Chereads / Thrillers from Around The World / Chapter 23 - Sleep Across

Chapter 23 - Sleep Across

My eyes just opened and I felt the sand on my face and hands. I looked up, saw rocks. I turned around and there was the ocean. My strength was regained quickly so I got up, dusted the sand off me. I looked at the ocean, it was grey as far as you can see. The weather looked awful, murky clouds. Everything looked gray.

Next to me was a boat, it was wrecked. Who the hell am I? How did I get here? How do I not know anything? Wait, wait I just gotta walk around a bit, maybe I'll remember, I must remember. I walk up a bit and see a lighthouse, great, people. I begin to walk towards it. The island is nothing but rocks. The waves crash on the beach loudly, it's quite a pleasant sound.

I believe it took me 8 minutes of fast walking before I reached the lighthouse. I opened the door. It creaked so much like nails on a chalkboard, I felt the door was going to fall apart before I opened it. The door was opened and I saw no one. "H-hello?"

Nothing, still. There really was nothing, just a stove, some wood down here, perhaps there is something up. I climbed the stairs, my footsteps were loud, I felt slightly creeped out as they echoed. I reached the top, there was an old wooden table, a piece of paper, and a pencil. The light of this lighthouse was not working, this place may be abandoned, just my luck.

I looked out the window and it's just the ocean as far as the eye could see, It was intimidating. It's getting late, I'd have to stay here. There was no chair, I had to sit on the cold floor, wrapping my arms around myself. The night was miserable.

There was absolutely no light. It rained heavily, I refused to move from my spot, I constantly kept thinking what if someone or something was here. I couldn't sleep at all. I was cold, hungry, and thirsty. I may have slept for just an hour or two. Once I awoke, my body hurt, especially my lower back. It felt like someone had smashed a baseball bat on it.

Walking down the stairs was nerve-racking, I felt like my legs were about to give out, I felt horrible. Once I got out, I started feeling better a little bit, I had new problems. My breath was heinous, I could feel it in my mouth, how horrible it was. I was so thirsty, I needed a drink. I can't think straight, I just need some drink. How cruel, I'm surrounded by water but can't drink it.

The air was cool and nice at least, something. My biggest problem was hunger. My stomach hurt, I had to keep moving, I couldn't stop. When I walked, I didn't feel the pain. The second I stopped, I felt the pain. I wasn't alone at least. There were a handful of seagulls.

If they're here, land shouldn't be far, right? I don't know, these seabirds can live without land for God knows how long. Just because they're here doesn't mean that there are people nearby.

I don't know what to do. I found a large stick and began to write "help me" on the sand. It was in vain. The beach was small and the waves smashed the beach, engulfing my writing.

God, I need something something to eat. There is nothing to eat on the island. I overturned rocks, looked all over the beach, there were no crabs, nothing washed up. I looked at the water, there was no sign of any fish. I can't build a raft, I have nothing to build with, no food, no water, nothing. I attempted to catch one of the seagulls, but they escaped every time, I never came close. If only I had something sharp, like a knife.

I'm lost.

I came back to the lighthouse, desperate for something, anything. There was nothing.I took the wood out, and praying there was something, and oh God, there was. I laughed, there was a lighter. I took it and it worked, it was working. Oh God, even this is a victory.

I went out again exploring the island. There were rocks, rocks, and just rocks. The waves crashed even more loudly. The noise was not so pleasant now. I have heard the waves, what feels like more than my own breathing at this point. I walked to the left side of this island quickly, so I decided to see the middle of it.

My thirst was bad. My throat was dry, my lips were hard, and they stung when I touched them. I didn't swallow my saliva right away, I let it stay in my mouth, and with my tongue, I made sure to spread the saliva all over my mouth. I don't know if this has any effect.

I was handling my hunger well but my thirst was ungodly. I decided to go to the ocean, I splashed my face with the water, perhaps this will keep me going. I went back to search the island.

I came across what appeared to be a hole, a small cave perhaps? It was worth investigating.

I fit in just fine. There was a small slide, and I was inside with ease. However, it was pitch black. I couldn't see my own hands. It was time to get out. I doubt there is anything useful to me in this dark hole.

As I was preparing to leave, my foot touched something. I knelt and put my hand to the ground. I had to blindly touch the ground before I felt something. It was a rock, of course. Ah well, I think I'll just throw rocks in the ocean to pass the time. I'm going to die, no doubt about it if some ship doesn't come and see me. I held the rock to my hand and went up.

The slide was tricky. I had to get on all fours and climb out. My clothes were about to get dirty, but then again, I already smelled. I climbed up, and the light shined in. My right hand held the rock... it was a human skull.

I screamed and dropped it. I ran to the lighthouse. I never turned back, just ran. I slammed the door, nearly smashing it. I went up the stairs right away. Dear God, what is a human skull doing here?

