Islanders

by Brandon Enns

  "Quite the long-term strategy. Very educational and interesting," said Trevor.

  Erin was displeased with the comment.

  Stefan smiled, and he continued. "Rumor has it..." He laughed. "I should really be doing this at night with a flashlight to my face." He glanced at Trevor. "Rumor has it that their spirits are still trapped here on this island. They've grown restless, frustrated, hostile, and they feed off those burdened by their sins. It is up to you, my courageous friends, to locate the names of the killer, or killers, in order to set the family free from their entrapment, so that they can haunt the current family members of their murderous ancestors."

  "This is so hot," said Skye, followed by a cackling laugh.

  Trevor had that foolish smirk on his face. Erin wanted to slap it off.

  "So what do you guys think? You up for it?"

  "Hell yeah," agreed Ashton and Skye.

  "Erin?"

  She nodded yes.

  "Trevor?"

  "I'm not the imaginative type."

  "Awesome. Because you all don't have a choice. You can't leave the island until the mission is complete. That's one of my rules."

  "What are some other rules?" asked Erin.

  "Completion of one task simply leads you to the next. You work from twelve o’clock until twelve o’clock if the full time is needed. In the mornings, you can ask a total of three hints me. Use them as you wish. My home is off-limits until the mission is completed. There is no fleeing the island. Well, please don't try to leave; none of you are good enough swimmers. Phelps couldn't make that trek. You would drown for sure, and that's bad for business...There is no passing on a task. All must be completed. I repeat, all must be completed. Oh, and remember, the end goal is to find the names—the journey along the way may seem odd."

  Everyone was enthused, with the exception of Trevor. "They're ghosts. What, they need a last name so they can check the white pages before enacting their revenge? I think the creators of Clue and every indie horror film ever made might take legal issue."

  The group didn't reply, and Stefan pretended Trevor was a ghost himself. "This is still your island, people. Just remember, you're sharing it with some pissed off spirits, so make sure you don't do anything that would upset them. We'll see who has the most fortitude. Are you as excited as I am?"

  "Very." Skye kissed Ashton sloppily.

  "There's no way we're doing twelve hours per day of this," said Trevor.

  "Okay, well enjoy. I'll be outside intermittently throughout; no schedule, just random. Remember the rules and be safe. As safe as you can be, that is. I'll see you all in the morning for a scuba run."

  Erin turned to Trevor. "Cheer up. It'll be fun."

  "We're good then?"

  "Good.”

  He looked at her with kind eyes. The ones she loved.

  "Last night was great. Can we just be more like that? And less like...you know?"

  He exhaled, looking down at the sand between his toes. He scrunched them together, grabbing a foot full.

  "Yeah," he said, still looking down. When his face rose to meet hers, a subtle smirk creased the corners of his mouth. "I still think this is stupid, for the record."

  "For sure it is. Is that the worst thing in the world?"

  "No. I guess it isn't."

  "So we act like idiots for a few days."

  He put his arm around her and kissed the top of her head.

  "You do the honors, babe." Skye handed her the first piece of paper. It was stylized as old scroll, faded brown with a thickness and coarse texture. It seemed authentic.

  She read, “When the stars lead you astray and home grows farther away, follow your heart to where love was scribed. Where hearts were bonded forever, solidified in the garden.”

  Erin flipped the page to find a map of the island showcasing various paths through the forested area, the carved-out circle in the middle where they were living, and the beach that rotated all the way around.

  Skye reached for a sandwich. "I'm so hungry. Burning too many calories." She gave Ashton's crotch a love tap.

  Ashton grabbed the paper from Erin's hands and read it through again. "We need stars? Kind of a tough start during the day."

  "Stars lead you astray...home... Which direction is home?" Erin asked herself.

  "Northeast." Trevor turned to gauge their direction. "Mainland is this way." He pointed out to the ocean from the beach they were standing on. "And we are northeast of Belize, so we are standing on the east side. North is around the bend here."

  "Right. So opposite of home. South side then?"

  "We need to stock up on beer before we go hiking," said Ashton.

  "Yeah, I'm gonna have to be extremely polluted if I'm going to take this seriously," Trevor chimed in.

  "Okay, let's go," said Erin.

  Skye looked at Ashton. "I need the pit stop anyway."

  "For what?"

  "Lady problems." Her eyes locked with Ashton, frustrated with him for not catching her obvious drift.

  "No, you rabbits. Let's focus on the task at hand," said Trevor.

  They all walked back to the cabin, Ashton chasing Skye to their duplex. "You guys! Come on!" Erin yelled. They continued running up ahead. Watching them run, Skye’s uniquely thunderous laughter, the sun so bright, the smell of palm trees; it was all one big blast of déjà vu. She shuddered and turned away from the moment that had already been ingrained in her mind, perhaps in this life or the next.

  ***

  Walking south with a cold beer in her hand and Trevor's heavy arm around her shoulder, she was stress free for once.

  Realizing how dreadfully thirsty she was, Erin gulped back half her beer in a hurry. Her legs calmed. The sun scorched through the pasted SPF 50 on her skin. Erin was never much of a drinker but was starting to discover that it might be the way to go.

