CHAPTER EIGHT: CONFESSIONS

Morning came, or at least in this case, the beeping from Emma's watch signaled the start of a new day even though there was still very little light passing through the trees as the group struggled to wake up from their short lived slumber. After Elijah's rather odd observation last night, they all searched around the campfire, looking for who or what he saw for about thirty minutes before coming back around the fire, after their search came up short. They pushed the thought and fear creeping up their lungs aside as they tried to sleep it away but all failed poorly.

A series of yawns broke through the lips of everyone simultaneously as they stretched and scratched. It was a rally of yawns as each yawn triggered the next person's.

"At this rate, we'd spend the day yawning" Natalie said between yawns

"I need more sleep" Avery mumbled, looking very sleep deprived, with heavy bags under her eyes and red bumps all over her skin

"You've looked better" Emma said to her tucking loose strands of hair behind her ear

"I've slept better" She said, covering the yawn that crept from her mouth "What time is it?"

"Just a little past 12pm" She said no longer surprised by the massive leap in time

"Doesn't even feel like I slept for that long" Natalie said just as her yawns finally subsided

"Alright, look alive guys" Lucas said slapping his thigh "We've got a mission at hand today"

"Hard to look alive when I feel like a sleep deprived zombie right now" Avery said as she tried to brush down her messy hair with her hands

"Well then let's fake it till we make it" Owen groaned as he stretched

"So we're gonna form teams of two and we'd meet back here when we can no longer see light coming through the trees" Lucas said, adjusting the strap on his shoulder

"How are we gonna let you guys know if we do actually find something?" Avery said between yawns

"Well it's very simple" Lucas's started "Just scream"

"Sounds easy enough" Elijah shrugged looking over to Natalie

"Alright so I'm gonna split everyone into groups now" Lucas said looking over the group "Although it would seem the groups are already separated. Well just for clarity sake; Natalie and Elijah, you guys search over that way" Lucas said pointing over to the east, pointing to this right

"Aye aye captain" Elijah saluted

"Wonder twins" Lucas continued to speak just as Max and Emma turned their heads to face him

"It's weird how people use the term "wonder twins" when referring to Max and Emma" Evan sighed "Leaving me behind"

"It's nobody's fault you don't hang out with your sister as much as Max does" Natalie said smacking his shoulder

"Well sorry but I need the two of them together" Lucas sighed "Evan, you go with Avery"

"Guess we're lab partners for this group project" Evan said stepping over to stand beside Avery who seemed lost as she blinked her eyes a couple of times before nodding at him

"So wonder twins, you go West, Evan and Avery, your direction is North" Lucas said

"That's the direction of camp" Avery managed to say

"Yeah it is. Though we came in a straight line, you'd need to search that area properly. Leave no stone unturned" Lucas said "Owen Caleb and I would go south"

"Be safe out there" Avery said to Max and Emma before pulling them into a quick hug "Try not to miss me too much" She whispered into Emma's ear

"I'll keep you close to my heart" Emma whispered back before pulling out of the hug

"Let's get moving" Lucas said turning on his heel in his designated direction

The groups dispersed, facing their new marks, leaving behind their almost extinguished campfire with the smoke rising up to the sky.

"I wonder how the others are doing back in the beach" Avery said as she matched Evan's pace as they walked

"They definitely don't have bumps on their skin from mosquito bites" Evan said rubbing on his neck

"Don't even remind me" Avery whined as she scratched her arms

Back at the beach, the rest of the group gathered fruits from the trees at the entrance of the forest. Keeping a mental catalog of what's left and what needed to be hunted down was Mia's job as the self appointed acting team leader. She scanned through the coconuts at the side of the boxes and clothes stacked on the beach, counting each one, trying to figure out if any had gone bad

"We've only got ten left" She said to Zara who was trailing closely behind her

"Meaning we'd have to get more" Zara said looking over at the trees at the entrance

"Do you think you could talk to Milo and see if he's up for tree climbing this evening?" Mia said looking over to Zara

"Will do boss" Zara said turning on her heels before heading over to Milo as he sat by the foot of the beach, with his feet getting washed over by the incoming and out flowing waves

"Hey Milo" Zara said as she got close enough for him to hear her speak

"Oh hey" He said turning to face her before fixing his gaze back on the ocean

"Everything okay?" She asked taking a seat next to him

"Yeah… just thought I'd try to enjoy the peace and quiet on the beach for a little while" He said not meeting her eyes

"I know the feeling" She said pulling her legs up to her chest "I tried to enjoy the peace on the beach before something else happens that makes me hate going to a beach"

