NOVEL NEXT Lost
The Mayor speaks a few things in Mandarin, then the new island tongue, and finally in English.
"Get to it, bruh," Orion says to himself.
Orion brings up his menu.
Nothing.
If I'm that bad, take it away. Whatever you are.
"On top of some other business items, it is time to switch over guardianship of Cole," The Mayor says.
The room nods and acknowledges the sentiment.
Cole is in the front row.
A younger white male. Strong but timid.
Surrounded by beautiful people, but does not seem to know what is going on.
Not scared. Just lost. His blank stare constantly looking around, analyzing a world he does not understand.
They Mayor looks at Cole.
"Cole," he gently starts, "we will always take care of you. You are one of us. Okay. The cow. What a blessing. Milk. Cheese. Protein. You all received a number."
All the village lift up a small leaf they were given, with numbers painted or scratched on them.
"I'll announce in Mandarin!" The Mayor says, laughing, going towards a bowl filled with leaves.
He says the number.
Orion smiles and lifts his leaf.
"Orion! Well deserved!" The Mayor exclaims.
Most clap and nod.
Orion looks towards Trix and Isla, with the mother trying to console her daughter of disappointment.
The soldier clears his throat.
"Uh, Mayor? Thank you for the honor. If allowed, I would like to gift the cow to Isla and Trix. I don't have the room."
Murmurs around the community room. Trix smiles. Isla pats her back, calming her down.
"If Isla accepts, I approve," The Mayor looks towards Isla.
"I accept. Thank you," Isla gently says.
The room cheers.
Trix runs over and hugs Orion, then goes back to her mother.
Howl is disgusted.
"You make me sick. You want us to name the village after you!" Howl gets in Orion's face.
"Do you want the cow?"
"No. I would've sold it."
"They need it," Orion chuckles at his friend's anger.
"I'm not saying they don't need it. I'm saying I would've made some coin off it. You meat head."
"Stop talking."
"I'm done. I love you," Howl snickers.
"And now, for the privilege of taking care of Cole for the next season, I will announce in the language of Japanese!" The Mayor beams.
He then says another number in the old Japanese tongue.
Orion flips over his leaf and shakes his head. He then waves the leaf.
Everyone cheers. "Again, well deserved!" The Mayor says. He then goes into other items of business.
Orion slowly walks out of the destroyed gym, and rests and leans under a huge palm tree outside.
Isla slowly follows him out.
Once he sees her, longing fills him. But he does nothing.
"Thank you," Isla says, stopping in front of him.
A light glow appears around Isla's figure in Orion's display in his eyes. Showing importance. Or love.
"I don't have the land," Orion responds.
"Uh, yes you do. Up the hill."
"You want me to take it back?" Orion says.
"No. We need it. Did Trix get you the fish?"
"Yeah. Thanks. Hey. She really needs to stop running off. The fallen are getting closer. I fought a whole horde of them today," Orion says, trying not to make eye contact.
"I'm trying. They'll be here one day," the island princess almost whispers.
Orion does not respond. He just looks anywhere but her eyes.
"Hey. With the cow. Or anything. Let us know," Isla starts.
"Some milk would be nice."
"Milk. Okay. Done."
Isla then reaches and touches Orion's hand, trying to get his attention.
He finally turns towards her...
...as a group of people bring Cole forward.
"Hi Cole," Orion pulls his hand back. "We're going to be roommates for a minute. Cool?"
Cole nods.
"Let's get going. I don't have many lights where we are at."
With that, Orion and Cole walk into the darkness. Isla watches.
Orion points to Cole a spare bunk in the corner of his hut. Small lights hang above.
"That's your spot, bro. Sorry. That's all I have," Orion apologizes.
Cole nods, then stares at the torn photo of Christ the Redeemer across the way.
"Who is that?" Cole's mouth finally opens and speaks.
Orion looks.
"Uh. Some people thought He was the Son of God. I do."
"Where are they? The Son of God, I mean" Cole asks quickly.
"In Heaven I guess."
"Why?"
"Because we killed him. We kill anything good," Orion speaks in a tone, hoping the conversation will stop.
Cole says nothing, then stares at his bunk, then finally approaches it.
Like a wounded dog, he tries to make himself comfortable, turning over and over, until he closes his eyes.
Orion lays on his cot, staring at the ceiling.
Thankful that his curse will hopefully soon shut off.
No. I'm not a legend.
Orion then looks at this display one more time. Strangely, the KNOWLEDGE XP slowly adds some points.
Before Orion can question it, the display disappears, and he quickly tries to sleep.
The next morning, Orion sits on his balcony, drinking a horrible water / coffee / dirt / fruit concoction he came up with.
His view shows how far the ocean has come in, with the rest of the land sprinkled out across the sea, with the occasional huge spaceship or some weapon that went wrong sticking out.
Orion squints to see if he can see the aircraft carrier out on the horizon. He barely can.
Cole slowly emerges, squinting at the light.
"Hi Cole. I'm Orion. You are safe here."
"I remember you," Cole responds.
Orion smiles. "Wow. You are getting better. How far back do you remember?"
"A few days ago. Have I stayed with you before?"
Orion frowns and nods. "Yes. But you are getting better."
"Can you explain this to me? All of it?" Cole quickly asks.
Orion is surprised. "Wow. You really are...you've come a long way. To be honest, I've tried to explain everything to you many times."
"I think I will remember this time," Cole responds, trying to impress Orion. "But before you explain it all. Do you have a menu?"
Orion goes cold. He stops and his cup almost falls out.
"Do you?" Orion says back.
"Yeah."
"What does yours say?" Orion slowly stands.
"Good morning, but it doesn't say Cole. Some other thing that isn't my name. Then it has four lines with XP on it. Survival, knowledge, combat and fight and defense and legend. They are all at zero."