When Jim and Selena arrive home from the hospital, Hannah had just gotten home from school. She was distressed to see Jim in the condition he was in, but concealed her feelings to him. She did however apologize of his illness, yet showed little sympathy for she still carried a grudge against him.
Selena explained to Hannah what had happened to him, minus the actual details and events that occurred that day. �Be nice to him, he�s had a hard day.� Selena pleaded.
Hannah bit her lip and sardonically looked away. �I guess if I ask him to go to Mike�s house to do homework, he�ll let me?�
�I don�t mind,� Selena, answers. �But you�ll still have to ask him.�
�Ask me what?� Jim says as he limps into the kitchen. Selena helps him to his seat.
�Hannah has something to ask you, Jim.� Selena resolutely glanced at Hannah,
as if compelling her to speak. �Go on.�
Hannah hesitated at first then she began to stammer, �Well, there�s this project for school and we, I mean Lizzie, Will, Mike and I have a project we have to finish�and um, Mike invited us over to complete it at his house tonight. And um, I was wondering
if I can go over�to Mike�s house.�
Jim takes in a deep breath then looks over at Selena, who blankly returns a look.
He cleared his throat and uneasily answered, �Sure, why not��
However, before hearing Jim�s answer, Hannah immediately began to rant, �Of course, you won�t let me because you don�t trust me�� She does a double take at Jim as she realizes his answer. �Wait, what did you just say?�
�Yes, you can go,� Jim frankly said. �But only if you come home at a decent time.�
�Really?� Hannah considerately asked. �Um, thanks Jim.� As she was ecstatically leaving the kitchen, she turned back to him, swallowed her pride and sincerely said, �Thank you, Jim. By the way, I�m sorry about this morning�and, um I hope you feel better soon.� She flashed him a smile, one in which he hadn�t seen directed at him
in a while as she dashed out to her room.
�That wasn�t so hard now was it?� Selena mockingly asked.
In the same manner as Hannah earlier on, he sarcastically looked away,
shaking his head.
* ~ * ~ *
Jim comfortably lounged on the sofa; reading while Selena began to prepare dinner for her and Jim. It was going to be a special evening for she had decided that this was the opportune time for her to reveal her pregnancy, but even more so, to declare her love for him. As she waited for the pie to bake, she painstakingly thought about how to divulge her news to him. She knew it wasn�t going to be an easy task, in fact,
she was unsure of what his reactions will be. �Jim, I�m pregnant,� She quietly practiced to herself. �Listen, Jim I�ve got great news�I�m pregnant, and it�s yours.
Oh that�s horrible!� She unhappily sighed.
She checked on the pie in the oven and sauntered into the living room where she found Jim sprawled out on the sofa sleeping. She heaved a deep sigh of relief, realizing that this moment was not going to happen. She then chuckled to herself
as she retreated back to the kitchen.
* ~ * ~ *
�For the umpteenth time, Ally, please go away!� Mike scolded at his little sister.
�We�re trying to do our homework.�
Ally happily obliged as she jump-roped away and hummed a song. �London Bridge
is falling down, falling down, falling down��
�Sorry about that,� Mike apologized. �Let�s take a break, yeah?�
Everyone tossed their pens down on their notebook as they got up from the floor.
�God, I�m bored. I wish we can just go and do something fun like we used to.�
Lizzie yearned.
�I know. I�m fed up with this place, this island. I would love to do something exciting.� Will chimed in. �It�s not like there are any infected people here anyway. This place is
so safe, no one can get in or out so I don�t understand why the curfew is set so early.�
Hannah can sense Mike�s uncomfortable state by their friend�s coarse remarks. She instantly defends him, �Look, I feel the same way, but I understand why it�s necessary for us to not be out at night, even if this island is safe. You�ve never seen or been around an infected person, I have and it�s not fun.� Hannah withdrew in her chair
as she thought about her father.
