Janelle+R

Janelle R 

Stranded



Chapter 1- Sinking




 *  S **irens were blaring. Their deafening rings drowning out the noise of the screams from all the passengers. I broke through the frantic crowd of people. The darkness of the night overwhelmed me; seconds passed and things came into focus. Frigid air caressed my skin,sent shivers down my spine, and froze my world. Time stood still as a woman rushed past me clutching a young boy, his face was buried deep in her soaked sweater. The feeling of pins and needles in my feet snapped me back into reality, and as I glanced down I realized the water was flooding the deck more and more as seconds passed.

 My brain was screaming at me to run, but my body was not listening. My feet planted in place, much like a tree with deep roots. A man crashed into me and knocked me to the ground. As I tried to stand, the boat began to dive into the deep African waters. I slid across the smooth deck boards and plunged into the ocean. The water engulfed my body in it's unforgiving grasp and sucked me down. I kicked as hard as I could, fighting the strong pull of the boat. My lungs felt as though they were about to burst just as my head broke through the surface of the water. The screams began to fade and my body began to tire. I pulled myself up onto a small board and allowed my mind to relax and succumb to my exhaustion. Waves crashed over my body through the night and occasionally knocked me back into the water.

* * *  Again I plunged into the water, and at that moment I was ready to give up, but something was different. The water was warmer, and I was able to dig my wrinkled feet into the sand below me. I pushed off the bottom and broke the surface. I opened my eyes and the warmth and brightness of the sun was a sign of relief.

 I had survived. The worst was over, or so I thought.

 I ran up onto the beach and turned my head frantically searching for a rescue station, other people, boats, anything. There was nothing. Just emptiness.

 I plopped down onto the sand and began to weep. The realization of my situation hit me all at once. I was alone. No one knew where I was, not even myself. I could have floated for miles in that storm. For hours I laid there drifting in out of consciousness.

 I could feel the heat burning my skin, but my muscles were too sore to hold my weight long enough to move myself into the cover of the trees. There was a faint noise in the distance, which caused me to lift my head; I saw a tiny figure stumbling along the beach. I laid my head down convinced it was the heat playing tricks on my mind, but again the noise sounded, this time a little louder. I looked again and the figure was moving faster now, straight toward me, growing in size. I felt as though I needed to run from it, but I could not get my feet under me. Suddenly, the figure collapsed beside me.

 She was panting deeply, I silently stared at her and waited for her to catch her breath. After a minute or two she looked at me, reached out for my hand, and began to cry. Her eyes locked on mine.

 “I’m Carly,” she exclaimed.

 “Amber.” I stretched out my arm and shook her hand. My gaze lowered and saw that most of her body was cut deeply and covered in blood.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> “What happened?” I inquired

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> “Pardon?”

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> “The cuts,” I asked, “how’d you get em?”

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> “I got caught in the coral reef; the waves kept bashing me into the coral and cut my body. I was sure I was gonna die out there.”

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> “How’d you get out?”

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> “Don’t know. After a while I passed out and ended up on the beach,” she said. “ I’m guessing it was 'cause my body was so relaxed, wasn’t fighting the waves no more.”

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> “Oh,” I responded.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> A few moments passed. Neither one of us said anything.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> She then piped up, “ We should go look for any other survivors.” I sluggishly stood up and began to walk away from Carly. She ran to catch up with me and matched my pace. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> * * *

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Scanning the beach was becoming a tiring task. The sun was pulling itself down to the water, and sent ribbons of light dancing across the waves. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How could something so peaceful be found in a hell like this. //

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> “Amber!” She hollered.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> I whipped my head around back to the beach and saw the soles of Carly's feet running toward two still bodies.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> She lunged forward into the sand and stared silently. By the time I reached her she had woken one of the bodies up. She had shoulder length dark hair and wasn’t as tall as the other girl or Carly, but I’m sure she still looked down on me.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Water was spurting out of her mouth as she had a violent coughing fit. Once she finally got enough air she managed to spit out her name was Emma. I walked over to the second girl just as her eyes fluttered open. She was tall and thin much like Carly but with a dark brown hair that was wet and covered in sand. She looked into my eyes and I saw the relief she felt from knowing she was not alone.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> “What’s your name?”

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> “Melanie,” she grunted before dropping her head back to the ground.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Carly and I exchanged a reassuring glance. We helped the girls to their feet and we all stumbled further up onto the sand.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">* * *

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> We all sat on the beach staring off into the sunset, watching the moon slowly rise, trading spots with the sun. No one said it but we were all thinking the same thing. Would we ever get off this island?

