Chapter 2 - A Night Stay

Nick continues his conversation with Sammy.

            How could I have ended up here?  I was sure the endless ocean would have left me dead, bruised and broken by the rocks at sea.  Now here I am, stuck out in nowhere with two kids.  How old were they really?  They couldn’t be living out here on their own.  Their parents must be around or something.

            “Hey kid, where are your parents?”

            “It’s just me and Sarah here.”

            The waves rustled below as he seemed to just stare out into the distance.  It was as if he was not even expecting to catch anything.  In fact, it seemed as though he had not caught a single fish all day.

            “You two seem a little young to be living out here together by yourselves.”  I went on.  “A young man like you an…”

            “I’m not a boy.”  Sam cut in, giving me a short cold stare before returning it to the horizon.  “I’m a girl.”

            How could I have thought she was a boy?  I presumed she was just a skinny boy.  I guess her name being Sammy and her having short hair played a part as well.

            “Sorry.”  I apologized.

            She continued to just stare off into the distance as if ignoring me.

            “So the village is just through that forest?”  I tried to change the subject.

            “Yeah but it’s quite a bit of a walk.  Maybe you should stay here for a night first, get something to eat you know?”

            “Yeah sure, thanks.”

 

The night air was just as calm and quiet as the morning had been.

            “So how old are you guys?” I asked as Sarah was completing setting up dinner.

            “I’m 16 and Sarah is 15.”

            “What brings you two out here living alone and all with no parents?  You two sisters?”

            “It’s a secret” Sarah replied as their laughter echoed through the still night air.

            The fish in my plate was thoroughly cooked through.  Its tangy flavor left a vigorous aftertaste that was to die for.  I had yet to touch my salad.

            Their chatter melded into the lucid silence as the night drew on.  A language in which I could not distinguish.  Maybe the cold slumber had stricken me worse than I thought.  The room faded to nothingness as the candle lights swirled around me.  A spiral into the void of consciousness.

 

            ---

            Hello dear, I’ve come to see you again.  Close your eyes and hush your cries.