Although ignoring Mike�s request to not bring up their earlier conversation, Sam quickly retorted. �Hey, I�ve got a great idea. We all want a little excitement, right? Why don�t
we sneak out to the other island. Mike, you said there�s nothing there but an old power station so if that�s the case, why don�t we check it out? I mean we don�t have to go
at night, we can go early tomorrow morning.�
Lizzie�s ears perked up. �How are we gonna get there?�
�There�s a helicopter that no one uses behind the third hangar, away from the main airfield. Mike knows how to fly it�that is what you said, right Mikey?� Will tries to intimidate Mike. �Come on, Mikey, what do you say? No on will ever know.�
Mike briefly gave in to the concept as he replied, �Yeah, I can fly that chopper, Charlie taught me. But what are we gonna to tell our parents.� He glances at Hannah,
who quickly looked away. �No, we can�t go, we shouldn�t go.�
Will deviously formulated a plan in his head. �It�s simple: I�ll tell my mum that I�m here, Sam will do the same; Mike, you tell your parents that your at my house;
Lizzie will tell her parents that she�s at Hannah�s and Hannah you can tell yours,
I mean Jim and Selena, that you�ll be at Lizzie�s. Since Bruno doesn�t get to the airfield until the afternoon on Saturdays, we can go early in the morning, and be back in a couple hours. No one will ever be the wiser, and they�ll never know that we even left. It�s perfect!�
�I don�t want any part in this,� Hannah exclaimed. �You don�t know what�s out there.�
�Actually, there�s really nothing there, Hannah,� Mike explained. �My dad says that
it was supposed to be an extension of this resort, but construction never got off
the ground. So it�s just a deserted island.�
�Still, it would be a bad idea to go,� Hannah pouted, though the notion intrigued her.
�I don�t know Mike. I can�t lie to Jim and Selena. They�d kill me if they ever found out.�
�Our parents would kill us all if they ever found out.� Lizzie laughed. �I�m up for it,
if you are, Hannah?� Lizzie desperately looked at her. �You said you wanted some excitement too?� She nudged Hannah in the ribs until she accepted with a grin.
�Okay, it�s all set then. Let�s all meet here at five in the morning.� Sam proposed.
* ~ * ~ *
Hannah was the last person that Mike dropped off. He worried that she would not like him anymore given that he took part in pressuring her to go on their clandestine adventure.
�Are you sure you want to go, Hannah?� He apprehensively asked. �You don�t have
to go, you know.�
�Yes, I want to.� She gazed out in the dark as she anxiously waits for Mike to kiss her. �Well, good night. I guess I�ll see you tomorrow morning.�
Mike walked her to the door, nervously anticipating kissing her. As they both leaned in, they heard the door slowly open. Jim disheveled and just recently woken up, uncomfortably stood at the door, �Oh sorry.� He promptly shuts the door.
Hannah and Mike laughed. �Okay, then. Good night, Hannah,� Mike softly uttered.
He swiftly leaned over and sneaks a quick kiss.
As Hannah walked in, Jim was waiting to apologize to her for accidentally intruding. �Sorry, Hannah. I didn�t know Mike was there. I wasn�t snooping or anything.
I was just opening the door for you.�
�It�s okay, Jim, I know.� Still in a daze from Mike�s kiss, she fleeted passed him
to her room, but first, giving him a kiss on the cheek. �Good night, Jim.�
* ~ * ~ *
Hannah apprehensively wrote her note to Jim and Selena. Having to revise it for the third time, she reconsidered not going on the mission. But the kiss that she received from Mike still lingered on her lips, which motivated her to complete her message.
�Jim & Selena- went to Lizzie�s to finish up project. Don�t worry I will be home
by lunchtime. Xoxo, Hannah.�
Hannah re-reads it over and over again, making sure that it did not sound conspicuous. She glanced at the clock on her bedside table. �4:45,� it said.
She hurriedly packed a few supplies in her backpack and quietly sneaks out the hallway. She silently crept pass Jim and Selena�s room slightly knocking over the coat rack as she swiftly swung her backpack over her shoulder. She quickly grabbed it
and put it back in its place. She tiptoed towards the front door, and ever so slowly opened it, hoping that it would not creak. Hannah, finally out of the house,
let out a profound sigh of relief.
When Hannah arrived at in front of Mike�s house, the four of them were impatiently waiting for her. Mike was convinced that she had changed her mind,
but was happy to see her as she approached them.