For hours, I think I just stood there, looking through the window, praying for any sign of a ship. There was nothing. My thirst was unbearable. I couldn't keep my mouth closed anymore. I desperately needed something to drink. But my hunger was even worse. My stomach hurt ungodly. It was as if something was inside it, wanting to get out. I need food, I need water.

I went out and ran across the island. There has to be something. I don't care what, there has to be something. My mind raced. Oh God, was that human skull a man who was in the same situation as me? Something, something, anything, please, God, anything!

What the... I saw something move. What is it? What is this thing? It was moving towards me. Smaller than me, but it was... a seagull, of course. But... no, no, it's not... the wings are too short. This... this is a... dodo? It was a flightless bird.

I have seen many pictures of the dodo. This was without question a dodo bird. But why is it here? How did it get here? I thought they went extinct. The bird approached me; it was curious. It walked past me and kept walking. I decided to follow it. Shortly, the dodo had reached its destination.

It stopped at its nest. There were three eggs. I came closer, knelt. The dodo didn't seem to mind my presence. It got close to me. I was able to touch its feathers. The bird made some unknown calls to me. It then jumped on my back, latched its claws on me, and began to slap my head with its flightless arms. This bird is trying to mate with me! "Get off!"

I tried to get it off, but I couldn't. This is supposed to be a female, what is it doing? I managed to to get it off. I put my fingers onto the back of my neck, which stung, and there was a bit of blood.

My stomach shot with pain. My intestines growled. I need food now or never. I grabbed one egg... no, I need more. At least two. I grabbed the two eggs. The dodo attacked me with its beak, aggressively hitting my hand. I shoved it, but it relentlessly charged at me.

I lost it.

I grabbed its neck. It jumped frantically, waving its flightless wings. It pecked me with its beak, a bit of my skin was loose.

"You bitch!"

I let it go and stomped my foot on it. It stopped coming after me, it walked a bit away from me, and sat. It looked down, hurting. What did I just do? I took the two eggs. I ran to the lighthouse. I placed the eggs on a plate that was under the basket where the wood was. Idiot, how come I didn't find it earlier? I lit up the wood, placed it under the stove, and cooked the eggs.

Once I ate them, they were delicious. My stomach was calmed. I sat a little while before I walked back to the dodo's nest. I hope it was alright. Once I arrived, there was nothing. I am certain that this was the place, but there was no dodo to be found, and the third egg was not there. The wind blew hard, and I returned to the lighthouse.

The crashing of the waves was maddening. The water smashed at the sand over over and over again,again,again. Will it ever stop? That was all I heard, the waves coming over and over again, hitting, smashing the sand, the beach, my fucking brain. I was so far away, and I could still hear it if I was right at the beach. Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop. The waves smash the sand,the sand goes in the air and back to the water i hear it i smell it i am there i'm not ehre i hear i hear it the sound the sound of the wave the water smashing the sand hitting the sand louder louder again and again. 

Night wasn't any better. The waves hit the beach harder, harder, harder. I tried to sleep, but the cold was maddening. I fell asleep sometime, and I had a weird dream. Next thing I knew, I awoke. I can't recall the dream at all. It felt like minutes, but I must've slept for hours. I saw space and lights of purple and yellow, but what else? What else did I see? I can't recall for the life of me. It's like I hadn't experienced it, even though I have. I have dreamt of it, I saw it, but why can't I remember it?

My hunger and thirst shot up. My entire stomach hurt. It was like someone had cut it open and shoved rocks inside it. And as for my thirst, it was as if I had a mouthful of sand. I couldn't cry, tears weren't coming out. "AHAHAHAAHA AHAHHAAHHA GOOD ONE AHAHAHAHA AHAHAHAHHA"

Let's go, everybody, for a fine ride on the doomed Hell Island in One Piece. Dollar 1.99. Let's go. I walked down, laughing and dancing on the stairs. God, I need some food. Fuck you, God! Suck my damn dick. You're just a micro man jumping from a catapult straight into a giant pussy! "AHAHAHAHAA, GOOD ONE! AHAHAHAHAHA, AHAHAHAHAH!"

And I marched outside, laughing. Me and the dodo are gonna ride on a horse to kingdom come while we lynch rabbits. "AHAHAHAHA, GOOD ONE! AHAHAHA, AHAHAHAHHA!"

And I walked outside to the beach. Show yourself, waves. Show your might. Show me your light, smash the sand, the beach. Hit it, hit me. Make the sound and let me hear it.

Silence.

They were quiet.

The waves gone.

The water subtracted.

And in the distance, it burst open. A massive figure reaching at the clouds appeared. It shoved its form, its descent from the deep. And it looked straight at me. I smiled at it, for I knew what it was.

It's an angel.