Well, I'll keep this intro short, since I don't have much to say really, since this chapter is shorter anyway.
If you are wondering when we see Vaas, don't worry. All things will come in good time. c:
Ta-ta~!
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Chapter 2: Parlay
"Cyra! Hurry up!" Owen's knuckles rhythmically rapped on my door, and I rolled my eyes ignoring him.
Sarah bounced on the edge of my bed behind me, "We're almost done Owen! Buzz off!"
Once I put the last of my waterproof mascara on, I looked at myself in the mirror.
My short violet hair was tied up in a small pony tail, with two flower pins stuck into the side. Black eyeliner covered the top of my lid, topped with a rich blend of light and dark chocolate brown eye shadow , giving my green eyes a deep but natural, sultry look. As I applied the finishing touches, I silently thanked Phoebe for the expensive and heavy duty waterproof makeup. We had tested the make-up ourselves extensively before the trip, both of us glad of its durability.
The brown on my eyelids complimented my tight white tank top, army green khaki short-shorts, and brown weathered combat styled boots. My red bikini top was visible through my white shirt, but I didn't care. Sarah's head popped up in the mirror behind me, and I turned my head. "It still always surprises me that you wear make-up." she chirped.
I chuckled, "I'm not a hippie Sarah." Sarah always enjoyed associating liking the outdoors, animals, and having a vintage style with hippies or being super 'green'. That's what you get from living in California, I guess.
She smiled, "I know, ha ha! Your mix of tough girl and girly is. . .unique." she said with her finger to her chin.
I shook my head, "Thanks, Sarah."
Just as I turned back to look at Sarah, Phoebe poked her head through the door. Her light eyes darkened by her heavy makeup.
I walked towards her with my hands on my hip, "You know, you could go easier on the makeup. There's no boys to impress here." I smirked.
Phoebe just lifted her chin up defiantly, "I don't care if we are in the middle of nowhere! Besides, you have makeup on too!" she retorted.
I shook my head, "Yeah, but not enough to sag my eyelids."
Sarah laughed behind me, "You both are stupid."
Phoebe and I both shot looks at Sarah, and I squinted my eyes, "Says the girl with a perfect complexion."
The three of us bickered back and forth until we all gave in, laughed, and joined Owen and John outside, both impatient already.
John looked at me, "Geez. All you need is a bandanna, a gun, and a cigarette."
I walked over to him with my green canvas backpack slung over my shoulder, "So I can shoot you?"
John feigned being wounded and I punched him in the arm.
Phoebe dashed past me to stand in front of the group. She wore a bright pink bikini, covered by a beautiful sheer beach dress, and gladiator sandals.
Owen whistled, "Hey Phoebe, don't you think you should wear different shoes?"
Phoebe's face wrinkled, "No! Why would I? You're wearing flip-flops too!"
Owen rolled his eyes and yanked a pair of shoes out of his backpack, "Not for the hike."
Phoebe just rolled her eyes and started to mark off onto the path leading away from the front of the house.
Sarah bounced next to me, "Wanna bet how long it is until someone has to carry her?"
I thought for a moment, bringing my hand to my chin, "I'd give heeer… oh, an hour."
Sarah walked next to me as Owen ran after Phoebe, John looking back for us to join them.
"An hour? Yeah right. I'd give it half an hour." Sarah said dramatically.
"Ok. It's a bet." I said.
"Winner gets buried in the sand?"
"Deal." I said, shaking her hand firmly.
We both laughed and ran after John, plunging ourselves into the jungle.
As we walked, the trees grew tall above us, their lush leaves shading us from the harsh sun. My eyes glowed as I observed the gorgeous beams of light that periodically shone through, giving the jungle an almost magical look. Strange birds sang obnoxiously over us, scaring Phoebe a few times, her screams echoing into the forest. It amazed me how untouched the forest seemed besides the thin path we followed. It's lush wildlife and sweet scent made me feel full of energy and light. I couldn't keep a smile off my face, until I wondered out loud to myself.
"I wonder if there are tigers on this island. It certainly would be suitable."
Sarah's eyes widened as her head whipped in my direction, Phoebe stopping in her tracks, making Owen stumble into her.
"TIGERS?" Sarah and Phoebe gawked in unison.
Owen laughed, "That's awesome! I hope we see one!"
John nodded in agreement, "That would be great, I'd get to take pictures!" he pulled his camera into his hands that swung gently around his neck, snapping a picture of Phoebe's horrified face.
"What else could be on this island?" Her voice went even higher in pitch.
I looked around the canopy above us thinking, "Well, definitely monkeys, big bugs, and maybe even some komono dragons."
Phoebe went visibly paler, "Would they try and hurt us?"
Owen swept his long fingers over her shoulders and hissed in her ear, "If they are hungry."
Phoebe stamped on Owen's foot and started to shoo at him, and we all laughed and continued forward, Phoebe's eyes darting around cautiously the rest of the walk.
After a few hours we reached a canyon similar to the one we sailed at, with a waterfall about half the size of the one before.
