#thread.chance

Charlie, aware of his current predicament, had decided playing along was in his best interest. He knew this was a dream, or perhaps something stronger and more vivid than a dream, but it wouldn't do him any good to tell those around him of his findings. It might force his hand if those on the island learned that they were figments of his imagination.

So instead he approached it as he would changing hospital during his younger years, when he'd only been a surgery student, rotating every half year or year depending on what he wished to learn, and who would take him.

Walking through the bungalow camp - one of which he'd been suggested to claim for himself - Charlie saw only new faces. Much like how it would be when he started at a new hospital.

But he was glad that he'd gotten some prior information from one of the others, making it easier to pick out a few. "Pardon, could I bother you to tell me about what happened these last few days?" he asked. "I've only just arrived to this place, and many who I've tried to speak with have either told me they are too busy or have not been able to tell me much." He smiled kindly. "My name is Charles Gano."

Arm bandaged, duct tape forcing the headphones even stronger against their face, and eyes that were constantly red, Baskar made for a sorry individual. But so did a lot of other residents on the island. So they didn’t feel like they were very different from most. There was a healer around, but either they hadn’t run into them yet, or they had no interest in healing small - and already bandaged - wounds. 

It was okay, they’d stay in the back for a bit, they’d keep away from people for a bit, they’d–

The one time that Adarsh decided to take an alternative route towards the cruise ship’s mooring place, he’d instantly regret it. He’d moved through the dense forest edging the water with the intention to discover more of this place than simply all the places he’d been at before. He didn’t talk much to people, so he had no idea what might be lurking there, but he kept a careful step regardless. He supposed there could be dangerous animals out there, he supposed everyone made sure to practise caution. 

He heard rustling up ahead, and stopped dead in his tracks, only to find a familiar figure appear not much later. The guy who’d given him unsolicited advice, the one he was supposed to avoid however he could. 

Bad choice to go through the forest.

He made a face, as he watched the other continue his movements. Hoping he wouldn’t come near him. 

“Please tell me you’re not—” 

He hadn’t seen nor heard the creature that suddenly shot out from the thick undergrowth; it lept out so quickly that all Adarsh could do was jerk sideways, too late to offer any kind of help.

The creature was bigger than a tiger - he had no idea why he knew that - and black in colour, its skin rippling with the light coming down from the canopy. It growled. 

“Fuck!” 

He acted on instinct, and where that came from, or the knowledge he used, he had no idea, but Adarsh tried to make himself as big as possible and started shouting at the creature with all the pent up rage he could possibly bring to the surface. Which was a lot, and the more he thought about it, the more he fucking hated the tiger-like creature. 

Luckily for him, and for the annoying guy, it worked, and with enough shouting, the creature stopped standing over the other and growling at Adarsh and ran off. 

Something about free food made him feel wary. He recalled a movie he must’ve seen recently: Awara. When the main character, Raj, stole bread to feed his mother, and got arrested, in jail he then was fed bread, the one thing he’d been thrown in jail for. 

Was he a prisoner on this island? 

He took a plate with a few things, fruits, water, fish, things he figured he could catch or find himself if he set his mind to it. He had no idea if he would be capable of that. Did he know how to fish? Perhaps if he attempted it, it would jog his memory. 

He ignored the table and instead walked to the edge of the patio and sat down there. He had zero interest in conversing with any of the other people, they all had their memories, they probably wanted to talk about the family they’d left behind. Oh woe is me? Who will feed the dog now I’m gone? 

As if he cared about the people they’d left behind. At least they knew who it was that they were! At least they remembered. Adarsh - if that was truly his name and not the name of his father or best friend or biggest enemy - had no idea if anyone was missing him right now. If there were posters appearing in some police station or on the news with people searching for him.