Chapter Four: Liam

I open my eyes. Leaves form a roof over me. I look around and standing over me is a bird, which turns its head, so I’m looking into freakishly green eyes.

“Argh!” I scream. The bird lets out a surprised squark. I sit up and realise I’m in a bed. I notice something that looks like half a coconut next to the bed and I’m about to throw it at the flaming bird, when I hear a voice.

“DON’T!” I turn and see a girl, coming up what looks like stairs. I hold the coconut half in midair.

“Wh-why not?” I ask.

“He didn’t mean any harm, did you Patcho?” she comes over and the bird hops on her arm, nibbling her ear in affection.

“Patcho? That thing has a name?” I ask.

“Well of course he has a name.” she says, as if it was obvious. I aim the coconut at her, but she doesn't flinch.

“Look.” I say “I don’t know where I am, I don’t know how I got here, I don’t know who you are, and I-”

“You’re in Madagascar. This is my house, and I can kick you out whenever I want to. Why should I tell you my name? I don’t know a thing about you.” she girls says, grabbing some vine and making a knot, which turns out to be a lasso. She throws it and it wraps perfectly around the coconut I’m holding.

“Let go, or get hurt.” she warns. I don’t let go. “Fine.” she pulls hard on the rope and the coconut is sent out flying out of my hand into

hers. My hand’s burning and as I look at it, I see a blazing red mark.

“I warned you. Here, let me.” I hold out my hand and she dabs it with an ointment which at first stings, but then sooths my hand.

“What is that?” I ask

“Papaya juice and aloe Vera essence.” she answers, wrapping a leaf around it.

“What’s that smell?” I ask, holding my nose with my free hand.

“That’ll be the fish oil. It helps with your bruises too” she points to my chest. I see a huge purple bruise just below my heart. Then I realise I’m not wearing anything except my underwear. I see several more bruises and cuts on my limbs.

“What happened” I ask.

“You passed out in the water, then you got cut on some coral, then some trees. And Spike scratched you because he didn’t trust you. He’s having time out at the moment.”

“So, how many other people are there here? Is Spike like your misbehaving sibling or something?” I ask. The girl looks at me funnily.

“There’s no other people here. Just me. It’s been like that for a while. Until you showed up. Spike’s a capybara. ” she explains. For a while, we just sit there, looking at the ocean.

“Why are you here?” she asks

“I ran away from the orphanage.” I say.

“Where are your parents then?” she asks

“Dead. I can ask you the same question.”

“Mine too.” I didn’t expect that. For a while we just sit there.

“What are you doing on this island?” I ask. The girl still doesn't look at me, but takes a deep breath.

“My parents decided to move here when an enemy of theirs claimed he wrote the work my father was receiving an award for.”

“How did they die?” I ask.

“When I was 5, my parents wanted to prove themselves. They went to research what causes the Niagara Falls rapids and-” The girl looks at me, and I can see the truth twinkling in her sky-blue eyes along with shining tears. She swallows a lump in her throat.

“And they never came back.” she cries, tears trickling down her rosy cheeks. I have no idea what to do. Do I try comfort her? Do I tell her what happened to my parents?

“My parents died when a lion attacked them. They were safari tour guides.” I explain. This somehow makes the girl angry. She stands up and backs away from me

“Was your father’s name by any chance David Thompson?” she says in spite

“Y-yes.” I stammer “Why does it matter?’’

“Well that David Thompson just happened to be my parent’s arch nemesis. If it weren’t for him, they’d still be alive! It’s his fault they're dead!” she shouts.

“Look, I don’t know what happened between our father’s but can we just forget about it?” I ask, as I start to raise my voice. I see my shirt draped over a chair in the sun and I put it on, feeling uncomfortable

“When you look at it from my view, it’s not that easy to forget.”

“I know, I’m not saying it is.” I try to say, but the girl’s not listening.

“I never knew Thompson had a son.” she turns to face me “That’s another lie your father told us! He told my father he wanted part of his prize money to try impress some girl. He never mentioned a wife, let along a son!”

“My parents never got married! I never knew my mother, all I know is that she died when my father used her as bait for the lions, but it didn't work.” I shout, my temper rising. Couldn’t she see I didn’t have parents too? I sigh and sit down on the bed. Then I notice a snake slithering up the stairs

“AAAHHH!! LOOK OUT!” I shout, shoving the girl behind me. The snake slithered closer.

“Don’t worry, I’ll kill it.” I say. I see my belt on the chair my shirt was on and try whip the snake away. Then the girl grabs the belt and throws it out the window. To my surprise, she picks up the snake.

“Wait, what?” I ask

“She won’t hurt anyone.” she says, stroking the snake’s scaly head.

“What?”

“She won’t hurt you, me, or anyone. She’s harmless.” she smiles and adds “Well, except to mice.”

“Mice?” I ask

“Yes. But she’s only allowed three a day. She’s on a diet.” the girl picks up a dead mouse and throws it in the air. The snake snatches it and swallows it whole.

“Do you want something to eat?” she asks me. I only just relise how hungry I am.

“As long as it’s not mouse.” I say, smiling. The girl is not amused. I follow her down the stairs and into what I assume is a kitchen. A fat rodent-like thing is lying on the table

“Ew. We’re not going to eat THAT are we?” I ask, disgusted

“What? No!” the girls says, picking the animal that turned out to be sleeping off the table.

“And um. What is it?” I add

“That’s Spike. He came to say sorry. And he’s not a thing, he’s a capybara. There’s also Patcho who’s a kingfisher, and Kiwi who’s a treefrog.” she says, laying the snake down on the table. I move away, cautiously

“And what about you?” I ask the girl

“Mia.” the girl replies

“Your name’s Mia?” I ask

“No. Her name’s Mia. I thought you were talking to her”

“Why would I talk to a snake?”

“I do. I talk to all my pets.” she says, placing a bowl of dragon fruit in front of me.

“So what is your name, then?” I ask.

“What’s yours?”

“I asked first.” I argue

“Yeah. And I live here.” I sigh before replying “Liam. Now what’s

yours?” The girl waits until she’s finished her slice of dragon fruit then replied without looking up.

“Ebony”