Max

"So, Tanner, tell me about this place." I said, looking to a boy about my age who just so happened to be the leader of this tribe. Turns out, Ari and I had stumbled across a village of sorts.

"Well, we grow most of our food seeing as there aren't many animals on the island besides a few reptiles and rodents. We all live in these huts," He gestured towards the makeshift house we were in. "That we make out of wood, mud, and leaves mostly. Except this one and a few others are made out of leftover scrap metal from the plane." Tanner added, then paused for a moment as if thinking. "We boil the salt water so we have fresh water to drink, and I think that's about it." I blinked, a little surprised at how willingly he was giving me this information.

"So, how'd this 'tribe' come to be?" I asked, genuinely curious as to how fifty people wound up on an island in the middle of nowhere.

"Oh well, I guess our like lots of greats grandparents were in a plane crash and none of the survivors were ever rescued, so they adapted, had children, their children had children, and so on. And so here I am." He grinned brightly at me and I took a moment to smile back. Look, I know your hormones are going crazy and Fang isn't here, but please have some control. I thought to myself, taking in his tan, chiseled body and sun-kissed golden brown hair. And then those soft hazel eyes and...

"Max!" Ari called, his laughter making my name sound squeaky and shaky. "You g- gotta see this!" Worried for my brother's sanity, I sped out of the Hut, glad I had something to distract me from the very hot boy I had been practically drooling over. Have you no control, Maximum? I thought to myself as I looked to Ari, following his line of vision.

"Somebody help us! I feel like a kabob!" Iggy's voice echoed off the plants and I suppressed the urge to laugh myself at what I saw. Lupo and him tied back to back to a pole that was being laid over a fire pit.

"Light it up!" I called happily, only for Iggy and Lupo to both snap their heads towards me.

"Max! Save me! I'm not ready to be burned alive! I'm supposed to die when I'm like forty in my sleep like other old people!"

"Yes, Max is right, we probably should burn them if they think forty is old." A man in his late forties said loudly.

"Burn him! Not me! I think forty is the new twenty!" Lupo panicked, making me explode. I busted out laughing, falling down on my back and clutching my stomach.

Tanner walked over to the confuse couple, chuckling to himself. "We're gonna eat good tonight!" He called, to which everyone laughed.

"No don't eat me! I taste like rotten turnips! Lupo tastes like strawberries though! Eat her!"

"Says the strawberry blonde." Lupo scoffed.

"Guys chill, we're not gonna eat you." Tanner assures, motioning Ari and me over. "Unless they want us too of course."

"Max remember that time I saved you from dying?" Iggy asks hopefully, to which Lupo snorts.

"She's not going to let them eat us, Idiot, not matter how insane her hormones are."

"You know, I've always want to try liver..." I let my voice trail off.

"I bet you taste delicious, Lupo." Ari added, licking his lips.

"Light it up." I repeated, to which Tanner sent me a questioning look. I just nodded and he gestured for a guy to come over. Within seconds, flames began to lick their way out from under the logs and reach up towards Iggy, who was facing the ground at the moment.

"Aaaaaaaahhhhhh!" He yelled, blowing at them hysterically. The flames roared upwards and slapped his cheek viciously before I stomped them out, laughing like a maniac. "Alright Tanner, you can untie them now." I told him in between fits of laughter. In fact, I found this scene so hysterical I was leaning against Ari for support, who had simmered down to just a giggle every now and then. It took me awhile, but when I finally calmed down Lupo and Iggy were untied and watching me. Lupo with amusement in her eyes, and Iggy with fury in his.

"You burned my cheek you loco pregnant woman!"

"Love you too, Igster." I kissed his cheek, smirking. "So, have you guys seen my birdboy? He really needs to get over here before I pounce on Tanner." I said jokingly.

"Oh um... about that." Lupo muttered, a dullness taking over her golden eyes. Iggy's fury melted into sadness as well.

"Maxie, I don't know how to tell you this, but something took Fang away." At Iggy's words, the smile on my lips slowly broke away.

"That's not funny, Iggy." I glared at him viciously. "Now where's Fang at?"

"Max, somebody took him. These robotic birds flew in, attacked him, and flew him off the island-"

"No! You're lying! You have to be!" I screamed before taking off into the woods, trees scratched at my bare arms and leaves twisted around my ankles, slowing me down. Behind me, I could hear one set of footsteps, Iggy's, and I guess Lupo and Ari stayed behind, realizing this was something between me and my best friend. Iggy caught up to me just as I got to the shore line, about to dive in and swim... somewhere, Just out of this life and to one where I could get a happily ever after. He grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

"Max... you're going in the wrong direction. They flew South, you're going West, sweetie." He mumbled, stroking my hair back out of my eyes.

"He can't be gone. I can't do this without him, Iggy. I know that sound really lovesick and whatever but... ugh!" I banged my head against his chest, causing him to suck in a breath. "Sorry." I grumbled.

"Max, something's up with this island. When Fang got about two miles out, they just disappeared." Iggy whispered.

"Disappeared?" I asked, looking up to him. How far away was Fang by now? Fifty miles, a hundred?

"Yeah, it's almost like that show about the people being trapped in the dome, except it's like one way glass instead of see-through."

"So what you're saying is, all around us, this huge ocean might just be an illusion?" I asked, looking around.

"Hmmm, no. I don't think that's an illusion, I think we are really on an island far away from civilization, but I also think the south side of the ocean has an invisible wall there for a reason. What if... there's something on that side?" Iggy thought aloud. I gulped.

"Like what?" I asked cautiously.

"You know what." Iggy insisted. I sighed. He was right; I did know.

"That means we have to go get Fang, ASAP." I decided, looking to the South longingly.

"I'll round up the troops."

And yet another chapter, let's got for 310 reviews please? And still need cover ideas.

Soar on

VR