The Forbidden Island ✔

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Jaci's POV

"...She's waking up. Dad! Dad! She's waking up." I heard someone yelling, followed by footsteps. I tried very hard to open my eyes but, no use. As if my eyelids were glued to each other. With the strange touch and voices I can't recognize, I started panicking. "Hey hey hey, it's ok. Take it easy. You're fine. Relax. You're gonna hurt the baby." Baby? What baby? Like a miracle, my eyes flutter opened. I took my surrounding. It looks like a cottage.

"What is this place? How did I get here...And did you say, Baby? " I asked the middle age man and his daughter? I guess. They nodded together. "We found you and your...Husband or brother, I'm not sure, near the coast. We thought, you're dead but, due to some strange luck, you both are alive. What do you remember last?" asked the man. What do I remember? What do I remember.. The last thing I remember is My.. time with Aku. Wait. I don't remember anything after that. What happened?

"I..I can't remember.. anything." I clutched my hair in frustration. Where is Aku? "Where is the man, you found with me?" I asked them. "He's fine. Let me take you to him." the girl said. I nodded my head at that. They both helped me out of the bed and I slowly but with a lot of difficulty walked out of the room. "It's just the next room. Carefull with your steps." said the girl smiling at me. My heartbeat increased with the fear of finding the man on the other side of the door.

Who was found with me? Was it Aku? What happened to us? As soon as the door opened, my breath hitched. I don't know, either to be relieved that, it's no one other than my best friend or sad because, it's not Aku. Sam was sleeping peacefully, like an angel he was. I walked slowly towards him and sat on the bed, beside him. "Sam? Sam?" my voice was breaking. I was terrified right now. Not sure, how we end up in here. What about the Island, the tribe. Aku? So many questions but, nobody to answer them.

"Jaci? You awake?" he was week too but, looking better than me. "Yes." I wiped my tears before smiling at him. "What happened?" there goes all my questions unanswered, when both of us had the same expressions and confusion on our faces. Sam frawned, when we both spoke at the same time. "So you too.. Don't remember, what happened?" I asked puzzled. He shook his head in denial. "I think, we should go back and check on them. God knows, what happened back there, if we don't remember anything at all." he said, looking into my eyes.

"Wait, how is she going to travel like this? It's not safe. She might loose her baby. You are too weak to travel, Jaci."said the girl. Sam gave me a sad and apologetic smile. "Wait, how did you know, I'm pregnant. Isn't it supposed to be like 4 or 5 weeks, untill you can be sure?" I asked confused. "Yes, that is how far you are. 6 weeks pregnant." the air was knocked out of my chest. "W..What?" I stammered. "How long was I out?"

Nonononono. I have been far from Aku for more than a month now? How? Did he not come to find me. Is he ok? What about the others? "Sam was out for a day or so since we found you both but, you hit your head hard, and you were in a coma stage. We had lost all hope but, just like a miracle, you are finally awake." said the man. "I month. Sam, we have to get back. I'm having a bad feeling about all this. Lets go. I can handle myself just fine, trust me. I don't know what happened back then, but now that I'm awake and carrying Aku's child, we need to go back and find him."

Then I turned to the father and daughter. "Please help us. Something bad has happened at our home. I'm begging you, take us to our Island, Please?" my pleade was responded with a sigh. "If that is what you both want. We can start now then." he suggested. Sam and me, we both nodded our heads and followed them out of the door for our journey to solve the mystery of the forbidden Island.

I felt Sam pulling me into a side hug. When I met his eyes, he gave me an encouraging smile. "Everything will be fine. Don't worry." and then he helped me get on the boat. I have a gut feeling that something bad is about to happen. Why can't I remember anything after the time Aku and I spend together? I guess, we'll find out once we're there. I hope Aku is fine. I prayed whoever was listening up there. Please help us, oh moon god.

Aku's POV

"Uncle? Everything's ready. The bride and everyone else is waiting for you." said Waya, giving me a sad smile. I jerked my head at him and put on my hat before dragging myself out of my cottage. Yes, you heard right. I'm getting married. After Jaci's and Sam betrayal, I was heartbroken. On top of that, Grandma died suddenly. I couldn't take all the pressure at a time. I don't understand, why she ran away with Sam behind my back. I had already excepted the fact that, she wasn't mine to claim, that's when she gave me hope and then took it away.

