NINE

LIKE BEFORE, there's a few people gathered outside the church, except this time there's others playing volleyball along the seashore. By the looks of it, it seems like school and church has just ended and everyone is heading over to a match going on between a group of girls and boys.

This is perfect. It will be much more easier to distract Sebastian than I had thought with all these people outside. It isn't a huge amount, but it's enough for me to get lost in between the bodies.

Sebastian raises his arm to wave to the group standing in front of the church. The abrupt movement catches their attention and they lightheartedly wave back to us.

I feel Sebastian staring at the side of my head, probably shooting daggers because I'm not waving. I snub him and the villagers alike. I shouldn't be blaming them for Sebastian's actions, but I can't don't want to give him the satisfaction of me doing what he tells me too. He deserves nothing from me.

Sebastian exhales in frustration and impatience as we approach the beaming faces of the group. I slow down my pace to allow Sebastian to walk ahead of me so I can escape from behind, but he notices I'm no longer beside him and he stops to wait for me. His head is tilt in confusion as he gazes at me with squinted eyes, trying to read what's going on with me.

To avoid any trouble with him, I take my look over to the villagers and then back to Sebastian before picking my pace back up. He motions his elbow to me and I take a step aside from him, rumpling my nose, causing my cheeks to raise and form an 'U' shape wrinkle on the sides of my nose.

He purses his lips and brings his elbow down, shrugging his shoulders to replace the embarrassment. A hoary, middle aged man in tropical clothing steps in front of the group with open arms. My frown deepens when I see his eyes travel back and forth between Sebastian and I with an ecstatic smile.

"Sebastian, hello!" The man greets. "Is this your friend?"

Sebastian grips my forearm and drags me in front of him. I grab his hand and shove it away, but his fingers don't move as he clenches onto my skin harder, almost pinching me. I understand why he's being so pushy, he wants me to interact, almost like telling me 'you wanted to come, now talk.' He grabs my other forearm and holds me in place from both sides.

The people look unfazed at what's happening and it makes me question who do they think Sebastian is.

"Yeah, this is Vanessa."

"Hello, again," The man half laughs as he looks at me kindheartedly. His stare flickers to Sebastian and notices the confusion on his face. "We met her a couple days ago."

Sebastian gives a curt nod, undoubtedly recalling the day I almost drowned myself. He catches me looking at him and fixes his tense attitude with a faint smile.

"Well, welcome." The man jauntily greets and the people behind him nod in acceptance, their smiles widening. "I'm Pastor Benjamin, and please, c'mon over here and watch the game with us."

My upper lip recoils at his cheery tone, but I don't let my feelings bleed through because this is the opportunity I need to distract Sebastian. With Sebastian still holding onto me, I peer over to him through the side of my eye to see his expression before turning back to Pastor Benjamin and nodding avidly.

Sebastian doesn't argue against, but I catch a look of disapproval shade the expression on his face. Feeling my stare on him, he avoids making eye contact and, to my relief, he drops his hands off me.

"Great, follow me."

I start to follow the group but a hand on my shoulder pulls me slightly behind. "Please, don't do anything stupid." Sebastian whispers into the shell of my ear, his tone loutish and icy.

I fling his hand off my shoulder and inanely shake my head at him. It's foolish for him to think actually knows what's going on. He most likely believes I'm going to beg the villagers for help or something.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I lowly utter for only him to hear.

"Don't, Vanessa." He warns. I want to laugh but I bite it back because he just might take me back to his house and ruin my only chance. "I saw that hole you did to your mattress. Understand that you're not going to finding anything."

I don't say anything, but give him an ugly look before I turn around and continue walking behind the group, leaving Sebastian behind. Hopefully, he gets frustrated enough and leaves.

A couple people who are watching the match turn around and gawk when they see me. Their stare doesn't feel rude or uncomfortable, mainly because they're grinning as they look. It feels welcoming and cordial like if they are happy and rapt to see me, causing my sour mood to fade as I offer them a small smile. After my little gesture, they all take their eyes back to the game as I walk towards a palm tree stump that is deeply planted into the sand.

A shadow casts over my frame as I sit down on the stump and I lift my head up to see Sebastian standing next to me, his body blocking the sun. Sweat is smeared in the creases of his forehead as he knits his eyebrows, squinting his eyes to see better since the sun's rays are striking down on him.

I look away before he becomes aware, and try to pay attention to the match. Sebastian isn't going to leave my side, I need to come up with an excuse that will leave him no option but to leave me alone.

