Grey moved quickly, gathering supplies and creating gear. He had already managed to make a weapon, a heavy stick about half his height, tipped with a rock secured by vines. He had even been able to find some decent food. He was making good progress, but he knew that those on the other islands were sure to be doing the same.
In previous years he had always stayed put for as long as possible, staying put and gathering more resources, always waiting for others to come to him. This year, he planned to go on the offensive. He could build a raft and go out to another island easily. If he could only do it fast enough...
He jumped as he heard a movement behind him. He expected to see a wild boar or some other animal, but instead it was the man in immaculate clothes and the glasses.
"Doing well, doing well... now, don't forget, I can help you... for a price."
Grey shook his head as the man made his statement and walked away. He already knew these things, and he felt sure the others did as well. He got back to work, gathering materials and preparing for whatever happened. And he knew that anything could happen. Even though the sky was clear, it could form into a hurricane in five minutes. Even though it seemed like the others were all far away, the merest chance could give them what they needed to be here in minutes. And it all rested on a whim.
As he walked back towards the shore, arms laden with lumber, he looked out over the water to see if anyone was on their way to his own island. So intent was his gaze that he didn't see the small wooden chest until he tripped over it and sent himself and the logs flying. He quickly recovered, though, and scrambled over to the box. He quickly broke it open with his makeshift weapon, reached in, and pulled out a rolled bundle of cloth. He quickly unrolled it and found that it was a padded garment. He quickly put it on and looked in the chest again. Satisfied that there was nothing else there, he stood up and collected the wood he had dropped. He was nearly to the beach when he heard a faint cracking sound and a rustle of grass. He dropped the wood and went into a roll, narrowly avoiding the girl who had come flying from the side. He came up out of his roll, and to his dismay he found that she was armed with a thin but sturdy vine. While it didn't look too bad at first glance, a closer inspection revealed that it was covered in thorns.
"Oh, Gre-ey..."
The girl said in a taunting voice. Her whip flung out, forcing the boy to hop backwards.
"Didn't expect me here already, huh? Well, to be honest, I didn't expect to find you yet, but since we're here..."
The whip thrashed out again, catching at his clothes as he backed up and leaving a thorn behind in the padded layer. Now that the vine was retreating, Grey took his chance and came in with the makeshift club. She hardly seemed to care, stepping lightly to the side and snapping her whip around at him again. He was too close, and several thorns bit into his bare leg. He gasped as the pain set in, and the bite worsened as she yanked the whip back to her side. Grey couldn't pause to look at the punctures in his leg. He stepped back quickly, and fully expected her to pursue. However, she didn't seem that eager. She was looking at her nails, waiting for him to move. He called out to her.
"Violet, why are you so out of it? You had me."
"Oh, just... today marks an anniversary, of sorts..."
"What do you mean?"
"Today was the day you died... both times, to me."
Grey hesitated. While she was technically right, that wasn't the whole story...
"So... I'm just savoring the moment. You'll die, just like the last two times, I'll take your gear, and this time... I'll be the last one standing."
In previous years he had always stayed put for as long as possible, staying put and gathering more resources, always waiting for others to come to him. This year, he planned to go on the offensive. He could build a raft and go out to another island easily. If he could only do it fast enough...
He jumped as he heard a movement behind him. He expected to see a wild boar or some other animal, but instead it was the man in immaculate clothes and the glasses.
"Doing well, doing well... now, don't forget, I can help you... for a price."
Grey shook his head as the man made his statement and walked away. He already knew these things, and he felt sure the others did as well. He got back to work, gathering materials and preparing for whatever happened. And he knew that anything could happen. Even though the sky was clear, it could form into a hurricane in five minutes. Even though it seemed like the others were all far away, the merest chance could give them what they needed to be here in minutes. And it all rested on a whim.
As he walked back towards the shore, arms laden with lumber, he looked out over the water to see if anyone was on their way to his own island. So intent was his gaze that he didn't see the small wooden chest until he tripped over it and sent himself and the logs flying. He quickly recovered, though, and scrambled over to the box. He quickly broke it open with his makeshift weapon, reached in, and pulled out a rolled bundle of cloth. He quickly unrolled it and found that it was a padded garment. He quickly put it on and looked in the chest again. Satisfied that there was nothing else there, he stood up and collected the wood he had dropped. He was nearly to the beach when he heard a faint cracking sound and a rustle of grass. He dropped the wood and went into a roll, narrowly avoiding the girl who had come flying from the side. He came up out of his roll, and to his dismay he found that she was armed with a thin but sturdy vine. While it didn't look too bad at first glance, a closer inspection revealed that it was covered in thorns.
"Oh, Gre-ey..."
The girl said in a taunting voice. Her whip flung out, forcing the boy to hop backwards.
"Didn't expect me here already, huh? Well, to be honest, I didn't expect to find you yet, but since we're here..."
The whip thrashed out again, catching at his clothes as he backed up and leaving a thorn behind in the padded layer. Now that the vine was retreating, Grey took his chance and came in with the makeshift club. She hardly seemed to care, stepping lightly to the side and snapping her whip around at him again. He was too close, and several thorns bit into his bare leg. He gasped as the pain set in, and the bite worsened as she yanked the whip back to her side. Grey couldn't pause to look at the punctures in his leg. He stepped back quickly, and fully expected her to pursue. However, she didn't seem that eager. She was looking at her nails, waiting for him to move. He called out to her.
"Violet, why are you so out of it? You had me."
"Oh, just... today marks an anniversary, of sorts..."
"What do you mean?"
"Today was the day you died... both times, to me."
Grey hesitated. While she was technically right, that wasn't the whole story...
"So... I'm just savoring the moment. You'll die, just like the last two times, I'll take your gear, and this time... I'll be the last one standing."