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<span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">Chapter 2- Fountain of Hope



<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Groggily, I opened my eyes. The sunlight flooded my vision, temporarily blinding me. I lay in the sand for a moment. The bright blue sky began to appear, developing like a Polaroid picture. I pushed myself upright and looked beside me. Carly was starting to wake up.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">“Good morning,” she mumbled tiredly.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">“Morning,” I replied.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">“We should probably go look for something to eat,” Carly said just as her stomach began to beg for food.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">“Should we wake them up first?” I glanced down at Melanie and Emma lying so peacefully on the ground.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">“Let them sleep a little longer. We shouldn’t be long.”

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">In a swift motion I got to my feet and looked up at the forest’s edge. It looked so uninviting; the wind was blowing the palm leaves back and forth. Sea gulls screeched above us circling over the water looking for crabs to devour.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">“Where should we start?”

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Carly glanced back and forth between the sea and the jungle, and then took a few steps up toward the trees. “You coming?” she hollered.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Quickly I caught up with her just as she broke through the barrier. The further we walked in, the more light disappeared. I felt as though we were walking down to hell and we would soon reach the gates.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The vines were so heavy we had to move very slowly so we could push them out of the way. Occasionally, I felt sharp pain in my legs as thorns dug into my tender flesh. Something bolted under the leaves in front of Carly, which caused her to jump back into me, knocking both of us to the ground. She let out a little chuckle and got back up. She reached out her hand and helped me to my feet. We carried on a little further.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Just as we were about to turn back, we heard a faint sound of running water just ahead of us. Carly quickened her pace and disappeared. Seconds later I broke through the tangle of vines, and stood in a huge open field. In the centre was a waterfall; it was taller than anything around us.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Carly ran to the water’s edge, cupped her hands, and plunged them into the water. She took a sip.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">“It’s fresh water!” she exclaimed.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I knelt beside her and put my whole face down in it. Taking giant gulps. The feeling of cold water going down my throat was a huge relief. I took a handful and rubbed it all over my face and along the back of my neck.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">“Let’s go back for the others, they’ll be thirsty too.”

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Carly nodded in agreement, and we started back toward the beach. Finally, we felt the warm sun on our skin and walked toward where Melanie and Emma sat on the sand.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">“Hey guys, where were you?” asked Melanie.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">“We found a huge waterfall. It’s fresh water. We came back for you guys,” Carly replied.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">“Come on, get up.”

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> They both got up and we were headed back up to the jungle when Emma noticed something swaying back and forth just off the shore a little ways down the beach.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">“Stop! What is that over there?” she squinted her eyes, in attempt to see it more closely. “It’s a life boat!”

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Her body began to shrink the further she ran ahead of us. We all began to sprint to catch up with her. When she reached the boat, she dropped her head into her hands.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">It was broken. The planks resembled spears, jutting out on the ends. She crawled inside to the back where there appeared to be a compartment. Lifting the hatch slowly, a smile stretched across her face from ear to ear. She pulled out a bright red bag; it could only be one thing. First aid kit.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">She threw it up on the beach and dug through the rest of the hatch. Next, she pulled out a few cans of spam, and a small mirror.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">We all gathered around the supplies. Staring at it for a few moments.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">We opened up a can of spam and each took some. The flavor was revolting but we were so famished, we didn’t think about the taste or texture. The can became empty very quickly, and we were still very hungry. I watched as the girls glanced at another can.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">“We can’t, we need to save it,” I said, “We don’t know when we’ll get a chance to find other food.”

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">As Melanie stood up she mumbled, “she’s right, we need to make it last.”

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The others nodded in agreement and stood up along side Melanie. We grabbed the supplies and pulled the remains of the boat up to the edge of the forest. I could see Carly’s muscles flex as she pushed from the back //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">. She must work out a lot. //

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It was beginning to get dark. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We needed shelter. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I told Melanie and Emma to make some sort of shelter, and try to start a fire while Carly and I went to get them some water. I could see they were becoming dehydrated and needed something to drink quickly.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Carly and I grabbed the empty spam can and set off back into the forest.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">* * *

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">We filled the can and took a few gulps. Very carefully we walked back to the beach. When we got back Melanie and Emma had propped the boat up against a tree and covered it in palm leaves and laid a few on the ground. It wasn’t much but it was better than being completely exposed. They also had a small fire started. The flames danced through the air as it grew in size. We all sat in the sand around the pit and watched as the shapes of the flames changed. Sometimes we could see animals. It was beautiful.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I stared up at the sky, watching the stars blink. They were a symbol of hope in our now dreary world. My eyes began to feel heavy and I walked over to the shelter and lay down on the leaves. I allowed my eyes to close and my mind drifted off.

