The Earth Shifter

On the way, Lilly stopped in front of some kind of a machine. Well, more like a touch board on the wall with illuminated keys and an opening in the middle of the wall like a basket.

“What’s that?” Tristan stopped looking at Lilly.

“A vending machine.” He said like it was the most obvious thing ever.

“You don’t have it?” He asked surprised.

“We do. Just not like that.” Erik mumbled standing in front of it taking a picture of it.

“Well, you put the money in here then press...”

“We know what a vending machine is.” Nate interrupted Tristan just like he did the last time, repaying him. But in a defensive way. Wow that guy doesn’t forget anything, does he?

“Alright,” Tristan smiled holding his hands up in surrender.

“Tristan, how come you can talk English?” Aaron asked as we started walking again.

“Most of us can talk all of the world’s languages.” Tristan said proudly.

“Really?” Aaron asked in disbelief.

“Cool, right?”

“Totally” Aaron said.

We then walked to the garden of the leader’s house. The man was sitting on a chair in front of a table and he gestured for us to sit. Maybe he learned how to treat his guests now.

“Tristan said that you wanted to meet us urgently.” Professor Hendrix spoke first.

“Yes, I want to know more about your presence on this island.” He said.

“We came here to explore the place and make our experiments.” Professor Hendrix explained to him.

“And tell the world about it, right?” He asked.

“You’re starting to get my point.” The professor leaned comfortably back in his seat and put his hands behind his head.

“I’m afraid that’s against our rules, professor.” The word ‘professor’ sounded so strange for him. Like it was the first time he says it.

“And why is that?” The professor asked.

“We are the owners of this island and if we say that you can’t tell the world about this place then you can’t. This island must stay hidden from the eyes of the outer world.” This man was so intimidating.

“If you’re pissed because you don’t like the idea of telling the tourism companies about it and make resorts on the other half of the island, then we won’t.” Professor Allesandra spoke and we all gaped at her. Professor Hendrix was surprised and looked at all of us apologetically.

“What? You were going to do that? We didn’t agree on telling the tourism companies to make resorts.” I said angrily.

“No, no, of course we won’t do that, right Allesandra?” Professor Hendrix told me then looked at his wife who quickly realized her mistake.

“Yes, we won’t.” She said.

“You think we’re a bunch of idiots or something? You tricked us.” Lilly looked so mad.

“I think I’ve made my point clear here, you’re not allowed to tell anyone of what you saw in here. Or else you won’t be leaving this island ever.” Tristan’s father said and we all looked at him forgetting that he was sitting here in the first place.

His threat sent chills down my spine . What did he mean by that? He got up and walked inside the house leaving us sitting and looking at each other. Trying to figure out if he was serious. But I don’t even think this man can tell a joke.

“Lilly come.” I whispered to her holding her arm. She was walking in the market. I looked for her everywhere till I found her here.

“What? Can’t you see I’m busy.” She was looking at the golden rings in some accessories shop, was everything golden in this place? She picked one with a violet stone on the top of it.

“I’ll take this one. Do you accept ATM cards?” She asked the shop keeper and he looked at her confused.

“What?”

“Sorry sir, we’ll come back later.” I smiled at the man and dragged Lilly away from the shop.

“It’s important, Lilly.”

“What is it?” She asked annoyed.

“I saw Tristan coming getting into that high fenced place.” I whispered.

“So?” She crossed her arms.

“We should stay till he get out and tell us what’s really in there.” I told her my plan.

“First, he already told you that there were some supplies in there. Second, Why do you care so much to know? We don’t understand half of the things going in this island. Why does this fence make such a difference for you?”

“Lilly! You know that he was lying, it was so obvious and I don’t know why I want to know what’s in there but I’ve got a feeling that it’s important. Or else why would they secure it that much?” I told her and she stayed quiet thinking about it, biting her lips.

“Alright, let’s go.” She said and we walked to the fenced area and hid behind a tree near the big gate.

“Let’s just hope that he didn’t come out before we got here.” I said.

We didn’t stand long before the gate opened and Tristan came out holding two big buckets in each hand.

We ran towards him and jumped in front of him startling the poor guy.

“Got you.” Lilly said. I looked at her she may be taking it a little too far.

“You should tell us what’s in there.” I crossed my arms over my chest.

“Or you die.” Lilly exclaimed in a creepy tone. I laughed at her, she was so wrapped up in the scene.

“Forget it, I’m not telling you a thing.” He dropped the empty buckets from his hands and started running away.

We looked at each other surprised laughing at his reaction. We didn’t expect that he’d run away. But I won’t surrender till I know what are they hiding. The curiosity was eating me alive.

