The Island of no Return
by Asmaa Nada
Ch 23/ Ch24 the end
Chapter Twenty-Three
Antoine opened his eyes and sat up in his place. "I don’t want to know anything you mentioned, and I won’t wait for permission from that criminal to leave. Raymond—damn it, he’s dead. Well, Mark, where are grandfather’s journals?"
Mark took the journals out of Raymond’s bag, which had been kept in his special place, and said,
"Raymond kept these, along with the first map."
Antoine looked at the journals and said, "Damn it, this is useless. There’s nothing about how he got out of here. I don’t understand why your father tore up the journals."
Mark said, "I don’t know. I remember grandfather telling me stories while I drew the maps. He mentioned something about the tar lake and said there were maps for it inside a special place in the heart of the island. I think that place meant the laboratory. And I guess the only way out is to build a sailboat or something that floats with wood on the water."
Elizabeth said, "Why don’t we use this wooden house—or even part of it—and push it into the sea? Wood floats on water."
Clark nodded. "Yes, that’s a good idea. Why don’t we try first with some of the leftover wood downstairs?"
William said sarcastically in Arabic, "Go ahead, and Ocean and I will wait here."
Ocean said, "No, I’ll sail first, and you watch from here. You might find a solution for what will happen to me."
Alice asked, "Ocean, have you tried that before?"
Ocean answered, after Elizabeth translated for her, "Do you think we stayed here by choice? Haven’t we tried to escape by every possible way? My God, Antoine, how you’ve changed. One of the transformed creatures in the sea attacked you. Do you really think they’ll let you leave?"
Mary said, "I remember something from the recordings. It said the sea monsters, including the octopus, fear or avoid the tar."
Mary added, "Yes, it was written by the doctors in the cave."
William said, "That’s true. But there’s one problem: the tar is inside the anaconda’s nest, in the heart of the island, three or four hours’ walk past the lab at a normal human pace."
Mary looked at him. "I want to know how you know all this."
William said, "Before they brought me to this island, I was a junior doctor at one of the Japanese army labs. I had just graduated, but because I excelled in anatomy and genetic engineering—and loved studying ancient fossils, especially Egyptian mummies—I also studied Arabic and researched the history of mummification. So when they told me I was assigned to a project to benefit humanity, reduce wars, discover new places, and make them habitable, I came—but when I saw what was happening here and tried to object or escape, the commander threatened to harm my family and subject them to the experiments. There was no way to escape or return home except through the experiment’s completion and success. Three months later, Ocean came—she was a second-year student at an Egyptian university, then called Layla. But the law here is that the last newcomer gives their name to the next, so I named her Ocean."
Mary asked, "And what was your name before you came here?"
William replied, "My name was Shan-Lee."
Antoine asked, "If you were doctors, why were both of you subjected to the experiment?"
Ocean said, "When the anaconda’s beloved—or the one that wasn’t really Doctor Vladimir—was killed, the anaconda freed himself. He knew every corner of the lab. He was an officer with degrees in engineering and medicine, one of the greatest minds in America of African descent! He supervised building this lab and was also one of the supervising scientists of the experiment. As I understood, those experiments were meant only for non-human creatures, but Doctor Vladimir and Doctor Youssef suggested experimenting on humans. The anaconda stopped all security programs in the lab after broadcasting, in all known and unknown languages, that all reports about the return of prisoners or subjects to normal life were lies. Those who died became fertilizer or food for the transformed animals. Those who failed the experiment but survived became food for the hybrid creatures. Those who succeeded were under the lab’s control, and all doctors knew this and participated in deceiving everyone. Because he owns the island and was a subject of the experiment, he stopped the lab’s control over all imprisoned creatures, and nothing prevents them from taking revenge."
William continued, "That day, the two of us were inside the operating floor. The octopus, the most dangerous prisoner, took revenge—it was also the one who swapped Doctor Vladimir’s papers with the anaconda’s! The brilliant scientist became a criminal, enduring the most horrific experiments, just because he loved and married Doctor Vladimir’s youngest daughter. Vladimir himself said one day during torture—‘You, cursed black man, you marry my daughter!’—and that was recorded secretly by Doctor Youssef. The anaconda saved us on the condition that we stay here on the island with him until we find humans for him to feed on! In winter, he must absorb elements and blood from certain humans to survive and retain some human traits and characteristics."
