I tried but couldn't come up with a better way to tell something as good as this. If I crossed a line please let me know but I hope you all enjoy it. Rebecca is a friend of mine from Romania, Tessa is my close friend in Nigeria and Iver was a friend before he passed from tuberculosis.
You are banished to a tropical paradise island for five years and can bring only three people with you - none can be related to you, meaning family members - who are they and why would you bring those particular people? They can be people from history or currently alive.
The fire crackled as the wood burned in it. Four people sat round it in thick clothing.
"So you didn't think to tell me that this would be prison?" A thick accent broke the silence
"I'm sorry Rebecca. I knew you wouldn't come if I told you." Deraa pleaded.
"Well with good reason. Five years on an island? Ridiculous!"
"I have no idea what to say right now." Another girl, Tessa says. She's dark in complexion, her natural hair tied in two buns on her head.
"I always knew something was wrong with you, but this is just worse that I thought." Rebecca says
"I'm sorry." The culprit who happens to be none other than Deraa herself continues, looking forlon.
"I'm not." Eyes turn to the fourth person who is male. His eyes are fixated on the lighted wood before he notices the attention he'd brought upon himself. "What?" He questioned innocently.
"I'm sorry. Did I hear you right? You do realize we are stranded in the middle of nowhere with the possibility of prowling animals right?" Rebecca asked in disbelief.
Tessa, just stares on at the young man.
"So? It's not like it's forever. And there are no wild animals. This is practically a resort. I'd rather enjoy this time away from those monkeys." The boy, Iver, says and kicks his feet against the sand. The waves crashed against the beach breaking the silence of the night. The light from the sunset glistened upon the waters making it look almost ethereal. Deraa just stared in awe.
"We are all gonna die." Rebecca mutters while shaking her head.
"No we're not. Quit exaggerating." Iver says
"What monkeys?" Tessa voices
"People." The man shrugs as he relaxes against the rocking chair.
"What's wrong with people? Why refer to them as animals?" Rebecca asked interested despite herself.
"Because I haven't met any good one in my life. Well, except this young lady", he gestures to Deraa.
"And how did you guys meet?" Tessa asked, crossing her leg.
"Facebook."
Rebecca snorts. "You have a knack for meeting people online." Rebecca tells Deraa who opens her mouth to say something but is cut off.
"Was that how you met?" Iver questions Rebecca.
"Yeah. We met through some international group on WhatsApp." She deadpanned
"We met through someone. Oh. Yeah. We became close when I lost my best friend." Tessa said.
"I can't believe I'm stranded here with two strangers." Rebecca says referring to Iver and Tessa
"Not strangers for long. We have five years to get to know each other." Iver is smiling.
"We should come up with a plan." Deraa says while looking at Iver, "and I'm sorry I didn't tell y'all we'd be here long. I was scared you wouldn't come."
"Whatever. We literally have everything we need. Ah. I could live here forever." Iver places his hands behind his head, the lopsided smile still on his face.
"Only that you'd literally die of boredom." Rebecca scoffed
"That's why we are four. Deraa didn't want to be bored. Am I right?" Iver turns to Deraa who nods.
"I don't think I can ever get bored in this place. Just look around. This is amazing. Like a vacation. We could also go exploring." Tessa gestures with open arms.
"Yeah. You're too lazy to walk five minutes." Deraa says monotonously. Tessa turns to argue but seems to think better of it.
"We're gonna be here for five years. Five years!" Rebecca emphasised
"Can you stop being so pessimistic? You're hurting my ears." Iver groans. Rebecca glares at him again.
"I'm glad you called me. I've been looking for a reason to ditch school." Tessa said to Deraa and giggled.
"So why us? Why out of a billion people you decided to pick us?" Rebecca queried. Attention is now on Deraa who takes a deep breath.
"I uh... I want to start with I'm sorry."
"I'm not."
"I'm quite glad to be here."
"Too late for that."
Iver, Tessa and Rebecca respectively answered in unison.
"But five years is a long time. While I can survive on my own, I would get bored and scared shitless. Rebecca is almost like a mother figure. She's cautious, careful and understanding when necessary. She's also protective in her own way and observant and she can be entertaining." She smiles at Rebecca who scoffs and looks away embarrassed.
"Tessa is really smart. She's lazy I know, but her IQ is off the charts. She can destroy and assemble. Quite the builder. And she's a wonderful conversationalist. She's always presenting knowledgeable topics and I like watching her invent things. I learn from her."
"Iver is a wonderful planner. He's a master in manipulating resources and getting the best out of circumstances. He'd see an opportunity where there is absolutely none. He's also an optimist no matter what and he's an amazing friend." Deraa rambled and then stopped. Silence followed before Iver broke it.
"And you?"
"Ugh. She's not right in the head," Rebecca said to which Tessa laughed.
"But even so", Rebecca continued softly, "She's fun, charismatic and poses a challenge sometimes."
"Yeah. And she's also very sweet, a listener, a really good cook and a brawn if I may add. She lifts things three times her size. We can have gym sessions right? She's a good coach." Tessa adds.
"I'm not participating in that punishment. No way." Rebecca says firmly
"I see. Well, let's rest. We've got five long years ahead." To that Iver moved to grab a blanket properly stacked on a table not feeling like going in just yet. The other three seemed to have the same idea and asked for one too. He passed some over. They stay that way enjoying the view till all the lights go off, making the place look a little eerie.
"This is how the scene from a horror movie starts." Iver says as he stands.
"Don't say that!" Rebecca hisses inching closer to Tessa who lifts a brow.
"We'll go turn on the generator." Deraa says and begins to walk, Iver falling behind. Tessa and Rebecca goes after them nearly stumbling over themselves.
"We're all going." Rebecca mutters.
To know more and participate in this prompt, click HERE