I stood near the edge when Phoebe's voice piped up behind me. "Lily texted me back!"
John joined me as I turned to look at her. "What did she say?"
Phoebe tapped on her smart phone and looked up, "She asked where we were. I told her we walked to the end of the trail from her house."
"Is she here?" I asked confused, "Why isn't she at the house then?"
John nodded, "Did she just get here or something?"
Phoebe bent her head down, her thin fingers flying over the screen, "I'm not sure. I just asked her now."
Sarah and Owen stood across from me, both uninterested.
"Can we just go to the beach now?" Owen pleaded.
Sarah nodded her head, "Yeah, let's go!"
Once we made the trek back, it was the early afternoon. The forest was more alive than ever, the sounds from the jungle almost felt deafening, yet it was oddly comforting.
Eventually we veered off the path when we heard the ocean; the jungle eventually dissipated as the white beach appeared before us. We knew the beach house was close, but the sloping sandy shore hid it from our current view.
Immediately Owen dashed past me, ripping his clothes off until he was only left with his trunks on, diving into the warm water.
Sarah squealed as she past me, following Owen's path but stopping to take her shorts and shirt off and placing them in one pile.
I jogged after them and threw my backpack down with Sarah's clothes. Before I could pull any of my clothes off, John had scooped me over his shoulder, and was dashing for the water.
I screamed, "John! Don't you dare!"
I could feel John's smile as he threw me into the ocean fully clothed.
I gasped as I came up for the breath, my boots felt heavy already. John hysterically laughed on the beach, Owen joining in on it.
A smile plastered on my face I dashed at John, tackling him into the sand, soaking the front of his clothes.
Phoebe's voice trailed above me, "I told Lily where we went! She said she just got here and will see us soon!"
We all seemed to ignore Phoebe's announcement; I was being dunked back into the water by John, while Sarah and Owen seemed to be having a splash fight near us.
Owen, feeling Phoebe was left out, dragged her into the water himself; her high pitch squeals induced laughter from everyone.
After awhile I dragged myself from the water, still fully clothed and boots dragging in the sand.
John jogged behind me, his t-shirt plastered to his fit, tanned physic. His eyes caught mine and he winked, "You like what you see?"
I bent down and threw a handful of sand at him, John laughing and flinching back, "I hate you."
"Hate you more." He sang, running ahead of me before I could throw more sand.
Phoebe sat on the beach sprawled out on a towel, her head bent over her cell phone. Her head looked up at me as I grinned, John running around Phoebe to tackle Owen's sandcastle.
"Fuck you John!" Owen's angry shout came to the side of me, and I giggled.
I started to walk over to join Phoebe when she suddenly jumped up, her head still glued to the phone.
Her head twisted up as I neared her, her eyes covered by her large sunglasses. She twisted her lead around her, looking for something, then turned on one foot, starting to walk towards the jungle.
"Where are you going Phoebe?" I called out, her head briefly turned to reply back.
"Lily said she see's us!" her high voice called, "She said her foot is caught in a root up ahead!"
I scrunched my face as Phoebe disappeared into the brush, and shrugged. I didn't know Lily that well, but from what I heard, she was a bit. . .prissy.
As I squatted down onto Phoebe's towel and watched Owen throwing shells at John, Sarah joining in, Phoebe's scream pierced the peaceful air.
John, Owen and Sarah immediately stopped and looked in my direction, my eyes met John's before I snapped my head into the direction Phoebe had gone.
"Phoebe?" I yelled out, quickly getting up from where I sat.
Owen ran over to me, his eyes wide, "Where did Phoebe go?"
I started to walk forward as I spoke, "She said Lily was in the jungle and needed her help, so she left."
John quickly stepped to the opposite side of me, "That didn't sound like a normal scream."
Sarah ran past us, "Maybe she just saw a snake or something."
Owen furrowed his brow, "I'll go see."
Before any of us could say anything else, Owen dashed off and disappeared into the forest.
Worry knotted at my stomach, I had never heard Phoebe scream like that.
Sarah stood impatiently as a minute passed, then suddenly dashed away after Owen, "I'm going to help!"
John lunged forward, his arm just missing hers, "Dammit Sarah! Come back!" but Sarah's black hair disappeared as well.
John shook his head and sighed, "Sarah's probably right. I bet it was a snake."
I laughed nervously, shaking off the goose bumps on my arm, "You're probably right. I mean, who else would be on this island?"
John grinned, "Probably pirates."
I laughed, feeling myself relax, and jostled his shoulder with mine, "Parlay?"
John laughed, "Denied!"
"You can't deny parley!" I laughed.
John just smiled, "They're more like guidelines anyway." I snorted in response.
John then ran ahead of me, gesturing me to follow, "Let's go make sure they haven't met Jack Sparrow yet."
I shook my head and gave a toothy grin, chasing after John as he called out Phoebe, Owen and Sarah's name.
John ran faster and disappeared behind a tree, and I heard a loud snap behind me. "Wait up John!" I yelled, turning to look behind me.
Seeing nothing, I shrugged, but as I turned back, something hard hit my head, and everything went black.