Johnny & I : The Island by Daria Paus (hardest books to read txt) 📕

wet grainy surface I lay on, and everything started to make sense. Images and echoes of screaming strangers filled my head. I curled my fingers, digging them into the sand. The boat accident which I’d been sure would take my life seemed like a distant nightmare. Believing that it had actually happened was as difficult as believing I’d survived it.

Relief gradually filled my senses, replacing the fear. I smiled into the darkness. The smile faded just as fast. The boat, with all of her crew, was gone. I hadn't been able to help any of them, and here I was, all alone on what I could only assume was a desert island. Marooned.

Disbelief crept over me and I shivered for a whole new reason. A bolt of fear ran down my spine. I might be alive at the moment, but for how long? Things like this didn't happen in real life. It felt like I was in some bad movie, thrown into an unfamiliar setting with no preparations or supplies to get by with. Like it was a ridiculous test. I was sure the odds weren’t in my favor.

Making it to my feet, I stumbled farther up the beach, away from the waves. I blinked, rubbing my eyes to clear them from the drips running down my face in a half hearted attempt to see anything but the silhouettes of swaying palm trees in the dark. The deafening sound of the ocean made me want to press my hands to my ears. I wrapped them around my body instead, shielding myself from the wind.

As I stared into the darkness, something caught my attention. A brief flicker of light. It was there one second, and then it was gone.

Just when I thought I’d imagined it—I saw it again. From between the swaying canvas of trees, an unmistakable light peeked through, igniting a small ray of hope in my galloping heart.

Moving toward the light, I noticed a sandy path leading away from the beach. Recklessly I stumbled forward, abandoning all fear in my hurry to get to that welcoming light. With eyes focused on the narrow path, I pressed forward, ducking under heavy leaves, trying not to let the branches slap me in the face.

The woods finally cleared and the sand under my feet disappeared. I stepped onto something darker, which I guessed was grass. And there, farther up on a hill was a house. Several windows were lit up, and I stood there staring at it in awe. I had no idea of where I was, but knowing the boat had sunk many hours out on the open sea, I certainly didn’t expect anyone to be living here.

Another shiver shook my body and I picked up my pace. If there was light there was life. Whoever was crazy enough to live this far out on an island would have to do for now.

1

Starstruck

The dark silhouette of the house towered over me as I stood before it. The light, which had seemed welcoming from the beach, wasn’t as bright up close. From a window, a flickering orange glow seeped beyond the glass against the night. With an uneasy feeling in my belly and hesitant feet, I started to climb the stairs.

I threw an awkward look down the darkened path that I had just arrived on, then turned my gaze back to the house. The stone walls and fenced in patio gave me the impression that whoever lived in this house was rich. But that ain't gonna make him or her friendlier, the little voice added. I hesitated. A sudden gust of wind threatened to fling me back down the stairs, and my wet clothes clung to my body. With a shiver, I raised a trembling hand to knock.

The hard wood made my frozen knuckles ache as I tapped against it. When I had waited for what felt like an eternity, I gave the door a few more sharp raps.

"Hello! Anyone home?”

Thoughts raced through my mind. What if no one would come? What if I’d had to stay out here all night? What if—

The door swung open and a man appeared in the doorway.

"Who the fuck are you?” He spoke in such a low voice that it was hard to hear him above the wind.

"I'm sorry!" I began, taking a deep breath before opening my mouth to a somewhat incoherent ramble. “I was . . . my boat . . . there was an accident, then I saw the lights and . . .” I paused to suck in a trembling breath. "And I was hopin' I could come in for a while because it's really cold and I'm wet . . ." My ramblings once again trailed off and I swallowed down a lump in my throat. Why was he staring at me like that?

"Did you follow me here?” he asked after a long silence.

"What?" My mouth formed a little O as confusion swept over me, then it closed, letting out a scoff. What the hell? 

"What do you mean? I didn’t—why would I follow . . .”

Tears burned behind my eyes. Was he just going to stare at me? What was his problem?

“Come in." He held the door open and I hesitated before stepping inside. The wind slapped the door shut behind me with a force that shook the house. My heart leaped into my throat and I could barely hold back a scream. Sucking in a few deep breaths to calm my nerves, I looked around. We stood in a hallway. In the dim light, I studied the white walls. A panel of what looked like dark mahogany made a nice contrast to the stark white marble floor. It looked so smooth and shiny that it felt wrong to stand on it, especially with my wet clothes which were creating a puddle around my feet.

To the right, an archway towered over us, and built into the opposite wall was a huge fireplace. In front of it