The Island

<u>**The Island**</u> [[Day 1]]

You awaken to water engulfing your feet. The cold has come to be a constant so you hardly notice it. The wetness on the other hand is noticeable. Apart from your socks your clothes have actually dried to some extent. *Where am I?* you wonder. You aren't floating in the ocean anymore; you know that much. The ground feels soft below you. [[Open your eyes]]

The blue sky above you is mottled with clouds. The storm that swept you into the ocean is nowhere in sight. From the corner of your eyes you can see an expanse of sand, water, and trees surrounding you. [[Sit up]]

The ocean stretches out until at some point it seems to blend into the sky. You push yourself backwards, out of the water. The sand's nothing like any beach you've been to. It's white and smooth, nothing like the rocky beaches you know. [[Look around further]]

The trees form a vibrant green barrier preventing you from seeing beyond the beach. It reminds you of the rainforests mum would read about. You hear a splash! You turn to see dark curly hair just barely visible above a large rock some ways away. [[Stay where you are]] [[Go see who it is]]

Whoever this is they don't move. Considering the rock they're hiding behind isn't big enough to even partially hide an adult you think this curly haired individual must be a child like you. [[Go see who it is]] [[Stay where you are ]]

As you draw close to the rock a girl peaks her head above it. She observes you closely. After a moment of hesitation she pulls herself into a sitting position on the rock. The first thing you notice is that her lower half is a tail, a shiny purple tail. At her waist the purple scales transform into dark brown skin. You can think only one thing. [["You're a mermaid?"]]

Perhaps you should say something at least. [[Say hello]] [[Stay silent]] [[Go see who it is]]

"Hello!" you call out to the kid. Nothing. "My name's Sam. Who are you?" Still nothing. "Please, I just want to know where I am." [[You hear a giggle]]

After a long silence a girl peaks her head above the rock. She observes you closely. After a moment of hesitation she pulls herself into a sitting position on the rock. The first thing you notice is that her lower half is a tail, a shiny purple tail. At her waist the purple scales transform into dark brown skin. You can think only one thing. [["You're a mermaid?"]] [[Remain silent]]

A girl peaks her head above the rock. She observes you closely. After a moment of hesitation she pulls herself into a sitting position on the rock. The first thing you notice is that her lower half is a tail, a vibrant purple tail. At her waist the purple scales transform into dark brown skin. You can think only one thing. [["You're a mermaid?"]]

"Of course I am. You witches are so stupid sometimes. Can't even tell a mermaid when you see one." She shakes her head as though she's talking to a kid who's never been to school despite the fact you're already in the fourth grade. You're not sure what to say. Until a mere moment ago you didn't believe in mermaids. "You didn't know you were a witch, did you?" [[Nod]] [["I knew"]]

"Stop staring at my tail," she snaps at you. You can't hold your tongue any longer. [["You're a mermaid?"]]

"Clownfish came the same way you did, washed up by the ocean. She didn't know she was a witch either." [["How would you know I'm a witch"]] [[Say nothing]]

"Liar. You wouldn't have asked if I was a mermaid if you knew." You don't have a comeback to that and you don't really want to admit that she's right. "Clownfish came the same way you did, washed up by the ocean. She didn't know she was a witch either." [["How would you know I'm a witch"]] [[Say nothing]]

"You'd have drowned or died of cold if you weren't a witch. Dead humans wash up too sometimes." "What if I fell in the water real close to the island." "Boats don't go past the barrier and that's too far away." [["What barrier?""]]

