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.