Chapter 7 Isla
Chapter seven
Isla
‘Isla, are you alright?’ Amelia asks from the doorway, chewing on her lip.
I shake my head.
This cannot be fucking happening to me.
Seriously, was the end of the world not enough?
‘Darling…’ Vish approaches.
He’s always done that, been the annoying, considerate one. But right now I can’t be doing with the gentleness that these two are giving me. I need something and it's not what they are giving.
Why does my breakdown have to be in the nurse's office of a primary school? If life wasn’t bad enough, I now have to panic in a small crowded room with white walls.
God, I feel insane.
Maybe I am. Maybe this is all some fucked up hallucination I have created whilst asleep — the exhaustion from worrying about Fauna caused it. That’s the only logical excuse because no way has the masked Skull I fucked months ago found me.
‘Isla, we’ve got a good place. Somewhere safe.’ Vish continues, imploring me to listen. ‘The stadium, we converted it. It’s safe.’
‘What do you mean?’ I ask.
‘We’ve got people,’ he looks at us, rocking his head. ‘Families, not just us. It’s a community.’
It doesn’t surprise me, my brother and him setting up a nice place for themselves and anyone else.
It should make me proud to know they’ve done something good in this world but I can’t help the bitter taste of betrayal at the realisation that they built a whole community here instead of trying to find me.
I turn away from Vish, not in the mood for stories of tea parties and cosy beds when I’ve spent the last seven years surviving without even a whiff of them.
The room turns silent, the only sound coming from the other side of the worn wooden door — footsteps. They are pacing back and forth.
My skin prickles.
None of the girls would have enough restraint to stay outside, not for this long anyway.
‘He’s outside,’ Amelia whispers to Vish. Her hand up in an attempt to conceal what she’s just said, eyes bugging out like a startled child as she realises I heard her.
Vish grimaces, whispering back. ‘He’s a good man.’
‘He’s what?’ I demand, trying to shove past them and grab my machete.
‘Whoa whoa,’ Vish jumps into action. ‘Liam’s not a threat.’
Liam, so that’s his name.
‘Let’s put the weapons down. Everyone chill.’
I stare at Vish, my vision honing in on his annoying ass face. Did he just tell me to chill?
‘I mean… lets not do anything hasty. He’s only outside.’
‘Outside of my room, where I am when I don’t want him to be!’
‘Got it, Isla.’ Amelia spins for the wooden door and pokes her head out.
The sound of heavy footsteps falters and murmuring fills the void as I try to listen to what is said.
Vish nudges me. ‘Still an eavesdropper.’
‘Shut your hole.’ I can’t be doing with his nonsense, not whilst I’m unsure of what the Skull wants.
Me. He wants me, obviously.
But what about the baby?
Amelia sighs, closing the door, but just before it shuts, Fauna’s big brown eyes and crazy ass smile slip between the crack.
She looks equal parts smug and equal parts concerned as she walks over to me.
‘So sexy moma. Baby daddy came back?’
I feel my cheeks shift with amusement. This girl always knows how to break the icy shell I put up around others.
Vish snorts. And Fauna’s humour turns cold as she takes him in. She aims a questioning gaze my way and I look down, not knowing what to do.
‘Out, now. No men allowed.’ Fauna snaps.
‘But—’
‘But, but, what? I said get out. I know you’ve got ears, use them. Matter of fact, use those perfectly good feet you’ve got too and leave.’
Stunned, Vish stands gaping at Fauna. She crosses her arms and without a word, he slowly exits the small room. Amelia follows, excusing herself so we can have some time together.
‘Too harsh?’ Fauna asks as we sit on the plastic medical chairs.
‘He’ll get over it.’
‘So big day, huh? A lot of reunions for you.’
I scoff. That’s an understatement of the year.
‘How, in the space of an hour, have I managed to come across my brother, childhood crush and the… the father of my unborn child? What sick sort of game is that?’
Fauna chews her bottom lip, ‘it’s pretty insane.’
My head is pulsing from the news, and to make it extra spicy, the swelling from being knocked out isn’t making me feel much better.
‘Talk to me, Isla.’
‘About what?’
Unimpressed, Fauna give’s me a don’t talk shit look.
‘You know what. Most people would be ecstatic to find three people they know. Never mind one being your brother and the other your childhood guy.’ She weighs things up with her hands.
‘Alright, not everyone would be jumping for joy to see the random guy they fucked, but …. I mean, this is a special circumstance, right?’
Defeated, I shrink in on myself, pulling my jumper around me and wishing for it to swallow me whole.
‘Tell me about Ru,’ she says.
‘He’s my brother.’
‘No shit. Tell me why you’re not happy to see him.’
‘I…’ Am I happy to see him? ‘I don’t know.’
‘Is it because you’ve spent all this time slagging him off?’ Fauna smirks. ‘Because I promise not to tell him what you said if you do. I don’t think he’d be very impressed to find out I’ve been calling him a dickhead for the past however many years.’
I laugh, wiping at my runny nose. ‘I promise not to tell.’
‘What about Vishrut?’
‘He’s similar to Ru. It’ll take time to get over it, they both really hurt me.’
She nods, ‘make them sweat girl. Liam?’
Ergh, I sigh.
‘It’s me, Isla. You can tell me.’
‘I’m so fucking scared, Faun.’ I admit, tears finally falling. ‘What does he want with me?’
Her face softens, not in pity but sympathy. ‘He sounds like he’s been looking for you for a while.’
‘Really?’
‘Yeah. Kind of searched the entire west coast for you.’
I feel myself pale.
‘Not in a crazy bad stalker way — well, from what I can tell anyway. Maybe more like a love-sick puppy dog kind of vibe.’
‘How long?’ Searching all that land… it wouldn’t have been easy.
‘From what I managed to get out of Ruaridh, it sounds like from the day he met you. Hasn’t had a moment's rest all winter.’
‘Oh.’
What does that mean? It doesn’t change my anxiety, in fact it makes my suspicion rise because why would he do something like that?
‘Isla, I will always support you in whatever you decide and want to do.’ Fauna grips my hand. ‘If you want to leave them all behind just say the words and I’ll pack us up and we will never look back.’
‘Thank you,’ I sniffle. ‘Can I have a minute?’
She nods, jumping up to walk to the door. ‘I’ve got your back no matter what. Chicks before dicks remember.’
I let out a watery giggle as she leaves. Eternally grateful for her loyalty.
Rubbing my belly I consider my future and how it’s rapidly changing.
I let my head fall back against the white-washed walls and groan.
What the fuck am I going to do?