The ForGotten Island

Prologue

The Beginning
I hug Stephen as my nerves begin to take over. I've spoke in front of people for a while now, but never at my hometown. I grab a water off the table and take a deep breath. Each step I take to the podium my heart speeds and the butterflies in my stomach slowly turn to wasps. I slow my steps, square my shoulders and breath deeply counting to 10 and back.

The memories I've hidden in between the speeches rise. The faces of the dead, the people I killed and allowed to die. I've reached the podium, I lay my hands on either side and look at the faces of everyone here. It would be okay if I wasn't also replacing each face with someone who has died.

"My name is Tyler, I am 20. Welcome to How it Happened. There is coffee in the back with some snacks, if you have children there is also a play area in the room next to this with a TV that shows the room if you'd like to be there with them. March 17th, 16 years ago I ruined my life along with my siblings." I say into the microphone.

Dead eyes staring back, blank expressions on their faces. I prepare for the rest of my story.

"My sister -Skyler- was up stairs with Luke, they were playing with matchbox cars. All the while I was grabbing the match book out of the junk-drawer in the kitchen. Earlier that week I had seen my mom light Lukes birthday candles. I took the matches and hid them in my pocket. Waiting for the night to take. I run upstairs and pick up my cat to play." I pause and take a sip of my water bottle as I wait for it to sink in.

Why's it so sweet? I must be dehydrated.

The walls beginning to look like redhot iron bars. The podium heating to a temperature too hot to touch.

"Later that night I snuck back down stairs. I struck the first match and it broke. The second one struck the pad and flared to life; burning my fingers. I dropped it onto the dry carpet. The same spot my father accidentally spilled kerosene earlier that morning. I ran into the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water. But when I got back the whole floor was in flames." My voice cracked so I cleared my throat and took a deep breath.

The curtains catching fire, the fire of my imagination. I close my eyes and the flames are gone. I lay my hands back of the podium now cold as ice.

"I ran through the flames to my little brother and sister still upstairs. I stopped at my parents door and began to pound on my parents door screaming. Soon I had to get out, the smoke was beginning to burn my lungs. I left the door and grabbed my sister's arm and pulled her out the front door. We were barely 20 feet away when we heard the explosion and flew another 10 feet." I clench my fists, my fingernails digging into my palm.

Feeling the heat on my neck and hearing the explosion.

"I can still hear my parents screams as the flame ate at their flesh." As I gaze at their faces some are coated in tears others are full of fascination. Their screams are still echoing in my ears as I begin my next sentence.

"That night I killed my parents, I almost lost my siblings as well," I glance in their direction my sister crying and my brother watching me intently. They both give me a sad smile and nod. "Since that day I've punished myself. I've gotten into trouble at every foster home, moved my sister and I from one to another. At one point I joined a gang. I hurt myself, blamed myself all the time. " I let out a bark of laughter. Only the sound of breathing and my voice hits my ear drums, the crowd gaining their own faces back and the walls cooling. "Accept when we were sent to the next town over, Snow-village, it was perfect. I met my best friend, and found my brother. Until that summer everything was great." I take a sip of my water, taking a deep breath to calm my nerves more.

"That is when my name was called at the fair, when I heard sighs of releif all around me. Only then I didn't understand what that meant. The next morning I was dragged from my bed and thrown into an airplane. I thought I was in trouble but when we landed there were hundreds of scared faces around me. I was forced to stand in line, and draw a ticket. It had a picture of a bowl. The same bowl across the beach. Before I knew it I was standing on a glass floor with at least 50 others piled in. That's when the water started filling in."

I smile my biggest yet. Welcoming the feel of coolness around my feet, fearing the moment when it reaches my neck. My head is feeling lighter than normal, I'm slightly dizzy.

"Now are you ready to hear how I made the all famous Island, into the forgotten one?" The crowd goes wild roaring my name. Some booing the Island. I glance to Stephen and send him an apologetic smile, and blow him a kiss.

This is going to be a long story.

I think to myself as I take another sip of water, and just before everything goes black, I feel hands grabbing at me, hauling me up and into something.

For some reason water begins rushing in my ears, filling my lungs. I'm freezing. After a moment or two I feel hot hand grabbing for me. Hauling me up higher and higher. My faces breaks the surface, I caugh as air fills my lungs once again.

When I open my eyes I see the grey sky with heavy clouds, I feel water rushing around my body pulling at my clothes. When I realise the hands that grabbed me are still on my waist I turn to see a man I've never met. His green eyes looking at me intently. His blond hair hanging with the weight of water curling slightly around the ears . Red liquid dieing it pink.

Just then someone grabs my foot and pulls me under the icy water once again. I see bodies all around me, some are lifeless. I see glass walls keeping the water from bursting and washing the guards away. Keeping us locked in this red water.

I land on the clear ground with a muffled thud. Just before I push off I feel something searing hot on the skin of my left arm and begin to see more red. I think I'm bleeding. I notice a familiar weight in my hand, a knife. I jab out in the direction of my assailant, slamming my knife in till the hilt thuds against their chest. I push up off of their body, soon breaking the surface sucking in as much air as I can. Seeing the ocean stretch for miles passed the beach on the other side of this tank. I think,

Welcome to hell..