Island of Dreams

 

Chapter 2

 

We lived in a fairly huge house which was severley modernized. All of the houses we had lived in had been secluded in some sort of forest, but the house we had here  was on top of a cliff which looked out towards the sea, Mayko Island and Long-beach forest. Although Mayko Island was a dot to the naked eye. My throat burned as we pulled up outside. Within a flash I jumped out of the car and darted towards the end of the cliff. Without giving anyone a chance to speak I made a dive into the water, descending into darkness. I swam towards Mayko Island underwater without breathing. After 30 seconds I leapt out of the water onto the golden sand. Mayko Island was the one place where I could relax by myself. I looked down at my wet clothes. My long white sleeved top was see through and my skinny jeans were dripping water droplets onto the warm sand. 

"Good job no one can see me" I thought. 

The sun was now blazing onto the island, throwing rays of light through the trees of the jungle. I took off my Converse and lobbed them up onto a bed of large rocks. Mayko Island was tear shaped with beautiful shores which were fledged with palm trees. The green shadows paraded onto the floor, dancing under the palm trees. It was like a different world. It was too far away for any human to find but close enough for me to find. I looked into the jungle and went into a flat out sprint. It was unbelieveable how big Mayko Island was. I remembered my burning throat so I decided  that I needed to hunt. After prowling through the jungle I leapt up into a tree and balanced onto a branch. I saw several deer racing through the bushes and pouncing over rocks in the east. They were going to run underneath this tree in exactly 23 seconds. I focused on their necks, waiting for them to get closer to me. Their blood was pulsing in the main artery of the neck. My eyes locked in on the target. A reasonably large buck was at the front leading the herd, his big antlers piercing the air as he bounded up and down. My eyes turned a vivid red as fangs shot out of my gums, pushing my teeth into place. A feral snarl ripped out of my throat and into atmosphere. The herd was underneath the tree and within a split second I was on top of the buck. My jaw locked round the point where the blood pulsed the strongest in his neck. The rest of the herd screeched to a halt as I sucked the life of the innocent creature. The buck tumbled over and he was on top of me while the rest of herd had escaped and had ran into the forest, screaming for someone to help their leader. The buck consistently lashed out, becoming more and more feeble as the last drop of his blood escaped from his body and into my veins. With one last gurgle the buck was dry. I threw his body off of me and dragged him towards the sea by his antlers, throwing him in and letting his lifeless body succumb to the darkness. After about 2 hours my clothes and hair were dry. 

"Typical. Just when I'm about to leave" I sighed.

 I wondered if Rosie could hear my thoughts from here. I frowned in thought.

 "Well, looks like I'm staying here tonight" I said aloud.

 I layed down in the soft white sand which was illuminated by a full moon. I stared up at the dark blue sky, counting the stars as I drifted into a light sleep, with only the slow crashing waves as company. 

I was human. I was out with my friends on a saturday night. Before I came out I had an argument with my Mother. After meeting up with my friends I wandered home by myself, taking the short cut through the alleyways of New York. A shortcut to a different world. A man peered at me as I walked past him. After a few minutes of walking I realised I was being followed. Picking up the pace I realised I was running, glancing back now and again to see if I had lost my stalker. I look straight ahead and screech to a stop. He is there. The man. My stalker. He takes off his sunglasses and smiles the most cunning but welcoming smile ever. His eyes are blood red, fuelling with anger. His fangs shoot out of his mouth. Grinning, he pounces at me, sinking his razor sharp teeth into my neck. He didnt suck my blood. He just bit me. He stares down at me while im writhing in pain, my body twitching. He gives me one last smile and runs off,  leaving me by myself. 

 

I woke up with a start and I was still on Mayko Island. I sighed with relief that the nightmare was over. I hated that that was he only memory I had of my old life. I was still half asleep when i saw the sun rising in the distance. I yawned and stretched and stood up searching for my shoes. Clambering over the rocks something rustled in a bush close by. I stared at it for about half a second, giving no thought to it, I grabbed my shoes and ran towards the sea. I stopped at the waters edge, glancing back at the jungle. The bush rustled again. I walked towards it at a slow pace. I realised I was coiled and my fangs were out. I stared at the bush curiously when a huge boulder slammed into my stomach. I flipped around, crouching down. I growled searching the space for the attacker. A tall-ish guy walked out casually from the jungle with his hands up, surrendering. He looked like he was about 18. Once. I growled again. I lunged for him, ignoring his apology and taking him down. I leaned over him, snarling. "Who are you?!" I demanded. 

