Chapter 9: A Dream Come True
Ever since Chef told Bridgette that Courtney was coming back soon she has been running around the camp like mad telling everyone. Now she stands on top of a stump at the campfire pit looking out at the lake.
"See her yet?" Harold asked while leaning against a tree.
"Not yet." Bridgette called back.
"When do you think she'll be here? The suspense is driving me nuts." Owen said.
"Yeah. Do you think the surgery went ok? Do you think she'll be able to see again?" Heather asked worriedly. Bridgette shook her head.
"I don't know. All we can do is wait." Bridgette answered. "… Hey… I think I see something." She said putting a hand over her eyes. Immediately Heather jumped up on a stump next to Bridgette looking out on the water.
"I see it to!" she said happily. I tiny dot was just barely visible on the horizon. Gwen got up on a stump to.
"It's Courtney and Chris! Courtney's back!"
"How can you be so sure?" Shawna asked standing on the ground next to Gwen.
"I have good eye sight." Gwen answered smiling.
"It's true. She could see someone coming a mile away." Trent said.
"More than that." Bridgette jumped off her stump with Heather and Gwen right behind her.
"Come on guys! Let's wait for her near the cabins." Heather said running off towards the center of camp. Bridgette laughed as she followed Heather towards the cabins. 'She's really changed.' She thought to herself smiling.
I felt the ground beneath me go from the hard wooden dock to the soft dirt of the campgrounds. 'I wish I could see this place. I missed it so much in the few days I was gone.' I thought as I listened to the sounds of the island. 'This place really is like a personal paradise. I wish I never have to leave, that I could stay here forever with all my friends. Maybe if I win this thing I'll buy the island and live here forever. Of course I would clear out the sharks and fix up the cabins a bit first.' I smiled when I thought about living on the island for the rest of my life. Suddenly we stopped and I felt Chris tense beside me.
"What's up?" I asked. He was silent for a long time before answering.
"… Incoming!" he answered. I heard something rumbling, like the sound of a stampede of bulls.
"What is it?" I asked frantically. But Chris had left. The rumbling got louder and louder until something rammed into me all most knocking me over. I felt something wrap around my back and squeeze me like a snake.
"Courtney!" someone screamed. It took me a minute to realize someone was hugging me.
"… Bridgette? Is that you?" I asked after my heart calmed down a bit after that huge scare.
"Heather actually." She answered while letting go of me and putting her hand on my shoulder.
"Bridgette is right here." I heard the familiar voice of Gwen in front of me. Then I felt someone touch my arm.
"Courtney! Were so glad your back." Bridgette said.
"We were really worried about you." Trent said from somewhere to the left of me.
"Are you ok?" Harold asked. I started to back away slowly, the sounds of every ones voices at once had started to make me nervous since a couldn't see who was talking. I jumped when I felt someone touch my shoulder to the left of me.
"Are you ok?" Chris whispered. I nodded quickly while moving closer to him. "Heather, come here." He said. Chris started to whisper something that I couldn't hear to Heather. She put her hand in place of Chris' on my shoulder.
"Follow me." She whispered. I nodded and followed her touch away from the noise. Behind me I could hear Chris talking to the campers.
"Courtney's had a really long trip and needs to rest. She'll talk to you all later but right now you should probably just leave her alone." I heard everyone's voices at once in response.
"Of course."
"She can take as long as she needs to."
"Anything for her to get better faster." They all said. I smiled at how much the others cared about me and wanted me to see again. I followed Heather for a few more moments when we stopped after climbing up some stairs and entering through a door.
"Alright were in the cabins. Rest as long as you need to ok? If you need anything just call, I'll be around camp." I nodded as I heard her footsteps move away from me and out the door. 'She's become so gentle and caring.' I said to myself smiling. 'I can't believe I'm saying this, but it's good to have a friend like Heather.'
Geoff watched Courtney be attacked by the other campers from the door to Chris' trailer. 'She's back.' He thought. 'Now all that's left to do is put Duncan's plan into action.' He continued watching as Heather led Courtney away from the other campers and into to cabins. 'But she just got back. I'll wait till tomorrow to put the plan forth.' Geoff nodded and went back into the trailer to try and re-wire the monitors again. He worked and worked and worked until he finally thought he had fixed the monitors.
"Now were getting somewhere." Geoff said to himself. "Let's see now… red to red… blue to blue aaaaaand. Got it! Yes!" he crawled out from under the table supporting the monitors. He crossed his fingers and flipped the switch. Instantly all the screens lit up showing places all around the camp. "Yes! I knew I'd fix it eventually!" Geoff said smiling. He looked at all the monitors when something caught his eye. '… What then? … Duncan?' Duncan, according to the monitors, was right outside the trailer. Geoff poked his head out and was instantly shoved back in. Duncan ran in the trailer, closing the door behind him.
