Island Pleasures

by Noah Harris

  He would skin, cook, and ravenously devour anything he could find. His hunger drove him, wildly and erratically, like a brick on a gas pedal. While he would devour game that he conveniently found nearby, it took him a while to overcome his feral nature and suddenly realize that he hadn’t hunted for this food. As soon as he made the realization he slowly put down the bird he held, and rather than plucking and preparing it, he took time to investigate and inspect it. A large hole was punctured through the stomach. He brushed his finger against the hole as he looked closer.

  “Bullet hole? Nah, can’t be. The hole’s too big. Looks more like a bite. But wait; if it were a bite, wouldn’t there be more holes? Strange. Just like this whole damn island. I keep finding fruits lying around camp that I didn’t collect, and now animals. This is getting kinda weird. Well, wait though, hold on. I’ve heard of animals trying to help people. Maybe that’s it. Like a wild dog or something, maybe it thinks I’m some big stupid puppy that can’t fend for itself! Maybe it’s decided to look out for me. Yeah, that makes sense.”

  Holding the bird with a determined grip, a smile spread across his face as he looked around. “Alright, whatever you are. I’m gonna get to the bottom of this.”

  Barry gazed at the roaring fire as he sat under the lean-to; the fire’s intensity surpassed only by his own determination. The darkness sat as still as ever, nocturnal birds calling away in the night. His desire to get to the bottom of the mystery kept him awake. Now that he was aware of it, he needed to know where this food was coming from. He sought a way to satiate his night-time paranoia that something was stalking him and hoped for a friendly solution to his one-sided conversations. If it were the latter, he would certainly be happy. Early on, while talking only to himself, he had discovered what a lousy conversationalist he was.

  He sat in the stillness of the night, patiently waiting for something, anything, to appear. The night-time rustling of the bushes had constantly tormented him, but tonight they seemed to dwell peacefully. He tapped his finger rapidly against the ground in anticipation. The fire inside him slowly petered out to embers as time went by, and his eyelids gradually grew heavier. He felt his head begin to nod forward, then jerk back up. The long hours were catching up with him and pulling him down to sleep, despite his resistance. A yawn escaped him and he felt himself begin to doze. Finally, the knife slid off his leg onto the dirt, as his grip loosened. As he sat hunched over himself in front of the fire, the flickering light illuminated him with a glowing golden aura. He looked like a statue made of smooth stone as he nodded off to sleep. The fiery glow that danced off his golden curls and naked chest radiated the raw masculine energy of a sun god, while his slumbering eyes and crossed legs suggested the presence of a peaceful disciple, ready to accept the wisdom of the world.

  The rustling of the bushes jolted Barry’s eyes wide open in a startled panic, and he jumped up. Only a few crumbs remained of the offering he had left out as the rustling sound continued, the shaking of the leaves in the growing distance marking the path of whatever it was; the culprit was escaping.

  Barry cried out, “Dine and dash? Not tonight!” as he launched himself after the rustling sound with a sudden surge of energy.

  He tore into the darkness of the forest, twigs snapping underfoot as he flew wildly into the untamed flora with reckless abandon. Despite how fast his feet carried him, the shaking of the branches and leaves always remained a few feet ahead. He focused on whatever it was and continued his pursuit, legs moving like red hot pistons.

  His hidden target was a worthy challenge. The shape was hidden in the surrounding cloak of night and what it was remained a mystery. As Barry chased it, he didn’t know if it was a wild cat, a bird, a boar, or something more ferocious. It zig-zagged left and right, sending Barry skidding on his feet and changing direction time and again. Barry made a beeline straight for it, predicting the path the unknown creature would take.

  The rustling grew louder and came from ever more random locations. The bushes would shake directly in front of him but as soon as he darted forward whatever it was would bolt to where he was before. As soon as he turned around and raced back toward it again, it would seemingly leap up into the branches of a tree and shake them. No matter how quickly Barry followed it, the thing in the darkness was always one step ahead, shaking whatever was nearby. Barry’s eyes squinted with the growing realization that whatever he chased was toying with him.