I loved her with my life. I trusted her with my heart. My people trusted her. My poor grandmother did. If her love for Sam was real, she could have just told me and even if it would have pained me like hell, I would have let her go. Why she had to do all this drama to bring hatred towards her from my people? Now they all are Furious and broken because of my poor decision. I failed them with my foolishness. I let her play with my heart. In return she played all of us.

"Brother? Come. Your father is ready to proceed with the ceremony." said Baku, with a heavy heart. I know he is as much hurt as I am. I just don't show it and he shows it well. I walked with him towards the gathering, without a single word. Baku and me are the only two people, who are not against what Jaci did. He still considers her as his sister. "Brother? Are you sure, you want to marry Malia? I mean, there are other good women too." I gave him a look, that answers his question.

"Yeah yeah, nobody is as good as her, I get it." he laughed without any humour to it. "But, didn't you claim that, you would never take any other woman except Jaci?" he asked with a serious face. I averted my eyes to hide my tears. I promised but, she doesn't want me, no matter how much I love her. But can I blame her? What could have I gave her? Sam was everything, I wasn't. She was just attracted to me. It wasn't love. She felt pity for me, I guess. That is why, the only thing she wrote before she left was, she was sorry.

Can I ever forgive her? I don't know. "Aku may the moon god be with you two. Today we're here to celebrate the union of our Chieftain and our daughter, Malia. With the blessings of the spirit, I announce..." we were all stopped by a familiar yelling. "What the hell in the name of God?" my mate. She's here? I was too stunned to react. Is she really here? Then my sorrow turned into rage. Why is she here, with her lover again? Our eyes met and for a second, I was about to lose my cool but then I can't show my weakness today. I need answers.

"Why are you here!?" my question took her off guard. "What do you mean?" hurt was clear in her eyes but, I can't show my sorrow today. "You left with your lover, breaking all our rules, our faith. You betrayed us by breaking our hopes. You have no right to step on this Island anymore." I said, with gritted teeth. My people supported me this time by standing by my side. She looked puzzled. "What are you talking about, Aku? Why would I leave you? Where would I go? This is my home. You are my home."

Her words send a shock through my body. I know I still love her but I won't let her fool me again. "No, you are lying. If it was really your home, you would'nt have left. You broke my heart, my faith, my people's faith in you. You don't deserve to be here. Go away!" Everyone was stunned by by words including me. I know she's hurt but I'm more hurt. She needs to go away in order for me to start over. I looked at Malia. She looked anxious. I understand, what she's thinking.

Even if it hurts, I have to bring an end to this pain. "Im claiming Malia, as my mate. You have no say in it, Jaci. You are no longer a part of my clan. You can leave." I said, walking towards Malia. I could feel eyes on me, but I didn't dare turn back to face her and look into her eyes. "Really? What about your child that is growing inside my womb then?" I froze mid walk. I could hear gasp and mummers. This time I turned back to face her.

"What did you just say? You are carrying my seed?"I asked, hopeful. Looking at her expression, it doesn't look like, she's lying. My eyes fell on her stomach, where my heir is growing. My legs moved towards her, on its own, but she stopped me, by raising a hand. "Stop. Stop right there. Before you take another step towards me, tell me why are you accusing me of leaving you whereas, yesterday was the day, I woke up from coma, a deep slumber. I don't remember anything after the noon we spend time together in the cave. I didn't even know how or why, only Sam and I was out of here."

Her words made all of us confused. "What do you mean? Wasn't it you, who decided to leave us for Sam?" I accused her. "What?" Sam asked confused. Jaci explained my question to Sam, who in return made a disgusted face. "Are you fucking kidding me right now? I don't remember anything just like her. After lunch, I suddenly felt drowsy, that day and went back inside for a nap. Baku came with me too, right Baku?" As if a light switch was on, everyone started complaining the same thing.

Everyone felt drowsy after the food and went back to take a nap, only to get up the next day. How could I be so stupid? Somebody actually planned to send both of them away and blame them of betrayal. Why would they do that thought? What would someone gain out of it? "Aku?" Baku wishpered. "I think, they're telling the truth. Something seems off. I had my doubts then but, you ware not in the right mind to see through it." he said, placing a hand on my shoulder.

I turned towards my people. It's decision time and find the actual culprit, who betrayed me by separating me from my mate and also poisoned my people's brain against their Chieftain's wife. "My people! I know you love me and respect my decision. Today, we all came to realize that, one month back, someone amongst us, has betrayed his own clan and separated me from my claimed mate, by sending her away, to die in the sea." I warned the culprit among the crowd and glared at each and every one present here, in rage.

