Chapter 4: Blinding Spiral
1654 Words
It was summer when Ghael, Jansen and Jasmine pushed their adventure to the Island of Laxamana despite the rumours and reviews about the island.
It was known as an enigmatic land given that no one from the travelers successfully returned upon entering the forest, like it is a maze thriving to find the exit. The shore had the tiniest and pure sand that you feel like they're melting if you touch them bare. There were sea shells and plenty of vigorous and skeptic plants, the trees are not on their average size. The island itself is enticing and luring everyone to try and look. Yet it doesn't receive good reviews.
The dangerous part itself caught Ghael and the group's attention. Without having second thoughts about what might be waiting for them, they're already exploring the unfamiliar small village near the island of laxamana.
But to their disappointment, no one wants to lend their wooden boat and lead them across the island. It is also hard to convince them.
“We've seen them go and we don't want to..“
“We do not want the guilt knowing we guided them to the island and they never returned.”
They stare at each other as the villagers go back to their respective places, like they are disciplined people and someone commanding them.
With a sigh of defeat, Ghael still wants to push through this. He doesn't want a 10 hours journey by land to go into waste and he could see a tiny bit of determination in Jansen and Jasmine.
"How long do you think it will take to build a small boat?" Jasmine asked dumbfoundedly as she looked at the silent island visible from afar.
"i***t. Without proper material, the boat might not withstand the water current." Jansen flick her forehead and see what Ghael was thinking. "You've got any better plans?"
"Our equipment was only applicable for gliding and we can't contact anyone right now to ask for help."
"So we're giving up?" there was a hint of shock in Jasmine's voice.
It's not so Ghael Bastian to give it up easily.
"Nope. We'll figure out.. I'm curious." he said mysteriously as he stepped on giant rock to have a better view of the island.
It was untouched and reserved. It looks dead, no boats occupying the shore and tourists crowding the sand.
"If the rumours were right and not a hoax—what could be inside the island that's keeping everyone away?" Jansen asked, his tone oozing in curiosity.
"You made it sound like I should've done my final will Jan," Jasmine laughed nervously but couldn't hide excitement and playfulness as well.
Jansen turns to her with a little surprised face. "You didn't?"
Jasmine took a moment before she got what he was trying to say and punched his friend to her please.
"i***t! Don't you dare jer—!"
"You can use my boat."
A slightly hoarse voice interrupts their little talks. A man in his dress was looking at them before pointing at the well built boat near the shore. He has a darkened expression and seems to be a little bothered with it.
"You're letting us?"
Ghael steps down from the rock to talk to him properly. The man nodded and the three of them stared at each other, like reading the atmosphere between them.
"Didn't the other say.. we shouldn't?"
The man shakes his head as if saying no to them and it brought confusion to the group. But even before they could talk, he walked away, pushing the boat till it reached the sea. It's bouncing a little by the waves.
The man looked back and pointing at it before saying
“I know your group will return.” he then left them.
There was a short silence before they started padding. Jasmine secured their bags on the back while Jansen and Ghael were busy padding. Every moment passed, as they got closer, the island was becoming more visible and there was a force pulling them more. Feeding their intrigued mind as curiosity and excitement drives their body towards the hunted.
The silence is deafening when they first step from the boat.
"So this is it."
"The enigmatic island of Laxamana." Ghael breathes the air, feeling the energy to do it.
"Now I can tell why they don't want to come and have a look." Jansen added.
"Bring out the map," Ghael said to which Jasmine immediately obliged.
They weren't just here to have a look at the island's simple abode. They're treasure hunters, visiting would never be enough for them. They did a research before travelling, unlike their first adventures, this island has been unofficially labeled as hunted.
"It says the heartlock is in the middle." Jasmine pointed to the part of the map where there were lesser trees and only that. The map isn't complete and reliable so they might trust their instinct along the way. Since they like adventure, a lot.
