A/N

I'M BACK! Well, should I say, "Lost" is back? Boy, have I missed writing this. I honestly had no new ideas, so I had to think about what was going to happen in each chapter. This proved a serious mission, but it's finally back! 

I am leaving for the UK on Wednesday (this Wednesday), and I only come back in early January, so I will not have my laptop with me to write any more chapters. DON'T WORRY, THOUGH - as soon as I get back, I will write more of this and The Devil's Daughter.

I hope you enjoy the chapter! Don't forget to like, comment, and share.

Olivia J. Clarke

{Editing Status: Unedited}

"Jade!" 

"Jade, are you okay?"

"Oh God, is she dead?"

The voices that I hear are distant, almost imperceptible. My body aches all over, preventing me from moving at all. As the faint memory of me killing one of those monsters hits me, I realize I am too scared to even open my eyes; what will I see? It seems so much easier to just lie here, semi-unconscious, listening to the soft, calming rustle of the trees around me. I don't want to face the inevitability of fear; the whirlwind of emotions that I am subjected to on this island almost make me want to lie here forever, without a care in the world. 

I know I can't, though. The others...they seem to rely on me. I can't abandon them when they need me the most. 

I slowly open my eyelids, cringing at the sunlight as it burns my eyes. I blink a few times, in order for my eyes to become accustomed to the harsh rays. A familiar face blocks my view of the sun; it's Saige. The golden color of her hair glints in the sunlight. She kneels down next to me, laying the palm of her hand on my clammy forehead. 

"How are you feeling?" she asks me, her voice soft and reassuring. 

"I'm...I'm fine," I whisper. My voice is scratchy and hoarse. 

"Sit up slowly, okay?" she says. 

I lift myself up from the ground, slowly, as Saige said. My body is exhausted, weak. 

"How long have I been out?" I ask Saige. 

"A few hours, I think," she answers, but she is still looking at me with a concerned look on her face. "Are you sure you're okay, Jade? You look really pale."

I shake my head. "I'm fine, I promise." 

Standing up slowly, I realize we are in the same place. There is a strange smell in the air; it makes my stomach lurch. I turn around and see Lauren and Ryan kneeling next to the dark hazel-skinned girl who had fallen from the monster's back. She is still unconscious, but her chest is slowly and steadily rising and falling. 

Ryan and Lauren both look at me as I stand. 

"Are you alright?" Lauren asks, concerned. 

I give them both a reassuring smile and a nod in response. "Is she okay?" I ask, looking at the girl on the floor. 

"Yeah, she'll be fine," Saige says. "She was knocked unconscious when she fell from the monster's back."

That's when I noticed the giant, rotting mound by the trees. Flies are buzzing around its yellow blood that surrounds its body. My stomach lurches, and it takes everything within me not to throw up.

"You were so brave to kill that thing, Jade," Saige whispers, putting her hand on my shoulder. 

"More like adrenalin," I admit. "And I had help." I look at the girl. As she sleeps, her intimidating and fierce manner is gone. Her features are now calm and relaxed. I wish I was able to feel that way, but this island prevents any calm or relaxed emotions, especially now that we know there are monsters inhabiting this island, too. The desire to leave this island is stronger than ever because I know that I would rather die at sea, than being eaten alive by a seemingly non-earthly being. 

"She's waking up!" Ryan says suddenly. I quickly kneel down beside the girl as she sits up slowly, rubbing her forehead and groaning. 

"What...where the hell?" she groans, her eyebrows furrowed as she looks around at us. 

"Take it easy," Saige says. She tries to place her hand on her forehead like she did with me, but the girl knocks her hand away. 

"Do you not remember anything that happened?" I ask her, raising one of my eyebrows. 

"Of course I do. I heard shouting and growling, so I followed the sounds. I ended up here, saving your ass," she mutters, standing up. Ryan tries to help her, but she backs away from him. He raises an eyebrow at me. 

"Yeah, thank you...for saving me, I mean," I say. She snorts and wipes her hands on her shorts. 

"What's your name?" Lauren asks her. 

"Quinn Reynolds. And who the hell are you people?" 

I introduce her to Saige, Ryan, and Lauren. I wait for her to ask us if "we were on the plane, too", but she doesn't. She doesn't even reply, but rather walks up to the dead monster, examining it with interest. 

"What a strange, strange girl," Saige says. I can't help but agree. Yet, I somehow feel safer, knowing this girl - Quinn - is with us. I saw how she attacked the monster, what looked like without any fear. If she stays with us, perhaps our chance of survival on this island is slightly better. 

I want to ask her if she remembers anything before she got onto this island, but it doesn't look like she is interested in talking to any of us at the moment. She moves away from the monster and starts peering into the dark depths of the trees.

"When do you think we should start moving again?" I ask Ryan.

He shrugs. "I don't know about you, but I'm quite content here. At least for now, anyway. We can spend the night here and leave in the morning."

I nod, agreeing with him. "Let's just hope we have a monster-free night, for once."

"Has hoping for anything gotten us anywhere on this island?" he asks, with a humorless laugh. 

"No," I smile. "I guess not."

{Picture: Quinn Reynolds - Zoe Kravitz}

{Song: Breathe - Fleurie}

©  Olivia Clarke 2017

Lost {Book 1 - The Quarantine Series}