Abrina Bloom

I was trapped between two egos, one being my inner child, who always obeyed her elders, despite, whether they were right or wrong and the other, that inner warrior, the girl I tried to be, the girl who stood up for what she believed in, no matter the consequence.

Deciding which ego to chose was always the hardest. This scenario was no different, for your'e always told when you find yourself in such danger, to obey their commands, until the qualified aid arrives.

But, of course I knew no one was coming to help.

And even if, Jo and Neptune got here in time, they were just as vulnerable as me and stood no real chance at taking him down.

So, with a heavy heart, I fix myself with a deadpan face and turn to confront my captor.

"Turn around now! Or I'll blow your fricking brains out." this huntsman yells with a quiver to his lips, his whole body shaking uncontrollably.

Our feelings act as contradiction to the usual expectation of this scenario, with the hostage taker, supposedly being distant to the world and the life's they hold in the palm of their hands. While the hostage whines and screams, fearing for their life, praying to be reunited with their family.

Something about my captors fear made me feel more certain about my own safety.

I take slow steps towards him, speaking in a soft, gentle voice of innocence.

"I can see you don't want to do this, that fear inside your eyes. I sense you can't bear the thought of blood on your hands, especially that of a child's. I know you won't sleep at night, knowing my parents are out there searching for me, day and night." I say, drawing in my inner sleuth, as an attempt to appeal to his soft side, hoping it will help in lowering his gun.

Of course, I neglected to mention the fact that I was not a child and my parents were both dead.

But, of course revealing that would remove the edge of this huntsman's guilt.

And quite frankly I don't mind lying, if it ensures my own safety.

"Do you want to hurt me?" I question, as abrupt attempt to change the subject. 

My question seems to take the hunter by surprise, sweat dripping from his forehead.

"No, no, no. I just need your help." he responds, trying to reassure me that he means well, which of course I had expected.  

"If you needed my help, why didn't you just ask? I would have been glad to have helped."

"Not for what I want." he weakly objects.

"And what do you want?" 

"If I tell you, you won't want to help me."

Truth be told, I couldn't care less about his intentions with me.

I just wanted to get to him and the gun, so that I can separate this weapon of doom from the clutches of pain. 

"The name's Abrina, what's your's." I ask, again, changing the point of our discussion. 

"Radley." he states, rather dismissively 

"Oh nice name. I think it means meadow of reeds or something like that." 

"Don't know!"

"Do you have anyone special in your life Radley?" I ask, my fingertips inches away from the barrel of his gun.

And what's more, that's the question that reaches him.

"Chippendale is my loyal companion, who resides by my side. He's an astute but, cheeky chimp, that is skilled in both the Flute and the Banjo. We have been together since childhood and when my parents left me to fend for myself, I became co-dependent on Chippendale, as a sort of father figure..."

He had more to say but, I cut him off, wrapping my fingers around the barrel, as I whisper "I'm going to take the gun now but, then we can talk.

 However, my hopes of disarming him properly were short-lived, as he let's his grip on the gun go, watching as it lands by his feet.

I try to reach for it but my eyes are met with (hypothetical) daggers.

So, I take a couple of steps back, to show I'm not there to impose a threat.

 I can see Radley's shoulders relax, as he calls out for Chippendale, who had been hiding in one of the nearby trees.

Chippendale's fur was charcoal black in colour with a light brown, hairless chest. His tongue was a light rosy pink and his eyes a hollow orange. He wore a Bow Tie that matched with his black rimmed glasses.  

The chimp smiles at me, before jumping from the tree and onto a vine. He then grips the vine with his feet, before hanging himself upside down in the air.

"Oi, Chippy, stop your showing of." Radley calls out to his friend.

Chippendale listens to Radley, as he restores himself, swinging himself forward onto his masters shoulders.

I couldn't help but give this cheeky chimp a round of applause, who sticks out his tongue, as a sign of his gratitude. 

Radley strokes behind Chippendale's ears and nuzzles his nose against his pets face. He then takes a banana from his pocket and hands it to the chimp. 

I feel as if this moment of affection is the best opportunity to seize the weapon, tossing it of into the distant woods. 

But, as my hands coil around the gun, ready to remove, a steeled shoe crushes against my hand, splitting my bones in two.