Ocean said, "I tried to escape many times, but the sea creatures only attacked me, injuring me or fighting William to the death—but they didn’t kill us. They only prevent us from leaving."
Mark asked, "Then how did grandfather Vladimir find a way out?"
William said, "I don’t know. The anaconda chased Vladimir and the doctors trying to escape after destroying the planes and airport. All doctors were killed, but something happened—we don’t know what—and the anaconda let Vladimir escape with a woman, apparently in the final months of pregnancy. That woman was also a test subject, along with her unborn child."
Mark said, "But grandfather returned alone. No one was with him."
Ocean asked, "How old was Doctor Vladimir when he returned to his country?"
Mark said, "About sixty."
William said, "Damn, he escaped from here at forty. That’s a twenty-year difference. We know time passes differently on the island, but twenty years’ difference—yes. That’s huge."
Elizabeth said, "Impossible. How? And why?"
Ocean explained, "The anaconda can control time. Here and around the island, he created a device that slows time, so our real ages don’t show."
William continued, "He also made a barrier around the island, preventing anyone outside from seeing us. And since he controls all the shapeshifters via implanted chips, none of them can leave—not even the flying dragons."
Antoine said, "But neither I nor any of you have that chip."
William nodded in agreement, and Clark said, "So if part of what the octopus said is true, can all shapeshifters change form? That octopus took your form to lead us to the path where Raymond was killed."
William said, "No, not all. Only those whose DNA merged with traits of chameleons or transparent fish. Only four or five are still alive, and I’m one of them."
Tina said, "So you, the octopus, and the anaconda—two remain."
Ocean said, "Antoine also has the same trait. He can imitate anything, even a body made of stone."
Clark asked, "Who is the last one? Where are they, and why haven’t they appeared?"
William said, "She won’t appear. She is the woman who escaped with Vladimir."
Mark said, "I told you—they found grandfather Vladimir alone near the Canadian shores, meaning the other side, North America."
Ocean asked, "Where is your country?"
Antoine said, "In the south of South America."
William laughed loudly. "I have a suspicion. Did you ever take a photo with Doctor Vladimir?"
Mark took out his wallet from his bag, looked at the photos, and said, "Yes, here—take it."
William looked at the photo and laughed loudly. "That’s what I suspected—it’s her, not Vladimir. Look at the eyes, Clark, then look at Antoine’s or mine."
Clark held the photo, looked at the eyes, then at Antoine and William, and said, "Damn, the whites are different—they’re glowing yellowish."
Everyone looked at the photo, and Mark shouted, "So that woman returned, not grandfather. But you said she was pregnant when she escaped. That child must be twenty now."
Ocean said, "That means she absorbed some of your grandfather’s blood while he was alive, to mimic his appearance. As for the child, if alive, they should be twenty."
Clark asked, "Did the octopus absorb some of William’s blood?"
William said, "Yes. And also from the fox."
Elizabeth said, "So he can dive among ocean creatures without being recognized. Why didn’t you escape?"
William lowered his head. "I can’t leave Ocean here, and I can’t take her with me—they attack her."
Clark asked, "Why not give her some of your blood?"
William smiled sarcastically. "We tried that, and it didn’t work for her. Not everyone has the chance to succeed with these traits."
Antoine asked, "How did you know those traits worked for me?"
William said, "When you attacked me yesterday, you couldn’t control the mimicry inside you and became like me. When you left me and moved away, your serpentine-dragon form returned."
Ocean said, "And when you fell asleep again, you returned to your original form without change."
Mark said, "Good. That makes three shapeshifters with us."
Ocean laughed, pointing to Alice and Clark. "They are also half-shapeshifters. I think those who tried to transform them didn’t transfer enough blood for a full change."
Alice cried out, "Am I going to become a tree? I won’t get out of here! Antoine, you promised me I’d return home. I want to see my mother. I want to be there when my grandmother returns from travel."
Antoine sat beside her and stroked her head. "You will return. I’ll fight everything for you, even if you become a tree, I’ll plant your roots in your garden at home."
