My name is Jose Gutierrez, I am currently on a boat from Spain headed towards the Caribbean it is now day 25 on our voyage, and we are now in the middle of the Caribbean and as we were passing through this one area of the ocean when all of a sudden. This horrible storm just flashed all of a sudden and then these big old rocks came and basically wrecked our ship. I was lucky enough to have survived the crash and after swimming for some time I had finally reached the distant island.
As I had finally approached the island I found myself lagging through the beach due to exhaustion, as I had finally entered the jungle I decided to sleep in a tree that night for safety reasons from any kind of animal. I slept thorough throughout the night and made my way around the island when I had finally stumbled upon a huge house that almost seemed like a castle, it was truly a monstrosity in size, so I knocked on the door, famished from all the energy it took to swim from the ship to this island.
The door had swung open only to show this gigantic man he must’ve been about 6’5” at 300 pounds, oh god he was so huge that the revolver he had in his baseball mitt sized hand he had seemed miniscule, I said “hello sir, my name is Jose Gutierrez. My ship had wrecked and I was one of the lone survivors that have stumbled upon to your property, may I come in?” The only reply he made was the cocking action on his revolver. Just as he was about to put a bullet in between my eyes, this other man came and patted him on the back and said “Ivan do not shoot our guest, he is alright with me.” The giant uncocked the revolver and holstered it in reply. Then the man turned to me and said “I apologize for Ivan’s poor behavior, he has the misfortune of being deaf and mute.” “My name is general Zaroff and you are?” “My name is Jose Gutierrez, I am a sailor that ship had wrecked in the ocean and I swam to this island, and well here I am.” I said. “Well come in then” he said.
As I had come in he told me to wash up and to join him later on for dinner, it was excellent as I was finished bathing the giant came with fresh clothes for me. As I entered the dining room I saw filet mignon waiting for me with a fine glass of champagne. So we talked and finally he came on to the subject of hunting, and how he had hunted all kinds of rare and dangerous species, and how after a while it all began to bore him since he always got his quarry he never missed and they never got away, they just weren’t cunning enough. So then he showed me his new theory of going head to head with a species that had the same intellectual range as he had. It finally occurred to me that he was talking about hunting humans! He then took me to his collection of heads there were boars, bison, cheetahs, tigers, leopards, grizzly bears, and even a rhinoceros. It was amazing but then it became sickening as I saw the human heads mounted on the wall.
He then told me to follow him down to the basement, there they were about a dozen humans all exercising, and he explained to me he likes to get them in shape before he hunts them so they provide more of a challenge. It made me nauseous as I knew I would also have to join and so from there the instructor worked us like dogs all night long, doing jumping jacks, pushups, sit-ups, crunches, and even benching weights in excess of 175 pounds constantly. Then in the mornings he would have us run around the island twice followed by a swim he always monitored us with a lever action rifle, if we attempt to escape he’d shoot us down.
Finally after a week of training Mr. Zaroff came and told me to get ready and rest for the rest of the day and that I would need it. Finally in the evening Ivan came and gave me a heavy duty hunting knife that was razor sharp, hunting clothes like a deerskin material and a pair of moccasins. I then went in a b-line straight from the house I didn’t even know what to do then later on in the middle of the night the dogs came and started tearing me up and just when I thought I couldn’t take any more Zaroff came and finished me, then everything went black. I guess I just wasn’t good enough to win the most dangerous game.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Short Story - Jackie F., Marcos A., and Vivi H.
There was once a sailor named Benjamin Wright. He was cruising his boat in the Caribbean and happened run out of gas. The boat drifted to this mysterious island that happened to be Ship Trap Island. When he got to the island he began searching for someone to help him repair his boat, hoping to get away from this terrifying island as soon as possible. As Ben was walking through the island forest, he began to notice small piles of bones randomly lying on the forest floor. Instead of assuming the worst, he just thought that it was piles of animal bones left over from past meals. He was so concentrated on finding help he didn’t realize the bullets and sword marks left in the trees as he passed.
He began to wonder to himself if there were any other people inhabiting the island. It was so quiet, so still. It was as if he’d entered another world entirely - an entire world where he only existed; him and no one else. The path began getting narrower and narrower, until he could barely walk a straight line. He could hear the distant sound of the ocean reaching the beach and splashing against the sand. He could faintly smell the scent of the salty sea air – how he loved that smell. Just thinking about the comfort of the ocean was enough to get him walking again.
Ben once again started searching for a person to help him. “Hello? Hello?” He called into the dark, empty forest. There was no returning call, no one to say that they’d help him, and no one to help him get to the ocean again.
He began thinking that he’d never find help and he’d be stuck on this horrible island until his life would finally come to an end. As if on cue, the rain began pouring down upon him, seeping through the trees and splashing his face with the cold water. The forest floor became difficult to walk on, the path was barely visible. As he struggled to make his way through the forest, he began to lose hope in finding anyone that would be able to help him. He cursed at the heavens, as he began giving up on life.
It was then that he heard a noise so very quiet that he wasn’t quite sure he’d really heard it. It was a little voice, a human voice, humming a soft tune; almost like a lullaby. Ben turned around, searching for the source of the soft sound. It was ever so quiet and unreal – was it his imagination? The rain began to thin out as the sailor strained his eyes to find the one responsible for the soft humming.
