Chapter 8:
The warm morning sun began to shine brightly through the windows. Chelsea sat up straight in her bed breathing in deep through breaths. Cold sweat slowly trickled down her face and a small shiver whispered through her body. She didn't know why, but she was for some reason very frightened.
All I can recollect is that I was dreaming, the ocean was involved, and so was Daddy. But why would that scare me so horridly? It's not like I saw him die. He was out at sea, how could I witness that? Oh Daddy, what should I do?
With that moment a hard knock crashed upon her wooden door. Slipping out of her bed, she yelled 'coming' and slipped out of her pjs and into the cloths Julia lent her.
Running over to the door, Chelsea pulled open the door revealing a very huge muscular man. He smiled at her and she nodded in response.
"Hey Gannon. How can I help you this morning?" It had been exactly one week since Chelsea had come on to the island and she had met most of the people. Most of them.
"Well, I thought since there's going to be storm tomorrow you might want to fix some of those holes in your roof before it all comes crashing down on you.
"So I brought over 10 boxes of nails, a hammer, 10 boxes roof tiles, and about 10 boxes of wooden sidings. If you run out can sell you some more at a small price." He said all this while motioning with his large had over to the huge pile next to him.
"Wow! Thanks Gannon! This will really help!"
"No prob. See you later Chelsea." He nodded his head then slowly walked out of her farm.
Taking a step forward, Chelsea looked down at the towering pile of materials that some weird carpenter had just given her. Turning back around, she shut the door and walked over to her tiny kitchenette.
…
After washing her morning dishes, Chelsea headed to start her day on the farm. Lifting up her watering can next to her door, she stepped out into the warm morning sun. Closing her door, she jogged over to the stream near her field and filled her watering can for the morning.
…
Whipping the sweat off her forehead, Chelsea rested the watering can down on the ground and looked out over her field. She had cleared off a good portion of the field and rid most of it of the stumps and rocks for the hammer and axe Gannon had given to her earlier in the week. She had six small portions of the field being used by her newly planted corn and tomato seeds.
Sighing, she slowly heads back over to her house. Swinging her watering can she opens the door and throws the green object into the building. Closing the door, she begins to whistle and walk towards the supplies shed. Opening the doors to the small run down building, Chelsea stepped in.
The roof in the middle of the roof was caved in and fell to the floor below. The light blue tiles had broken into small pieces and scattered all over the room. Glancing around a long ladder lay long ways lying on the floor.
Stepping over to it, Chelsea lifted up the ladder and slowly dragged it out on to the lawn. Walking over to the middle of it, she picked it up and began to walk towards the house.
Propping it against the roof, she adjusted it and walked over to the large pile by her door. Lifting up the hammer, box of nails, and box of roof tiles, she headed over to the ladder and climbed.
Placing the packages on the steadiest part of her roof, she climbed on also.
Pieces of tiles lay stray all over the place, sighing again Chelsea went to work.
First she used the back of her hammer and pulled off the rooting or fallen off shingles and threw them to the floor below. Next she nailed on the new tiles, that took surprising longer than she thought it would.
"Finally done." Chelsea said with a huff. The roof was completely striped and all new tiles had been applied to it. Lifting up her hammer and the four boxes nails and tiles she slowly began to climb down the ladder.
Though just half way down a loud call startled her and Chelsea fell to the soft grass below.
The sky was a beautiful shimmery blue color that just seemed to take her cares away. Though suddenly pink and dirty blonde hair fell into her eyes as she stared up at the two girls she called friends.
Julia stretched out her hand to Chelsea. Taking it, Chelsea stood up and stared at the two of them.
"What's up guys?"
"Well, we wanted o know if you would go surfing with us tomorrow?" Natalie said to Chelsea. The girl with the smallest fuse on the island; that was Nat.
"Surfing? Didn't Taro say there was going to be a typhoon tomorrow?" Chelsea said as she tucked a fallen hair behind her ear.
"That's when we can surf. No one would know. We have a special spot on the west side of the island through a secret path in the forest." Nat said while scoffing.
"Is it really as safe you say?"
"Come on Chels. Even I have done it. Me! Julia Westfield! The most cautious girl on this island! It's totally safe." Julia commented.
"Fine. Let me go get some more nails so I can finish my house. That'll probably take care of all the work I have to do tomorrow. Alright?"
"Yes!" They both said giddily and skipped off out of Chelsea's farm with linked arms and wide grins on their faces.
Chelsea watched them leave her farm. Shaking her head, she walked over to the pile next to her door and picked up two more boxes of nails and tow box of shingles.
