Taylor+M

** By: Taylor Main ** Dedicated to the scaly morsel that got away.
 * __ Unknown __**



** Chapter 1 : The Sting of Salt ** The strap of the mask was digging into the back of my head. A headache began to grow, but it would never match the amount of chaos that was unfolding around me. I saw nothing out the right side window, but then I understood exactly what was happening. A stream of black smoke wiggled its way through the seams of the plane. A blaze of orange reflected in my eyes as the plane began to plummet towards it s doom. * * * I felt the burn of the salt water as it washed over my face. A drip of blood slowly trickled off my brow and into the deep sea, which quickly swallowed me whole. I began to slip in and out of consciousness as I drifted to my final destination, which was unknown to me. My one and only hope was to get out of the water, and rest. I kept this thought in my mind, that I would survive, just to remain sane. If I let even just a part of myself crack, I knew I would be a goner. * * *  Gone. The left side of the plane was engulfed in flames. Screams of terror arose, as the nightmare of crashing became a reality. I came to the realization that I would not make it to Australia. All I wanted was to take a vacation, to get away from all the chaos at home. I caught a glimpse of the other passengers. Some young, some old. It seemed as if they had also come to the same realization I had already arrived at. Why did this have to be the reality for me? Could something not have happened before we left? I just do not see why I should have to carry this burden. The burden of survival. My ears began to pop, as the pressure of the cabin dropped. I turned to look out the window, just as the plane crashed directly into the mouth of the water. The sea ate the burning wreck to fill its empty stomach. The pandemonium of colliding with the deep, and the reaction of the sea, were not alike. * * *  A scraping feeling overwhelmed my foot. Once again I felt the stinging of the salt. I was forced forward with the motion of the raging waves. I forgot all about why I had taken this trip. Thoughts of survival were the only thing I worried about. The sound of birds flooded my ears, along with the sound of exotic animals. I knew I had finally reached a place of rest. Or so I thought. I hobbled my way along the beach of the unknown land. There were no footprints embedded in the sand other than those of my bloody feet. I knew I had to clean out the gash on the heel of my foot. But I could not bare the harsh reaction my body would have to the salt water of the sea. I just sat. On a log, not too far from the water, in between the trees and the rush of the waves. My breath was not much louder than the screeches and shrills of the creatures that surrounded me. I was used to this kind of chaos. The noise was only all too familiar to me. If only I could get the incident out of my mind. I decided to explore. Get my mind off of the things I did not want to remember. Anyways, I wanted to see if I could find any other, lucky survivors. * * *  A branch swung and hit me in the face, leaving a slight scratch between my eyes. Once I began to walk again, I tripped over a log that seemed to come out of nowhere, almost as if it were alive. After the sun began to set, I concluded there were no survivors ­– other than me. This came as a big shock because I never thought I would have to survive on my own. I continued until I found where I had begun my exploration. The night began to triumph over the daylight. Yet again I sat upon the log and dreaded how much my feet would scream in excruciating pain if I wandered through the water. A sudden squeal came from behind me. I did not want to turn around, for exhaustion overtook my body. Nevertheless, I glanced over my shoulder to peer into the darkness that held the source of the inhuman noise. Two eyes glanced back at me. I shot up like a rocket. My heart pounding. Sweat dripped off my brow and trickled down my cheek. I stood motionless, facing the mysterious figure that now seemed to mirror my exact actions. I let out a quick breath, and with that the figure disappeared with the last bit of sunlight. ** Chapter 2 : Scaly Morsel ** I felt the sky spitting on my face as if I were only a spec of dirt. Managing to prop myself on the log, I noticed that it was not rain that landed neatly on my cheek, but the potent fecal matter from a strange bird that perched itself on a limb above me. I immediately stumbled across the coarse sand. Once again I walked along the beach to find a spot to rest my eyes. Another log, in close proximity of the other, caught my eye as I slowly crossed the beach. Suddenly it dawned upon me that the sun had not quite taken its place in the sky. I leaned against the new log, curling up into a ball. My eyes began to droop as I fell into a deep sleep, for I was utterly exhausted. * * *  //I could taste the barbeque sauce as I sank my teeth into the steak that was displayed on a clean, white plate.// // The oven was at fault for filling the room with the smell of freshly baked bread. I downed my glass of water and my chair quickly tipped backwards, which sent me flying. My head seemed to smack against the wall. // But it was not the wall that I had hit. I heard a snapping noise as my head smashed a small hole in the rotting bark of the log. I recollected my thoughts before I recognized that it had only been a dream. This whimsical fantasy seemed to be a wish – my stomach gurgled in agreement. Staggering to the water, I ceased to move as I stared blankly into the uncontrolled waves of the deep water. I caught a glimpse of violent splashes off to one side, but I chose to ignore them. I wanted food. It was a need. I splashed through the water, remembering how I once tried to avoid the salt water. I let out a scream, but the pain gradually passed. Momentarily, I looked to my left where a small fish cruised along the shore. A sudden urge came over me as I leaped, grasping the water. I could feel the scaly skin of the fish as it slipped through my fingers. The scaly creature washed away with the waves. At that moment I saw the sea around me turn a bright red. I knew I had wounded the fish, yet it felt I had been the one who was defeated. I strolled further towards the horizon where the sun had rested among the numerous clouds. That is when I knew a tiny morsel had defeated me. A gentle wave kissed my hand with its salty lips. The stinging sensation made me squint. I could not believe that both my foot and now my hand had been ripped to shreds. * * *  The sound of shredding fabric filled my ears. I began to tear my pants so I would be able to hide what this unforgiving island had done to me. After I tired myself out, and had bound my injuries, I found my way back to the safety of the log. Once again I lay against the wood, and closed my eyes. I drifted off into my dreams, making all my worries disappear. //I swatted at the mosquitoes as they flew passed my face. Some maneuvered their way through my hand, directly to my arm.// // They pierced my skin with their mouths, and little by little they began to suck the blood from my body. // // I smacked my arm, resulting in an explosion of blood across my forearm. I did not mind because I was distracted enough to not feel it. But one insect seemed to irritate me so much I jumped. // I jerked as I felt a poke in my side. I turned to be welcomed, or so I thought, by two pairs of eyes. The faces seemed vaguely familiar. The difference was that these faces that appeared in front of me were slightly tattered and dusted with sand – anyone could tell the hardships these people had gone through. In that instant I wondered if I looked identical to the faces that peered down at me. I tried to speak, but the words could not make themselves heard. My throat was dry, and my lips chapped. // Are these individuals friends, or foes? Can I trust them? //