“Hello? Is anyone out there?” Ben called out in a shaky voice.
“You there, what is your name?” said a mysterious voice from behind.
Ben turned around but could still not see anyone. “My name is Benjamin Wright. Who are you? I warn you, I have a gun!” Benjamin tried threatening the mysterious figure, if it did turn into a fight, he honestly did not have a weapon to protect himself. “Who are you?” Ben asked once again.
“My name is General Zaroff,” said a man as he stepped into the moonlight. “There will be no need for any violence, Mr. Wright, I mean no harm. But, you do owe me an explanation.” General Zaroff was a tall man that looked just the bit off. Something was wrong with this man but all Benjamin could think about was the fact that he’d found another human that could help him.
“What do I need to explain?” asked Wright.
“What are you doing here, in the middle of the night, on my island?” General Zaroff asked a bit too interested.
Benjamin let out a small sigh. “You see, General, I was sailing the Caribbean when my boat ran out of gas, I swam to the shore of your island and began searching for help when I stumbled across yourself.”
General Zaroff gave him a knowing nod. “Hmm, I see. Now, tell me Mr. Wright, why were you sailing in the middle of the night?”
“Sailing is my passion, I love the ocean more than life itself, I’d spend eternity there if I was able to.”
Zaroff smiled a sick, sinister smile that showed off all his teeth. “I see, Mr. Wright. Now, let me let you in on a little secret of mine.”
Benjamin was both curious and intrigued by General Zaroff but something told him that it was best to keep his distance from this strange man with the wicked smiled. “Yes, General?” Mr. Wright asked as he leaned in but stood his ground.
“You see, Benjamin, this island, Ship Trap Island, has been inhabited by myself and only myself for quite some time now. I used to be a big game hunter, you see, but I became bored of it and began searching for something larger to hunt. I do get the occasional visitor, much like yourself, on my little island from time to time, but they never do leave.”
“But, if you occupy this island on your own, then how are they able to stay?” Benjamin asked, confused.
General Zaroff smiled and said, “You’re very clever, Mr. Wright. I like that about you. It almost makes me think twice about killing you.”
Benjamin froze. Had he heard the general right? Had he really said that he was going to kill him?! “E-excuse me?” Wright asked, a bit taken aback.
“Oh, you heard me right,” said the General. “As I said, I’ve been on search for bigger game, and I have discovered several years ago that humans are one of the most difficult things to hunt.” Suddenly, thunder and lightning began to fall from the heavens. General Zaroff did not even flinch from the sound or the brightness. He actually seemed to soak up some of the power that the sky promised.
“Here are the rules,” began the general. “I’m going to count to ten. You have until then to do your best to get away. But, I warn you now, Mr. Wright, I have never lost a game before. I believe there’s no possible way that you’ll be leaving my island.”
Benjamin turned and began running as fast as possible, never looking back. He ran so fast he couldn’t even see his surroundings. He felt the rain pick up again and begin to sprinkle his face as he ran deeper into the dark forest. He couldn’t believe that this is how it would end, here deep in an island that he’s been warned about countless times before. He would never be able to see the ocean again, never be able to smell the sweet smell of sea salt.
Suddenly, he felt a piercing in his left arm. He stopped and began to scream as the pain sank into him. He turned to his arm and saw an arrow caught directly into his shoulder. He took the arrow out and began running again. He couldn’t feel his arm but tried his best not to think about it. Benjamin was running in a direction he wasn’t quite sure of and did his best not to look back. The next thing he knew, he was on the floor crying out in pain. He bent over his leg and began pulling out another arrow that was right in the back of his knee. Zaroff was close, he was sure of it. Benjamin tried getting up but was unsuccessful on the count of the fact of not being able to feel his legs.
“I tried to warn you, Mr. Wright, I never lose a game,” General Zaroff came out of the shadows and looked down upon him. He shook his head, “I’m actually quite disappointed, I thought you’d be more of a challenge.” The General began dragging Benjamin through the forest, not caring about the pain the sailor had to endure. They stopped when Wright realized the floor was much softer. There was sand and he was almost positive he could hear the ocean waves crash against the shore. They were on the beach, he was sure of it.
“Why’d you bring me here?” Benjamin asked as the general laid him near the waves.
Zaroff took out a small pistol and pointed it at Benjamin’s head. “You wanted to spend eternity in the ocean. Consider your wish granted.” Then, he pulled the trigger.
He began to wonder to himself if there were any other people inhabiting the island. It was so quiet, so still. It was as if he’d entered another world entirely - an entire world where he only existed; him and no one else. The path began getting narrower and narrower, until he could barely walk a straight line. He could hear the distant sound of the ocean reaching the beach and splashing against the sand. He could faintly smell the scent of the salty sea air – how he loved that smell. Just thinking about the comfort of the ocean was enough to get him walking again.
Ben once again started searching for a person to help him. “Hello? Hello?” He called into the dark, empty forest. There was no returning call, no one to say that they’d help him, and no one to help him get to the ocean again.
