The Forgotten Island

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE:

TAKEN

-Arya-

I groaned; my body felt like it had been hit by a freight train. Oh gods, even my lady bits hurt. I groaned into the layer of thick, dense moss that made what suited as a mattress in my bed. Yup, my mind had hit an entire new level of psychosis, acting like the dream I had of my sexy gargoyle was real. Ethel’s lilting voice streamed into my ear as she poked my arm. I groaned even louder “Ethel, leave me alone, let me die here in peace.” Despite my dramatic plea she continued to poke at me until I opened an eye and glared at her with it. Her concerned face hovered over me, and she touched my forehead. An image of me in the bed came through, but with an alarming twist. Ethel’s memory of me in the bed that she was showing me included dried blood between my legs. That got my full attention and I snapped awake, sitting up only to instantly regret the movement as every ache and pain flared to life. Sure enough, there between my thighs was the evidence of losing my virginity. How was this possible? My hand flew up to the soft spot between my neck and shoulder. Underneath my fingers were scabs where I had been bitten, marked more like it. The impossibility of the situation frightened me, and I swooned with dizziness, falling back into the moss, and closing my eyes. Ethel panicked and started chattering nonstop, a handful of pops signifying more Krill had joined her in my bedroom. “I think I am going to throw up.” I said to them, right before I stood and ran to the bathroom, emptying the contents of my stomach down the mile long chute of my toilet.

I sat there hugging my wooden throne for a few long minutes, until the wave of nausea finally settled. There had to be a logical explanation for this. I flitted through scenario after scenario, each more outlandish than the last. Nothing made sense, none of it explained how a dream was real. He had said his name was Malakai, did that mean he was real too? Oh gods, I had sex with a gargoyle, beast, thing. Even through the shock I didn’t feel regret. The sex had been mind-blowing to say the least, and even now I longed for him. I just couldn’t wrap my head around the how of it. Pops went off around me, making it sound like someone was making popcorn. After a gentle nudge I opened my eyes and took the bottle of Ibuprofen that one of the Krill, Betty, was handing me. Another Krill, Martha, handed me a cup of water while a few others began running me a bath. I had to tell Fish what happened, she would know what to do. But first, I was going to let the medication and water help me gain a little more composure.

I stood in my bathroom as I air dried, taking stock of all the parts of me that were sore. So far it seemed like all of them. The bite on my neck itched, and I reached for a small hand mirror to take a look at the damage. Another shock awaited me in my reflection. Where Malakai had bitten me there was a tattoo, for lack of a better word, blooming. Gods have mercy, if I ever dreamed of him again, I was going to kick his ass right before I made him explain himself. As I created my top for the day, I made the straps thick to cover up the mark. The result was pleasing, and hopefully I wouldn’t alarm Fish with the change in wardrobe. While in the bath I had decided that I would wait until tomorrow to tell her what had happened. The Krill and I had put so much work into her roundabout birthday celebration that I didn’t want to ruin it with the twisted story of my night.

I gingerly walked out of my apartment, taking care to move slowly down the stairs while keeping an eye out for Fish or Darnell. On my way towards the storehouse a male Krill, named Charles, showed me a memory from his perimeter watch that morning. Apparently, Fish, Darnell, and the pups had left early for their day trip, taking a few of the Krill with them. Relieved that I wouldn’t have to pretend I wasn’t hurting, I thanked Charles and walked through the double doors of the storehouse. There was much that needed to be done before they returned.

Hours later I stood back and admired the Krill and I’s work. Baby blue streamers were hung from every inch of the ceiling in elegant curves. Three presents were wrapped in baby shower gift wrap next to the bottles of wine and scotch. I had molded the meeting table to depict a seascape with a cake stand rising in the middle. On the cake stand itself was the crowning glory of the whole shindig. The chocolate cake was slightly deflated in the middle but had smelled mouthwatering as it baked in my makeshift stone oven.

I sat in the meeting hall staring at the ceiling, listening to the Krill chatter amongst themselves while I waited for Fish and Darnell. They should have been back by now, what could be keeping them? The mark on my neck was itching like crazy, and I had been hoping to get to bed early in case Malakai visited with me again. I already missed him.

With a heavy sigh I stood up and eyed the alcohol. I wonder if Fish would be upset if I had a glass while I waited. Suddenly the Krill around me all started chattering frantically, running towards the doors to the meeting house. Bob popped in from the floor in front of me, blood spatter coating his body as he waved frantically at me. One glance at his appearance and I was racing out of the meeting hall, bursting through the double doors outside.

I was greeted by a horrific scene. Under the moonlight Krill ran around like maniacs under Ethel and Barb’s orders. The pups lay on makeshift stretchers, both gravely injured with multiple arrows still protruding from their bodies. Krill were bringing in cloth, water, and antiseptics to treat the wounds, and one had even begun to pull an arrow from Jetsam's sternum. His scream pierced the night as the Krill held him down. “Bob!” I screamed over the chaos “Bob! What the hell happened?” The Krill in question climbed up my back and clung to my shoulder, the weight stinging my mark beneath the sleeve of vines. He touched my face and showed me what he had seen.

Darnell had taken Fish back to a pond where they had stayed before, and they had made love as the sun rose. They relaxed, ate some snacks, and enjoyed their day as the pups kept watch and the Krill played in the water. The cannibals had attacked from everywhere and the fight had been fierce. Everyone had fought bravely, but there had been too many of the invading forces. Once the pups had been removed from the fight, it hadn’t taken long for Fish and Darnell to be subdued, tied up, and taken. The krill had created the gurneys for Flotsam and Jetsam and got them home as fast as they could, but it had already been hours since the fight ended.

A part of me died after seeing that memory. I fell to my knees as a single thought kept repeating in my head.

What do I do now?