�Thought you weren�t going to make it,� Mike said. �I�m glad you�re here.�
They scurried off to the airfield, choosing to walk because taking the truck would
cause a commotion. Hannah stayed behind with Sam as he struggled to keep up with everyone. It was a good thing that Hannah was with him when they reached the airfield since he needed help climbing over the fence. She carried his backpack along with hers as she assisted Sam ascend over the wobbly chain-link fence.
�You can do it, Sam,� Hannah positively whispered.
Worn out, Sam and Hannah finally catch up with the rest of the group behind the third hangar. Will and Lizzie were ready and had by now fastened their seatbelts while Mike was configuring the gauges, fiddling with levers and knobs on the console. Sam gasped as he collapsed in exhaustion in his seat. Hannah nervously smiled at Mike as she climbed in. She sat up front with him as he purposely made Will sit in the back.
�Okay, everyone, we�re ready for take off,� Mike courageously stated.
Hannah tensely looked on as Mike steadily pulled the lever up, gradually ascending the helicopter in the air. He confidently pressed on some levers and knobs making them soar over the hangar, and eventually flying higher and beyond their island home, over the bitter cold sea below them.
�Good job there, Mikey,� shouted Will.
Hannah could not see through the thick fog ahead of them; she began to look
around the helicopter. �Mike can you see where you�re going, the fog is pretty
heavy right now.�
With his confidence level on high right now, he replies, �Yeah, no problem.
I can see on here that we�re not far off from the island.� He points at one of
many instruments on the console panel.
From the short lesson that she received from Crash, Hannah doubted Mike. �Are you sure? Because I remember Crash saying that this instrument is for atmosphere level.� She studies the console panel once more. �But maybe you�re right.�
�Hannah, don�t be a backseat driver,� Will arrogantly remarked.
�Mike knows what he�s doing.�
All through the flight, the restless passengers looked out into the sky and murky water. Soon enough, a clearer sight of their destination came to view. Hannah scanned over the front windshield for an open ground to land on. She finally sets her gaze on one and ecstatically points to it.
Mike gently pulled on the lever, directing the helicopter to the spot. As he maneuvered over their mark, he accidentally pushed on the lever too hard, causing the helicopter
to violently tremble and thrust towards the ground.
Lizzie shrilled as the helicopter turbulently swayed. �Oh my god, we�re going to die,� she cried out.
�Hold on everyone!� Mike calmly cautioned. Again, he gently pulled back on the lever, yielding the turbulence. �Sorry guys, but this is gonna be a hard landing.�
With all he can do, Mike tries to land the helicopter safely. Rapidly, but steadily,
the helicopter declines, striking down a couple trees on in its descent.
Hannah covered her face with her arms as they safely crash landed, while Lizzie fearfully clutched onto Will and Sam. They quietly settled in their position,
afraid to move until Mike confirmed that it was secure to unbuckle and de-board.
They quickly hopped out of the helicopter, rejoicing on their safe, almost disastrous, flight. Mike dreadfully glanced back at the sad-looking helicopter. Surprisingly,
it was not in pieces; the landing bars were bent slightly and there were a few dents from the contact with the trees.
�Do you think it�ll be safe to fly that out of here later?� Hannah asked concerned.
Mike sighed and disappointingly answered, �It�s beat up a bit, but yeah, and it will still get us out of here. We�ll definitely have to do something with the dents when
we get back though.�
�Well, let�s go and explore!� Sam shouted, as his echo reverberates into
the untamed island.
* ~ * ~ *
�Hannah?� Selena softly inquired as she knocked on Hannah�s door. �Honey, are you alright?� As there was no answer, Selena opened the door, entering to a vacant room. She guardedly scans her room at first and sees that her bed is made. She warily walks in; finally noticing the note lying on her bed then curiously reads it. Her brief worry subsided upon reading the note.
Selena hurried back to the kitchen with note in hand. �Hannah�s at Lizzie�s house.
I guess she left early this morning to work on their project.� She hands it to Jim,
who clearly looks much better today, except for the swollen black eye that is
layered over his left eye.
