Chapter 7: Lost and Found

May was bored with the island. There was nothing but sea in front of them, sand all around, and unknown jungle behind them.

"Tell me again why we can't explore the island?" She looked at Bray.

Bray groaned, "May none of us were supposed to land here, according to maps this place doesn't exist. We don't know what is out there."

"But there are hotel rooms. This was a resort of some kind; tell me tourists didn't have trips through the jungle."

"May, maybe Bray is right, we shouldn't explore. Just because this is a resort doesn't mean there aren't dangers about," Darryl said.

"Shut up you wimp…I don't care about you two, but tomorrow I'm exploring."

"I really wish you would think this through," Bray said.

May smirked, "Already have."

Ellie was happy with Jack. She loved the boy to death, but sometimes she wished he was more sure about what he wanted.

Since arriving on the island he had become distant in his thoughts, he wasn't sleeping, and she could barely get a kiss from him.

"Jack what is it?" she asked frustration in her voice. She stretched across their bed propping herself up on her elbows.

"What…huh?" Jack asked.

"What's on your mind?"

"No…nothing."

"Are you having technology withdrawals…is it me? You don't want to be together anymore do you?" she asked panicking.

Jack smiled at her, "El calm down…no, it's nothing of the sorts. I have my lap top, it's just ruined thanks to the brilliant Gel," he said shaking his head, "and I love you."

Ellie calmed down, "There's the Jack I know. Now what else is up there?" she reached out and knocked on his forehead.

"What you don't love me back?" he asked trying to change the subject.

"I love you; now tell me what that genius brain of yours is working up…"

"El this island isn't supposed to exist. So why is there half a resort on it? Something doesn't add up. Tomorrow I'm going with May to explore."

"What?!" Ellie jumped up out of the bed.

"I'm going and that's final."

"But…you said yourself this island isn't supposed to exist…so why would you go exploring?"

"I said it's final Ellie."

"Fine, but where you go I go," she smirked, "and if you died, I die with you."

"Very Shakespeare," Jack pulled her onto his lap.

"And you're my fair Romeo," she kissed him sweetly.

Apart of her was afraid to go exploring, but she was attached to Jack.

"Here we are again…" Ebony rolled her eyes, meeting Jay on deck of the boat.

"What are you doing here Ebony?"

"What I can't come on the boat now, you've claimed it for yourself or something?"

Jay chuckled, "You're right, I'm getting a bit possessive, that's your department."

Ebony glared at him, raising a suspecting eyebrow, "Right, so what are you doing here?"

"I don't know…just looking out at the horizon…and setting up something for Ruby and I."

"It's weird…"

"What? Ruby and I?"

"Well there's that too, but no. It's just weird how we used to date and now we're dating one another's ex."

"Yeah I guess so, what else is on your mind though Ebony?"

"Why does there have to be something else on my mind?"

Jay looked at her amused, "I know you Ebony…"

"Alright, but these things don't come easily to me….I guess I just wanted to say….thank you."

"For?"

"Giving me my life back."

"I thought Slade did that."

"He helped. But I'm talking about you first ever hooking up with me. You gave me back hope for 'life'. You've saved my life more than once, and now you've saved the life of my unborn child."

"Well you're welcome."

Suddenly an argument draws their attention towards the Huts.

They see Gel and an apologetic Sammy.

"You…idiot!" Gel squealed.

"I…I...I'm sorry, it was an accident."

Gel screams, "you imbecile," and marches to her hut.

Jay and Ebony laugh, "I wonder when those two will hook up," Jay said.

Ebony snorted, "Are you kidding, when that happens, fish will fly."

"You want to shake on that?"

"No. Anyways, about you setting up something for Ruby…"

"See I knew there was something else…"

Ebony smirked, "You know me all too well. Now about this date with Ruby how long is it going to take?"

"A lifetime if I can help it."

"I mean tonight."

"Oh that, are you saying you want a double date."

"Not exactly, just the boat."

"Why don't we share it?"

"Fine, but don't think we're going to be all buddy buddy…this is not a double date," she made her way down the ramp.

Jay smiled as she went. She didn't know it, but everyone else sensed it, and knew that she was changing. She was becoming 'nice'. Jay shuttered at the thought of a sweet Ebony.

"Alice I swear, there are people on the other side of the island, I saw a boat."

"I don't care if you saw a boat, or an adult for that matter, we're not going that way."

KC grumbled, "We didn't' break out of that Techno Prison Camp to still be prisoners on this island. A boat could mean getting off the island, going back to the city, finding the Mallrats. We're lucky the Technos didn't try and bring back the holocaust, I say we go to where people are."

"Shh…" Alice held up her hand.

They were still in dangerous territory. The Technos weren't far behind them, not to mention the loony Guardian.

"Al…"

She put a hand over the younger boy's mouth. Motioning with her finger towards ruffling in the foliage to the right of them, she got KC to shut up.

"I think I just got bitten," Ellie smacked at her neck.

They had been traveling for half and hour, she was sticky with sweat and bugs were beginning to buzz around them.

Jack rolled his eyes, "El, a little quiet would be nice, please."

"Well excuse me!" She snapped back.

"You wanted to…"

May had had enough of their quarreling.

"Clam it! You're both giving me a headache."

"Sorry," Ellie muttered. Jack put a finger to his lips, pointing to foot prints.

May bent over them, studying the sets and feeling them. "They're fresh."

"How would you know?" Ellie almost laughed.

"Pride taught me."

"Well if there are humans, then we know what we're looking for now, right?" Ellie questioned.

"Ellie would you shut up please!" May pleaded, she had heard a noise to the left of them, and now her fear was kicking in.

"Ellie?" Alice questioned. Was it possible the Mallrats were on the island?

She peeked her head from her hiding spot, she spotted her sister. She stood frozen in her tracks, but KC moved.

"Guys, boy am I glad to see you, Alice has been driving me insane!"

Jack was startled at the boy's appearance. He could easily be mistaken for a savage, his clothes torn, skin dirty, and hair matted.

"KC?" he asked.

"Yeah, and Alice too."

Ellie stopped glaring at May, "Al…Alice?"

"Yeah it's me little sis," Alice finally moved and hugged her sister tight.

"I…I thought you were dead," Ellie cried.

"Oh you know death is too good for me…"

"Certainly sure of that," Jack smirked.

Alice turned her nose up at him in banter, "I see you couldn't shake the geek."

"What can I say; he put a spell on me."

May rolled her eyes, "I'm all for lost and found reunions, but we're on a mission here."

"So are we," KC said, "We're trying to get off this island."

"What? Why?" May questioned. She was just beginning to get excited about exploring.

"Because there are Technos still out for power and chaos in the direction we came from," Alice pointed.

"Well I ain't getting back on that boat, so they'll just have to be prepared to give up on that charade."

"Told ya I seen a boat," KC smirked at Alice.

"I don't care who was right or wrong, we're sitting ducks here." Alice shouted.

"Let's get back to the resort then, Bray was right," May groaned.

"Bray? He's alive then, I thought he'd been killed…" Alice looked puzzled.

"We did too…look we have so much to fill you in on, as do you and KC have so much to tell us," Ellie smiled, "and we must warn you, a few of the Mallrats are shacking up with ex-Technos."

Alice shook her head, "I do detest the power of love."