"Duncan! What are you doing in camp? What if you get caught?" Geoff asked. Duncan looked around before answering.
"I was in the forest near camp when I heard Heather shouting Courtney was back. I had to make sure she was right, I had to know Courtney was here." He answered.
"Well she is, now get out of here before you get caught!"
"I won't get caught." Duncan said while walking up to the monitors. He looked around until he found the one he was looking for. The monitor showed Courtney and Bridgette talking in the girl's side of the Bass Cabin. "… So she really is back." He said gazing at Courtney.
"Yeah I said that already."
"Can she see? Did the surgery go well?"
"I don't know, she just got back. Chris said he would talk to us more about it later."
"Alright." He continued to stare at the screen until he spoke up again. "When are you going to start the plan?"
"Well she just got here and Chris figured she some needed rest. I was planning on doing it tomorrow."
"That's a good idea. What time tomorrow?" he asked still staring at the screen.
"I was thinking around sometime after breakfast."
"Alright. I'll be ready by then."
"Fine but you really should get out of here. By the looks of it Chef is patrolling the Eastern side of the island so I would head west if I were you."
"Fine. I'll be waiting." With that Duncan slowly looked outside before running like mad to the forest. 'Duncan… how far are you willing to go for her?'
I woke up the next morning to more never ending blackness. I groaned while carefully making my way out of my bunk and to the door. 'I can't wait until 'I'm able to take these stupid bandages off.' I said to myself. 'Hopefully I'll be able to see by then.' Outside the air was warm and dry. I carefully made my way down the stairs and walked in the direction of voices that were hopefully coming from the mess hall. Soon I heard footsteps coming towards me.
"Hi Courtney." Heather said once she reached me. "Headed for the mess hall?"
"I guess." I answered. "I have nothing better to do. Besides I think I should explain more to the others.
"Ok." Heather took my wrist and led me towards the mess hall. Breakfast hadn't started yet so only a few people were in there. "Trent and Gwen are the only ones here so far." Heather whispered to me. I nodded as she took me to the table they were sitting at.
"Hey Courtney." Trent greeted. "How are you feeling?" I shrugged.
"Fine I guess. No better than yesterday."
"That's good. Good that you're feeling fine I mean." Gwen said.
"So what happened on the mainland? What did the doctor say about you er… condition?" Trent asked. Before I could answer Heather spoke up.
"Let's wait for Chris and the others to get here. That way she won't have to explain a second time." She answered for me. I walked forward and sat down at the table with Heather right across from me like always. We sat in silence until some of the other campers started to arrive. Everyone would come in and ask me how I was feeling, but Heather always shooed them away before I could answer. The only person she let stay by me was Bridgette who arrived last with Chris right behind her.
"Can you call Chris over here?" I asked staring in the direction of Heathers voice.
"Sure." She answered. "Chris!" she called.
"Yeah?" Chris said. I jumped at how close he was. In all the noise of the mess hall I didn't hear him coming.
"Chris, I think you should tell them what happened now." I said.
"Ok. If that's what you want." I imagined Chris left since he didn't say anything else after that. "Attention campers!" he said. The noise died down as everyone turned their attention to Chris. "I believe it's time for me to explain what happened on the mainland and about Courtney. The first thing we did was…" at that point I stopped listening. I let my mind wander blocking out everything and everyone. Mainly my thoughts trailed to those of Duncan. Was he still on the island? What had he been doing while I was gone? Was he… still worried about me? I don't know how much time had passed before someone put a hand on my shoulder causing my to flinch.
"Hey girls. Can I borrow Court for a sec?" the voice of Geoff asked. There was silence for a moment before Gwen spoke.
"Uh sure. Why?" my friend asked.
"I just want to talk to her for a minute. If that's ok with you of course." I assumed he was talking to me. I shrugged and nodded. I felt Geoff gently grab onto my upper arm and start to guide me towards the exit. By the sound of it Chris had stopped talking and everyone was pretty quiet. I wondered where he had gone. I shook away the thoughts and concentrated on following Geoff to wherever it was he was taking me.
It felt like I was walking with Geoff for hours, but in reality it was only a few minutes. We walked in silence neither of us speaking a word until Geoff randomly stopped walking.
"Geoff? Where are we?" I asked shifting my weight from one foot to the other. By the feel of it we were somewhere in the forest.
"The edge of the forest a bit away from camp. Stay here, I'll be right back." He answered letting go of my arm.