  As they neared the tree line on the south end, they passed a small garden planted with potatoes, carrots, corn, tomatoes, and probably more. Erin loved gardens. It took her back to her time growing up in Hunts Point. Although most of the imagery in her mind consisted of old abandoned buildings, back alleys, prostitution, and overall dirtiness, she cherished her section in a community garden. The others working around her were all so friendly, most often older women, which was no surprise. She felt a true sense of community there. Her tomatoes were firm and full of flavor. Every morning she would start with a BLT, hold the L. She'd buy a fresh loaf of Mountain Grain bread from Gerald's bakery and cook her bacon in the oven, not too crispy. It made her feel so cozy.

  As they entered the thick array of palm trees, she stopped in her tracks.

  "What's up?"

  A thought crossed her mind. "Give me that paper again."

  Ashton walked over and handed it to her, and her eyes instantly went to the latter part of the clue. "Hearts bonded forever, solidified in the garden."

  "So we should be looking right here in the garden?" asked Trevor.

  "It appears so. I guess it's opposite from our home and from our duplex, so whichever home he was referring to that makes sense."

  "What, we just start digging then?"

  "No... He would have made it more definitive than that."

  "What then?" asked Trevor.

  Her mind went back to work while the others just watched her. Finally, they started looking around the garden for additional clues.

  When the stars lead you astray… This is set in the late 1800s. North Star used as guidance, or is that too basic?

  "How about this?" she said quietly, reserved about voicing her opinion until she looked at their intent faces, waiting for her to give them the answers. She spoke up louder this time. "Maybe it's referring to the North Star guiding someone home. And home for them was the mainland, which is east. We head west. Seems to me this garden would be too convenient, unless Stefan has zero faith in us. It's an easy decoy to start."

  "Look at you, Sherlock," Trevor said with his handsome, devilish smile.

  They
headed west, working their way through the trees, looking for another garden, or some representation of a garden. Maybe there was deeper meaning to it, but she felt like they were on the right path.

  Skye was now on Ashton's back as he trudged through the trees.

  Then something came over her. She stopped dead in her tracks, feeling a flood of anxiety. She wanted to curl into a ball in the sand, and Trevor noticed how distressed she was.

  "What's wrong?"

  A vicious ringing in her ears blocked out her surroundings, her vision was blurred, her heart spasming out of control. I'm having a heart attack. She gasped for air but it wasn’t coming in, her lungs rejecting the much needed oxygen. She was disoriented, her brain no longer able to function as she collapsed to the ground. The last thing she could remember relating to the panic attack was the feeling of someone chasing her. Then, like a wave washing everything clear, she felt completely normal.

  "What the hell? Are you okay?"

  "I—I don't know. What happened?"

  "You just freaked out, that's what happened! Anxiety?"

  She had had attacks before, usually because of school.

  "Yeah, I'm okay. Seriously."

  "You're sure?"

  "Positive. I must just be low on electrolytes. Can you hand me that Gatorade you brought? And a granola bar." She was slightly hypoglycemic. Must have triggered it, she thought.

  He handed her over the drink and bar. Her hand was shaking as she put the sports drink to her lips. The taste of orange sugar was quenching, flooding her system, providing great relief.

  They had been walking aimlessly for about forty-five minutes, and the others were starting to get restless.

  "We don't even know what we're looking for," Ashton complained.

  "These trees are blocking my tan, babe. And any sun that gets through is going to give me lines. You guys care if I walk topless?" It wasn't really a question.

  "We don't mind," said Trevor.

  He said it with a joking tone, but it pissed Erin off. "Yes, we mind. Maybe some white lines will be good for you."

  "Damn, girl. Maybe your top off would be good for you."

  Up ahead in the distance, Erin could spot the west beach. "Beach isn't far. Let's take a break if you guys want."

  "Yes, please." Skye raced straight ahead.

  Frustrated, Erin ran her hand through her hair. She hadn't felt competitive like that in a long time, if ever. It was strangely important to her. Trevor seemed to be invested now at least. It helped that he left his phone back at the duplex.

  "What do you think?" she asked.

  "You wanna go for a swim? Rethink our strategy?"

  "Yeah that sounds—" Over his shoulder, Erin spotted an opening. "Come on." She bolted passed Trevor, and he followed.

  The setting was breathtaking. Instead of sand, there was a small field of grass and one lonely tree in the middle. Around the edges of the grass were some shrubs and flowers. The bright colors and earthy floral smells drew a large smile.

  "The garden. This scene familiar to you at all?"

  "A place to avoid getting sand in our cracks while we do it?"

  "It’s sort of like the Garden of Eden.”

  "Oh, yeah!"

  She walked over to the tree. The trunk was twice as thick as any of the other palm trees. She ran her hand over an engraved carving. There was a heart with four names inside. JAMES, MARY, WILLIAM, ANNA. She ran her finger over the carving.