“What are we gonna do now?” I asked sitting on a wooden box outside the tent. the night has came and we all sat for a meeting to decide what to do.

“Easy, we can go and bring companies back and make our researches. That man can’t control us.” Professor Hendrix said. I looked at the candle sitting in front of me. It was cold and I was hugging the fuzzy, warm Periwinkle.

“I said we’re not going to let anyone build resorts here.” Lilly said for the millionth time on the behalf of Tristan of course because he left from sometime.

“I don’t like that idea either.” Professor Cyril said his opinion.

“Then why did you come here?” Professor Hendrix asked.

“We did come here to make researches but the leader owns the island and if he says that we can’t tell anyone about it then we can’t.” Aaron said massaging between his eyes. We’ve been arguing for a long time.

“He won’t know.” Professor Allesandra supported her husband again on the wrong line.

“It’s not like that. It’s his right and the islanders are the ones to decide what to do with their island.” I emphasized Aaron’s talk more.

“They’re not even being reasonable. What are they hiding it from? We shouldn’t listen to them.” Professor Hendrix said.

“It’s not our mystery to solve... you know what? I’m done arguing. I’m out.” Aaron said rubbing his face. He then went for a walk or something. I kept sitting in my place afraid that they would do something that’ll harm this beautiful place. I don’t know why I felt so protective over it but I was.

“We’ll do it behind the leader’s back and anyone who would disagree with that won’t get paid.” It was the first time Nate has spoken and I really wish that he hasn’t.

“We don’t want the money, Nate and yes, we disagree with you. We can’t do it before getting a full permission from the people living here.” I disagreed with him.

“And who are you to disagree with me, Amber. You think you’re a scientist but it’s your first job and guess what? You wouldn’t have got anywhere without my experience and my help.” Nate said nastily. I became really angry and stood up putting Periwinkle on the ground.

“You’re wrong, Nate. You need us and you count on us but you’re just too coward to admit it.” I defended myself making him get up as well.

“Without me you would’ve still been a desperate girl without a job.” He was standing right in front of me he made my blood boil.

“You should respect the people you work with more.” I instructed trying to keep myself calm.

“And why would I respect a pathetic girl like you?” This was it and before I could know what I was doing I moved my hand up and slapped him across the cheek. My palm burned but that’s what anybody who’d disrespect me and my friends get.

“Respect that.” I said firmly and turned around in order to walk away. But he held my arm turning me back so I would be facing him then he held me aggressively from the collar of my shirt. I became a little afraid from him.

“You. Are. Nothing.” He spat on my face making me disgusted and scared at the same time. My stomach turned when I saw him holding his fist up in the air making it ready to hit my face.

I heard Periwinkle growl and pull at Nate’s pant. But he was just a baby tiger. I closed my eyes waiting for the punch to come.

Suddenly his grip on my shirt loosened and I opened my eyes to see that Erik has pushed us apart and was now standing between us. He was looking up at Nate who was much taller than him.

“Lay off of my sister, man.” Erik exclaimed angrily.

Nate held his hands up in surrender but shot me a look that made me take a step backwards. This guy has no red lines. Nate went sitting back on his chair, Erik still standing in front of me.

I fixed my shirt nervously while mumbling a ‘thanks’ to Erik. Periwinkle took the shape of a golden hamster and jumped into my arms. I hugged it lovingly. And went back to the box I was sitting on looking at the ground.

I was so stupid to argue with someone like Nate in the first place.

After the argument that didn’t get us anywhere near a decision they all went to sleep. I stayed sitting on the same wooden box feeding Periwinkle. The little golden hamster was eating the tiny bits of the cheese I gave him sitting in front of me next to the candle.

I noticed Aaron standing in front of me. “You’re back.” I told him. He had my white cap on to hide his eyes.

Aaron smiled and sat next to me chatting and laughing for some time. Then we saw Nate coming out of the tent.

What does he want? If that guy was up for another argument. I won’t let him. I wouldn’t do the same mistake twice.

“Hi.” He directed the talk towards me but I ignored him looking away.

“I’m sorry, okay?” Nate said angrily.

“Sure, you wanted to hit me in front of everyone and apologize in the shadows.” I rolled my eyes. The look on Aaron’s face was priceless. He was confused, angry and basically a mixture of all the emotions.

“You what?” He asked Nate in a very angry tone.

“But I didn’t.” Nate shrugged simply ignoring Aaron and answering me and that answer made me so furious myself.

“Because of Erik.” I snapped at him.

He was taken back a bit. “I apologized and if you don’t want to accept it then it’s your problem.” He said that then turned around walking away. I let him go. He wasn’t worth the energy of arguing.

“Wait up, Nate.” Aaron shouted seriously and ran after him.