William stood, pulling his hair back with his hand. "Don’t tell her things you can’t do. I told Ocean the same, and we’re still here."
Ocean said, "Don’t worry, you won’t transform. Your body didn’t get enough blood for the change. And Antoine, if you want to leave with them, you can only do so by entering the anaconda’s nest and getting enough tar to cover the wood so the sea monsters can’t attack us."
Clark said, "If we have to go past the lab, we must find a way to survive at night in the forests. We can’t carry the wooden house with us. At night, we’re prey—not just for the anaconda but for all humans, shapeshifters, and clones."
William said, "I think we can use caves after the lab at night for shelter, but the ground will still be the biggest danger. It turns into a living creature that devours anything moving above it. I don’t think anyone but Antoine can move through the trees, crawling along them using his long serpentine body."
Antoine asked, "How can you be sure I’ll become like the anaconda, with a serpentine body?"
Ocean said, "William, how can you know? He hasn’t fully transformed yet."
William smiled and said, "I oversaw the injections for the anaconda. They are the same blood used on Antoine."
Ocean said, "But the bodies are different, and each body reacts differently to the genes."
William said, "Either way, the changes won’t be major. The problem now is the ground."
Mary said, "We can cut wood from the trees during the day and make some ground over a few rocks, and also make a circle of fire if we don’t find a cave."
Mark said, "A circle of fire in the middle of the forest among moving trees and leaves. Alice, doesn’t that suggest we’re making a barbecue for them?"
Ocean said, "Inside those forests, there’s no solution except caves near the river. As for the ground, I think placing wood on some rocks is a good solution, with fires at the cave entrance."
Alice asked, "Are you sure no shapeshifters inhabit those caves?"
Clark said, "Antoine or William will find out before we enter."
Elizabeth said, "Do we move in today or wait until tomorrow?"
They all looked at her. Alice said, "Wait until tomorrow? We’re just at the beginning of the day!"
Elizabeth said, "I’m just asking when we will move. And can we continue the discussion while walking?"
Antoine stood and said, "Empty the bags. We’ll see what’s important to carry and leave the rest for our return. I’ll take Raymond’s booklet and look through it while walking."
Mark said, "I’ll take Doctor Youssef’s files. I might find something to help us escape."
Mary said, "And I’ll listen to the recordings. It doesn’t matter what’s on the screen. I think I’ll find something that helps us or learn information William or Ocean haven’t told us yet."
They filled some small clay jars with water that they could carry and took a few pieces of clothing for each of them, while leaving most of their belongings in the bags on the beach and taking two empty bags.
Elizabeth said, "We can fill these bags with fruit along the way, so we can eat them at night if there’s time."
They all set off together, with William and Clark leading the way, Antoine and Mark at the back, and the rest of the girls walking in the middle.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Silence reigned as usual, though they were careful to watch the foxes trailing them and the transformed trees that hunted moving creatures. Elizabeth spoke to Mark,
"Why don’t you write in those journals the memories of each of us, our journey to get here? If we leave this place transformed, at least we’ll remember the past! And if we don’t, whoever finds them on this island might learn about us, maybe they’ll escape and tell humans about us?"
Alice added, "Yes, do that, Mark. Maybe Antoine can help us all escape and tell our families."
Antoine said, "Write, yes—but we’ll leave together."
Not only the silence covered the island, but even the attacks of some creatures on others—for feeding, or perhaps just for bloodshed—couldn’t hide the sorrow that weighed on the heroes’ hearts, thinking that their end would soon be written. Yet Antoine’s constant joking managed to plant hope again in everyone’s hearts.
When they reached Raymond’s grave, everyone was shocked: the grave had been dug up, and even the head had returned to the body lying beside the pit. William said in Arabic,
"Why? The soil hasn’t decomposed Raymond’s body."
Mark asked, "How did the head return to the body?"
Raymond’s body rose into the air and vanished in an instant. Clark then said,
"Look at what’s written here—it’s a message for Alice."
