One would think strolling down this crooked dusty path on an inconspicuous island would be paradise. Vibrant green foliage surrounds each side of the uncharted track; the high density of trees control your depth of vision meaning that you can’t see much further than five meters on either side of you. Crunching sounds of my feet hiking along the path constantly get interrupted by the choir of birds singing in the trees. Overhead a brilliant blue sky stretches as if a sheet was spread on top of the Earth, undisturbed by any clouds. It is a picture that not even an artist could paint. The island would be no bigger than three kilometers in diameter with a beach on the east side, however, the island is mainly dominated by thick forest and its most distinguishing feature is a volcano protruding out of the Earth dominating the skyline. The remnants of my red propeller plane lie in a small clearing where I emerged from. In order to find a way off this island, I must push forward.

Everlasting, the long trail carries on throughout the foliage with the same outline of Redwood trees towering above, barricaded in by a mixture of thick bushes. There almost seems to be a creepy essence to this island, although I can’t put my finger on it. 30 minutes have passed by and my mind starts to wonder where this mysterious path will lead to and how long it will go on for. Overhead the sky still remains as blue as a Sapphire and the temperature starts to heat up. When you look closely at the ground you can see heat rays rising up, like the warmth desperately wants to escape the ground. Rounding another corner a rustling of the bushes quickly catches my eardrums. Stopping and scanning my surroundings I look around. There is an eery silence. “Hello?” I nervously call out? Suddenly a hand is placed on my shoulder. Sharply turning around, a large human-like creature is standing in front of me. It’s a Tschuma. Already I instantly know what it is with its bright yellow skin, along with the distinguishing facial features such as its greyish-brown muzzle and pointy nose. Worst of all, they mean trouble. My instincts kick in. Instantaneously I strike its face with my left fist. The Tschuma makes a grunting sound and more reveal themselves from the foliage on either side of the path, creeping out like a pack of wolves. Five of them surround me. “Stay back! Or I’ll punch your lips off!” Mustering the toughest voice I can with my fist raised up in a primal position. One of the monsters gnashes its deathly sharp set of teeth at me, but almost instantly an ear-piercing boom blares off, and a bullet hole appears in the monster’s chest. Time pauses, and the wounded creature looks at me. A moment in which seemed to last an eternity, another thundering blast echoes out. The Tschuma’s head evaporates into fragments of red and it’s limp, lifeless body falls helplessly to the ground. More gunshot sounds consume my eardrums and the Tschuma’s start to drop one by one with each going down with an ear-piercing screech, and a once hopeless situation turns into hopeful.

Silence. The gunshots have stopped. Where have they come from? Am I safe? Dead corpses litter the ground around me in a pool of blood, and there are no creatures in sight. Glancing over to my left I see a well-built man 15 meters away wearing a fluorescent yellow shirt holding up a pump action shotgun. My eyes focus in properly at the man revealing he has black hair and a trademark look which you can’t tell if he’s happy, sad or angry. It’s Nolesy! I’m elated considering I thought he was gone! He mutters something under his breath. “Nolesy!” I shout out to him!

“That’s the name mate don’t wear it out,” he replies in his typical calm manner.

Still not believing out of all people it is him cheerfully I respond “You’re alive! In the papers, it said you were missing.”

After exchanging words with one another he told me that he was investigating the island after Tschumas had been reported here and that his boat is on the beach on the east side of the island. We both came to a mutual agreement to get off the island immediately so we don’t risk getting killed by another mob of the viscous yellow creatures. Relief floods me knowing that Nolesy has a means of getting off this treacherous hell hole.

After hiking along the path for about 45 minutes we have finally made it to the beach. The soft white sand creates the perfect paradise which takes your mind off the horrors that lie within the land. Beautiful palm trees spread out few and far between just past the bush line where the foliage ends. A slight breeze has risen up so you can hear the sound of leaves dancing with each other high up in the tree-tops, swaying in the wind. It’s like a breathtaking picture you see on a postcard. As much as I want to admire the beauty of the island my brain reminds me the task at hand, which is to evacuate. Nolesy’s boat is tied up to a fallen down log that has a coat of moss over it, due to being close to the water. It is a well-worn blue Supercab Stabicraft, with scratches on the side and parts of the paint have flaked off, but the look of it is the very least of my worries. The sea looks flat, with tiny swells that should be no problem for his boat. Just as we set foot on the beach we hear distant screams in the background. We stop frozen in our tracks. A few seconds pass. More ear-splitting screeches can be heard and we start to feel the ground rumbling. “They’ve found us! RUN!” Nolesy shouts.

The boat is 200 meters away. I’ve never sprinted so fast in my life, but the soft sand isn’t making it easy with my feet sinking in for every step I take. Only 100 meters from the boat now and the shrieks echo out even louder than before. Nolesy makes it to the boat before me and swiftly pulls on the rope and undoes it. In the background, the bushes start to rattle, and the ground is rumbling even louder. There must be 20 of them at least. In sync, we both push the boat waist deep into the sea and jump in, but to my horror, I look back and see a wall of yellow heading towards us. “Quick start it!” Yelling out to him in a panic; He jumps straight in over the side and turns the key. The Tschuma’s are only 100 meters away now. Luckily the engine starts on the first go, and as soon as I grab hold of the boat he instantly starts to accelerate. Roaring into action the motor quickly gets into its work. Clambering to the side I manage to flip over and sprawl out over the floor of the boat. Water sprays up the side while a big surge comes from the back as the boat gets into its movement. Just 20 meters away now the Tschuma’s are in pursuit, but luckily we have the speed to get away. Now out of reach Nolesy and I both look back at the blanket of yellow that covers a portion of the beach. Their screams bellowing out. It amazes me how such a peaceful paradise can turn into the very depths of hell within a minute. Looking back at what wanted to rip us apart, I think to myself. Where have these beings come from? This island has a mysterious aura about it which I want to know more about, however, after everything that just happened I lay back letting the gentle whine of the motor fill my thoughts.

Although this island is riddled with the terrors of the night, I knew that this wouldn’t be my last time here.

The End