  He continued the pursuit, even though his strong legs were beginning to feel like rubber. His chest began to heave, sweat dripping down it while he continued to chase this creature of the dark. Raw determination pushed him to get to the bottom of this. There was no way some wild animal was going to make a joke out of him. He gritted his teeth as he repeatedly told himself that, the mantra helping him focus as he leapt over foliage and closed in on the sound. The rustling grew louder with each step he pounded into the earth, the sound of his feet combining almost rhythmically with the beating of his heart, becoming a tribal war song that made him determined to push even harder and faster. He would either succeed or collapse. He couldn’t stop now; not with so much primal energy coursing through him.

  He ran further into the unknown and with each forward step, the darkness of the night continued. The dark shroud of night coalesced into a smaller form ahead of him, though it was only smaller than the night itself. It developed into a large mass of darkness, wide and menacing, tall and powerful, yet leaping with the grace of the wind, always staying slightly off his path and just ahead of him. The darkness surrendered to the mysterious entity, giving its last remnants to the creature and the spreading shadows. The branching silhouettes of trees reached out like spider webs and gave the being brief moments of invisibility in the darkness.

  Barry’s heart was beating harder than it ever had before, and his legs began to give as he drew closer to the unknown creature. He only had one chance before he was completely spent. He watched, focused intently on the thing as it seemed to tire of the game and was now just trying to escape. Barry launched himself at the darkness with eyes clamped shut and arms stretched out, ready to grapple with whatever the creature was.

  He skidded onto the ground, pinning something underneath him. There was no growling or hissing, not even a wriggle. He opened one eye at a time, bracing himself for disappointment. Below him, gripped tightly in his arms was a man, no, a being…one of exotic beauty. Glossy, smooth, almost slate-gray skin, shone slightly in the dawn. Barry climbed to his knees in a state of awe as he examined his adversary. Not a beast, but another man. His heart continued to race as he looked down on him. The blood in his veins pulsed faster, sending his heart fluttering with excitement. He caught himself in a cold rush of confusion. He was excited to know what had been stalking him all this time, yet he felt testosterone-fuelled pride in catching this beautiful being after such an arduous chase. It was the type of pride that went rushing through his entire body and settled in his loins.

  Barry grimaced as he felt the stirring sensation and looked quickly down at where he sat. He was comfortably kneeling, not on the hard ground, or even on this stranger’s legs, but perched on the creature’s firm supple butt. Like a switch was flipped, he leapt to his feet before the thrill of victory could make the situation any more uncomfortable. He pulled the man to his feet, lifting his face to get a proper look at him.

  Before him stood a man who seemed to tower over him. At 6’2", Barry was considered tall, but this man was even taller. Broad shoulders expanded out from his thick neck, leading down to a wide, sturdy chest. His body abounded with muscles like the crowning achievement from years of lifting and moving. Each calf, forearm, and pec was sculpted like a fine statue, one that had endured the years and was only more defined by sleek, smooth skin. All of this was draped in an outdated, but well-preserved vest, and sienna-brown trousers.

  His face was sharp and narrow with a pronounced chin that jutted out majestically. His nose sloped in a slight outward curve. His hair, dark with hi
nts of blueish-gray, fanned up in arches that ran across the middle of his scalp and down his neck. It gleamed in the faint morning light, almost as much as his skin.

  His eyes sparked Barry’s curiosity. Almond-shaped and dazzling brown, with light gold glinting irises, they were the central attraction of the stranger’s face, and were topped with thick, well-groomed eyebrows.

  The creature-man stared down at him with an arched eyebrow and lips which were twisted in a haughty expression of dissatisfaction. Barry felt something stir inside him and his heart raced faster. He was exhausted from the chase, yet being around this man felt invigorating. Never before had he experienced such a feeling of great triumph while feeling small and petite at the same time. He felt like this man could literally crush him in his arms if he chose. That thought sent nervous static running through his body and left him feeling vulnerable and sensitive.