"Then let's go and get the heartlock of this forest."
Ghael can clearly hear his breath, no one dares to make a move after they blocked the only way to get in the cabin. The pile of woods and shelves were blocking the entry way and they made sure it won't leave at least a little hole to peek in inside.
"I can't hear anything.." Jasmine voices out, sitting on the corner and holding on to the wall for support. She felt her knees weaken after she saw the crappy man in black clothing again. It's giving her enough chills.
Ghael and Jansen looked at each other, as if having a mind talk and they made sure no one came in.
"Let's wait.." Jansen hushed them down and the three fell into silence.
The silence is too sharp, even moving your fabric around will create a tiny cottony sound. Their breaths were shallow and panting. Ghael can even hear the loud beep of his heart racing in not so fun way he wants it to.
A long minutes passed, Ghael steps, creating a tap sound and creaking of the wooden floor. "Ghael—"
"I'm going to search for something to use. Defense." he whispered and glanced at the piling woods and shelf before opening the available cabinets.
It's Ghael's instinct and he never dared to stop himself to act on it. He thrust himself too much but if he will be honest, sometimes he's risky and gets himself in trouble but still manages to extract something from it. Like lady luck is always on his side. No wonder he had the guts to go even in hell hole because he was guarded.
He searched the first cabinets and there were only broken small mirrors and soaked papers on it. Those look like something not valuable enough.
"Still no connection."
With only the light coming from the moon, he hardly finds anything useful. The night is falling deeper and the silence is becoming bothersome. Jansen joined him after looking at his friend trying, he sauntered towards the opposite cabinets and started looking for something that might be useful. Jasmine is still in the corner, she looks agitated but calmer.
With nothing to find, Jansen joined Ghael in one big cabinet with a pile of things. Might be a random space.
The silence between the two continued until Ghael broke it with a small smile. "I'm sorry."
Jansen stops searching, his hands stop picking up small objects and look at his friend on shoulder before shaking his head. He gets what he's sorry for.
"Can't say it's fine at all but I also miss a little spice in my job so, we're even." he shrugged like it's nothing. "Look at these, looks like they just put everything they want here."
Ghael looked down and he was right. "I won't be surprised if I'll pick up undergarments—"
Jansen lifts a small piece of clothing and they both look at each other funny before throwing it away.
"Unsanitary.."
Both of them sighed when they picked up the remaining things inside and still no long rod or objects hard enough.
"Hey.."
They both looked back and saw Jasmine peeking at a small hole on her back, she was clutching the hem of her shirt.
"Jansen they're here.. Ghael—"
"Ssh.."
She was stopped from almost yelling when she felt a hand on her mouth and a whisper in her ear. It was meant to calm Jasmine but at this point, it's not working.
"They'll get us here.. what if they found us—"
"Jas they won't. They won't,"
"I'm scared.."
"I—I know him." Ghael uttered.
"Who? Can he help us." Jansen asked, his friend looking beyond bewildered.
"Afraid he won't be—"
The three of them halted in their places and stumbled on the wooden floor when a strong force outside bumped the ship. The impact is enough to send them to the other side of the small room.
Jasmine holds onto Jansen while Ghael stays on the corner.
"Wha—What was that just now—"
All of them groaned when they shook again. They bumped their heads and couldn't stop from voicing the pain of stumbling and hitting the hard surface. Ghael can't suppress his moan when he supports himself with his hand being thrown.
The three of them slowly got up when the nauseous impact stopped. It was yet another silence as they exhaustedly breath lying on the floor. Their bodies couldn't keep up with vigorous activity.
Ghael weirdly felt himself, he wasn't the one to get tired but oddly, he felt like his body was burning. Like he's in heat and he was being stretched in all directions.
"Fu.. ck.."
"I..I feel.."
He felt his head spinning, falling into oblivion and passing a blinding spiral while waiting for them to end up nowhere.
"We arrived."
- Writer