He then elbows me in the gut, spitting and ranting "I knew you were up to something child! Taking advantage over me, just so you could get the gun, using it to control me! You really did underestimate me, you stupid child!"

I try to reassure him they weren't my intentions but, his mind is made up and he is sick of me talking.

So, he takes of his belt, tying it around his hand, before then whacking it against my left cheek. 

Jo Mccarthy

As, I'm dragged bellow this pond, my lungs become filled with water, my mind becomes a haze and my breaths become short and desperate. 

I try to clutch the surface, as a way to pull me up.

But, there's nothing there but the empty expanse of water. 

To make matters worse I'm not only dying on the inside but, the outside as well, as the Etterpus uses it's small, internal teeth to rip apart my flesh. 

It sinks its teeth in deep, tearing huge chunks of flesh of at a time.

The pain is beyond description.

I feel myself wanting to scream but, the water has clogged up my system and instead all I can manage is a weak, croaky, little rasp.

As, I lie there, faced with death, for the third time that day, I can't help but think about my family and what they were doing now.

Melissa Mccarthy  

The girls are still laughing when I return back to camp.

But, I'm in no mood, as I shut myself in my tent, crying until I become overwhelmed with this sense of numbness.

I hear the tent being unzipped.

But, I pay no attention to it.

Instead burying myself in my sleeping bag with my muddy boots still on. 

"Hey, my little cuckoo bird, you alright in here" Audrey soothingly asks, as she removes her shoes, before coming to kneel beside me.

I didn't speak, for my mind is locked on the row I had with my husband, a few days prior.

Even though we had long since resolved it. 

It's funny how in times of heartbreak, you think about everything you did wrong and never what you did right.

I knew Jo was not the sort to just up and leave, meaning something bad had to have happened to him. 

Not knowing where your loved ones are or what danger they might be in is one of the worst feelings in the world.

It's a feeling of sadness, fear and above all loneliness.

A feeling of pain.

Patricia Moore

Regan was in the kitchen working on a basic dish of sausage, mash and beans for her and her siblings. 

Now, I personally would never touch such a meal, for I was a lady who loved to experiment with the flavours and textures of the world. 

A meal that I found quite palatable was parmesan chicken, topped with a creamy pasta sauce, herbs and tomatoes, as well as a side dish of some good old crusty garlic bread. 

It was a meal full of flavours from the different cultures of the world.

I just wished my grandchildren were open to trying it. 

In fact, that was one of the many things I wish my daughter took from my time raising her. 

To let her children's taste buds feel the real extent of taste. 

Jo Mccarthy 

As, I think about my family, something remarkable occurs....

My pocket begins to glow.

And then in a puff of smoke, something appears inside my pocket, weighing down my pants.

Whatever now sits inside my pocket must be encased in a magic aura, as it beckons my hand towards it. 

So, I reach inside my pocket and pull out a...

Vial of Glitter.

It makes no sense.

Nothing on this island even begins to make any sense.

I feel as if I belong here, like a hidden hero, destined to rid this world of evil.

I suppose I should feel proud of that.

But, honestly all I feel is a longing for my family. 

I don't see any point to this glitter, that and the added fact my fingers have gone numbingly dry, leads me to drop it. 

I watch as the vial shatters, leaking glitter into the sea.

And then to my amazement the Etterpus's sandy brown textured skin begins to crack and grey, as it comes in contact with the glitter.

It groans and releases its toothy grip on my legs.

And I seize this moment to use the remainder of my strength, to swim back up to shore. 

Then, in an instant, I'm above the water, gasping for air.

I roll onto the bank, lying there, drenched and in pain.  

I feel to weak to move, like I've had the last piece of life whipped out of me. 

I so desperately wanted to wake up in my nice warm bed, wife by my side, relieved to learn it was all just a nightmare.

But, that wasn't the case.

For this was real.

A place where I fought tooth and nail for my life.

Suddenly, out of the depths of the pond, appears the head of a familiar flesh eating octopus.

I felt cocky, knowing this creature couldn't survive 2 minutes out of water.

However, that moment was short lived, as I watch in horror, this creature emerge from the water and onto the bank, its teeth bared in revenge. 

My heart sinks, as I jump up, with no thought, only instinct. 

And then I'm darting of into the woods, adrenaline pumping through my veins, causing me to forgot that I was ever in pain.