Selena compassionately looks at him and smiles. �I�m glad she�s making lots of new friends. Lizzie�s mum volunteers at the clinic sometimes, she�s nice.� Selena strives to make conversation, as meaningless as it was, and tries to deflect the real issue at hand. �And I�m glad that you let her go to Mike�s last night.�
�I guess I did overreact with her and Mike. I mean, she is a young adult and she�s smart. She knows how to deal in tough situations.� Jim unreservedly admits.
�You know, it�s not that I don�t trust her because I do. I just want her to be happy.�
He finally picks up the note and reads it. He keenly reads the note again then astutely looks at Selena. With a discerning look on his face, he instantly got up from his chair and rushed towards Hannah�s room.
Just as Jim thought, the homework project that Hannah had brought in the night before was propped up against the wall. He picked up the assignment and immediately brought it out to Selena�s attention. �Why would she go to Lizzie�s
to do their homework without bringing this?�
Surprised, Selena was speechless at first. �Maybe it is another project they�re working on, Jim?� she defensively utters. �Or maybe she and Lizzie are doing some girl things�� A sudden realization of deception and fear crept up on Selena.
�No, she wouldn�t lie to us, would she?�
�Let�s call Lizzie.� Jim orders as he charges to the telephone.
Selena wanted to doubt Jim�s suspicions as she sprints to Hannah�s room to dispel
the notion of her deceiving them. She begins to rummage through Hannah�s things and notices that her backpack was missing, along with a flashlight she always keeps next to her bedside table. She walked over to her desk, where she finds four pieces of crumpled up paper in the trash. She hesitantly picks them up and reads it. They were four different letters with four different reasons for her not being present that morning. Frustrated, she sits on the bed contemplating Hannah�s unexplained behaviour as Jim approaches her, very agitated.
�Lizzie�s mum said that she should be here with us,� Jim regrettably discloses. �I also called the Salinger�s and spoke to Audrey, and she says they�re not there. Something is going on, Selena.�
�I know,� Selena concurs as she passes Jim the letters. �Why is she doing this?�
Jim quickly glances at them then angrily throws them back in the trash.
With a frustrated sigh, he embraces Selena and says, �I don�t know why.
Look, Audrey is worried now too and I told her that we would be at their house in a bit. I�m sorry to get you worked up. I�m sure they�re probably somewhere in town.
Come on let�s go.� As he dashes out the door, he sarcastically and ironically utters, �This is reason to not have children.�
Selena�s heart immediately fell to the floor upon hearing his comment. Although, as disenchanted as she was, she put those feelings aside, focusing on finding Hannah.
* ~ * ~ *
Jim sensed that Selena was deeply distraught, and worried that with yesterday�s events and now today�s, it would upset her even more. For that reason,
he thoughtfully did not utter anything on the way to the Salinger�s.
He occasionally glanced at her to make sure she was all right.
However, the quiet moment intensified Selena�s frustrations. She began to realize that telling Jim of her pregnancy would be wrong, or for that matter, keeping the baby would be a mistake. His comment, she believed, said it all, �He didn�t want any children.� She was in distress, smiling every so often to conceal her true feelings whenever Jim looked her way.
Audrey was anxiously waiting on the porch when Jim and Selena arrived. She hurriedly led them to the house while Daniel diligently called all of the parents of Mike�s friends, only to find out that they, too, had no knowledge of where their kids had disappeared.
As Daniel notifies them of the bad news, Audrey was beside herself with grief.
Daniel tries to comfort her. �It�s okay, dear, we�ll find them.�
Jim and Selena also try their best to console Audrey. �Maybe they�re in town somewhere��
Out of nowhere, Ally eagerly pranced in chanting a nursery tune with her own words,
�I know where they went�I know where they went�Mike and Hannah are in trouble�Mike and Hannah are in trouble��
Daniel, at first, gestured Ally to play elsewhere, but as he noticeably hears what she�s saying, he summons her back. �Ally, what did you say?�
�I said, I know where they went,� Ally enthusiastically replies. �I know where Mike
and Hannah and Lizzie and Will and Sam went. And they�re gonna be in big trouble.� She snitched, emphasizing �big�.
Audrey quickly rushed to her daughter, �Where, Ally? Where did they go?�
Suddenly concerned about her big brother, Ally became reluctant in her response.
