We started out after our guide through the foreboding stillness of the forest. I had once been in awe of these strange majestic trees, but now all I wanted was to be free of them and this island with a dark history that had come to life once more.
A fantasy flashed across my mind's eye for a moment. It was simple and yet profound in its meaning.
The fantasy was of me and Keturah sailing along across this inner sea beneath the world above. Just sailing. There was something so peacefully fulfilling about the imagery of that fantasy.
Oh to God did I pray that it became my reality!
Our guide suddenly stopped and held up a hand to us in a sign to stop as well. We stood crouched over as only our eyes moved as we listened for a sound, any sound.
My head jerked off to the side as I heard what the guide must've sensed. Somebody was in the forest and it sounded like they were crying.
The others looked to me silently and I made an inclusive hand gesture to indicate to scatter out and surround the source of the noise.
They nodded and filtered out to the sides silently as I approached the noise head on. A few carefully silent minutes later I found myself standing behind a man who looked to be one of the plantation owners.
He appeared to be alone and completely petrified. He was crouched down next to a hollow in a tree stump as if he was prepared to dive into it at a moment's notice. He was making a lot of noise as he shifted from whimpering to carrying on a cryptic conversation with himself.
I slipped an arm around his throat from behind and clamped down. He tried to scream but couldn't. The others closed in quick and we had the man restrained on the ground in a matter of moments.
The man actually looked relieved to see us. Well me anyway.
I took my hand from off his mouth and he was instantly babbling, "Please take me with you back to the surface! Oh please don't leave me here in this cursed place! Please I……"
I held up a fist to hit him, "Shut up!" I whispered out sternly.
His rambling pleas came to a halt as he fearfully swallowed down his latest calls for mercy.
"Now what's been going on since I left the island?" I asked softly.
The man swallowed hard and looked as if he was accessing a memory of unimaginable horror, "The giants came. We'd always heard the stories about the sculptures in the ancient ruins, but never did I expect to see such creatures brought to life. They're beyond horrible! The very sound and sight of their faces is enough to kill one from fright!"