Neptune Glazier

I assert my confidence, slowly backing away, jingling some old keys inside my pocket, in the hopes that it distracts them. 

One of the Zelphermorve's, I take as the leader, seems to stalk me, as I work on retreating.

I fight back the urge to run, the urge to scream and the urge to attack, for I knew the outcome would likely not end well.

There's a couple of steps between me and this Zelphermorve and I feel mildly safe at our proximity. 

I think that if I keep moving back, then eventually this creature will grow bored and will leave me be.

But, then just as I'm making my way back, my dress is snagged on a jagged bramble.

My heart beats 10 times faster than it normally would, as I feel the Zelphermorve's dominance draw nearer. 

I can feel it sensing my fear, readying itself for attack, its teeth showing, as it licks its lips, excited for the meal its about to enjoy. 

I tug at my dress but, it doesn't budge. A loose thread entangled around the bramble.

 Then its there in front of me, its potent breath pressed against my face, a stench as powerful, as a ruthless dictator. 

I can feel my stomach gurgle at this smell.

Last nights meal begins working its way up my esophagus, leading me to fight back the urge of being sick. 

But, just as I thought my life was over, with one last pull on the bramble, my dress tears and I drop to the ground. 

With an instant I'm back up on my feet and running the opposite way from which I intended to go. 

Now, running from a predatory species such as the Zelphermorves was a foolish mistake to make.

But, I had given into my fear.

And by giving into fear, you loose all sense of rational thought. 

I can hear the heavy thuds of their footsteps, as they bound after me. 

I planned to keep running until I was sure of enough distance, hiding in a bush or a tree, for a couple of minutes, before then cautiously heading back the way that I came. 

But, I'm running so fast, my surroundings become one big blur.

And before I know it, I'm bumping head first into a familiar...

Jo Mccarthy. 

The collision causes us both to crash to the ground, as our relative attackers loom over us. 

They circle around us, taunting us into throwing the first punch. 

But, I was not foolish enough to fall for that trap of rage, knowing, that by attacking these creatures, would only make our deaths much more swifter. 

Honestly, I had no idea what we could possibly do.

But, thankfully Jo seemed to have a plan, as he leans in closer, whispering "Etterpuses are an insatiable species, that attacks everyone and anyone. Whereas, Zelphermorves are much more human in their nature, praying on those that are weaker and only when they need to. Then of course there's the fact that there going extinct, hence why they travel in packs. So, what I'm trying to get at is if we can somehow trick the Etterpus into attacking a Zelphermorve, then ultimately the other Zelphermorves will turn on the Etterpus, leaving us with enough time to sneak past undetected." 

I had to give Jo credit, it was a well thought out plan but, I suppose I had hoped for one with a little less...

Bloodshed.

However, it was the only plan we got and with our time running out we had to agree on something. 

So, settled on this as our plan, we slowly got up, switching sides, so Jo now stood beside the leader of the Zelphermorves.

My first main worry of this part of the plan was the fact that this Zelphermorve would just turn round and attack Jo.

But, to my relief, they seemed only interested in me, which I suppose to them was an honour but, to me, as the rebels would say 'this is some deep shit!'

It was now down to Jo to lure the Etterpus into our trap.

And accompanied with an extremely long twig, he begins to prod the Etterpus, tantalizing it into attacking us. 

I watch as the Etterpus coils its cracked and blistered tentacles around the twig, attempting to heave it from Jo's grasp. 

But, Jo demonstrated the core of his strength, as the twig firmly remained within his grip. 

This only adds further fuel to the fire, as the Etterpus hangs open its mouth, teeth bared, ready to extract the flesh from this great Texan Warrior. 

Then suddenly, well suddenly for the Etterpus but, not for us, for it was all part of Jo's grand plan, he lets go of the twig and watches as it sends the Etterpus flying into a thorny bush. 

A couple of seconds later the Etterpus launches itself out from the thorn bush, projecting itself directly towards Jo's face. 

But, of course, as part of the plan, just in the split of time, Jo ducks out of the way.

The Etterpus's face was a picture of horror, as it realises the mistake of their brashness and ultimately its cost.

It's teeth sink itself into the soft fur of the Zelphermorve, causing it to topple over. 

And almost instinctively, as if they could feel their leaders pain, the other Zelphermorves turn on the Etterpus, ripping it up into shreds.