The rain pelted against Chelsea's windows. The fresh rainwater streamed down the glass and down her freshly replaced shingles and roof tiles.
Chelsea sat at her small kitchen table sipping a cup of warm coffee. Her hair was pulled back into a high ponytail and there was a small bag on the table. Her gaze was soft and none blinking, she was in deep thought. So deep she didn't hear her two friends dash into her house.
Julia was carrying two bags and Nat was holding one bag herself. Nat slowly walked over to her friend and shook her shoulder.
"Hey Chels. You ready?"
"Hmm? Oh! Hey guys! Yeah. You want a cup before we leave?"
"Naw we had breakfast earlier. At least I did. Jules?"
"Yeah Ma gave me some before I left too."
"Ok then." Chelsea got up out of the chair and placed her cup into the small sink. Turning around Julia was holding out one of the bags that she had carried in earlier. It was red bag with deep brown trim. "What's this?"
"For you. Ma said it would be easier to carry shit around. Plus it's waterproof. There's a bathing suit, towel, and a rain coat."
"Julia tell the truth." Nat said as she shifted her bag onto her back.
"Fine Nat. I got it free with a shirt I bought when I went to the mainland one time. And it really doesn't go with any of my clothes. So… Here!" Julia said while shoving the bag into Chelsea's hands.
"Oh! Well now I don't feel bad. Thanks guys!" Taking the raincoat out of the bag it was a bright red color. As Chelsea slipped it over her shoulders she looked just like little red ridding hood.
The rain was going sideways. Chelsea, Julia, and Natalie slipped through the streets of the east side of town. Crossing over to the bridge leading to the forest, they took a hard right that led them into the depths of the jungle.
The rain didn't really get to them, though the sound of it still rung in their ears as it penetrated the roof above them. Chelsea glanced at their sides as they swiftly moved through the forest; she could almost see those yellow eyes staring back at her as she glanced to either side.
By the time the group got to the private beach the tide was high and the waves were enormous. The beach was a small sand bar with about ten feet of sand then dense dense jungle. One the left side of the beach there was a large patch of surfaced rocks that were quite jagged at the edges. Though on the opposite side a tiny lean-to had three surfboards. One bright orange, light green, and the last baby blue with bright yellow and red flowers on it.
The three girls jogged over to the lean-to and set their bags down. They all slipped off their own raincoats and began to strip their clothes off too. Julia had on a baby blue bikini with a flowy mini skirt as a small cover up. Natalie wore a light green one piece with mahogany trims. Chelsea pulled out a bright orange bikini and stepped behind the orange surfboard. She stepped back out dressed in the bikini that had ties on the neck, back and her two hips.
Chelsea lifted up the bright orange surf board and walked over to Nat and Julia who were already back out into the rain holding their two surf boards.
"So… What now?" Chelsea said as she stood next to Julia holding the middle of her board in her left arm.
"WE surf!" They both screamed into the waves.
Chelsea turned to face them and grinned. "CARGE!"
They ran. Slamming the surfboards down on to the unstable waves, the three girls pushed themselves forward into the monster waves.
They waited. Till Nat had spotted the perfect wave off the left side of the beach. They paddled parallel to each other; Julia was the first to ride the wave, then Nat, lastly Chelsea.
She was unsteady; for this was still her first time doing this. Though she managed to ride the wave just far enough to match Nat and Julia's example. Then it broke. She was engulfed in water, waves crashed over her head causing her to flip around. The board caught loose and rammed into her abdomen, air bubbles escaped her lungs and water filled its place. As water filled her lungs, Chelsea was thrown against the rocks again and again and again. Over and over and over.
Nat and Julia had just gotten out of the water, when they both realized that Chelsea wasn't behind them. Julia planted her board into the hard sand under the lean-to and ran over to the edge of the ocean and screamed out Chelsea's name.
"CHELSEA! CHELSEA! ANSWER ME! CHELS! THIS ISN'T FUNNY! WHERE ARE YOU?" Nat came running over after also placing her board under the lean-to and grabbed hold of Julia's shoulders.
"She's not in the surrounding forest! Did she reply from the sea?"
"No! Where could she be?" The wind picked up. Loud screams echoed all around the two girls on the beach. It was Chelsea's voice.
"We need help! Julia do you know someone who can keep a secret better than me?"
"Vaughn! He doesn't talk to anyone so he has no one to tell them too!"
"Get him! He's strong right?" Julia stared back at Nat then sprinted off into the jungle. Leaving Nat to stare back into the ocean with concern drawn all over her face.
…
Julia burst through the door of Vaughn's room. He was lounging on his bed reading some type of newspaper from the mainland. He glanced up at panting Julia, she was dripping wet and was only wearing a bikini.