Alice stepped closer to the wall near the pit and read in a trembling voice,
"For you, Snow-Eyed One, I promise your friend will neither transform nor decompose; I embalmed him and placed him in my island museum! You can visit him anytime you wish. Just don’t leave, and be mine."
Antoine shouted, "Thank you for that, but she will return home. Do you know something? She will be my wife—I won’t leave her to you."
William said, "Well done. So why go to the Anaconda’s nest? He’s written all our ends—and you’re the first to die here."
Clark said, "Elizabeth, tell that doctor that if he wants to retreat and wait on the beach, let him go."
Before Elizabeth could translate, a voice came from inside the lab:
"Are you going to pass and go to the Anaconda’s home? How bold are human dreams and ambitions."
The octopus-man appeared, leaning his shoulder against the lab door, smiling as he continued, staring at them:
"I’m hungry, thirsty for blood, and I love young girls. Hmm… who’s the youngest among you?"
William stepped forward, transformed into a dragon mixed with some octopus traits, and said in Japanese,
"Go back to your lake, or I’ll feed your slimy body to the fish."
The octopus-man laughed loudly, and after calming down, he threatened,
"You won’t be able to protect her either, but I won’t leave her after I taste that golden-haired girl."
At that, Clark, Alice, and Ocean shielded Elizabeth, who trembled with fear. Meanwhile, Antoine transformed into a four-armed werewolf with a cobra tongue, his hands turned into sharp hawk claws, doubling his height and width.
The octopus-man had no time to retreat into the lab. Antoine’s sudden attack caught him off guard, and William’s massive body blocked the octopus-man from seeing Antoine’s transformation. Antoine pushed William with one arm, then grabbed the octopus-man, dragging him into the front of the lab.
The octopus-man tried to resist, but his strength wasn’t enough to withstand even a single blow. Antoine tore his body into many pieces and removed his internal organs with his fangs effortlessly.
During the struggle, William gathered a large pile of wood, and Clark helped ignite it while Ocean and the other girls collected the octopus-man’s dismembered parts and threw them into the fire as William instructed.
William shouted from the other side of Antoine,
"Elizabeth, tell Antoine to separate the head from the rest of the body! One of the octopus-man’s traits is regrowing his limbs."
Elizabeth translated loudly, and Antoine obeyed, throwing the head into the fire. Moments later, he returned to his human form and said,
"You didn’t need to raise your voice; I heard you just fine. Amazingly, I understood William in that strange language."
William said, "If the theory about transferring some memories and skills through the blood used for transformation is correct, then some of the blood that reached you was from a person of Arab origin."
Antoine said, "Anyway, let’s move. Time is still on our side. Goodbye, burnt fish."
Everyone laughed. William asked, "Do we go through the lab or around it?"
Mary said, "The shortest path is straight ahead."
Alice turned to her, "Where were you? You weren’t here when we were collecting the octopus-man’s remains."
Mary replied, "I took the chance to enter the lab and look for any maps indicating what’s beyond it."
William said, "If you had asked, I would’ve told you the Anaconda burned them."
Elizabeth translated for everyone, as she was now the only one who understood Arabic. Antoine only understood when transformed. Mary added,
"I even found the maps Raymond discovered on our first days in the caves on the island, including a map showing the tar lake."
Alice, looking in the direction Mary indicated, said,
"Then let’s move. No need to wait before any monsters appear again."
Clark said, "We enter the lab and pass through it."
William and Clark led the way, followed by the girls, with Antoine and Mark at the rear. They entered through the incubator doors, passing the corridor between the lab’s outer wall and the first-floor side rooms.
It barely took an hour and fifteen minutes to reach the other side of the building. The door was open as it had been left the previous night. Clark and Mark paused to look at Raymond’s bloodstains left on the floor where he was killed.
Ocean said, "Was he killed here? I’m so sad… he was such a kind young man."
Mary said, "We all grieve his loss."
Mary took out the map, pointing at it: "William said the tar lake is in the center of the Anaconda’s nest. We are here, and the lake is to the right."
Alice, looking toward the direction Mary indicated, asked,
"Antoine, will we be able to return home? How will we pass among all these transformed prisoners and hybrid or cloned animals?"
Antoine took her hand and said,
"I won’t leave you here, even if I have to die for you to live."