He began thinking that he’d never find help and he’d be stuck on this horrible island until his life would finally come to an end. As if on cue, the rain began pouring down upon him, seeping through the trees and splashing his face with the cold water. The forest floor became difficult to walk on, the path was barely visible. As he struggled to make his way through the forest, he began to lose hope in finding anyone that would be able to help him. He cursed at the heavens, as he began giving up on life.
It was then that he heard a noise so very quiet that he wasn’t quite sure he’d really heard it. It was a little voice, a human voice, humming a soft tune; almost like a lullaby. Ben turned around, searching for the source of the soft sound. It was ever so quiet and unreal – was it his imagination? The rain began to thin out as the sailor strained his eyes to find the one responsible for the soft humming.
“Hello? Is anyone out there?” Ben called out in a shaky voice.
“You there, what is your name?” said a mysterious voice from behind.
Ben turned around but could still not see anyone. “My name is Benjamin Wright. Who are you? I warn you, I have a gun!” Benjamin tried threatening the mysterious figure, if it did turn into a fight, he honestly did not have a weapon to protect himself. “Who are you?” Ben asked once again.
“My name is General Zaroff,” said a man as he stepped into the moonlight. “There will be no need for any violence, Mr. Wright, I mean no harm. But, you do owe me an explanation.” General Zaroff was a tall man that looked just the bit off. Something was wrong with this man but all Benjamin could think about was the fact that he’d found another human that could help him.
“What do I need to explain?” asked Wright.
“What are you doing here, in the middle of the night, on my island?” General Zaroff asked a bit too interested.
Benjamin let out a small sigh. “You see, General, I was sailing the Caribbean when my boat ran out of gas, I swam to the shore of your island and began searching for help when I stumbled across yourself.”
General Zaroff gave him a knowing nod. “Hmm, I see. Now, tell me Mr. Wright, why were you sailing in the middle of the night?”
“Sailing is my passion, I love the ocean more than life itself, I’d spend eternity there if I was able to.”
Zaroff smiled a sick, sinister smile that showed off all his teeth. “I see, Mr. Wright. Now, let me let you in on a little secret of mine.”
Benjamin was both curious and intrigued by General Zaroff but something told him that it was best to keep his distance from this strange man with the wicked smiled. “Yes, General?” Mr. Wright asked as he leaned in but stood his ground.
“You see, Benjamin, this island, Ship Trap Island, has been inhabited by myself and only myself for quite some time now. I used to be a big game hunter, you see, but I became bored of it and began searching for something larger to hunt. I do get the occasional visitor, much like yourself, on my little island from time to time, but they never do leave.”
“But, if you occupy this island on your own, then how are they able to stay?” Benjamin asked, confused.
General Zaroff smiled and said, “You’re very clever, Mr. Wright. I like that about you. It almost makes me think twice about killing you.”
Benjamin froze. Had he heard the general right? Had he really said that he was going to kill him?! “E-excuse me?” Wright asked, a bit taken aback.
“Oh, you heard me right,” said the General. “As I said, I’ve been on search for bigger game, and I have discovered several years ago that humans are one of the most difficult things to hunt.” Suddenly, thunder and lightning began to fall from the heavens. General Zaroff did not even flinch from the sound or the brightness. He actually seemed to soak up some of the power that the sky promised.
“Here are the rules,” began the general. “I’m going to count to ten. You have until then to do your best to get away. But, I warn you now, Mr. Wright, I have never lost a game before. I believe there’s no possible way that you’ll be leaving my island.”
Benjamin turned and began running as fast as possible, never looking back. He ran so fast he couldn’t even see his surroundings. He felt the rain pick up again and begin to sprinkle his face as he ran deeper into the dark forest. He couldn’t believe that this is how it would end, here deep in an island that he’s been warned about countless times before. He would never be able to see the ocean again, never be able to smell the sweet smell of sea salt.
Suddenly, he felt a piercing in his left arm. He stopped and began to scream as the pain sank into him. He turned to his arm and saw an arrow caught directly into his shoulder. He took the arrow out and began running again. He couldn’t feel his arm but tried his best not to think about it. Benjamin was running in a direction he wasn’t quite sure of and did his best not to look back. The next thing he knew, he was on the floor crying out in pain. He bent over his leg and began pulling out another arrow that was right in the back of his knee. Zaroff was close, he was sure of it. Benjamin tried getting up but was unsuccessful on the count of the fact of not being able to feel his legs.
“I tried to warn you, Mr. Wright, I never lose a game,” General Zaroff came out of the shadows and looked down upon him. He shook his head, “I’m actually quite disappointed, I thought you’d be more of a challenge.” The General began dragging Benjamin through the forest, not caring about the pain the sailor had to endure. They stopped when Wright realized the floor was much softer. There was sand and he was almost positive he could hear the ocean waves crash against the shore. They were on the beach, he was sure of it.
“Why’d you bring me here?” Benjamin asked as the general laid him near the waves.
Zaroff took out a small pistol and pointed it at Benjamin’s head. “You wanted to spend eternity in the ocean. Consider your wish granted.” Then, he pulled the trigger.
Monday, September 20, 2010
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