to remain here forever. We've been told that you and Ben are special and that you could be part of our people here. It just depends on whether you want that. If you want to leave your family and join us?' he said.
End Flashback
Jeanie arrived back at camp with the firewood, just as everyone had finished setting up the tents.
Her stomach growled with hunger, and she couldn't wait to get the fire started and begin roasting some food.
After a wonderful meal of cured meats and roasted vegetables that they'd packed with them from the barracks, everyone decided it was time to retire to bed. They'd been travelling through the jungle all day, and had another long day ahead of them if they planned to explore the now disused Temple.
As Jeanie shook out her long red braid, and snuggled into her sleeping bag, Richard smiled up at her from his own place on the ground of the tent.
"I'm so glad you're here," he said simply.
"And where else would I be?" she asked facetiously.
"I don't know. I was just thinking what would have happened on the day I first brought you here, if you'd have freaked out and never wanted to come back," he sighed.
"I did freak out, at first,' she admitted. "But that's all in the past now, isn't it? I'm here with you and that's all that matters," she said softly, placing light kisses on his lips, before blowing out the gas lamp that was lighting the tent.