The Arks: Over Heaven (by Ben)

Chapter 17: Back to the Beach

Part 2/2

“Star. I need you to watch over the raptor. Take a break. Eat some berries,” Samuel ordered her as he dug around his pocket. He took out some of the purple berries and put them on the sand for her. As he did, he quickly glanced at Star’s chest. Some of the feathers on her chest were brighter than the others. And when he inspected her closely, he noticed the brighter feathers formed a diamond.

“Okay, let’s go now, Samuel,” Aurora told him. Samuel nodded and got up. He unhooked his own hatchet, and soon the two began to chop away at the trees near the beach.

Each swing Samuel took fell the tree in one swing, while it took Aurora a little bit more effort to chop one down.

“So, you never told me more about yourself,” Aurora exclaimed as she swung at a tree.

“Why?” Samuel asked with a raspy breath, “Why are you trying so hard now? I thought you didn’t like me that much?”

Aurora didn’t respond to that question. She didn’t really seem to know what answer to give. And Samuel caught on.

“You can be honest you know,” Samuel replied, “I won’t judge.”

“I-” Aurora paused, then continued, “I just wonder how I haven’t met you yet. I’d think someone as smart as you I would have met some time, right? We don’t have the same classes and I don’t see you in any of my clubs or extracurricular-”

“I never bothered,” Samuel replied, “I never bothered doing AP classes, joining clubs, or doing any of that. I just did the bare minimum to pass and whatever.”

“But why? You would’ve done so great in those classes!”

“Because I didn’t want to waste my effort trying,” Samuel explained, “I just wanted to get this part of our lives over with.”

“They say you should cherish your childhoods, because once you enter adulthood that’s when life really gets tough,” Aurora said, “Or at least, that’s what my parents said.”

“Yes, so I’ve heard,” Samuel replied, “But at least I’ll have some form of freedom. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

“And what about your future? Your job? None of that can ever come to fruition if you don’t prepare yourself-”

“I already said I didn’t care about that,” Samuel replied.

Aurora stopped swinging her hatchet as soon as the last tree fell down. She sighed, hooking her hatchet and brushing her forehead with her sleeve. Aurora looked at Samuel solemnly, with a sadness in her eyes, and said,

“You know you remind me a lot of… someone I once knew. Except you don’t seem to even care about yourself. You care about everyone BUT yourself. I don’t get why you feel that way about yourself, but it makes me sad. It makes me sad to think that if we were never put on this island, I would have never met you.”

Aurora stormed off, leaving Samuel to bring the trees to Ruby alone. All while this happened, Ben tippy-toed up to Samuel and tapped on his shoulder.

“Dude. I think that means she likes you,” Ben whispered to him.

“Shut up,” Samuel replied. He raised his fist, “Or I’m going to hit you.”

“Okay okay I’m sorry!” Ben cried, “Here. I’ll help you with the wood.”

“Thank you,” Samuel thanked him. The two of them spent the next half-hour carrying trees to Ruby so that she could build their raft. All while this happened, Samuel was forced to think. Think about Aurora, and Star.

“Star, you confuse me every day. I feel like you’re something more than I think,” Samuel thought as he looked out into the bushes. He saw that weird red haze again… And upon the sight he shivered. The red haze disappeared as soon as he blinked, but he really could’ve sworn there was something watching him. Samuel looked at Aurora, who was looking really gloomy just sitting in the sand by herself.

“And, why are you acting like this now?” Samuel wondered as he stared at her.