"Is there something you regret not doing?" Milo asked

"What do you mean?" Zara raised an eyebrow at him

"I mean, in the events we don't make it out of this island alive, is there something you'd regret not doing with your life?" Milo asked, this time meeting her eyes and now she could see the streak of dried tears on his face

She sighed as she turned to face the endless stretch of water "Probably choosing my sexuality over my mom"

Milo's gaze still fixed on her as if waiting for her to continue speaking. She sighed again before she continued to speak

"Right after our names got called for the trip and we all went back to our dorms for the day, I called my mom. She and I haven't spoken in a really long time. Right after I told her that I was into girls we had this really big fight. She didn't take it as happily as I thought she would and since then everything has been really weird between us. I said somethings that I'm not proud of, words I wished never left my lips and no matter how much I think about it, I can't take them back" Zara sniffled, wiping at a tear on her cheek with the sleeve of her shirt

"What did you say?" Milo asked turning to look at the ocean

"She said that I was currently going through a phase and that 'I should let go of my delusions and stop being a disappointment to her. That when I find a good guy, I'd realize that all of this was all in my head' and then I told her that if loving a man was the way forward and the best option in life then her husband wouldn't have beat her up the way he did before leaving her for someone else" Zara said turning to look at Milo "After I said that she slapped me across the face and I left the house and I haven't been back there since that event unfolded. So yeah I called her that day but she didn't answer at first but when she did she told me not to call her anymore and she hung up before I could say anything"

"I'm sure that she still loves you" Milo said, placing a hand on her shoulder

"I want to believe that but she hasn't given me any reason to believe that but I still love her a lot and I want her to know that I'm sorry I'm the way I am but I can't help it" Zara said taking in a deep breath before pushing herself off the ground "So I'm gonna make sure I get out of here alive and fix things with her, no matter what. Anyways Mia wants your help getting coconuts from the trees. We're about to run out"

"I thought you said you didn't need a man's help to do anything" Milo teased

"I don't. Mia is the one that asked for your help and whatever Mia asks from me, she gets" Zara said, brushing the dirt from her pants

"You're really in love with her, aren't you?" Milo asked, his eyes trailing across to find Mia still looking at the coconuts

"More than anything in the world" Zara responded with a smile on her face "Alright, chop chop" She clapped her hands at Milo before turning to walk away

"Does Mia know about what you just told me?" Milo asked

Zara paused, turning around to face Milo "There's nothing about my life that she doesn't know about" Zara said before making her way over to Mia

Milo watched her for a moment before pushing himself off the ground, brushing the sand from his butt, making his way over to trees to harvest coconuts as instructed

"Guess the coconut situation would be solved soon" Mia said as her eyes caught Milo walking close to the trees

"Yeah" Zara responded watching Milo scale up the tree

"What were you two talking about?" Mia asked trying to look at Zara's eyes

"I told him about my mom" Zara responded fixing her gaze at Mia's

"That would explain why you have tears in your eyes" Mia said cupping Zara's cheek "Are you okay?"

"I'm better when I'm around you" Zara responded kissing Mia's palm

"Good girl" Mia said with a smile on her face "I need to make sure we get enough coconuts" She said pulling her hand from Zara's face before marching down over to Milo who had already thrown two coconuts on the ground.

The chirping sounds from crickets filled the atmosphere as the new group searched within and around their designated spots. Natalie trailed close to Elijah as they looked around the floors, hopping over thick roots that stretched out from trees and ducking under vines that dropped from branches.

Small animals like rabbits and possums raced across the forest floors, it makes you wonder how they got there in the first place, given how the Island is located in the middle of nowhere. Luckily no one had come across any dangerous snakes or reptiles that could leave them immobile after a single bite.

"Do you think we're going to find her?" Natalie asked as she watched a squirrel up on a tree as it stuffed it's cheeks with nuts

"I want to believe that she's fine but if I'm being honest I don't think she made it. I mean it's been almost a week given Standard time and then more, given supernatural killer island time" A sigh escaped through his lips as he ran his fingers through his hair

"I don't even remember spending as much time with Ava. Sophia and Ava were the closest between any of us on this Island. I wonder how she's handling all of this, knowing that her friend has been missing for a really long time now" Natalie's eyes dropped to the floor before looking back up at Elijah who had his eyes fixed on her

"I'm still holding on to very little hope that she's safe tucked under some tree leaves somewhere so let's not give up just yet" Elijah said as a smile briefly spread across his face. "For now let's keep searching for her"

"What would you be doing right now if we weren't stranded here on killer island?" Natalie asked as they continued moving forward

"Probably trying to study for our exams and failing horribly" Elijah chuckled

"Can I ask you a question?" Natalie asked

"Shoot" Elijah stopped on his tracks, turning to face her

"Why do you always try to be funny?" She asked

"That's a rather odd question" He said in response "You don't think I'm funny?"