** Chapter 3 : Tingling Toes ** Burning. Flashes of red. The sensation that struck fear right through my heart like a burning arrow piercing my foot. I could see the steam as it rose and condensed on my face. Overwhelming my senses was the smell of burning flesh. My toes tingled as I felt the hairs on the back of my neck cringe and dissolve to ash. * * *  The embers smoldered, the fire died, and the ashes turned to black. I could see the others’ disappointment, but I continued to gather the splinters of wood that scattered the tiny grains across the beach. Never once did I feel the need to speak. There was nothing to be said. Occasionally there would be a little bit of conversation, but it would only last for a minute or so, for nothing we said would matter – not even a plan for rescue. I tried to start the fire, but quickly became bored of this tedious task. Sitting on the log, whose mere appearance meant safety, made me realize I no longer felt safe. A rumble grew beneath our fragile bodies. A rumble that only sounded like my gurgling stomach, but, in fact, it was not that of a human, but of something much larger and monstrous, threatening to swallow us whole. * * *



Illuminating the sky, the sun peered down upon the slumber that overtook my body. Hearing rustling on either side of where I slept, the sense of fear and frustration boiled inside of me. I realized that it was only one of the girls keeping busy. I could hear the rocks bouncing off the log almost exactly where my feet were placed. Missing the log, and hitting the heel of my right foot, the rock lodged itself into the open wound that began to gush out blood. I flinched, but I did not have the strength to sit up and express my pain to the world. Ignoring the fact that I was in pain, the girl continued to amuse herself with throwing pebbles. The thought of what the other one was doing escaped my mind. A sudden urge came over me. I just needed to get the fire burning. So once again, I tried to make a spark to ignite the twigs into a glorious flame. The shadow of the tall, dark trees covered half my pale facial features as the fire grew and shone brightly against the blackness of the dreary, unforgiving night. The wind howled as it blew harshly, attempting to suffocate the flame that kept me warm. The howling continued, long after the wind had disappeared, making me feel uncomfortable. I had forgot about the other two, when suddenly I felt their hands grasp around me as if they had heard the boogieman calling out their names. But then I saw it. Indubitably, there was some sort of monster lurking in the thick undergrowth of the island, for there were two sparkling eyes that gleamed likes stars shining in the night. It approached our huddle, only taking a second to hesitate before it came through the line of brush that outlined the beach. My mind exaggerated the features of the figure, slowly limping its way towards us. Its sharp teeth, shimmering in the light of the fire; a mop of long black hair, sweeping across its red eyes; and the shrill sound of its voice. Gradually I came back to reality as a boy stood directly in front of me. Harmless. Or so I thought. I caught a glimpse of a knife in his pocket. I would never cross his path. * * *  Sweat poured down the side of my face and glistened as the heat beat against my body. The boy had persuaded all of us to explore the mountain that made itself prominent in the middle of the island. The sun rested above as we continued our treacherous venture to the unknown heights of the giant. I could see the top just as I realized that this was not a mountain, and that we had probably ventured our way to our resting place. The heat that came from the mouth of the volcano enveloped me, and it carried with it the sense of panic. It was hungry and wanted something to eat as it let out a belch. And with that, the lava started to spew. I could feel the tension as we dashed down the side of the rocky terrain. Tripping over my feet, I thought it was the end. A fluttering noise filled my ears as a helicopter flew overhead. Not knowing whether to scream or to frolic like a crazy, I lost my concentration and eventually fell to my doom. The bright red, steaming lava crept closer. //Could this really be the end?// I knew that my fear kept me from living. I feared life to the point where death only seemed like a slip away. That one slip came faster than I thought. I could feel the condensing steam drip off my face. The smell of burning flesh made me cringe. The molten lava swallowed me slowly, letting me recognize what I had feared just before it took it all away. My toes tingled as the hairs on the back of my neck melted and dissolved to ash ­– just as I did.