Malediction

In the Island

James' POV

The air breezing through my skin was so fresh I let it linger a little longer in my mind. The continuous splashing of the water crossed by the boat was a rhythm I seemed to enjoy as we stayed by the sea a little longer. Traveling by sea was not a bad thing after all, as I thought it was. Especially, with the goal to expose a nationwide known hero-politician, young and full of potential with strange love interests. He had this weird taste in married women of the high-end society and paranoia that would be enough for him to hide his little secrets in unnamed islands up the north of Philippines. 

 “Hey, James! Want some light beer?” said Tim knowingly, our burly but short photojournalist.

“Is it too early to celebrate the big break?” I said jokingly. Andrea, our team leader and a twenty-six year old writer, snatched the deflated plastic bottle containing the questionable beer that James enthusiastically waved to me moments before. “I worked for this scoop for half a year, I don’t need drunk-ass men wobbling with me to the island. If you think this is a vacation Tim, then you can get your retarded ass out of this boat right now.” She swung the bottle to the water and pointed Tim to the other side of the small fish boat from me. 

“Sit there and get fresh air. You’ll probably need it to get your act straight.” Andrea said firmly. Tim followed like a young boy scolded by her mother. She sighed, I almost heard her say 'Unbelievable'. Tim was a dedicated man to his art, his angles on point and in the moment. It's just that he had an undiagnosed habit towards alcoholism. It's actually questionable how he got his ‘beer’ or whatever it was through the plane. 

 Chris was a good friend of mine that I brought along. He was there just in case something weird happened, he knew what to do. Nonchalantly, he slept with a hat on his face, on the floor of the boat beside the fisherman that guided us. He did not want to be involved in the ruckus Tim started. 

Not too long, I locked eyes with Andrea’s, shocked that I stared at her for too long. It probably creeped her out but Andrea swayed her head sideways and chuckled. I stared at the ground, feeling heat score through my cheeks. It was awkward. What are you, James? Some kid? I muttered to myself. But how couldn’t I enjoy the view? She glowed as the sun hit her olive skin, her dark waves matched the calm sea’s movements, it was loose yet flowing, as was her skirt that shyly danced with the wind. Her pastel pink blouse hugged a handful of round bosoms . Her irises’ deep brown color was enhanced whenever she looked far away.

She was a few inches shorter than the twenty-four year old me, who was about 6’2 feet. I realized it when she looked up to me asking for my name, persuading me, a new intern, to join her team on exposing a politician being involved in a scandal with his rival’s wife in the upcoming elections. She didn’t have to say much, I happily joined her when she smiled at me. God, she was angelic. Upon hearing rumors that she never talked much to men but only to Tim and me, I became too excited to even hear what it was. It was foolish to even think I could get a chance, but it would not hurt not to try.

Or so I thought.

When we arrived at the secluded unnamed island in the middle of nowhere up north of the Philippines, it looked uninhabited. A filthy rich politician like Herman 'Jerry' Gonzalez, would at least remove the large vines blocking the way and create a small pathway, since the island is rarely crossed. He sure is secretive with his affairs. I thought looking at the large palm trees and the forest up ahead, slapping mosquitoes trying to suck the life out of me. With our small, easily hidden equipment and supplies, we roamed around the shore with pictures. It was beautiful, another undiscovered tourist spot.” There should be people here, do you think the natives know him?” Tim asked Andrea. She nodded. “Yeah, I got a tip from one of them.” 

“I don’t know, this place is hella sketchy.” I said, hesitant to go forward. “Are you sure we are on the right island?” I added. She rolled her eyes, “I’m not that stupid. I asked the fisherman and he said this was the island that suspicious rich people come to, I got this.” She said in reassurance. I just scratched my head in defeat. Chris just smirked. “This is gonna be fun, who knows what’s in there?” He whispered, I shrugged. We continued deep in the forest.

A few hundred meters in, I felt a chill from the back of my neck. Is someone watching us? I searched the place with my eyes as we moved along. Nothing. I was ahead of the team since I got the muscle to hack through the vines. “How the hell did Gonzalez stay here from time to time?” Tim said to break the silence, probably thinking Gonzalez’s paranoia to be caught was too far fetched and he was glaring at Andrea. I thought so too. “Trust me, we’ll get there.” she said and glared back. We moved along until I saw something.

Eyes hiding in bushes. A native.

He knew we saw him. He emerged from the thick bushes and stood there in silence. The adolescent boy was short and dark from being sunkissed. He was barely dressed with bands of colored cloth ringed on his arms and forehead. His pelvic area is covered in dried leather. "Hello, I would just like to ask-" Andrea's calm greeting turned into a high pitched scream. 

This is a mistake.

The mysterious native suddenly shouted something I couldn't understand. Everyone ducked quickly and ran, except me. My machete was stuck on a vine and I tried to remove it as fast as I could, but it was too late. I noticed something flying to me. It bit me. I took a step back, shocked. 

It was a feathered dart. A green thick substance from the dart dripped on my neck along with my blood.  I dropped to the ground. My head floated and my legs became almost useless.

I tried to walk away, but the trees curled in my eyes. My vision was blurry. 

Am I going to die here?