RULES

Chapter Two

I awoke to the sound of brewing tea. Or coffee. I couldn't quite tell. I sat up and looked around the small crowded hut. Where's Rico?? I thought. "Rico? Where are you?" I called. Slowly I crawled towards the hut entrance and peered out. "Rico? Where are you?" I asked again. I stepped out of the hut, into the sun. I squinted my eyes and looked around. Rico wasn't there. I saw a silhouette deep in the forest. "Rico!" I started to run. The figure turned my way and started to run farther, until I couldn't see him. 

I stood in the middle of the trees. I knew I saw someone. "Hello? Anyone?" I called into the emptiness. I heard a hushed voice say, "Ash." It sounded like it was all around me. I started to slowly spin around looking for any sight of human. Suddenly it all went dark. I couldn't see. Or breathe. I heard around me men yelling orders back and forth. Before I blacked out completely. I was lifted up by two people. 

The men dropped me on a hard floor. I felt my head hit the ground. But, this didn't feel like sand.. This was a lot harder than sand. A bag pulled from my face. The light blinded me for a second. I squinted my eyes to see better. A man towered over me, I turned my head to the side and saw a control panel filled with buttons and keys. Someone was staring up at the big screen. "Is this her?" The man asked. "Yep, that's her." I couldn't for sure tell who was on the screen or if they were talking about me. 

"Who, who are you?" I stuttered. "Ha! She don't know who we are, boys." The man laughed. "You see, sweetie, we are the hounds. We created this base to keep you from getting to Rico." I looked at him, eyes wide. "Why?! Where is Rico?! Is he okay?" I asked anxiously. "He's fine.." The man told me. 

I sat up. "Let me go!" I tripped a man and tried to stand, but the scars wouldn't cooperate. I fell back to the ground. "Let me... go.." My voice trailed off. 

I sprung up, breathing deeply. I twisted my neck both ways to find Rico right next to me. I felt a wave of relief wash over me. "Rico. I had the craziest dream." I said, Rico didn't move. "Rico?" Rico turned around, blood running from his forehead. "Rico! What happened?!" I asked. "I, I was attacked. B- By them.." Rico stuttered. "Who? Who is them?!" I waited anxiously for a reply. "The others... They have gone Cr-crazy. But, I managed to get away..." Rico said as if everything was fine. "Rico.. I will go weave you a cloth. I ran out to the sandy island and grabbed as many fallen palm leaves as possible. I weaved them in a pattern and ran back to the hut. 

"You mind if I borrow some tea?" I asked. "Go for it." He answered. I dipped the palm leaves into the tea and laid them on Rico's forehead. I turned away and told him I was leaving for a bit. "Stay here." I added. 

I crawled out of the hut and stood up. I cant live like this... I thought. I started running.. As fast as I could. Someone, someone out there hurt Rico. I was going to find them. 

I ran into the circle of tree, the same place in my dream. A wave of dizziness washed over me. I fell to the sand and caught my breath.. I have to keep going... I rose back to my feet. There was Matt. "Matt! I am so glad to see you!" I wrapped my arms around Matt. He pushed me away and looked at me. "What are you doing here?" He asked. "What do you mean? I'm just walking." I replied. "I feel your looking for something..." He moved away and I saw it. With my own eyes. These people were going insane. 

"What is going on?!" I asked, "Why are they acting this way?" "The food supply was low.. They had no choice." He said solemnly. I couldn't believe it. 

Matt looked me in the eyes. "You need to run!" He yelled. "You need to leave! Go!" I was startled by him. He pushed me back and once again said, "Go" I started to run, but, Matt stayed in that same spot. I had to leave. 

"Rico we need to leave this island! Someone is going to find us. There is not much time." I grabbed Rico's hand. He didn't move. He laid there on the palm leaves. "Rico!" I yelled. "Rico! We need to leave!" Rico wouldn't listen. He just laid there. Motionless. I knew what I had to do. 

I left the hut.