"It's past the little islands but you can't see it. It stops boats from getting close. Any more questions?" [["Who's Clownfish?"]] [["How do I go home?"]] [["Who are you?"]] [["Where am I?"]] [[Shake your head]]

"Redheaded girl that washed up here a few years ago. Her skin's like the white stripes of a clownfish and her hair's like the orange part. I haven't seen her in a few months now. We don't like each other," she explains. "Is that because you call her clownfish?" you ask. "No! It's her fault! Do you have any other questions?" [["How do I go home?" ]] [["Who are you?" ]] [["Where am I?" ]] [[Shake your head]]

"I've never swam past the barrier so I don't know what would really work. Have you got any other questions?" [["Who's Clownfish?" ]] [["Who are you?" ]] [["Where am I?" ]] [[Shake your head]]

"My name's Zel. I don't know what else to tell you. Any other questions?" [["Who's Clownfish?" ]] [["How do I go home?" ]] [["Where am I?" ]] [[Shake your head]]

"An island. That's as much as I know. Anything more?" [["Who's Clownfish?" ]] [["How do I go home?" ]] [["Who are you?" ]] [[Shake your head]]

"You're going to go look for Clownfish now, aren't you?" she asks. "If she didn't realize she was a witch either then she might get the shock I'm in right now." "I guess. Well, go on then. I didn't want to hang out with you anyways!" she snaps at you. [[Stay]] [[Leave]]

"I've never swam past the barrier so I don't know what would really work. Have you got any other questions?" [["Who are you?" ]] [["Where am I?" ]] [[Shake your head]]

"My name's Zel. I don't know what else to tell you. Any other questions?" [["How do I go home?" ]] [["Where am I?" ]] [[Shake your head]]

"An island. That's as much as I know. Anything more?" [["How do I go home?" ]] [["Who are you?" ]] [[Shake your head]]

"My name's Zel. I don't know what else to tell you. Any other questions?" [["Where am I?" ]] [[Shake your head]]

"An island. That's as much as I know. Anything more?" [[""Who are you?" ]] [[Shake your head]]

"I've never swam past the barrier so I don't know what would really work. Have you got any other questions?" [["Who are you?" ]] [[Shake your head]]

"My name's Zel. I don't know what else to tell you. Any other questions?" [["How do I go home?" ]] [[Shake your head]]

"I've never swam past the barrier so I don't know what would really work. Have you got any other questions?" [["Where am I?" ]] [[Shake your head]]

"An island. That's as much as I know. Anything more?" [["How do I go home?" ]] [[Shake your head]]

"An island. That's as much as I know. Anything more?" [[Shake your head]]

"My name's Zel. I don't know what else to tell you. Any other questions?" [[Shake your head]]

"I've never swam past the barrier so I don't know what would really work. Have you got any other questions?" [[Shake your head]]

"My name's Zel. I don't know what else to tell you. Any other questions?" [[Shake your head]]

"An island. That's as much as I know. Anything more?" [[Shake your head]]

"I've never swam past the barrier so I don't know what would really work. Have you got any other questions?" [[Shake your head]]

"Redheaded girl that washed up here a few years ago. Her skin's like the white stripes of a clownfish and her hair's like the orange part. I haven't seen her in a few months now. We don't like each other," she explains. "Is that because you call her clownfish?" you ask. "No! It's her fault! Do you have any other questions?" [["Who are you?" ]] [["Where am I?" ]] [[Shake your head]]

"My name's Zel. I don't know what else to tell you. Any other questions?" [["Who's Clownfish?" ]] [["Where am I?" ]] [[Shake your head]]

"An island. That's as much as I know. Anything more?" [["Who's Clownfish?" ]] [["Who are you?" ]] [[Shake your head]]

"An island. That's as much as I know. Anything more?" [["Who's Clownfish?" ]] [[Shake your head]]

"My name's Zel. I don't know what else to tell you. Any other questions?" [["Where am I?" ]] [[Shake your head]]

"An island. That's as much as I know. Anything more?" [["Who are you?" ]] [[Shake your head]]

"My name's Zel. I don't know what else to tell you. Any other questions?" [["Who's Clownfish?" ]] [[Shake your head]]

"An island. That's as much as I know. Anything more?" [[Shake your head]]

"My name's Zel. I don't know what else to tell you. Any other questions?" [[Shake your head]]

