Suspicious Island

I am done with this. I am done with watching out to the ocean every day in hopes of being rescued. “Have faith” they say. “Everything is fine” they say. My parents say a lot of things and since the "plane crash" God knows how long ago; I don’t believe a word.

With each passing day, I get more suspicious of the adults around, my parents in particular. No one should be so calm after a near death experience. No one should just settle for an island lifestyle. We should all be figuring out how to get off this God forsaken island. Yet, my parents and the other adults from the plane have been more focused on building a new civilisation. Well, I’m done with that. I’m not stupid, I know something isn’t right with this whole thing and I know in my gut I need to escape, not just the island, but them.

“Hey, we’re nearly set to go. Are you dead set on not telling anyone else?” I glanced over to probably one of the only sane ones around, Howard. He, I and our other new friend, Tori have been focusing on building a canoe like the ones in Moana to get out of here. We just want to get far enough into the ocean to find passing ships. We need to be saved. We’re not sure what to think about the adults here though, whether to get help for them or not.

“We will ask a few kids just before we leave, not a moment sooner. Our parents will only try and stop us.” I told Howard before looking back to the ocean where Tori’s trying to catch fish with a poorly made spear. We’ve been keeping a front, doing the chores given whilst trying to prepare for when the dark comes tonight. We’ve been collecting food and things left on the plane that may be of use to us.

“That’s fair. You okay to cover for me whilst I rummage through the huts for anything else that could be useful?” I nodded. Howard, Tori and I have lost our will to consider what our escape may do to our families. They never took anything we said into consideration, so why should we give them the courtesy of keeping their wellbeing in mind when they are clearly okay without us. “Sure.”

I gave Tori a heads up, and she immediately joined me, heading to the clearing the adults have made into a small village. It’s impressive, too impressive. Some of the tools aren’t new, made from the few things we have on the island. It’s just one of the few things I’ve found suspicious since being here. I’ve made a list with Tori and Howard that I keep on me with a pencil. I had a notebook and pencils in my hand luggage. Each day there’s something new to add it feels but these are my top ten.

The “crash landing” seemed too safe, like a standard landing just in isolation.

In some suitcases and boxes being transported, there were supplies like building tools, different medications and other useful items that helped everyone start a new living.

My parents and a few other passengers seemed all too relieved to have landed here.

The communication line on the plane somehow was the only thing to “break” other than the engine.

The raft from the plane had mysteriously vanished when going to look for it.

Most of the passengers had special skills that were deemed perfect for this kind of situation PLUS those passengers “won” these holidays.

The captain of the plane seems all too cosy with my parents.

The kids and young adults are constantly dismissed for ideas to escape.

The island seemed like an all too perfect place to “crash land” and survive.

My parents and a few others seemed to find a safe water source and place to set up camp all to easily.

I hate the fact that it all seems to revolve around my parents. They are practically worshipped by the other passengers; they’re the leaders who saved them. My parents are getting off on it… HUTS ARE NOT GOOD FOR SOUNDPROOFING! It’s disgusting.

“Liz, come on. We need to keep everyone busy for Howard.” Tori brought me back to earth as I eyed my parents sitting and doing nothing unlike everyone else as per usual. I can’t stand them anymore. I can’t wait to leave them.

I gave Tori a nod and looked around to see our options and where Howard was. The plane had two hundred passengers, so there are a lot of openings with huts around. I prefer the others but am stuck here with my parents. I don’t trust the others still, but it’s still better. This is hut village one, where Howard’s finishing his thieving and then tonight, we’ll be off, getting on what we’ve been making with hopefully enough supplies and space for enough of us to last until we can find a ship to save us.

Time seemed to fly by as Tori and I distracted those around and the dark started setting in. Tori, Howard and I stayed together as the sun set and waited for our moment. Anticipation and fear were building in the pit of my stomach. I was only fifteen when we arrived, Tori and Howard were only sixteen; we have no idea how to build a canoe or where the best way to go in to find help. We have to take a leap of faith and hope we don’t drown.