//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I was back at home, staring at a blank canvas. What to paint I thought to myself. I raised my brush up to the blank canvas and was about to make the first mark. The feeling of control I felt when I was painting was unbelievable; I had the power to make it whatever I wanted. My little brother burst into my room and knocked my easel over. I was screaming at him and calling him a pest. My mom came into my room and helped my pick everything back up. I was just about to start again when the doorbell rang. I ran downstairs to answer it and it was…. //

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I jolted upright. My eyes full of tears, thoughts of home were lingering in my mind. I missed my family, even my annoying little brother. I would give anything to be back there right now. To have a canvas, to have control.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">* * *

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I dragged branches down to the beach. We had to keep the fire going. Not only for use as a signal for a boat but to keep us warm at night. I watched as Emma and Carly brought armfuls of fruit down to the camp. Melanie was sitting on a log staring at something small and shiny.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I walked over and sat down beside her. She was twirling the thing in her fingers.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">“Whatcha got?”

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">“It’s a compass, it was laying behind this log,” she stared at it for moment, “ I wonder if someone else was here before us.”

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">She opened up the compass and inside engraved was, ‘In god we trust’ and below that was ‘SOS’.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">We looked at each other; I could see the hope burn brighter in her eyes. Maybe we would be rescued. If people were here before, and they were found, we might be too. Hopefully.

<span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;"> Chapter 3- Disappearance



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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I felt a stingingly cold breeze blow over my skin; seconds later an icy wave engulfed my feet. Slowly my eyes opened. I was squinting expecting to see a bright light until I realized it was nighttime. Quickly I glanced beside me, no one was there. The other girls were gone. In a swift motion, I got to my feet and spun on my heels. Scanning the whole area for them. Nothing.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I crept up to the forest’s edge and noticed a path of broken branches. Not like the breaks from when we walk to get water; these were made from a struggle. I stepped over the fallen trees at the entrance to the path, my feet fell silently on the soft soil, and I glided through the jungle. Within seconds it was pitch black. I began to stumble, moving more sluggishly every step I took. Falling forward I reached out to grab a branch; I felt something soft. I pulled myself up and grabbed this mysterious thing. I held it close to my face and squinted, trying to see what it was. Finally, it came into focus. It was fabric. I pinched it between my fingers and thought about where it could have come from. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Maybe it was Carly’s, or Emma’s, or Melanie’s? How did it get here, did one of girls snag their shirt trying to find their way out, or was it torn as they were being dragged through. Maybe we were not alone on the island after all. //

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">* * *

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Shining through the canopy above me the sun began to rise. Unknowingly, I had been walking along the trail all night. I had no idea where I was going, but I knew I needed to find the end.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I was getting hungry, so I stopped under a fruit tree along the way. The fruit didn’t look familiar, but I was so hungry that I ate it anyway. I took a few bites and waited for a while. I felt fine, so I finished two whole ones of these fuzzy orange and green things. They looked like…..giant peaches. I giggled to myself as the picture of James and the Giant Peach flashed in my head. I put a few peach-like things in my pocket and kept walking. I broke through into a clearing. I heard yelling around me and everything went black.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">* * *

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Jabbing pains in my ribs finally woke me up. There were three men standing above me, their faces painted black and green. Their muscles were defined, hair longer than my own, and they wore clothing made from leaves. They started yelling at me in another language, but I just shook my head. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What are they saying? Are they gonna kill me? Where are the other girls! //

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> “Please stop! I’m sorry I don’t understand you, just let me go!” I shrieked and tried to free my hands. Twisting, turning, wriggling. Nothing was working; there was no way I was going to get my hands free. Howling in the distance caused the men to take off into the forest,

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> “Psst, Amber”

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> “Huh who is that?”

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> “It’s me, Carly.”

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> “What happened? Where are we? Who were those guys?” I asked.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> “I don’t know, they grabbed me off the beach last night while I was sleeping. There were four men, they grabbed the three of us but something made the fourth guy take off before he got you,” Carly shuttered as she recalled the events.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> “ Where are Melanie and Emma? Are they okay?”

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I could here Carly take a deep breath and her voice became shaky, she sounded like she was going to cry.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> “They came for them a little while ago….. there was screaming. So much screaming, then, silence.” She glanced over her shoulder. I followed her gaze and my eyes fell upon a clump of hair lying beside her on the ground.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> “T-th-they’re dead aren’t they?”

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> “ I think so,” she said hesitantly.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For a while we just sat there in silence. The air became heavy. We both knew we were next, but how long would we be tied up there for before they decided it was time for us. Our turn to have the life drained from our bodies. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Maybe this is karma at its finest. We spilled the blood of animals, now it’s pay back. //

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There was a rustling in the bushes again. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is it. My turn to go. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My heart sank and my eyes filled with tears. I felt them barrel down along my cheeks, leaving a line.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I said goodbye to Carly, closed my eyes, and shut off the world. For possibly the last time.