"Wait Geoff! Where are you going?" I asked looking around wildly even though I could see nothing. I heard Geoff's rapid footsteps for a moment more than nothing. I clenched my hands into fists of anger at the thought of him just leaving me… wherever I was! But he was gone and I had no idea where he went or where I was. So I sighed in irritation and crossed my arms sitting myself down on the cool grass beneath me. It was then I realized how quiet it was. A bit too quiet for my tastes. Not even the wind made as sound as it blew past me in a gentle breeze. It freaked me out a bit. This was the kind of quiet that happened before a storm came. The quiet that came before something big, something bad.
I shuddered slightly in the quiet. What was taking Geoff so long? Where had he gone anyways? It was then I realized how helpless I was. All alone in some quiet forest. I felt so lost. Suddenly the noise of someone's footsteps behind me made me jump in surprise.
"Geoff? That you?" I asked turning my head around. Even though I knew I wouldn't see anything I just couldn't help but look around. There came no answer as whoever it was sat down on the grass beside me. "Geoff where did you go? I was starting to get freaked out."
"… Geoff's not here princess." An all too familiar voice answered. I felt my spine get still when I heard his quiet voice.
"… Duncan?" I asked nervously.
"The one and only." I could practically hear the smirk on his lips when he answered with that cocky tone of voice. Any other time it would have ticked me off, but now it frightened me slightly.
"Duncan… w-what are you doing here?" I asked starting to inch away from the direction his voice was coming from.
"… That doesn't really matter. Look the point is I need to talk to you." My fear was instantly replaced by anger.
"Well I don't want to talk to you! Get away from me!" I shouted standing up. I heard him stand up after me.
"Courtney relax I just want to talk."
"I already told you that I don't want to talk! So leave me alone!" I swung forward blindly in an effort to slap him, only to feel his hand grip my wrist tightly. The anger was replaced by fear again. "W-What are you doing? Let me go!" I snapped trying to wrench away from him. His grip loosened a bit but he still held on firmly.
"Courtney I'm not going to hurt you! Just listen to me!" in response I swung my other arm at him. He wasn't expecting that so I made contact with some part of his body, his gut I think. He grunted and let go of my wrist. Once he did I started to back away only to come into contact with something hard. A tree perhaps.
"I don't want to listen to anything you have to say!" I shouted feeling my way around the tree.
"Courtney please! I just want to say I'm sorry!" he cried desperately.
"Nothing you ever say will make me forgive you Duncan! You made me blind! I hate you!" I shouted at the top of my lungs feeling tears brim in my sightless eyes.
'You and I both know you don't mean that.' A familiar voice echoed in my head.
'Great. You again. Will you just get out of here!'
'No I don't think I will. Don't be a stubborn mule Courtney. Your letting your feelings cloud your judgment. '
'Please! Just leave me alone I'm trying to deal with something.'
'Not very well I might point out. Duncan is trying to apologize. Just give him a chance! You would with any other person. So just shut up and let him talk!'
'No!'
'Why not?'
'Because!'
'Because why?'
'Because… because… oh just because!'
'Bah! It's like talking to a four year old. Listen to your all-knowing conscious Courtney! Where are you right now?'
'I have no idea! Geoff said the edge of the forest.'
'Correct. Who is here with you?'
'Duncan?'
'Correct again. Where is Duncan supposed to be?'
'Where are you getting at?'
'Answer the question damn it!'
'In his cell I assume.'
'So why then, Courtney, is he out here with you when he should be in his cell?'
'I don't know.'
'You are so clueless I swear. Don't you see Courtney?'
'No I don't see and it's his fault!'
'Silence! Don't you see what he's doing for you? He escaped from his cell and he's standing here pleading for you to listen to him apologize. Just give him a chance!'
'Why should I?'
'Because he loves you. And you love him. Listen to the all-knowing one…' After that the voice was silent. 'Well that was a complete waste of time.' I growled to myself. Suddenly I realized it was quiet again.
"Duncan?" I called out nervously my fear begging to rise.
"I'm right here." I yelped in surprise when I heard his voice right next to my ear. I scrambled backwards ramming into another tree. "Courtney please… I just want to apologize… I just want to talk." He said in a calm voice. I could hear him slowly walking towards me.
"No! Leave me alone!" with that I turned heel and ran into the forest.
"Courtney come back!" Duncan shouted running after me.
'Get your ass back there fool!' My conscious ordered. But I ignored them both. I ran blindly through the forest occasionally stumbling or bumping into something, but I pressed on. I could hear Duncan right behind me shouting for me to slow down and listen to him but I refused to listen.
The chase had begun.
Lol. I'm updating this in computer class. Don't tell anyone though! XD We have a sub today anyways and honestly I have NO IDEA what we're supposed to be doing. I don't think the sub knows either s we're just messing around. Great fun great fun.