  "Hearts bonded forever." She grinned proudly at Trevor and then placed her focus back on the tree. She looked around the backside of the tree and found a shovel. "I guess we're supposed to dig."

  At the base of the tree, she dug through the sandy soil. It didn't take long to hit something solid. It was an old wooden box, and inside was an old revolver. It looked ancient, the wooden handle varnished and smooth in her hand. There was another clue in the box.

  Chapter Eight - Trevor

  Deeply into the night, not a sound was made, only the fading of life. Where despair and hope meet, acceptance of fate may prevail.

  Trevor looked down at the rusted ancient revolver in his hands. It was authentic. Surely it was a priceless antique that Stefan paid a large sum for.

  Skye and Ashton were only moderately excited by their findings, as they were already beginning to lose interest. They wanted to spend more time on the beach, so they hung out there for a while, frolicking in the water while Erin and Trevor worked on the clue. He didn't like to admit it, but he was somewhat intrigued by it all, curious as to how it would all come together. He ran his finger up and down the coarse paper, this one looking more worn than the last.

  "So what's this gun got to do with finding these so-called killers? They used it to murder them? So what?" asked Trevor.

  "I guess we'll just have to follow the steps and see."

  "Maybe we can get ahead of him."

  "And how do you plan on doing that?" she asked skeptically.

  "Not sure yet. Hey. You notice that old man that lives in the old cabin?"

  "Haven't met him yet. Stefan mentioned something about him when we were drinking at his place. Why do you ask?"

  "Just curious. Wonder why he's out here."

  "I think he's been here for a while. Or so Stefan said."

  "Yeah."

  "You think he's got a stake in all this?" Erin asked.

  "I'm not sure yet. Not sure of any of this," he said too grimly. He realized his unintended fervidly sullen tone was affecting Erin, so he quickly flashed a smile. "But! We got a puzzle to solve, and God knows we aren't going to get any help from Hollywood and the sex maniac."

  "Hollywood and the sex maniac. Sounds like a porno with a riveting plot."

  "It really does."

  Skye had crept up from the other side on the beach. "What's the matter, Trevor? Jealous?"

  He ignored her and looked back down at the paper. "No sound, fading life..."

  "Are we looking for more weapons?" asked Erin.

  "Could be. Where despair and hope meet...Maybe they were separated and had a meeting place if things ever went south. They were probably surrounded. What place would give them any hope?"

  They both looked down at the map and turned to each other at the same time. "A chapel," she said.

  "This is kind of cool, admit it," Erin said, looking down at the page.

  She was excited like a child, and Trevor found it endearing. He leaned in and quickly kissed her, clunking their heads together lightly.

  "Okay, so is there anything on the map?"

  They glanced back at the map, which was not the easiest to follow. There weren't many details, just a diagram of the layout with trails, clearings, the ridges, beaches, etc. There was another opening closer to the south, but still on the west side. It would have been as good a place as any to plop in a church. He pointed it out, and Erin agreed. They started walking, and she reached for his hand.

  "Wait up!"

  "Assholes!"

  Trevor and Erin locked eyes, smiled, and sprinted away into the trees.

  ***

  By the time they reached their desired location, night had started to fall. It was still warm, the humidity acting as a warm blanket. Trevor was sweating and wishing for a cold breeze, but it never came. What did come was the fruition of their hunch. Up ahead in the clearing, they found a tree with a cross nailed to it, as well as several chairs that hadn't been used in years. If they were to sit, the chairs would surely crumble beneath them.

  "Damn, we're good."

  "Is this too easy?" Erin said.

  "Honestly though.”

  "Maybe Stefan just wanted us to start out with some confidence."

  "Could be."

  "No shovel though," Erin stated, looking around for the next sign that would lead them to clue number two.

  Trevor just had a feeling, he didn't know why exactly. But without any hesitation, he climbed the tree with the cross. He gained his balance, wrapping one leg around a thick branch above
the cross. Once he was settled, he found another box. It was the same as the last one. It had another note, along with an ancient-looking blade. The handle was worn, made of wood, its surface smooth, while the steel blade looked to be rather preserved, glimmering rust free.

  He climbed down to join the group before opening the note.

  "What do we have?"

  He read, “Rest is for the weak, so rest my pitiful sinners. Strength for tomorrow will be needed to endure all the island provides. There is no place for hiding, not even in your dreams. Even the great Poseidon is not without fear, for when they come, they sea and know all.'

  "Poseidon. Water. Which is probably why we aren't supposed to go until tomorrow. This is a daylight task."

  "Aren't we going scuba diving tomorrow morning?" asked Ashton.

  "Precisely. A tune-up to help us find a third weapon. A trident perhaps?"

  The walk back was long but fun. When their day was about to come to a close, Trevor's heart stopped while he was taking a leak away from the group. Out in the trees, he saw the old man shoveling. He was digging like a madman; knee deep, each shovelful being flung angrily to the side.

  Trevor began to approach from his back side, when suddenly the old man stiffened up and came to an abrupt stop. He dropped the shovel, stepped out of the hole, and began walking back toward his cabin. Trevor continued to follow.