"Jules Wha-"
"Don't worry about me. Chelsea-waves-gone."
"You were surfing again weren't you? Jules I told you not to do that!" Dropping the newspaper he was holding, Vaughn crossed the room and picked up his raincoat that was slung over the baseboard of his bed.
Julia bolted out of the room with Vaughn, though he stopped at the door to grab his small throw blanket. Then quickly followed Julia.
…
The chilled ocean water began to swam and turn a luscious rich red color. Chelsea's eyes stared into the twisting and turning ocean water. Everything was quiet and still till she was sudden thrown against the jagged rocks. Pain ran rapid through her back and on the back of her head. Her arms and legs limply flowed with the current.
A small smile slipped across her lips as she was pushed forward, away from the rocks. Like an octopus. Heh. Yeah. I bet this was how Daddy had gone too. Alone. Unless he had gone down with his buddies and the locket…. The locket.
A tear slipped out of Chelsea's eye and combined with the salty oceanic water. Tilting her head back she was tumbled so her face was staring blatantly at the rocks that smashed against her face. Pain and warmness flowed through her body as Chelsea made on last life saving push.
She muster what small amount of energy she had left and rebounded herself away from the rocks which proved to be too fatal. The current sent her soaring towards the rocks again then to the sandy ocean floor.
Sand filled her mouth, ears, eyes, and bathing suit. Next pulling her out of the sand, the water brought her to beautiful surface for a split second. To hear the cry of her dear friend Natalie. Then dragging her under again. What tiny bit of air Chelsea absorbed was easily realized back into the ocean and sent her for the rocks again.
…
"Nat! He's Here!" Julia came running over to her friend with her older cousin on her heels. His silver hair was messed up and moved with the roaring wind. He wore nothing more than an old pair of deep forest green and black flannel pajama bottoms with a black windbreaker. Julia was carrying an itchy wool weaved black blanket.
"Great! Vaughn can you promise to keep this a secret?"
"WHAT! THAT'S ALL YOU GIRLS CARE ABOUT? What if she's already dead? We could be accused of murder! Then what!"
"We won't be. I saw her head pop up for just a second then be pulled back under. Over by the rocks." Nat said with force in her voice.
Vaughn gave her a hard cold stare, then nodded. Stripping off his pants and breaker. He wore a plain white t-shirt and black boxer-briefs. Running a hand through his hair, he jumped and sprinted into the ocean. About waist high, he dove into the water. The deep dark salty oceanic water.
…
The water seemed to stop. Chelsea was hugging the rock.
The water had thrown her against the rocks so many times she had lost count in her head. All she could do was hold on and hope the water would forget about her and move on to the next victim.
Her eyes slowly moved down to her string holding on the right side of her bathing suit. It was slightly becoming undone. Even after all the toss and turns, the strings had held on. Moving her hands over to the string she was flung back, like the water had a string wrapped around her abdomen and pulled it towards itself. Just like a child wanting it's new toy. New toy. New toy. New toy. new toy. new. toy. new toy. toy new. new toy. New Toy. NEW TOY!
Chelsea screamed in horror. Large air bubbles escaped from the depths of her lungs into the ocean water. Her head was thrown back and her hands clutched her neck. Gripping and pulling onto the skin that held her organs in, Chelsea was pulled down into the darkness. The darkness that had swallowed her up only one month ago. The darkness that had swallowed up her father so many years ago. The same darkness that was swallowing her up in the same way. Alone. Alone. alone. a. l. o. n. e. Alone. A. lone. a. LONE. Alone. ALONE! Another scream ripped through her body. Though no air surfaced this time.
Chelsea hands travel from her neck to her cheeks. She began to pull at the skin under her eyes. She was staring at death. Her father. Half of her chromosomes. He had his arms opened wide with a warm smile that he had always had on his face he would visit her at the orphanage. Wearing his old overalls with that same fishy smell. His balding head and those warm grey eyeballs. Her father. His wonderful way he had always being there.
Suddenly she was like she was five again. Waiting eagerly for him to return and bring her home. Their apartment. Theirs. Only theirs. No one else's. Their own. No Recha. No Mia. No Vinny. No Charlie. No orphans that got adopted before her. Just Daddy and her.
Chelsea opened her arms and walked on the unstable ocean floor. Daddy was saying it was time to go. He was here to get her. For her to go finally meet Mommy. Her other half.
so... what did you guys think? Hope you like it! You all just got an except of Chelsea's past there! Wow! I know right. Though the question still remains who is Vaughn to Chelsea and now who are Charlie and Vinny? Review!