Stuck On An Island

chapter 2

'Why do you ask?' I said, taking a step back as he advanced towards me. He halted again, his expression thoughtful. 'It's only fair to know how many people I'll be bringing to my home,' he explained. His reasoning made sense - if I were in his shoes, I'd want to know if I was taking on additional responsibilities, like a stranger's companions or luggage. His question was logical, but I still hesitated, unsure how much to reveal.

"'I am alone,'" I replied, trying to sound convincing. "'Don't worry, everything will be okay.'" He said while he turned around, walking away into the forest. I grabbed my bag from inside the plane, calling out, "'Hey, wait up!'" But before he could respond, four men emerged from the forest, running towards me with menacing intent. They wore native clothing and had fierce paintings all over their bodies, including their faces, which made them look even more intimidating.

I froze for a moment, startled by the sudden appearance of the four men. Then, I sprinted back to the plane as fast as I could, desperate to escape. I climbed inside, but before I could even pull my legs in, a hand grasped my ankle, yanking me back out. I was thrown to the ground, feeling the sand scrape against my skin. Two of the men rummaged through my plane, tossing out almost everything they came across. I realized, with a bitter taste of betrayal, that the decent-looking man was not what he seemed. He was a total stranger, and yet I had expected so much from him. His deception cut deep, and I felt a surge of anger and fear.

As the other three men continued to taunt me with their sticks, treating me like a captured animal, their leader commanded them to stop. His physique was chiseled like a rock, with eight defined packs of muscle visible beneath his skin. He wore a traditional skirt-like garment that barely covered his front and back, leaving his chiseled cheekbones and powerful legs exposed. All of them wore similar attire, with swords strapped to their backs, but he wore it with a confident air that made him stand out. Every step he took seemed to make the earth tremble slightly, his presence radiating an aura of authority and strength.

He loomed over me, his imposing figure blocking out the sun like a dark mountain. His face was obscured, making him appear even more menacing. Two of the men grasped my arms, holding me in place as I struggled to break free. They spoke in a language I couldn't comprehend, their words sounded like a foreign chant. I had heard many languages before, but this one was completely unknown to me. I wondered where the man who spoke English had gone, the one who had initially seemed so friendly. Before I could ponder further, one of the men scooped me up and slung me over his shoulders. I was carried deeper into the forest, my view limited to the men's feet walking in unison.

We arrived at their camp, and I was amazed to see a house perched high up in the trees. My captor gestured for me to climb up, and I hesitantly obeyed. Inside, I found the man who spoke English, offering me food. I declined, still wary. "Is this the family house you spoke of?" I asked, trying to sound brave. He smiled enigmatically, "No, we're not there yet." He distributed food to the other men, conversing with them in their native language. I asked, "So you can understand them?" The intimidating man shot me a warning glance, and I quickly fell silent. The English-speaking man nodded, "Yes, and now it's best you keep quiet, miss." I gazed at him, realizing he wasn't the one in charge. The scary guy seemed to be the leader, and I knew I had to tread carefully.

A warm hand clamped over my mouth, and I opened my eyes to find myself startled. He gestured for silence, his finger pressed against his lips. "Shhhh." The other men stood around the cabin, swords at the ready, their faces tense and alert. I heard scratching on the rooftop, and my heart raced. Suddenly, the scratching stopped, and an eerie silence fell. Then, something came crashing down, breaking through the roof and landing with a thud inside the cabin. I gazed up in horror at the creature that had fallen from above. It had a long, slender tail, razor-sharp teeth, and piercing eyes that seemed to bore into my soul. I had never seen anything like it before, and I froze in terror.

The creature lunged at the men, killing four of them in a swift and brutal attack. The scary guy stood firm, ready to face the beast head-on. The English-speaking man lay unconscious on the floor. The creature struck the scary man with its tail, leaving his left arm numb and useless. I seized the moment, quietly picking up a sword and cutting off the creature's tail. It let out a deafening screech as I turned and drove the sword through its stomach, spilling its innards. I collapsed to the ground, sitting in shock, and managed a weak smile at the scary guy. He barely acknowledged it, instead rushing to check on the English man. He then peered out the window, vigilant for any signs of more creatures. I sat in the corner, wide awake and on high alert, as he kept watch throughout the rest of the night.

Finally, morning arrived, and the poison had spread through the scary guy's arm. The English man woke up, and after assessing the situation, he quickly untied my hands. "You have two options," he said. "You can return to your plane and face those creatures every night, or you can help me carry him home and be safe." I chose the only viable option, and we carried the scary guy until we reached two towering pillars visible from a distance. With the sun setting and darkness closing in, we could literally see the shadows creeping over the valley. We sprinted towards the pillars, desperate to escape the encroaching darkness. "We need to get through the pillars," he yelled. We gave it one final push and collapsed through the opening just as the darkness was about to engulf us.

As we emerged from the pillars, I found myself in a bustling village, surrounded by people and houses that seemed to belong to a bygone era. The scene was breathtakingly beautiful, like stepping into a medieval tapestry. Women wore long, colorful dresses, while men donned robes. The warriors, like the man I was helping to carry, wore skirts, a traditional attire that seemed both practical and dignified. The village was alive with activity, and I felt as though I had entered a different world, one that was both familiar and yet, utterly foreign.

I stood frozen by the entrance, still trying to process the surreal scene before me. Two men, dressed in the same attire as the scary man, rushed to carry him away. I remained there, awestruck by the town's medieval charm. My mind raced with questions: 'Am I hallucinating? Nah, I've hallucinated before, and this doesn't feel like that.' Or maybe I'm dead?' I was lost in thought, trying to make sense of it all. The English-speaking man's voice snapped me back to reality. 'Come with me,' he said, and I nodded, following him without hesitation, still trying to wrap my head around this strange new world.

A man with worn aut clothes seating by the entrance kept repeating the warning, his words etched in my mind: 'They only come at night, when the light fades and the darkness takes over. If you're outside the barrier, you might not survive the night.' I nodded, but my curiosity got the better of me. I walked past him, venturing into the town, where everyone's eyes seemed to be on me. Whispers followed me as I went, and I wondered if it was my strange clothing that drew their attention. The villagers' gazes were a mix of fascination and suspicion, making me feel like an outsider in this medieval-like town.