Blood and gunk spills out of the body.

Flesh, guts, organs and its tentacles are flung across the air. A bit even hitting me in the face.

I wanted to let out a disgusted shriek but, of course the core component of this stage of the plan was...

Stealth.

Abrina Bloom

My left cheek stings and surprisingly rubbing it does nothing to ease the pain. 

My eyelids erupt with tears and I can feel his scowling eyes of arrogance looking down on me. 

I felt sorry for this man, who thought he could treat women as his trophies, pawns in his own wild game of chess. 

Radley, had since retrieved the rifle and now holds it down by his side.

This meant the barrel of the gun was not pointed at me and therefore ultimately gave me a better shot at escape.

But, I had seen his reflexes and quite frankly I didn't fancy the odds of my escape.

So, I lie there in pain, both physically and mentally.

I watch as the young chimp tries to leap from his masters shoulders and down to the ground to aid me.

But, Radley grabs Chippendale by the tail, flicking him behind the ear, before giving him a stern telling off.

I can see the fear in Chippendale's eyes, as he cowers before his master.

But, strangely, once Radley has turned away, Chippendale seems to forget about his fear and winks at me.

I thought I had imagined it at first but, then he does it again, this time holding up with him a badge...

Hang on a minute!

Are my eyes deceiving me or is that really Jo and Neptune walking towards me, looking as if they have been dragged through the wars.

Neptune Glazier 

We had made our way back to the clearing and having not come across Abrina on our way, meant we knew she had to be here, well I say knew, we couldn't possibly have known but, we most certainly hoped. 

Hope is a funny sort of word, along with pray and wish. You can hope for an honeymoon in Spain, only for it to rain for the entire week. You get what you wished for, only to have your plans soiled by a wedge you didn't even consider.

This was one of those moments, for we had hoped Abrina would be back at the clearing but, we hadn't even considered the spanner that she wasn't alone.

"What do we do?" I whisper to Jo, the man with all the plans.

"It's a two step plan, distract and then take down." he responds deep in thought, while I raise my eyebrows into a look of confusion. 

He signals that he'll be back with me in a minute, before then seemingly trailing of into his thoughts.

A couple of minutes later he reaches into his pockets and pulls out a banana and a fishing rod. 

"Have you had them in your pockets this whole time." I ask beyond bewildered.

"Nope, I just thought about my family and poof whatever I need, just simply appears. Don't ask how that's possible but, apparently it is." he responds in a manner of confusion, intrigue and delight. 

I let out a chuckle, as I turn to him and ask "So, what is this plan and why does it involve a banana?"

He holds his face in a smile of satisfaction, at the fact that he has a strategy and I'm left here, standing, utterly clueless. 

"Here's what your going to do, your going to take the banana and the rod up that tree, dangling so it's within sight of the chimp but, not within reach. This will act as the forefront of our distraction, for primates such as Chimpanzees are widely known to love bananas and undoubtedly this chimp will be no different, as it does everything in it's power to try and get that banana. This will then ultimately distract the huntsman, as his attention becomes torn between Abrina and his chimp. Therefore, granting me with the perfect opportunity to sneak up on him and knock him out." Jo states, enlightening me about his plan.     

I give an agreeing nod to Jo's plan, before taking the banana and the fishing rod, hooking them onto one another, before climbing up the tree and sitting cautiously on one of the branches. 

I then suspend the banana, watching in shock, as this chimp, rolls its eyes, at the promise of this beloved, succulent fruit. 

The chimps shoulders seem to tense, as what it wants becomes mixed with what is expected. 

I can see it in his eyes, that he has no interest in the banana but, with a heavy reluctance, as if its beneath him, he foolishly plays along with the game. 

And now with that key part of the plan resolved, everything else was set to fall into place. 

With the chimp now creating a childish fiasco, that fills this hunter both with annoyance and rage.

I watch as Jo creeps up on this hunter, armed with a rock, ready to take this man down. 

But, just as Jo reaches him, rock raised in his hand, the huntsman turns, grabbing Jo's arm and bending it backwards.

I can hear Jo's groans of pain, that although highlighted he was in agony all over, still did not stop him, kneeing his opponent in the groin. 

The huntsman is taken by surprise and drops to the ground with a...

