Stranded

Chapter 18

"Now, where did your mother go?" he asked.

I shrugged. "No clue."

"Well, we will just have to search for her won't we. Hey guys! Get over here!" Max called out for the rest of our gang to join us.

"Max, you're okay!" Syria called out.

The rest of the gang bursted into cheers. But there was someone missing...

"Hey, where's Josh?" I asked. Apparently that was the wrong thing to ask because everyone's expression went from happiness to sadness very quickly.

"He didn't make it," Aidan said as quietly as he could.

I couldn't believe it. Joshua, who never really wanted to harm anyone. I could remember his dusty blonde hair, bouncing up and down on his head because it was so curly. His smile, who could light up a room and suddenly make you feel better. He never really talked, but he was one of the nicest people on this island. I wanted to preserve him as that in my memory-a friendly giant who just wanted peace.

"They have to pay for what they did," Syria said angrily. Her face was as red as her hair.

The rest of my friends-their expressions also showed anger-nodded in agreement at Syria's plan.

Their faces looked determined, and ready to fight, but they didn't look like they were.

Aidan's face had many cuts on it, and I could see places where bruising was beginning on his arms and legs. There was a huge gash on his chest, his blue shirt turned red in that spot.

Thomas's dusty blonde hair was caked with blood and dirt. His body was glistening with sweat, as everyone's else was, but I couldn't see many scratches on him, just rips and tears in his green polo which matched his eyes.

Maddison looked untouched. Of course she was dirty and bruised, but I couldn't see any blood on her anywhere. Her light blue shirt was caked with mud, and her blonde hair looked brown from all the mud.

Lily on the other hand was covered in blood. Her frilly pink shirt had many rips in it, and was dripping red liquid. She didn't look so injured, so I imagined most of the blood wasn't hers.

Everyone looked tired and in the need of a hospital, which wasn't around here.

I stood up, pulling Max with me. "We can't go looking for them now. We would stand no chance. Besides, they probably took their prisoners and fled far away," I stated.

"You think they went to the cave?" Syria asked.

I thought for a moment. "I don't think so. Mom knows I know where it is. She would flee somewhere no one knows of. We would just have to look very hard. I mean, after we rest and rebuild."

Everyone nodded and we decided to head back to the cave to rest up. We were almost there when I had an idea.

"Wait guys, I wanna get something from my cabin first. I'll meet you there," I said.

"Do you need me to come with you?" Max asked as everyone else started to walk away.

"You can if you want."

We walked away from the group, towards my cabin that had brought me here in the first place. When we reached the beach, the sand was hot from the sun so I ran as fast as I could to my door, opening it up and letting Max and myself in.

"Everything has changed since I was last here," I said.

Max didn't reply right off, but walked around my room, examining everything as he did when we first met. "Yes it has. But I think for the better." He turned towards me, and walked over to me, cupping my face in his hands. "It's so much better now."

I looked up in his eyes. They were filled with sorrow and joy at the same time somehow, but they were as bright as ever.

"Yeah, I guess. I mean, I don't have a family anymore, but I do have you."

He smiled at me. I knew he was trying to make me feel better. And it worked. He kissed me, bringing me back to our first kiss which was surrounded by friends and made me so very happy. His lips were warm again, not cold as they were when I kissed him last. Max then hugged me tight, rubbing my back with his hand as he did. "You will always have me, Samantha. Always. I won't ever leave you, I just love you that much."

I let out a big breath. "I love you too, Max."

He let go of me then said, "Well, we better get going then, huh?" He walked towards the door, leaving me there in the middle of my cabin. "You coming?"

"Yeah, I just need a minute," I said.

Max nodded and shut the door behind him, leaving me alone.

I had to thank this cabin. It led me to Max and my mother. (Although she turned out bad.) It kept me safe and stayed together when I needed it most. Somehow it had stayed together, preserving my room perfectly as it washed up on this beach. I didn't know how, but it did and I was grateful. "Thank you," I said softly as I left my cabin. I met up with Max and we left that beach, heading to our new home to begin our new lives.

END OF BOOK 1