The Water Lilie's

Cast Away

Inside the white hotel building, was a large lobby filled with tourists and many workers hurrying about their afternoons. We were greeted by a friendly looking man named Peter.

"Hello everyone, and welcome to the finest hotel on Crystal Island!" He smiled. "Now follow me and I will lead you to the grand dining room in which the buffet will be served."

Everyone followed along. I could not wait to eat I was beyond starving and the smell of food hitting my nose was beginning to make my mouth water. When we walked into the dining hall the room was full of mingling people, families, friends, lovers all eating and enjoying themselves.

We were seated at multiple tables in the room, and of course, the five of us managed to grab a table together. We walked over to the hot tables with lushes food steaming off of them. My eyes could barely handle the amount of food before me: Chicken, Turkey, Beef, Ham, Pasta, Salad, Chinese food, Pizza, and Tacos. If you could think of it, it was all here waiting to be eaten.... we grabbed so much food and stacked it onto our plates you would have thought we haven't eaten in weeks.

A couple of the quiet students and Ms. Erendale sat at the table across from us, and every now and then when I looked up from my food I would catch a glimpse of Ms. Erendale staring at me, every time I looked up she would quickly look away. This seems fairly odd..... but maybe she just thinks im a pig for eating so much food at once.

A few minutes late I caught her staring again, I was starting to worry now. This seemed odd...I looked at her and raised an eyebrow at her hoping she would notice.

Why was she so interested in me?

----

When we arrived back down to our cabins all the students went and got changed into warmer clothes. The sound of the waves swooshing against the sand moving back and forth was relaxing, although it was quite chilly when the sun began to go down.

I went back to the cabin and pulled out my clothes, I slipped on a tan long sleeve shirt and a pair of ripped jeans with my converse and made my way out to the Bonfire which a couple of the guys Ryan and Jess started once we got back to camp. Eliza and Natasha were already getting warm by the fire and Colton had his arms wrapped around Natasha from behind as they sat beside the warm flames.

I jumped as I felt a soft hand touch the side of my waist and grab me from behind, I squealed as I jumped to the side and turned around to see who it was.

"Calm down Em, it's only me." Jackson stated letting a small smirk form at the corner of his lips.

"Oh, I thought you were already down at the fire!" I laughed.

"Nope. I was in the washroom, surprised you didn't notice."

"Oh god, Jack." I let out a small giggle and playfully hit him on the shoulder.

"Oh no, you didn't!" He yelled as a ran off in front of him.

I headed out the front door of the cabin and let the wind slam it shut on my way out. As I ran down the beachfront I could feel the sand getting into my shoes, but once you start a competition with Jackson you must finish it.

I quickly glanced over my shoulder, he was catching up with me, I tried to speed up but running in the sand is actually quite hard and I was beginning to get tired. Soon he finally reached me, grabbing me by my waist and spinning me around in a circle, then bringing me back in close to his torso.

We laughed together as he spun me around to face him.

"You drive me crazy, you know that?" He said as he laughed. He placed his hand on my cheek again and looked me in the eyes.

My heart raced as I starred back into his, I placed my hand gently on his chest. I could feel his heartbeat getting increasingly faster as our eyes were still locked together.

A loud whistle broke our eye contact as we both turned to look at Ms. Erendale who was making her way to the campfire with a large book in her hand.

We walked off together towards the fire and sat down beside the rest of our friends.

"What's with the whistle all the time?" Natasha said, "it's so annoying, can she not just use her words?"

We all laughed at what she had said and nodded our heads in an agreement. Looks like we'll be getting used to it for the next 13 days.

When she sat down in her camp chair she opened the book she had brought out and placed it on her lap.

"We all know the Urban Legend of the Water Lillies correct?" She asked.

Everyone nodded their head.

"Or so you think...." She added, she raised her eyebrow and smirked. " Let me tell you the true story of the Water Lillies....."

"Ooohhh, so scary!" One of the guys in the front said as him and his friends began laughing with one another.

"QUIET!" She exclaimed. And with that everyone had gone silent.

I rested my head on my shoulder and tried to get comfortable on the sand. Jack had placed his arm around my shoulders and allowed me to place my head on his arm instead.

She showed us the first page of the book: The Sacred Gem

These creatures are very powerful and are ruled by one of the most powerful Water Lillies of all... The one who had control over the gem and kept it safe...She who ruled the Gem is known as the Guardian. This gem was in the shape of a Water Lilly and held the power to control the other creatures. " Ms. Erendale said.

"But one day, a young mermaid was tired of being controlled by their leader and did not agree with their decisions. She began to defy the rules and leave without any supervision. She began to sit outside the water on rocks and dry land, she would go to Crystal beach to get away and there is where she met her love. A young male had seen her and she decided not to run and hide but instead show herself to him exposing him to their world. Soon the two became very close and began seeing each other every day right at sunset. Eventually, the two fell in love and soon she allowed him to write about her and do tests on her as well."

"Okay, this is getting boring..." A girl in the front said and she raised her hand in front of her mouth and let out a small fake yawn.

" You taught us all about them in class, I mean we barely covered the topics of other mythical creatures..."

Ms. Erendale looked at her and rolled her eyes. She ignored her and continued to tell the story.

"One day the ruler had found out and cast the rebellious mermaid away for exposing herself to a human. This was forbidden to expose yourself and fall in love with someone not of your kind. The consequences were killing the one she exposed herself too and casting her away to the dry lands to be one of the humans and she had to suffer alone as a human without the company of the one she loved. Ever since this day, it is believed that she is still out there looking for a way to be one of them again and capture the Gem to take over the Water Lillies and gain back vengeance. " She finished speaking and closed the book.

"Okay, that's just ridiculous." Another kid called out.

" Definitely made up, I mean none of this is factual anyways. If the man got killed off then none of this would have even been documented."

"But it's the truth." She replied matter of factly.