10

Dwayne decided to skip the obvious yet possibaly inexplicable question of 'how', and fast tracked to the consequent question of what he should do.
Jasmine gave him a look as if to say, "isn't it obvious?"
After a pause, the girl spoke, directing her voice through Dwayne.
"I must not be born. If you leave the island it will be completely out of your hands.
"No it won't," Dwayne retorted, "all I need to do is maintain my virgin status till all this is cleared up."

"You don't understand. I have already been conceived. From the moment you stepped on this island your DNA has seeped into the earth, creating me. Every second of every day you were depositing parts of yourself into the soil. Hair, skin, fluid, everything. Your DNA is unique. The island itself acts as an egg for your DNA. If you leave the island now, you will have no control over my existance."

"Ok, first, why don't we want you to be born or created or whatever? and second, how do we stop it if its already begun?"

"I am the reason the hole opened up. I create an imbalance between nature and the spiritual world. If it weren't for me, those Malganites wouldn't have escaped and mutated as they have. Dad, if the rest of the world could freely view the spiritual realm as you have, there would be no such thing as ignorant bliss. The world would live in fear, forever. The only way to stop me is to go back to the boat shed and...soliloquize. Only you will know what to do."

It took Dwayne the majority of the return journey to understand the girls last sentences. After establishing the meaning of 'soliloquize', he soon realised that he had to talk to the old man. When he arrived, the old man was fishing. Three decent sized fish hung taught on a line strung up between two trees.

"I thought you would turn up soon." The old mans voice was similar to Dwaynes but more husky with a touch of foreboding. "How is she?"

Dwayne quickly realised he was refering to his daughter and promptly uttered, "Fine."

"I guesse it's time then."

Dwayne watched as the man reeled in his line and staggered towards the boat shed.

(tag to Nick)

9

Hannah just stared up at Jasmine with big blind eyes…directly at her. It was as though in her blindness she was somehow able to penetrate the darkness and the flesh and see into the hearts and minds of the two onlookers. Even with Jasmines prompting she took a while to respond to the question. The girls silence gave Dwayne the creeps if the eye whites and pale skin hadn’t already. Suddenly she giggled and pointed her small podgy fingers at Dwayne.
“Silly Jasmine, he’s right next to you…”

Dwayne felt the hairs stick up on the back of his neck. Was she talking about him? He turned around to check… he was the only one there. Dwayne looked at Jasmine for a response, he wanted to laugh but nothing in this place seemed funny. He wanted to run. The girl reached her arms out towards Dwayne, as any small blind girl who thinks she can see her father would. It was then he saw it, the child’s eyes were not the only thing peculiar. Her legs weren’t there, or if they were they buried at the base of the tree. She continued to reach upward toward Dwayne. “Dad,” the girl called out “it’s me, Hannah!”

Dwayne began to back away. Jasmine stopped him. The child began to cry.
“It’s okay Han,” she whispered “I haven’t told him yet…”
With that she lightly pushed Dwayne forward towards the freaky tree girl. He wanted to run but instead found himself lowering to the young girl’s level. As he came nearer to her Hannah’s tears subsided. Her frown was replaced by a beautiful smile.
“Dad” she said, reaching out and rubbing his face. She paused again, a little shocked.
“Oh Dad,” she said shocked, “…you’ve shaved…and what happened to your wrinkles?”

Dwayne stared into the girl’s blind eyes, and the branches that seemed to do her bidding. He examined her perfectly pale skin and a wave of familiarity came over the moment. A memory of the future perhaps? Who was this girl who seemed to give life to the island above? What was this mysterious island that brought healing to Dwayne’s paralysis? Jasmine put her hand on Dwayne’s shoulder. “I wanted you to meet your daughter Hannah before I told you who the old man was…”

Dwayne didn’t debate what he knew to be true but he did ask how it could happen.
“How can I have a daughter? I’m a virgin and a crippled one at that…”
“You were a crippled one.” Jasmine explained, not expecting him to understand. “Did the old man tell you his name, Dwayne? Did you wonder why he looked so familiar or how he knew everything about you?”
Dwayne, turned to face Jasmine and stumbled, still getting used to the healing and newly acquired mobility. Jasmines rhetorical questions confounded him, yet it was her unspoken answers that haunted him. Then she dropped the bombshell…

“The old man knows about your healing Dwayne, because he remembers it.” Dwayne trembled as she spoke. “The old man is you Dwayne, this girls father, and is trying to stop you because he knows what will happen if you ever leave this island.”

(Tag to Jake)