  “Impressive,” the stranger finally said, with all the regality of a king, “I have yet to meet someone who could keep up with me. You may be more interesting than I thought.”

  The words rolled off his tongue with diction and poise, with elongated vowels and hard consonants. The voice was fluid and deep, like the tides of the ocean. After a second, Barry shook his head and stepped backwards defensively. Finally, he found his voice.

  “Forget that shit! Who the hell are you? Why’ve you been snooping around my camp? Why didn’t you—I’ve been sitting here completely alone for like a month, you coulda just said something! Wait, are there more people here? Oh God I’m saved, I—”

  “Silence! Do not bombard me with your ramblings,” the stranger interrupted, raising a large hand in defiance, “lest you wish to try my patience.”

  “Don’t gimmie that crap! I—” Barry trailed off with a frustrated sigh. He scowled and looked back at him, his hands moving as he spoke with exasperation, “Alright. Who are you?”

  “I do not feel comfortable telling you my name at this moment,” he replied with an air of superiority.

  “Son of a...ugh, okay,” Barry’s hand slid down his face and with a big sigh, he extended it and put on his best grin, suppressing all his frustrations. Memories of working in retail came flooding back to him.

  “Hello there. I’m Barry. What’s your name?”

  The stranger looked down at Barry’s hand, clearly perplexed. “What are you doing?”

  “Offering you a handshake. This is how people in the States say hello.”

  “I’m in no mood to participate in your strange dances—”

  “Just take my hand!”

  “Well, since you are offering, it would be rude to decline.” As he reached out and grasped the waiting hand, the warmth of his fingers tingled against Barry’s skin. Instead of shaking it up and down as Barry expected, he opted to raise the hand to his lips and plant a warm kiss on it. “I claim this hand as my own.”

  Blood rushed to Barry’s cheeks as he pulled his arm back with a snap. He could still feel the hot breath on the back of his hand and the soft lips planted firmly but gently on top of it. The stranger’s eyebrows raised and his lips twisted in a grin, chuckling heartily at either Barry’s reaction or his own joke. Possibly both.

  “They call me Xanathen,” the stranger declared, bringing the teasing to an abrupt halt.

  “Xanathen. Okay. Now we’re getting somewhere. Nice to meet you, Xanathen,” Barry slowly nodded, instinctively putting his hand out again. His eyes bulged a little as he thought the strange man might do the same thing again. Instead, his hand just sat there, motionless. Xanathen looked unamused.

  “Why are you offering me that one again? I’ve already claimed it and will take it as I please. I will gladly claim the other one if you are feeling generous,” Xanathen’s bemused expression turned to a playful smirk.

  “Never mind, just...forget it. Alright. So, people! Take me to your people. Please.”

  “I do not think you are ready for that.”

  “Whaddya mean I’m not ready? I’ve been waiting to find civilization here for over a month. I’m plenty ready!”

  “I refuse. Do not bring this up again.”

  “No way! I’ve been stranded here with no phone, no survival equipment, no nothing! Just trying to stay alive on my own. If there are people, I wanna see them. I want a home cooked meal and a damn telephone so I can go home. Shit, you’ve apparently been watching me this whole time, so you should know this by now!”

  Xanathen’s face darkened as he glowered down at Barry, who firmly stood his ground. The two were face to face, staring each other down intensely, the light of day finally filling the forest. Barry swallowed a lump in his throat as he stared up at Xanathen. As much as he felt like shouting at him further, he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He was mesmerized by the unique beauty before him and paralyzed by the intense personality.

  Xanathen leaned down towards Barry’s face, his scowl slowly twisting into a confident and amused smile as he spoke. “You are fun to play with. I would guess you have as much fire in your belly as I do!”

  “Play with? Wait, I—”

  “I will make you an offer. I will show you my people in due time, but you must keep me company. Talk to me, enjoy sport with me, and whatever else I may think of.”