Thud. 

Jo then wrestles the gun from his grip, tossing it behind him, before pressing his foot down on this mans Rib cage. 

I begin to climb down from the tree, relieved to have us all safely reunited.

I thought all our troubles were over, we could get out of this godforsaken place and return to our task of finding Blukus.

But, once again things were not to go as planned.

Because as I land back on the ground, Jo's body begins to shake in an uncontrolled, violent way. 

But, it wasn't because of any imminent threat.

No.

It was because of a feeling, a memory, an emotion, that overrode his rational thought.   

Jo's body collapses to the floor and I can see this hunter taking advantage of Jo's weakness, rolling onto his side and reaching out for his gun. 

But, I'm there before him, picking up the gun and pointing it directly at his chest. 

"you wouldn't shoot me, Princess!" he mockingly taunts me. 

I so desperately wanted to prove him wrong but, I knew he was right.

I could never hurt a fly.

As much as I wanted to. 

So, I lift the gun away from him and send him on his way. 

I watch as he gets up, dusts himself off, before striding arrogantly away. 

Once, I'm certain that he's gone, I join Abrina, whose now sat beside Jo, trying to calm his nerves. 

It takes a couple of minutes but, we're able to get Jo sitting up and drinking some water. 

Our next port of call was figuring out what had set Jo off.

But, just as I'm about to get Jo to open up, a familiar, unwanted face comes rushing back into the clearing. 

"I thought I told you to get lost!" I yell, at the now returned huntsman. 

"Well yeah about that, I was on my way, leaving like you had asked but, then I came across your 'friend', who didn't seem all that pleased. So, from the bottom of my heart, I felt like I had to come back and warn you" he states in a self-righteous manner, calmly brushing of my anger.

"Really?" I say in a sarcastic tone, eyes rolling, as I just stare at him in disbelief. 

"Yeah, even came back to help you, thought I'll hold them of, while Chippendale here takes you down to my cabin, you can use it to lie low for a little bit."

"That's very sweet of you but, we have already been driven from our path of finding..."  

"Blukus!"

"How do you know who we're looking for?"

"Well, no offence but, you don't tend to see a bunch of people running around the woods, like headless chickens, unless the're looking for someone with a little more expertise. Anyway, I can help with that, got a tunnel underneath my cabin, that leads straight to the town in which Blukus stays."

"Why do you have a tunnel underneath your cabin?" Abrina interjects, a look of both confusion and fascination expressed across her face. 

"Well, that's simple child, got banned from the town, to much of a nuisance I was or that's what they said anyway. But, you know that town had good produce and I couldn't pass that up for anything. So, several months ago, I started building a tunnel underneath my cabin, right to the town. Took a lot of hard work but, it's finally done now and guess what, you will be the first to properly use it." 

 "Oh, what a honour, supposed that's meant to make us trust you more." I respond, my expression and opinion unchanged.

"Trust me, don't trust me, I don't care. At least I think the big guy gets me."

At the mention of his name, Jo gets up, walks over to this arrogant criminal and whispers something into his ear.    

The huntsman doesn't say anything, just simply nods.

This silent gesture prompts the strangest of responses from Jo, as he pulls this hooligan into a hug.

I thought my eyes were deceiving me at first. 

But, no, it was real.

Jo embraced this man with one of the warmest of hugs.

It was only when Jo said "You don't have to do this alone", did the penny finally drop.

"It's my time to go, there's nothing left for me here. I'm ready." the huntsman states, his words final.

"Actually, there is one thing you can to do for me."

"Anything?" Jo responds, his eyes flooding with tears.

I could see in Jo's eyes a similar circumstance had befallen him. 

I knew that it hurt to a lose loved one.

But, to loose them because they chose it.

Must hurt so much more.  

"Take care of Chippendale for me, he's the closest thing I ever had to a child."

Jo nods and in that moment I want to say sorry, not just for the way I treated him.

But, the way world had treated him.

However, there wasn't enough time and rather selfishly I cared about my own safety, over his. 

A/N: Hope you enjoy. The ending does go a little deep and I was crying, just from writing it. P.S, There was going to be another segment to this chapter but, I cut it out because on a reread I felt it just cut this emotional and reflective ending. But, don't worry I will add it in the beginning of the next chapter so, you will still get to see it.