"If someone dared to do such a crime, I'm starting to think that, my mother's suddern death could also be a planned murder. She use to get visions. What if she knew who was planning this sin and to shut her up, that someone has killed her." said my father suspicious. I heard a gasp from Jaci. "Abedabun is dead!?" she asked, placing a hand on her chest in disbelief. I nod my head at her, with teary eyes. "The same day you left, or should I say, send away." I said gritting my teeth. "I'm giving you one and only chance to confess your crime because, if I'm the one who finds you out, your death would be painful." I warned.

"I'll not only torture you to death but also rip you body into pieces before throwing it in the see and watch the hungry sharks feed on you!!" There was a silence and all of them started looking at each other with accusing eyes. Then suddenly, Nina came forward. "Uncle, can I say something?" she asked, coming towards me. I nod my head at her. "There is only one person, who would gain from Jaci's disappearance. And I think, you know who that is." she challenged me with her eyes. Holy heaven's. Why didn't it hit me before?

I turned around facing the woman, I was about to claim today. What a big sin, I was about to commit? Malia. No one else would gain anything out of it. When my eyes met her, she raised her head, looking into my eyes, without any fear. Like she doesn't regret doing anything. "Tell me, it wasn't you, Malia." I said, taking a warning step towards her. She fliched a little. "Tell me you didn't kill my poor grandmother. Tell me you didn't betrayed me." I am about to rip her into pieces right now. She took another step back but, few men caught her from escaping.

"Let go of me, you fools! I was about to become you Chieftain's wife. You can't do this to me." she faught in their grip. "Yeah, in your dreams." Baku scoffed. "What do you want to do with her Aku? " he asked catching her hair in a grip. "Wait!" interrupted Jaci. "Let her go Baku. I want to know, why she did,what she did. I'm sure, she wouldn't dare to do such crime, just because she didn't like me." Baku let go of Malia's hair and stood by my side.

"Speak!!" I ordered her. She closed her eyes for a sec and started spitting the truth. "I was 9 when your grandmother told my mother that, evil was attracted to me. My future was dark and no matter how much they try, I would always bring grim news to my family." I gulped hearing that. "THAT CRAZY OLD HAG! she destroyed my life." I was about to jump at her when my father hold me back. "Let her continue." so I did. "I was never like this. After hearing from Abedabun, people started maintaining distance from me. Even the boy, I always had a crush on was pulled away from me, by his parents." she said.

"I cried. I cursed. I pleaded with people to be my friends but, everyone thought, It would be a wise idea for them to keep their distance from me. I suffered for 10 years, friend less, mateless and parents less." she looked broken but, that doesn't justify her actions. "Then I gave up on begging to people and started to snatch things from them." Then she turned toward me. "Your brother was my first prey." my mouth went dry, listening to it.

"What did you do to my father?" asked Nina. In return she laughed. "I made him cheat on his wife, with me." we all made a disgusting face. "How could you?" asked Makawee, my sister in law. Malia turned towards her. "Because your husband wanted to and when he started regretting, he choosed to drown himself to death, instead of facing you." she said chuckling. "You're disgusting" said Nina, consoling her mother. "But, you had a mate then, why destroy another family?" I asked. She frawned.

"He was a bastard too. He didn't want to give me a child because, he was in love with someone else...So..I killed him in his sleep just like I killed the old hag of your grandmother." rage filled me and I pounched at her, forgetting the fact for once that, I was attacking a woman. But who cares, she is no woman. Baku and my father pulled me into a tight hold, stopping me from killing her. "You'll rot in hell, Malia. My grandmother was right. You belong in there, among the monsters." she was quite but didn't speak any more.

"And me..How did you manage to send us away, without anyone's knowledge?" asked Jaci. "You..I always hated you. You ruined my chance with Aku. The day you stepped foot on this Island, I lost him. So, I planned to mix sleeping herbs in the food you made, to make people suspicious about you and for my Aku to hate you, thinking you ran away with your lover. After every one was fast asleep, It wasn't hard to drag you both toward the boat and when I was far in the water...I pushed you both into it." This time, it was Sam who jumped on her and slapped her left and right. Nobody stopped him.

After a lot of thinking, I found the perfect punishment for her.

Longest chapter of this book. It was the last chapter guys. Next is the Epilogue. Yay!!