Day 14

The morning sun crept over the horizon. Seth squinted his eyes, feeling the soft heat caress his face. He leaped up and rubbed his face. As he opened his eyes, he looked at the distance, marveling how beautiful it was. He slowly stood up, scratching his butt through his jeans. He didn’t bother to put on a shirt, as it wasn’t that hot yet.

He strolled down to the water, feeling the ocean liquid caress his feet and the bottom of his jeans. In any normal sense, he would have worried about his pants getting wet. On the island, most of the normal rules didn’t apply. He took a deep breath, then looked around, making sure no one was yet awake near him. Seth then pulled down his zipper and urinated into the ocean waves.

After he was done, he zipped up himself and then heard a whisping sound. He turned around, worried about the whispering from the jungle that he heard Mia, John and McKay had already heard. But it wasn’t coming from the jungle. He listened and realized it was coming from his feet. He looked down and saw a large yellow and black fish had washed up on the tide. It was making a whisping sound, trying to stay alive as it couldn’t breathe in the open air. Seth reached down and picked it up. “Well, well, what have we here?” he smirked, “Are you breakfast?”

The fish breathed again, staring down at Seth as he held him aloft. The young man then frowned at the suffering creature. “Oh, who I am kidding?” he whispered, “I can’t eat you. Not while you are suffering. It’s just kinda wrong.”

Set then waded out into the ocean. After he was waist deep, he slowly put the fish down. The fish began to move but didn’t struggle. It almost seemed comfortable in his hands. “You are a tough one.” Seth laughed, “I think I’ll call you . . Rupert.”

The fish then squirmed slightly. Seth held onto him regardless. “Okay, Rupert, I’ll make you a deal. I’ll let you go but you have to do something for me.”

The first squirmed in his hands.

“You have to swim back to California and tell Tanya I love her and I miss her. Tell her . .tell her I’ll be home as soon as I can.” The young man smiled.

Then he let the fish go. It began to swim up the ocean until Seth could no longer see him. He smirked, watching the yellow and black fish become a dot in the distance. “Go, Rupert, go,” he chuckled.

Seth walked a little ways back and then sat down at the beach. He stared at the ocean water, feeling the waves strike at his legs. His thoughts drifted back to Tanya. His high school sweetheart. The one who always stood by him, no matter what. He had hoped in his heart he had been a good boyfriend. Being away from her at that moment, made him truly appreciate how much he loved her. He was certain he would marry her if he made home. Seth closed his eyes and began to sing.

I’ve been meaning to you tell,
I got this feeling that won’t subside,
I look at you and I fantasize,
You’re mine tonight.

Now I’ve got you in my sights,
With these hungry eyes,
One look at you and I can’t disguise,
I’ve got hungry eyes,
I feel the magic between you and I

“That was beautiful, Seth,” Mia said behind him.

Seth stopped singing and turned around, seeing as his good friend was clearly awake. His cheeks flushed a bit and then stood up, the ocean water dripping off his jeans. He walked over to her, smirking. “I hope I didn’t wake you.” He sighed.

“I was on my way to waking up anyway,” Mia grinned, “That was. . .Eric Carmen, right?”

“You know your 80s music, Mia,” he chuckled, “I’m impressed.”

“Hey, I liked Dirty Dancing as much as the next girl.” She replied, giggling.

“It’s Tanya’s favorite song for me to sing to her.” He admitted, “I was just feeling . .well, I miss her.”

“It’s understandable, Seth. I miss my loved ones too. Granted I am only close to my sister but that’s okay.”

“Yeah, I can relate. My poor mother must be heart broken, believing her son is dead.”

“Do you think Tanya thinks you are dead?” she asked.

“No. If I know my Tanya, she’ll cling onto hope until there is nothing left to cling onto. I only hope I can make it home before she gives up.”

Mia smiled at what her friend said. It was refreshing to see such true love between two people. It was almost rare. “Tell me what you love most about her, Seth,” Mia asked.

Seth smiled, “Oh, geez, where do I begin? I love her blonde hair, the way she takes such detail in curling every single strand. I love the fact that she loves the rain. We’d sit on the bench swing on her porch and just watch the rain for as long as it lasts. I love that she worships my singing ability and has backed me all the way to becoming a musician. I think . . .I just love the fact that she believes in me.”