"That's not what I'm asking" Her hands folded across her chest as she gave him a stern look on her face

Elijah's lips parted briefly as if he wanted to say something but he stopped, his shoulders dropped as if breaking down mental walls before he locked his gaze with hers "I… I dunno if you know this but I lost my folks at a pretty young age. There was this family function we had to attend and on the journey back home, we got into a car crash. A drunk driver came slamming head first into our car taking out my mom and dad instantly. When my eyes opened I could see huge pieces of glass sticking out of my father's face as he sat wide eyed and lifeless. I yelled for help before I blacked out. I was in and out of it, but I could see the flashing lights from paramedic vehicles and police cars. By the time I woke up, I was in the hospital all by myself. An eight year old orphan"

"E" She whispered with shuddered breaths

"I Lived a rather shitty life after that, moving from foster home to foster home. I tried to make the best out of the situation but nothing feels better than well the home you grew up in. I got adopted when I was thirteen by the Martins cause they couldn't have a child of their own. It's been me and them and I'm glad they found me when they did. So to answer your question about why I try to be funny all the time, well-" He sighed breaking eye contact before looking back at her "I don't want anyone to be able to see through my broken soul. If I show the world that I'm not a broken soul, they wouldn't want to try to fix it"

Natalie's eyes burned with the tears she tried so badly to stop from falling. Words failed her as she threw her arms around his waist, pulling him into a tight hug. He could feel his shirt getting wet as he hugged her back

"I can't tell if you're supposed to be comforting me or if I'm supposed to be comforting you" Elijah chuckled

"I'm sorry" She said with her face buried in his chest

"It's not your fault" He stroked her hair from behind

"I wish I can take the pain away" She whispered

"I'll be fine" He smiled looking down at her as she pulled back from the hug "Let's find our classmate"

The rest of the search came up short as they all returned back to their new campground one after the other, with Emma and Max being the first pair to arrive.

"Seems the others aren't here yet" Max said tossing the three rabbits down beside the burnt out campfire.

"At least we didn't come back empty handed" Emma stretched as she yawned "Sometimes I forget you're a survivalist"

"Now I'm glad my dad forced me to go camping with him throughout my entire childhood. Never knew those skills would come in handy one day" Max said looking down at his catch. He pulled out a switchblade from his backpack

"Hence the reason why you go everywhere with literal weapon" Emma said as she took a seat on the floor with Max following suit shortly after

"Those years were rather hectic but I guess he knew what he was doing" Max said

"How are your folks doing these days?" She asked

"They're doing relatively well for a couple of boomers. The construction company hasn't had any major challenges since my dad started it with my uncle ten years ago. Mom's saloon is still doing really well. Asides from me, they're both doing good" Max responded

"Well from the looks of things you're doing well too" Emma nudged his side

"You have a knack for physically abusing me" Max chuckled holding his side

"Well you let me physically abuse you all the time so you're easy prey" She laughed

"Cause you'd whine whenever I don't let you" Max nudged her back

"Well that's because I'm a lady and you should treat me with care" She said before resting her head on his shoulder

"Even after all this time you're still a baby who needs so much attention" Max said as he placed his hand on her shoulder

"Well I am a baby" She said

"You're my baby" He retorted

"That's not new information" She snickered

Before Max could respond, the snaps of twigs and rustling of leaves called their attention as Caleb, Lucas and Owen came into view

"You're back already" Caleb said taking a seat

"And we brought dinner" Emma smiled dangling a rabbit in front of him

"Meat" Owen blurted out excitedly as he was practically drooling

"Calm down Fido" Lucas snapped his fingers over Owen's face

He laughed as he took a seat beside Caleb "I was definitely tired of eating fish"

"That's why we caught something else" Emma said still smiling sheepishly

"Where's all this "we" coming from?" Max chuckled as he turned to look at Emma "If I remember correctly, you tried to stop me from killing all three saying that "violence wasn't necessary and their lives mattered too" or wasn't that you?"

"Well that's in the past and we don't talk about the past" She rolled her eyes at him which caused the group to laugh

Before they could continue their conversation Evan and Avery approached from their end almost at the same time Natalie and Elijah appeared into the dim light.

"Guess we're all back" Lucas said as the remaining four took their seats "Did you guys find Ava?"

Heads shook left and right as they looked down at the dead animals on the floor

"Guess we're the only team with something to report then" Caleb said

"What did you find?" Evan asked