"Redheaded girl that washed up here a few years ago. Her skin's like the white stripes of a clownfish and her hair's like the orange part. I haven't seen her in a few months now. We don't like each other," Zel explains. "Is that because you call her clownfish?" you ask. "No! It's her fault! Do you have any other questions?" [[Shake your head]]

"I said leave!" She isn't going to talk to you any further now. [[Leave]]

You make your way into the forest. The underbrush is thick, but not so much so that you can't make your way in the direction you've chosen. You have no idea which way you're going and you don't even know how large the island is. You're tempted to go back and ask the mermaid more questions but you doubt she's ever been into the forest or that she'd answer you. [[Continue]]

You find as time goes on you move more sluggishly. It's hard to lift your legs high enough and you keep stumbling. It doesn't help that the canopy of the trees blocks out a lot of the sunlight. You don't really like the dark and it's got you pretty nervous. Plus the sounds of your surroundings all seem especially loud. The birds are screeching at you, the river in the distance is roaring, and you think you might have just heard a monkey. [[Keep going]]

"Redheaded girl that washed up here a few years ago. Her skin's like the white stripes of a clownfish and her hair's like the orange part. I haven't seen her in a few months now. We don't like each other," Zel explains. "Is that because you call her clownfish?" you ask. "No! It's her fault! Do you have any other questions?" [["How do I go home?" ]] [["Where am I?" ]] [[Shake your head]]

"I've never swam past the barrier so I don't know what would really work. Have you got any other questions?" [["Who's Clownfish?" ]] [["Where am I?" ]] [[Shake your head]]

"An island. That's as much as I know. Anything more?" [["Who's Clownfish?" ]] [["How do I go home?" ]] [[Shake your head]]

"I've never swam past the barrier so I don't know what would really work. Have you got any other questions?" [["Where am I?" ]] [[Shake your head]]

"An island. That's as much as I know. Anything more?" [["How do I go home?" ]] [[Shake your head]]

"Redheaded girl that washed up here a few years ago. Her skin's like the white stripes of a clownfish and her hair's like the orange part. I haven't seen her in a few months now. We don't like each other," Zel explains. "Is that because you call her clownfish?" you ask. "No! It's her fault! Do you have any other questions?" [["Where am I?" ]] [[Shake your head]]

"An island. That's as much as I know. Anything more?" [["Who's Clownfish?" ]] [[Shake your head]]

"Redheaded girl that washed up here a few years ago. Her skin's like the white stripes of a clownfish and her hair's like the orange part. I haven't seen her in a few months now. We don't like each other," Zel explains. "Is that because you call her clownfish?" you ask. "No! It's her fault! Do you have any other questions?" [["How do I go home?" ]] [[Shake your head]]

"I've never swam past the barrier so I don't know what would really work. Have you got any other questions?" [["Who's Clownfish?" ]] [[Shake your head]]

"I've never swam past the barrier so I don't know what would really work. Have you got any other questions?" [[Shake your head]]

"An island. That's as much as I know. Anything more?" [[Shake your head]]

"Redheaded girl that washed up here a few years ago. Her skin's like the white stripes of a clownfish and her hair's like the orange part. I haven't seen her in a few months now. We don't like each other," Zel explains. "Is that because you call her clownfish?" you ask. "No! It's her fault! Do you have any other questions?" [[Shake your head]]

"I've never swam past the barrier so I don't know what would really work. Have you got any other questions?" [[Shake your head]]

"Redheaded girl that washed up here a few years ago. Her skin's like the white stripes of a clownfish and her hair's like the orange part. I haven't seen her in a few months now. We don't like each other," Zel explains. "Is that because you call her clownfish?" you ask. "No! It's her fault! Do you have any other questions?" [[Shake your head]]

"I've never swam past the barrier so I don't know what would really work. Have you got any other questions?" [["Who's Clownfish?" ]] [["Who are you?" ]] [[Shake your head]]

"My name's Zel. I don't know what else to tell you. Any other questions?" [["Who's Clownfish?" ]] [["How do I go home?" ]] [[Shake your head]]