ISLAND

Chapter 3

The second day on the island went by both quickly and slowly for Carter. Everyone was exhausted from not sleeping the night before, but they all acted as though nothing was wrong.

Everyone stayed busy and went about their day. As if by unspoken consent they all avoided any mention of Kevin or any of the events that occurred.

They gathered more firewood, discussed supplies, but beyond that, no one really spoke to each other. And there was one topic everyone avoided most, the inevitable expedition into the woods that would have to occur when they ran out of food.

That night everyone went to bed early as though if they were in their tents when the noise started it would be any less terrifying. Carter wondered again what it was, what had happened to Kevin. And he wondered how long it would take for them to get so exhausted they were able to sleep through it.

Carter didn't remember dozing off but he remembered being awoken by a large clap of thunder as a storm hit. Rain began pelting his tent, which turned translucent every few seconds as lightning struck, followed very closely by thunder.

Even as Carter reminded himself of the statistical probability he'd get struck by lightning he was very uneasy about how close the storm was. That was when he realized something was off about his surroundings.

The howling had changed. It took him a minute to pinpoint it but that's what it was. It had become louder, more frantic. Almost as if it were filled with pain and panic. Were whatever the things were that made it afraid of the storm? If they were native to the island wouldn't they have experienced storms like this before?

As time passed the howling became less frequent and seemed to have fewer voices, then it ceased entirely and Carter was left to wonder where those creatures had gone.

As wind tore at his tent he briefly considered moving to the pod for better shelter but decided to be out in the open, then in a small metal structure would be too risky. He instead resigned himself to waiting out the storm and hoped he wouldn't freeze or get struck by lightning before it passed.

Around dawn, the storm broke and Carter got a few more hours of fitful sleep before the camp sprang into action.

The beginning of day 3 went very similarly. No one spoke about much besides the storm. No one discussed supplies as they were running low and that opened the door to talk about what they would do when they needed food. Everyone tried to stay busy. But one problem was arising. All the firewood had been drenched in the storm.

"Well go look for more!" Joseph was saying to one of his workers.

"We did sir. Everything on the beach has been soaked."

"Well, then there must be some way we can dry them." He argued.

"I'm afraid that would require fire, Joseph," Carter interjected calmly. Everyone had gathered to discuss the issue.

"Well, what the hell are we supposed to do then?" Joseph demanded.

"We could get some from the forest." Carter replied, "there's bound to be dry firewood under the trees. We wouldn't need a lot to be able to dry the rest." Everyone stared at him in shock.

"After what happened to Kevin?" Joseph asked in a hushed tone. "With those, those things living there?"

"They seemed to get scared and hide during the storm, and they only seem to come out when it's dark. Now would be the safest time. And we wouldn't have to go far into the forest either."

"And who do you propose should go out there and risk their ass on your logic?" Someone else demanded.

"I'll go," Emily responded before anyone else could speak.

"Now that's no place for a delicate little lady like yourself." Said someone from the group. One of the astronauts Carter had forgotten the name of. There was something unsettling about the look in his eye.

"Last I checked you were all terrified of the notion a minute ago. Obviously she's got bigger balls than any of you." Carter said with a bit of edge in his voice.

"At the very least she shouldn't go alone." The astronaut said giving an unnerving smile.

"You're right. I'll go with her. We should never go into the forest alone." Carter replied.

"I think you just want to be alone with her." The astronaut said.

"No. And the way you're acting about it makes me think you do. I just think since it was my idea I ought to be the one 'risking my ass'. But by all means, let's let her decide. Who would you prefer to go with you, Emily?"

Emily looked at the astronaut distrustingly then said, "let's go Carter." And started walking towards the forest.

Carter gave the astronaut an innocent shrug and followed Emily into the woods. Once they were out of earshot he asked, "Do you know that guy?"

"His name's Chris. I never met him before we landed here but he's been making passes at me non-stop and won't leave me alone."

"Is that why you were on edge when I approached you at the fire on the first night?"

"Partially. I've always had bad experiences with men."

Carter continued walking in silence sensing a minefield.

"But you seem like a decent one." She added quietly.

"I won't prove you wrong." Carter said simply, "if he keeps being pushy I'm always here to tell him to fuck off if you want."

"I'll remember that."

As they went deeper into the forest they began gathering dry sticks and branches. "You're very brave for volunteering, I'm impressed by how strong willed you are."

"You must think pretty highly of yourself for suggesting it then."

"That's not- yah know what, shame on me for trying to give a compliment."

She laughed slightly. "I'm sorry, thank you. But I've had to be brave."

"I can tell you're ambitious. I respect that in a person."

"Again, I've had to be."

They continued gathering in silence until they were stopped by a red puddle on the ground. Looking up Carter saw Kevin hanging from a branch on one of the trees. "Dear God..." He had been impaled in the back straight through his chest and left suspended 20 feet up. Bugs had begun to feed on his body but there was no sign that anything else had tried to eat him. So it hadn't been a predator, but what could have killed him in such a manor and why?

Emily screamed as she saw the body and without thinking, Carter pulled her close to shield her eyes. She slumped into him for a few seconds then pulled away. She leaned onto a tree and threw up then wiping her mouth scooped up the firewood she'd dropped than began walking back as though nothing had happened. Her mask having been mostly returned. Though her knees seemed a little wobbly and she walked much faster than she had coming in. Carter felt just as eager to leave.

As they exited the forest they were bombarded with questions of why she had screamed, what had happened, and if they were okay.

"We're fine." Carter said, "I'll explain once we get the fire going."

Everyone sat around the fire in shocked silence upon hearing his account of their brief trip.

"Impaled...?" Joseph asked.

"Straight through the chest."

"How?"

"We don't know. Whatever these things are they're stronger and unlike anything I've seen or heard of. And apparently they kill for sport."