"Is...is there water?" Sebastian pretends he doesn't hear me as his Adam's apple bobs up and then down. "I'll just go look for some on my own,"

"No, stay here, I'll go get you a cup."

I press my lips together as I dig the heels of my feet into the sand. Sebastian gives me a vacuous look before leaving my side and going somewhere behind me. I stay sitting on the stump for a moment to assure he doesn't see me get up. I twist my head just a bit and peek over my shoulder through the outside corner of my eye. Sebastian is no where in sight and I hurriedly get up, uncovering my feet from the sand.

There's shack like home hidden behind the church that has a man sitting outside of. When we passed by the church I saw him holding what seemed to look like a radio. There's a likelihood I can call for help.

"Hi,"

I close my eyes in disappointment and despair at the empathetic voice behind me. I scruple to turn around in fear of wasting time on talking to a stranger, but despite the urge to ignore, I twirl around and face a girl around the same age as me. Her cedar colored eyes gleam under the sun as she flickers the ends of her hair in between her fingers.

"I'm Mia." Her voice is thin and soft, something I'm not use to hearing.

"Vanessa," I breathe.

"I know," She benignly smiles. "Everyone here pretty much knows who you are."

I cross my arms over my chest and place my hands on my shoulder as I give her weird look. I don't doubt what she said is true, I mean Ms. Marsters did know who I was, well not entirely, but she knew I'm here with Sebastian.

"Sebastian was right, you're really pretty." I take a step away from her and pull my chin back, feeling circular wrinkles appearing on the base of my chin. Mia's eyes rather widen and her smile dims. "Sorry, I didn't mean to be all weird."

"No, don't worry it's not you. It's just..." I soothe but trail off because there's no way for me to explain. By the looks of it, everyone seems to like Sebastian and even if I tell someone who he really is, I don't think they will believe me. "You're fine."

Mia's smile returns as I uncross my arms and stand back where I was. I know I won't be able to get rid of her before Sebastian returns so I have to some up with something. My eyes dart to the roof of the man's house with the radio then back to Mia's round shaped face.

"Can I ask you something?" My fingers play with the material on the waistband of the sweatpants and her stare momentarily leaves my face to look down at my fiddling movement.

I'm anxious because I don't know whether I want to know if that man truly has a radio or not. I'm scared of the answer so I come up with another question.

"Definitely,"

"Is there service here to like make a call or something?"

Mia chuckles, "I wish, but the island is connected to a coral reef that sits too high in the water that it makes everything completely out of range."

"So, there's no public telephone or satellite?" I repeat the question in another way in hopes of getting a different answer.

"Years ago there use to be telephone station but it got disconnected because service couldn't reach all the way over here." She explains in honesty. I don't know how but I know she's not lying. Sebastian didn't lie.

"The man who lives behind the church," I push desperately. Mia looks worried but she agrees to answer as she nods her head. I pause, "That thing he carries, is it a radio?"

She shakes her head, fret clouding her eyes as she slightly frowns. "Ole William carries a cassette player with him. Are you alright?"

No. "Yes,"

"Are you sure?"

"I...I have to go." I look anywhere but at Mia as I directly walk pass her and slog towards the shore. Behind the pummeling sound of my heart in my ears, I hear Mia call after me but I ignore her like I should've done in the first place.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

I bend down and slide my sandals off my feet. I fits them in my hands as let myself fall to my knees onto the sand. Despite not being able to hear anything but my silent cries and heart, I sense someone standing behind me.

My skin screeches, and that's when I know I don't have to turn around to see who it is. I feel the heat of his hand hovering over my shoulder.

"Please, don't." I beg and the heat vanishes.

He corners around me and kneels down beside me, making sure to keep a fair amount of distance between us. His ring finger circles the rim of the plastic cup he holds in his hand.

"I don't deserve this. I never did anything to you." My tone is cold and sharp as I wipe the tears away with the back of my hand. I turn my head to look at him and see him staring at the grains of the sand instead, having some internal conflict with himself.

"I wish things could be different, but this was the only way." His stare flashes back to me as he straightens his body upward, his face remaining nonchalant.

"I hate you." I say quietly.

"Maybe that'll change."

Sebastian kneels himself up until he's standing and he sets himself behind me again, towering over me like a second body. He always going to be shadowing over me until he can fully consume me into his world.

I want to curse the ocean for existing and yell at the earth for creating this island, but most importantly, I want to give the universe hell for letting a man like Sebastian be born.

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