“Stay away from me, Aaron.” Nate didn’t stop but answered him in a menacing tone. Aaron turned Nate around aggressively from his shoulder. But Nate only faced Aaron with a hard punch across his face. It made Aaron fell on the ground instantly drawing blood from his mouth. My white cap fell and rolled on the ground hitting my feet. I opened my mouth trying to stop the upcoming fight but my surprise didn’t let me form any words. Aaron stood on his feet looking at Nate.

“What is wrong with you, man? I was just going to talk to you.” He said simply then pushed Nate suddenly making him stumble and fall on his back. Aaron was on top of Nate in a blink of an eye punching him several times. Nate kept resisting him by hitting his abdomen. But Aaron didn’t stop till Nate stopped resisting and calmed a bit.

I had a hard time believing that this fight was about me. It felt like there was a missing chain in here. Something me and Aaron don’t understand.

Aaron stood away from Nate pushing his hair away angrily and wiping the blood with the back of his hand.

“Why do you hate me so much?” Aaron asked desperately. “What did I ever do to you?”

“Now you want to know, right?” Nate answered his question with one of his getting up as well.

“What do you mean?” He asked in a demanding tone. Nate stood there trying to make a decision then sighed.

“You called him a killer.” He mumbled. “You called your own father a killer!” Then shouted.

Aaron’s eyes widened opening and closing his mouth. He looked so surprised.

“He’s a good man, you don’t even deserve to be his son.” He exclaimed.

“Oh, So I’m the bad son now.” Aaron said sarcastically. “What do you even know about my father to talk like that?”

“More than you do. He gave me another chance. I would do anything for this man, he gave twelve years of his life only to give a second chance. He did the jail time instead of me. I was the one who killed that boy not him.” Nate was angry and crying at the same time.

“What? You framed my father?” Aaron asked a hint of anger in his eyes. I’m sure that it wasn’t easy for him to talk about his father after all of this time of ignoring his presence.

“Of course not. He confessed of killing the boy because he knew that I was sick and young. He was the only one who understood that didn’t know what I was doing.”

“And he didn’t think about his son who’s left him behind?” Aaron chocked on the words, clenching his jaw and his eyes were glowing with tears.

“Maybe he wasn’t that much of a father but he did love you and wanted to talk to you so many times but you always refused and kept calling him a killer and a criminal.” Nate told Aaron wiping his tears away. So Aaron did know his father’s crime but I guess his mother didn’t.

It was like watching a TV show with me sitting as an audience. I wouldn’t dare to interfere with these two right now.

“I- I didn’t know.” Aaron looked half perplexed, half ashamed.

“No, Aaron. You didn’t want to know. There’s a difference and that’s why I’d came here.” That was the last thing Nate has said before walking away. He left Aaron standing there dumbfounded and wet cheeks. Even I felt like crying myself. This is impossible to take in for anybody. He lived his whole life without his father angry and thinking that he’s a criminal when all there was to it is that he was protecting a young boy from destroying the rest of his life.

“I think he’s telling the truth.” I told him after a long silence. Aaron looked at me surprised with my presence then wiped his tears away quickly.

“Yeah.” He whispered looking at the ground and putting his hands in his pocket.

“Are you going to talk to you father?” I asked him not sure if I should say anything about the subject but he didn’t seem to mind.

“I don’t know.” He shrugged and told me good night then went into the tent. I really felt bad for Aaron.

Periwinkle was moving inside my jacket then jumped on the ground. “Come on, Periwinkle. Let’s go to sleep too. It has been a long night.” I walked inside, my friend following me.

I woke up in the morning with a small lion sleeping on my stomach. I shrieked sitting quickly then remembered that he was Periwinkle when I saw the mark behind his ear. He did scare me for a second but I know that Periwinkle wouldn’t hurt me.

I heard some talking outside and went outside to know what’s happening. I found Erik, Lilly, Aaron and professor Cyril talking then stopped when they noticed me.

“What’s wrong? And where’s the others?” I asked yawning.

“We can’t find them anywhere.” Professor Cyril told me.

“What do you mean?”

“And all the research papers and the videos of the island are gone.” Erik informed me.

“What about the plane?” I asked feeling scared a little.

“We haven’t checked yet.” Aaron answered me.

“What are we waiting for then? Let’s go see if it’s still there.” Lilly said.

I changed my clothes quickly then went with them for a very long walk to where professor Cyril has left it.

“Are you sure it was this place?” Aaron asked.

“Yes, I’m sure I left it right here.” He pointed at the empty spot in the water.

“These bastards.” Aaron mumbled.

“So where stuck here?” I asked the reality of the situation hitting me and making me incredibly terrified.

How are we supposed to get home now?