  He stood there, arms crossed, waiting for Barry’s response with a look of intrigue spreading across his face. Barry scowled defiantly, holding his ground as the seconds ticked by. His shoulders were tense and his hands started to ball into fists. His grip loosened a little as he stared at Xanathen with curiosity. Xanathen’s eyes beamed down at him with a warm, inviting look rather than a harsh intimidating glare meant to show off his power or make Barry feel small. Instead, it was a silent offer—a metaphorical extension of his hand. Though Barry was unsure of the culture of the island, or what he could expect, Xanathen’s eyes quietly assured him that everything would be alright. Barry felt a small stir of excitement at the prospect of having someone to spend his days with.

  Barry’s shoulders finally relaxed and he sighed. “Alright. It’s a deal. I’ll—”

  “Splendid!” Xanathen crowed with a satisfied smile as he clapped a firm hand on Barry’s shoulder. “I look forward to it!”

  Xanathen pounded his fists on his chest and quickly clasped his hands on Barry’s cheeks, intentionally squeezing his face into a pinkish pucker.

  “That was a great run, wasn’t it? You should rest now; you’ll be no fun if I wear you out too quickly!” Xanathen laughed heartily, shaking Barry’s face in the process, then he let go and turned his back. Without a word, Xanathen bounded off into the forest like a panther, jumping into the branches of the trees. He disappeared completely out of sight. The only thing he left behind was Barry, standing there slack-jawed, and shaking his head in utter disbelief. Still dumbfounded and muttering to himself, he wandered back to his campsite and flopped down on the ground next to his smoldering fire pit. His body was still tired from the exertion of the chase, but his heart stirred with anticipation as he thought about Xanathen. Barry recalled with wonder how nimbly the big man had moved through the thick brush of the forest, his movements resembling that of a wild animal. Yet, strange as he was, he displayed an almost noble spirit along with his feral manner. His movements and even the inflections of his voice were fascinating.

  Barry’s eyelids grew heavy and the world around him grew dark as he surrendered to sleep. With a yawn, he replayed the encounter in his mind, and his last waking thought was of Xanathen’s curious statement, ‘Wear me out?’ I hope that’s not as bad as it sounds...

  Chapter 2

  A simple farmhouse stood in the distance, cloaked by snowy treetops. The sky was overcast and heavy with snow that had drifted down to cover the land. Barry recognized this road and beamed with excitement as he looked at the house in the distance. All of his childhood memories came flooding back as he tore down the gravel road. A feeling of familiarity filled him and grew with every step. Meanwhile, each small detail became crisper and more apparent. There w
as the backyard fence, complete with the small baseball-sized dent from practicing. In the garden, filled to the brim with life, even in the dead of winter, was a ceramic goose snugly wearing a Minnesota Twins shirt. On the panelled brown wall hung a tacky clay image of the sun.

  Barry could see it all, and with each passing step he drew closer. He didn’t care if it wasn’t his Florida apartment; this was the place that he called home. Oddly, the winter breeze felt warm as it blew against his face.

  From the ‘Bless This Mess’ welcome mat, to the potted begonias, this house with its deep red door was as inviting as ever. As he reached for the doorknob, he was ready to be home and for things to be back to normal. No more sand, no more loneliness. He was back where he belonged. He grasped the doorknob firmly and turned it, bursting through the doorway.

  Once inside, he looked around in confusion as he found himself back down the road with the house still in the distance. He raced back to the front door and when he opened it, found himself right back outside where he began. He ran down that road over and over like nothing had ever happened, but each attempt resulted in the same outcome. Again and again he found himself back outside. He strove to continue trying, each time becoming more desperate and frantic.

  Though his location remained the same, the world around him changed with each opening of the door. Winter became spring, spring became summer, summer to winter, and back again. The world grew a little older with each trip down that road. The wind howled viciously around him as he tried to go home for the millionth time, only to end up so far away. There was nowhere else he could go, Barry was apparently meant to be here forever!