�I don�t know if Mikey wants me to tell. I�m not even supposed to know.� Ally began to whimper. �Mike told me to go away last night, but I didn�t. I snuck back into his room.�
Audrey lifted Ally and held her in her arms as she calmly reassures her repentant daughter. �Ally, it�s okay. Mike is not going to be mad at you; daddy and I are not.
Now, do you know where Mike and Hannah went?�
Ally apprehensively nods her head. �I�ll only tell if you don�t tell Mike I snuck back in
his room.� Audrey smiles in accordance. �I heard them say they were leaving for
the other island early this morning.�
�How would they get there?� Selena edgily asks.
�Mike knows how to fly the Eco-Star helicopter,� Daniel regrettably discloses.
�Charlie and I trained him.�
Audrey quickly gave Daniel a look of disappointment almost to the point of disgust. She set Ally down and instructed her to play in her room. Waiting until Ally was gone, she approaches Daniel and without hesitation, she began to uncontrollably strike him. �Daniel, no! You need to get our son back�No!�
Daniel did not defend himself initially, with guilt pressing in on him. He then grabbed hold of both Audrey�s wrists and brought her battering to a halt, and tightly enfolded her into his arms. �Audrey! Audrey, stop. I�m sorry. I�ll get him back. I promise��
Audrey caved in into Daniel�s grasp, surrendering her will and vulnerably sinking into despair. �Daniel, you need to get them home,� she pleaded. �Please tell me that you will and that nothing will happen to them there.� She then suspiciously looked into his eyes. �Daniel, you promised me that there is nothing going on at that island, right?�
Daniel did not utter a word, but rigidly gazed back at Audrey, waiting for
another frantic response from her.
Audrey heatedly slapped Daniel. �How could you? You promised me! You looked me in the eye and gave me your word that all of it was done!� She slowly backed away from her husband, heaving and hysterically bawling. �Daniel, I can�t stand you right now. You�ve lied to me and now our son is out there with his friends. You had better find them or I�ll never forgive you. Never!� She runs out of the room leaving Daniel uneasy with Jim and Selena speculating about the shocking incident displayed
in front of them.
�What does she mean, Daniel?� Selena suspiciously inquires, her tone becoming fiery. �Is there something going on at that island we should know about?�
�No!� Daniel sternly replies. �Look, there�s no time to talk right now. We need to go
and get them.�
�Daniel, you didn�t answer Selena�s question. What is on that island?� Jim coolly
asks again as he stops Daniel from walking away.
Daniel slowly turned around, not directly looking at them, he composedly replies, �Nothing, Jim. Everything will be all right just as long as we get them back home.�
He rapidly walks away, sulking in shame.
* ~ * ~ *
Though wary of Daniel�s word, Jim and Selena willingly set off to bring back Hannah and her friends. They suspect there is more to what Daniel has said, inferred by Audrey�s obvious betrayed reaction. Hannah�s welfare and safety was their only concern, putting their frustration with Daniel aside. He was not to be trusted any longer as far as Selena was concerned. She knew something was up and would eventually get to the bottom of it.
Charlie, Viktor and Crash were prepared and geared up to go when they arrived.
The helicopter was set to take off as soon they boarded.
Selena coldly glanced at Charlie when she settled into her seat, completely avoiding her rival�s presence. Charlie clearly recognized that Selena knew of the shameful incident that had occurred the day before with she and Jim.
She deliberately distanced herself from Selena and especially him.
Jim, in contrast, maintained an indifference towards Charlie, with caution to Viktor.
Also avoiding his attacker, Jim uneasily sat next to Selena. As he secured himself
in his seat, he notices a pile of machine guns in a case in front of them.
�What�s that for?� He sharply asks, heightening his suspicions.
�Just in case,� Viktor obscurely answered with a laugh. He seizes a gun and hands
it to Jim. �Here, you will need it��
Jim inquires again as Crash starts the helicopter. But the strident sound from the blades caused Viktor to take no notice of Jim�s queries about the need for guns.
Jim firmly gripped onto the gun handle as he easily settles beside Selena.
He gently places his arm around her, kissing her on her forehead in attempt to comfort her, but most undoubtedly seeking reassurance from her.
TO BE CONTINUED