“We can’t risk asking kids to join us, guys. We’ll just have to send for help.” Tori surprised Howard and I by saying just as the sun disappeared beyond the horizon. We both were quick to look her way. “It’s kidnapping and they’d only end up in foster care. Besides, you know the risks on that canoe, and we can’t risk their lives.” She explained her reasoning which made me curse. I looked to Howard as a lump formed in my throat. “She’s right.”

Howard rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger with a groan. He knows she’s right too, but just like us, he wishes she wasn’t. “Lets just go then, whilst everyone’s eating. No one will notice.” Both Tori and I nodded and headed off towards the plane where no one’s been to for a while, not since they ransacked it for anything they could use in this new life. We hid the canoe behind it. It’s huge, it’s the only place we could possibly think of.

With each step closer, I felt like we were going to be caught at any moment. Yet, we reached the canoe and climbed on together. We headed to our positions we agreed upon, and Tori pushed us off with the oar. I sat and watched with my friends as the island got smaller. When we finally hit the open water and were still safely a float I felt a sense of relief, one worry down. Now we just had to hope for a ship to come by or if we’re lucky find a large population that could help us.

…

We’re on day four and I’m exhausted, hungry, thirsty and giving up hope. It was a good try, but we’ve failed. Well, that’s what I was thinking as I woke to the sun rising this morning. Now? There’s a cruise ship not so far away and hopefully our salvation. “Hey! Hey! Over here!” I began to scream, waking up Howard and Tori in the process. Howard rushed to steer us their way the best he could.

God knows how long it took us, but we were noticed, and the ship dropped anchor and a boat to come and get us. I started to sob uncontrollably when I hit the deck. We’ve escaped. We’re safe.

“Hello?” We all looked to the captain who seemed both confused and concerned. I’m not surprised. We’re three teenagers who were all found on an island made canoe which is probably obvious, not something you’re going to expect at sea. “Hi, I’m Howard. That’s Tori and Liz; we were in a plane crash some amount of time ago and just escaped the island. May you please help us?”

“Come with me.” The captain guided us to his quarters where he had food and drink brought to us. None of us hesitated to dig in. Damn I missed eating a properly cooked meal. “So, please explain.” Howard explained for Tori and me as we continued to stuff our faces. I missed sugar and salt. I missed everything so much.

“Aha, and what are your full names?” The captain asked, his eyes on me which made me stop eating mid-bite. “I’m Eliza Dankworth.” The captain nodded his head and pursed his lips, barley acknowledging Tori and Howard. He sighed after a moment. “Liz, your parents are highly dangerous robber and murderers. They were close to being caught when the plane disappeared. To me it sounds like they planned this.”

I felt sick. My parents planned this, it would explain a lot, but murderers and bank robbers. I can’t believe this. My mum was a teacher and my dad a travel agent. “This can’t be right.” I muttered, shaking my head in denial. They were so boring, it’s not even funny. “I’m sorry, but it is.” The captain pulled out his phone to bring up the article about the revelation that they were the robbers and killers of five banks and six people.

“But why would they go to an island like that if they were so rich?” Tori asked.

“My guess, hide out until the heat cools down then go to a luxurious place to live.”

Never in my life have I been speechless, after the plane crash I was swearing, screaming, probably making matters worse. Now though, I have no words. My parents planned the “plane crash” stranding innocent people they seemed to hand pick so they could live happily in freedom before moving to luxury, and something tells me that they would have gone alone, even without me. Those fu…

“How long have we been on the island?” Howard asked.

“Roughly two years. I’ll update you and give you everything you need whilst you’re on my ship, and I’ll call to send a rescue party and police to find that island.”

“Thank you so much.” Tori grinned like Howard, but I stayed silent, staring into space.

I knew something wasn’t right before the island, but I shrugged it off, on the island I struggled and tried to find things out, but now I’m going back to where I used to call normality. I’m sure it’ll become normality again, but I’m going to have to go through normality knowing I’m the daughter of some awful people.

“Hey, it’s okay. They may have caused their pain and suffering or whatever but you’re the saviour.” Howard told me when we three were found a room and privacy. I nodded.

“Seriously, Liz. Howard's right; they may be bad, but you’re good. That’s what matters, you saved them.” Tori added.

I hope that’s what matters, and I truly hope my parents suffer for what they’ve done. They deserve it.