(Sigh). The Author's Note messes all my chapter titles up. Anyway, here's the latest chapter! Comment!
-MuseGoddess
OUTSKIRTS OF ALPHA ISLAND
PINK SAND BEACH
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17
5: 53 PM
Darwin's POV
Thump. Thump. Thump.
The rhythm flowed up his Nike-d feet pounded relentlessly in the pale pink sand, the grains flying up in two sheets. The breeze cooled his warm face and arms. If he was running two months ago, by now he'd be panting and sweating. Now it was only a slight heat in his face. He'd hardly broken a sweat. All those nightly jogs were paying off.
Taking a swig from the raspberry-flavored water (Charlie's favorite) in his hand, he increased his pace so he could gain the oncoming dune at the same speed. But when he reached the top, he stopped in shock.
Blue candles in Charlie's favorite shade were arranged on the sand, the flickering quality much like how the sun touched the ocean now. The candles led up to a plain park bench, where Charlie and Jess sat.
A wave of rage filled him, a seabed of hurt and confusion underlying. He stepped forward, words scrambling and swirling in his mind, ready to pour out, when she looked up.
And stood.
"Darwin…" she pleaded. Her eyes glistened. Jess stood too, the same hurt mirrored on his face. Darwin opened his mouth, but Jess spoke first. It was the last words he expected to hear. When they left his mouth, his rage left too.
"I was wrong to come here," he said, so quietly that Darwin had to strain his ears to hear. "Darwin…I'm sorry. Ch…"
He couldn't say her name. Instead, he gave her a long look, then turned and disappeared up a sand dune.