Chapter 2- Xena

The ship rocked with the waves as we sailed towards the islands. The wind was quite hard today but the captain ensured us that we won’t be having any problems getting to our destination.

“I feel like I died and came back to life again.” Steven groaned as he came out of the raggedy washroom.

He is having severe sea sickness since the moment the ship sailed. We were going to fly there or take the marine highway at first but this route seemed more exciting so we decided to go by the water.

Why not go all out if we are at it?

It doesn’t feel that exciting now though. The continuous rocking is making me nauseous as well.

“It will be alright baby. We are almost there.” Eli coaxed him in a baby voice.

I saw Max making hurling noises in the back. I couldn’t help but chuckle at his actions. We can’t do anything about Steven and Eli anyways as they just started dating and are in their honeymoon phase.

“Eli is right. We should be there by now.” Carl said as he wiped his glasses clean.

He is our nerd friend. Well, nerdiest and most level headed of the bunch.

“Maybe we are late because of the waves?” I suggested unsurely.

The thought sounded more stupid that I had thought about but this is my first time on the ship. I don’t have any idea how this works.

“I don’t know guys. I can’t see a thing out here.” Stacy squeaked from beside the glass window.

I walked to her side to look out myself. She isn’t exaggerating the visuality out there. We are surrounded by thick fog. Something is not right. This place shouldn’t be having this thick layer of fog. The whether here is not like this at all from what I have read.

“Should I go ask the captain?” Max volunteered.

“I will come with you.”

But before we could take two steps, I heard the anchor drop and a few seconds later someone knocked on our door.

“Finally.” Steven cheered.

We quickly picked up our things and walked outside to see complete darkness causing us to bump into each other.

“This way please.” Came a smooth voice from right beside Eli making her squeal in surprise. “The weather is quite bad today but hopefully it will clear up by tomorrow morning and you will be able to enjoy the island.”

We followed the man’s voice and were led to the boats. All of us got comfortable in a single boat with the person that was talking to us and another one of the crew members. They must be taking us to the shore.

“Why the hell did we decide to go old school?” Stacy complained as we were being lowered banging like crazy against the ship due to the wind.

With no visibility whatsoever and the rocking of the boat, it sure seemed to be terrifying but I am not regretting anything. This is a new experience after all. We got to learn and experience new every other time.

The two men rowed the boat towards what I assume is the shore of the island.

It happened in a flash.

One moment we were surrounded by complete darkness and the next, a clear blue sky and relatively calm water. The two rowers also seemed confused by the abrupt change but they kept rowing the boat.

I looked around to find the shore mere twenty feet away.

“Is this even possible?” Steven squeaked.

But before I could utter a word, we were by the shore. The two crew men started to unload our bags like they wanted to leave as soon as possible.

Are we missing something? Why are they in such a hurry?

“Is everything alright?” I asked them after we were done unloading everything.

“Yeah. There is nothing wrong. We will come get you in thirty days. Enjoy your stay.” The one who came to take us out of the cabin said as they started to row the boat to the ship.

They were in the fog in no time. I turned around to look at the others but found myself baffled by what I was seeing.

Aleutian Islands is what I know, a mountainous island and what I am seeing is not the volcanoes or plants but huge ass dense trees that barely pass light to the ground after a couple miles of shore.

“I think we are in the wrong place.” Carl said from beside me.

“Yup. This is not the islands I was looking forward to.” Max said jokingly.

“We need to call the captain and tell him to take us back.” Eli said.

She pulled out her phone and dialed the captain’s number.

“I don’t have any service. Check your phones quick.”

Steven was quite taken back by the way Eli snapped at him. She must be really terrified.

We all checked our phones but none of our phones had network. I could feel my palms sweating. This is not right.

Holly shit! What are we going to do? How are we going to go back home? This place is giving me creeps.

We tried for a while, walking around the beach to check for service to no avail. We are royally screwed.

“Guys we should start with the tents. The sky is darkening.” Carl suggested with a shaky voice.

“We can’t set tents here and sleep like we aren’t fucked Carl. We are stuck in an unknown island with no way out.” Steven screamed. “What if we get attacked by a predator? What if the natives are some barbaric tribes and they eat us for breakfast? I don’t to die.”

“Whining won’t get us anywhere Steve. Might as well set the campsite to keep ourselves warm and safe.” I suggested but I could feel my hands shaking from anxiety.

Eli and Stacy were already freaking out and on the verge of crying.

"Yeah. We should get started. Maybe we can find some locals in the morning.” Max suggested as he started unpacking the tents.

I joined him with Carl and Steven. Stacy and Eli started with dinner.

An hour later, we were done setting the three tents and Steven had lit the fire and the dinner was ready. I am glad that we bought non-perishable can food worth at least a week before boarding the ship or we would have had to sleep hungry tonight because no way in the hell was anyone going to go in that forest to look for anything to eat. The wood for fire is enough adventure in the dark on the outskirts of that creepy ass forestry.

The forest looks scarier now that there is no light other than the moonlight falling on the top of the trees. It is starting to scare me out even more and I don’t think I am the only one feeling that way. The others practically inhaled their food and we were all ready for bed with Steven and Eli in one tent, Max and Carl in the other and Stacy and me in the third tent, ours being the one in the middle.

“I think we should set animal traps just to be safe.” Carl suggested.

Everyone was in agreement and we quickly set up the trap. It’s nothing to hurt the animals but to scare them away and for us to know if something came near us.

I changed in my pajamas as we went in our respective tents and slipped in the sleeping bag with Stacy laying in her sleeping bag beside me. She looked to be having a panic attack on the inside.

“We will find something tomorrow for sure. We will be home in no time.” I told her with a soft smile.

She didn’t look so certain but nodded and closed her eyes. I looked at her for a while till her breathing evened and closed my eyes.

I hope everything goes well tomorrow.