Put me on my battlefield when ghosts attack...

Number of posts : 1888 Age : 40 Registration date : 2007-06-25

When he was far enough away, Tom leant his head on a tree, shoulders shaking. He sank to his knees and retched, before gripping his hair in his hands.
I can ride this out. I can ride this out.

...No I can't

Number of posts : 1515 Age : 42 Registration date : 2007-06-27

Here he was walking through the forest looking for Tom again just like before. He tried to remember why Tom had run off the first time, and he was sure it hadn't been about him.

"Tom?"

Number of posts : 1888 Age : 40 Registration date : 2007-06-25

Tom retched again, pressing his head against the tree. Bile dripped down his chin. "No!" He choked out. "Leave me alone!"

Admin Number of posts : 3252 Age : 39 Registration date : 2007-06-21

William kept a safe distance from the two - close enough to shot glares at Michael if he didn't speak, but far enough to avoid having to see Tom's expression.

Number of posts : 1888 Age : 40 Registration date : 2007-06-25

Tom shivered, pushing himself into a sitting position. His damp clothes stuck to his thin body. He saw something light up in the corner of his eye and reached out, wrapping his hand around... a phone.

Number of posts : 1515 Age : 42 Registration date : 2007-06-27

Michael turned and followed the sound of his voice until he found which tree Tom was hiding behind.

He knelt and put his hands on his knees, "Hey. I'm sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to make you feel like..." What was that in Tom's hand?

Admin Number of posts : 3252 Age : 39 Registration date : 2007-06-21

Michael abruptly ceasing to talk made William curious, and maybe a tad panicked. What was wrong?

Number of posts : 1888 Age : 40 Registration date : 2007-06-25

Tom stared at the phone's cracked screen. "How's it even working?" He whispered. The screen read 'one missed call'. He pressed the voicemail button and held it to his ear.
Suddenly, his eyes bulged and he screamed, throwing the phone to the floor.

Admin Number of posts : 3252 Age : 39 Registration date : 2007-06-21

William ran in Tom's direction. "What is it? What's wrong?"

Number of posts : 1515 Age : 42 Registration date : 2007-06-27

"Tom? Was that your phone? What's wrong?" Michael stared in disbelief at the surprisingly sturdy device. The company that made that phone deserved some kind of award if it really still worked.

Number of posts : 1888 Age : 40 Registration date : 2007-06-25

Tom pressed the voicemail again, putting it onto loudspeaker so the others could hear it. He put it down on the ground and clung to William, as though he couldn't bear to touch it.

The voicemail started off with heavy breathing, like an animal. Like the episode of TAITV where Sisky got kidnapped. Almost as though it was a backing sound, someone started screaming. "Leave the island." The first speaker growled. "LEAVE THIS ISLAND!"

Admin Number of posts : 3252 Age : 39 Registration date : 2007-06-21

"What the fuck is that...?" William grabbed the phone. "Worthless piece of s..." But then he realized that Tom was seriously frightened.

"Someone must be trying to play some horrible joke on us."

Number of posts : 1515 Age : 42 Registration date : 2007-06-27

"How are we supposed to leave?" Michael stood back up and looked around.

Number of posts : 1888 Age : 40 Registration date : 2007-06-25

Tom rubbed his face against William's bare chest, muttering to himself. Hearing that voice so close up was terrifying. The heavy breathing reminded him of that time in the alley... He was almost rigid in fear. "Have to go." He muttered. "Have to get off."

Admin Number of posts : 3252 Age : 39 Registration date : 2007-06-21

William stroked Tom's hair, gently.
"I wish it was easy like that. We don't even know where we are. We haven't even checked the island."

Number of posts : 1888 Age : 40 Registration date : 2007-06-25

William's only answer was a snore. Tom was asleep, lulled into this uneasy state by the musky scent of the younger boy's skin; the warmth of his body, the love in his arms.

Admin Number of posts : 3252 Age : 39 Registration date : 2007-06-21

"Tom...?" He whispered.
He looked at Michael. "He's asleep. I guess you won't be talking to him now, uh?"

Number of posts : 1515 Age : 42 Registration date : 2007-06-27

"We don't even know if..." If anyone else made it? If there are any other survivors? If Mike, Sisky, and the Butcher died?

"I guess that didn't solve the problem..." Michael hadn't really apologized properly.

Admin Number of posts : 3252 Age : 39 Registration date : 2007-06-21

"We don't know anything about this place," William corrected.

"Look on the bright side - you have some time to think about that little speech of yours. Unless you already know what to tell Tom?"

Number of posts : 1515 Age : 42 Registration date : 2007-06-27

Michael sighed, "Either way someone's not going to be happy." He avoided looking at William.

Admin Number of posts : 3252 Age : 39 Registration date : 2007-06-21

"That's exactly why you shouldn't wait to say it."

He lifted Tom in his arms, and let him sleep against the tree. "Stay with him until he wakes up. Maybe that'll clear up your thoughts a little. Then you can answer him."

"I'm going for a walk. I've got things to sort out, too."

Number of posts : 1515 Age : 42 Registration date : 2007-06-27

"Sure," Michael sat near the sleeping Tom but not too close. He didn't want to cause any more problems.

Admin Number of posts : 3252 Age : 39 Registration date : 2007-06-21

"I'll be on the beach if you need me."
He walked away, waving his hand without looking back.

Number of posts : 1363 Age : 45 Registration date : 2007-06-25

Gabe had followed them into the jungle, leaving himself out of the conversations. He simply wanted to make sure William and Micheal were okay. He already knew Tom wasn't, so there was no point in worrying himself more, despite what William had told him earlier about only caring for himself. He had always tried to make sure his friends were happy and safe.

He watched the sleeping Tom, a concerned Micheal and William walking away.
Now what... ? he asked himself. Is William upset because of what they did in front of me? William... you gotta stop worrying. You really do worry too much for others. If only you knew how much better in shape I am than you right now.

If only Gabe could say it aloud. But for once in a very long time, he found it difficult to say anything properly.

Number of posts : 1888 Age : 40 Registration date : 2007-06-25

Tom came to slowly, allowing the world to spin into focus before his eyes. "I had this dream..." He said slowly, biting his lip. "It was practically a repeat of everything that's gone on in this island, but... we weren't there." His brow furrowed. "We were like... blobs of colour. And there was one too many..."