He glared at me and all of a sudden, it was as if my anger had been wiped away. I was breathing normally and I felt calm. I realised I was in an awkward position on top of him and I stood up uncomfortable. I could tell that he wasnt human. He stood up in a flash and smiled. "Hello" he said in a soothing voice. 

"Who are you?" I said again but less angry this time, I felt my fangs retract.

 I tilted my head to one side trying to figure him out. How comes I didnt see this guy in any of my visions. My eyebrows burrowed together. He saw the look of confusion on my face and answered my question. 

"I'm Riley Jackson" he said politely.

 He smiled showing a flash of brilliant white teeth. He was about 4 inches taller than me so he sort of looked down at me when he spoke. He was wearing a white V-Neck t-shirt and and tightly fitted jeans. His shoes looked really fancy, some sort of italian leather probably. His hair was dark brown and short. He continued to smile at me as if waiting for my name. I was still too confused to speak.

 "I can see your confused, but I'm just as confused as you are. I know your a vampire and you know that I am too right?".

 I nodded, I didnt want to come across as rude.

 "Well, I know that this is going to come as a surprise to you Gracie but..." 

How the hell did he know my name?!

 "I've been sent here to destroy your family." 

I looked at him horrified. Three seconds had passed, I shook my head and smiled cunningly. 

"Like hell you will."

 I turned to run but he grabbed my arm before I could sprint away. I was too scared to move. I could easily fight this guy off surely. But I couldnt find the will to move. He stared intently into my eyes.

 "I've been watching your family for weeks now, I was sent here by Nathan."

 "Who the hell is Nathan?" I snarled.

 "He's the one that turned you Gracie. This year today 119 years ago."

 I wanted to cry if I could.

 "5 minutes ago I needed to kill you. I was ordered to kill you on the day you were changed. But..." He shut his eyes and shook his head in confusion. "You didnt see me in your visions did you Gracie?"  I shook my head.

 "No. No I didnt"

 "Exactly!" he almost shouted. Making me jump.

 He let go of my arm and turned around, turning his back towards me.

 "Why arent you going to kill me then?" I asked. Bored of his mind games. 

"I was there on the night you were born. Nathan is also my brother. We had both been changed at the same time and we were really thirsty so we raided the hospital's blood supply. Then I saw you in an incubator, you had just been born. Then I saw your mother sitting there on the hospital bed, she looked so tired. But your father..."

"My father died before I was born."

He shook his head in disgust.

"No Gracie, your father was there at the hospital. I pleaded with Nathan not to do it but your Dad was so vulnerable!"

"What are you trying to say? Nathan killed my father?"

He nodded guiltily and I grimaced.

I felt traumatized.

"So on your 18th birthday I was going to come and find to tell you about your father, but Nathan had other ideas. He decided to turn you because he knew that when he killed your father it was killing me inside. I refused to be part of his plan but he fought against me and erased my memory. He created a group of newborns a few weeks ago and ordered me to come and kill you, or he'd kill me."

I stared at him pleadingly.

"I couldnt bring myself to kill you Gracie. "

"Why wait 119 years to tell me this?" I asked.

"Because after he erased my memory, I ran away to Australia. But it was only about a month ago that I started to re-collect my memory. I know it all sounds sort of sudden but it just hit me out of nowhere. Then I knew Nathan would be behind it and thats when he threatened to kill me. He thinks that if you were out of the picture he would be able to get the Belkin Crystal"

"The what?"

"You know, the necklace?"

I shook my head.

"The necklace that was passed down from genration to generation?"

"I think you have the wrong person"

"No. I dont. It wasnt an heirloom in your family, you found a necklace am I right? Down by Long-beach forest?"

"Yes but-"

"Thats a very powerful crystal Gracie. Its like a sort of shield what protects you from the paranormal. If Nathan gets that necklace, all hell will break loose"

 "I'm leaving." I said and stormed off.

 "Gracie!" he called after me and followed me to the waters edge. "Dont leave." he pleaded. I turned to him.

"I'm so sorry about your Dad Gracie, but you have to understand-"

"Ok just leave me alone now. Go back to your pshycopath brother and tell him to back off unless he wants to keep his legs attatched to his body."