“You truly have a special relationship, Seth,” Mia grinned, “I envy you.”

“What about you and John, Mia?” Seth returned the grin, “Perhaps you and He will . . eh, eh, eh, . .you know?”

“Oh, I don’t know, Seth. I care about him. He’s handsome, he’s strong willed and I admire his deep loyalty to his friends. But . . .I don’t think he’s even noticed me.”

“Oh, he’s noticed you. He wouldn’t have risked his neck to get you back from those Lost Boys, if he hadn’t.”

“But why hasn’t he done something?” she said, frustrated, “Why hasn’t he made a pass a me or something?”

“I don’t know. Maybe he has . . and you just simply didn’t see it.”

Mia then realized what Seth said and wondered if he might be true. Had John made a pass at her? She certainly enjoyed the looks and hugs but nothing besides that suggested anything more than a friendly relationship. She wondered if the opportunity had come up and she missed it.

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John tired the bandage shirt around McKay’s wound. He squinted in pain, at the burn mark they made to seal the wound last night. After he had completed the bandage, reached and got the bottle of Augmentin, giving his Australian friend one. McKay cupped it into his mouth and used the water to wash it down. He followed it up with some Advil for the pain. “Does it hurt much?” John asked.

“No, not much. It stings mostly but it’s like burning your finger on an iron. Only much worse.” McKay mentioned.

“Well, chicks dig scars from what I heard. You did good last night, McKay.”

“So did you, bud.” He said, sipping the water.

John then paused, thinking about what happened last night. Seeing that boy lying there with his arrow in his chest. John had never killed anybody in his life before and he never imagined the first time he would need to would result in the death of someone so much younger than him. McKay then looked at him and he could see the anguish in his face. “Hey!” he said, snapping him out of it, “Don’t think on it, John. You’ll only make it worse.”

“But . .he was just a kid, McKay!”

“A young adult is more like it. That boy was raised in the jungle or something close to it. He was charging at a blind man and a 9 year old boy with a sword that could cut off hands. Unless. ..you would have preferred Tony and Eddie dead.”

“What the hell kinda question is that?” John exclaimed, “Of course, I wouldn’t have wanted them dead.”

“Then you did what you had to do. For them. DON’T lose sleep over this.”

John grunted, seeing his point. It was reverse psychology but it worked just the same. The boy was clearly psycho. Would he have killed Tony or Eddie, or even Mia had the boy been giving a chance? It’s entirely possible. John was thrown into an unknown situation and reacted accordingly. He only hoped he could live with the decision if he had to make it again. “You’re right,” John said, wiping a single tear, “It’s a foreign situation. I keep forgetting we are not in the real world.”

“You’re damn right, we are not in the real world, “ McKay said, finishing his water, “Hell, we ain’t even in the dream world either. All this? This is a song Jiffy Buffett forgot to write.”

John smirked as McKay patted him on he made his way past him and over to Taylor. He gently sat down next to his sleeping beauty. As he gently woke her, Mandy was stirred awake by the noise as well. Taylor turned over and smiled at him. “Morning, stud,” she giggled.

“Oh, I am a stud now?” he grinned.

“Any man who can get a burn on his arm and not hardly scream, has got to be a stud.” She said, rubbing his chest.

“I’ll second that.” Mandy giggled.

“Are you all right?” he asked, gazing into Taylor’s eyes.

“It’s been one hell of a ride. But I’m okay. Thanks for asking.”

“Anytime.” He smiled, leaning down and kissing her.

“Uh . ..guys?” Mandy said, slightly alarmed.

McKay leaned up and saw Mandy looking into the distance. He then blinked at the massive collection of shapes in the distance. It was several of the Lost Teenagers walking toward them, all with red bandana’s around their mouths. McKay stood up abruptly. He looked back to see John was already standing up. He quickly started to grab his bow and arrows. “John, wait!” Taylor called, “that is not the ones who kidnapped us!”

“Those other guys?” McKay said in disbelief.

In the distance, the Red Faction marched following their leader in the point. Alexander had on his red mask, plus a long piece of cloth acting almost like a cloak. To his side was two gray wolves and nearly all the Red Faction members has something in their hands, box like objects. Taylor slowly stood up as Mandy stood behind her. “Well, McKay, better get your French ready.”

“Someone wake up, Tony, “the Australian called, “Tell him . . .we got guests.”