Malediction

Gone Mad

"FOUND YOU!" 

I felt somebody lift my left shoulder up. My right arm was numb. Whoever it was dragged me somewhere. I was barely conscious of who it was. My eyes were tricking me, it was Chris. Something was wrong because he looked sinister. That wasn't the laid back Chris I knew. He was with me through high school, college, course shifts and now helping me out in this. That dude slept through meetings or chatted with me on his funny comments about Andrea's behavior. He'd offer smokes everyday despite my persistent decline to his offer. I persuaded him to be here, to help me out on this big break. But right now, he looked so maniacally crazy, it scared me. He was a horrifying sight in my dazed eyes. I struggled to get off him but I was too weak. My knees were not helping at all.

"COME WITH ME JAMES. I'LL SAVE YA" He said, trying to be convincing while he panted in excitement. He was just menacing that he was almost salivating without him caring. His veins were popping from his temples. His eyes were bloodshot and hair disheveled. He was almost shivering in excitement. 

Then there I noticed the same green  thick substance and blood flowing from a hole on his neck. He also got shot… but it didn't make him weak. It made him crazy.

I didn't know how long we had been walking, but it felt far. The sky was not visible. The enormous leaves covered any light that could've shown him where they were. The forest became thicker, and I realized he was walking me deeper in the forest and not to the shore. What is he going to do to me?

He dropped me on a large sturdy tree beside a carved small statue on top of a stump. My head bumped on the trunk so hard, it made me so dizzy I threw up. When I looked at him again, he was already holding my machete from before, like a hunter ready to gut his prey. "Hold up Chris, I-I think this… is not a good idea. It's the poisoned dart. Drop… the machete…" I barely made it loud enough for him to hear. He laughed so hard, he cried. He shook my shoulders enough that my head kept slamming through the hard trunk while he laughed like a madman. It was like shaking the soul out of me. Then he took a breath and said, "Ain't planning to kill you, James. The drug will. I just wanna have fun, okay?" He looked at me up and down. "Then  I'll go find Tim and Andrea and make cute little slices out of them too. So, are you ready, Jamey boy?" He placed his face near mine with the blade tip near my neck and pulled it away, taunting me. It made my blood boil. I wanted to slap the hell out of him to wake him up from this shitty trance. I head butt him. He didn't even flinch. He continued to laugh. "That was a good one, but it wasn't ENOUGH!" He went ballistic.

He tried to hold my numb right arm. I fought with what little strength I had left. I lashed out on him with kicks and left arm swings. I took the small statue and swung it to him. Attempting to knife me down, he took a step back and only grazed my arm with the machete. Luckily, it wasn't strong enough to cut my muscle apart but it was enough to create a thin long stab wound. 

He seemed pissed that I didn't scream in pain. I couldn't because it was numb. He came closer. He kicked me to the side of the tree, on the bushes. I groaned from sheer pain. I prepared for another attempt by holding a piece of flat stone scattered on the ground along with the broken statue that hit my back earlier. I faced him.  "No fun", he said with contempt, his bloodshot eyes dissatisfied. He spat on me and ran away. I sat up and followed him through my eyes as I bandaged the wound with the bandana I had. I wish Andrea and Tim would know better. 

I hoped they were alive.

"Oh my god, James!" Andrea whispered strongly. She emerged from the opposite direction Chris went a few minutes after. She was drenched in sweat, her long skirt rugged with holes, tiny branches and leaves. Tim was tailing Andrea, he was breathing heavily from the long run. His camera was still latched to his neck, it was too precious for him to lose. I sighed in relief. They were safe. "What the hell happened to you?" Tim asked in concern upon seeing my bloody arm. " It was Chris. Be careful." I said seriously. Their faces showed like I said something questionable. They were confused but only for a moment. "Okay, James. Let's get out of here before the natives come back." She said in comfort. Her face was etched with worry. I smiled and I blacked out.

I didn't know how it happened, but we were suddenly on a large fishing ship the moment I understood what was happening. I was slipping in and out of consciousness. All I remember is we ran, well, I tried to. We went to the shore, the boat was all alone and we left for the sea. Where is the fisherman guide from before? Then Andrea signaled her flares, it was red. A long horn sound. Rope ladders. Many hands. A makeshift stretcher. Struggling fish in a net. People. Yes, fishermen. Cold metal floor. Black gray smoke everywhere. A stinky net bed. Someone is trying to bandage me more.

"Hey, we'll go home, okay?" I heard Andrea say with warmth. I smiled in relief. She was always reassuring. She stayed by my side and continued to dress my long wound with bandages too. She probably removed the dart and cleaned my neck. It felt nice and a little bit restricted for 180 degree movement. I saw Tim talking to one of the fishermen. It looked like he was explaining what happened. Did they know what kind of island we came from? I hope so, because it was very odd to have unknown tribes and an island in light of today's media. Nevertheless, it's actually great that the fishermen were nice enough to let us travel with them in this emergency. I tried to look around again. The sky was now orange. The sun is about to set. I followed the sun rays' path of light.

Then there he was. Chris was resting his head on the beam of the ship, standing and smoking. His eyes were still red but he was more stable than he was earlier. His veins still popped but he wasn't salivating. He looked at me. "Wanna smoke?" He mouthed and smiled like nothing happened. I looked at him in horror. He still had the machete.

I tried to warn Andrea before I slipped into darkness again.

"He's... going to... kill you..."