“It going to be fine.” It would be those five words that still rang in the head of fourteen year old Kelly the next morning. But for now she following two of her friends across the small wooden walkway that was placed along the cold water. The tide was low and although non of them knew exactly when that would change, all of them suspected it would be a while. Living in the town it had been something that the group of friends had always wanted to do alone, cross over the water to the small island that was the natural reserve. All three of them had been over for a number of walks as kids, but that was with family and non of them had done it with friends.

“No one will be there.” Ryan had said that morning when they had met at the small run down park. “It will be just us, we can do whatever we want there. I can’t be the only one who can’t be bothered with school today.”

So that’s how the plan had been formed, with everyone agreeing to go onto the island together and that’s how they found them self walking across the slippery slime covered wood. The two girls, Kelly and Emma held on to each other for support as they followed Ryan. It had just passed lunch time by now and the grey sky that was threatening rain was making it look like the night was already setting in.

“Are you sure we should be doing this?” Emma asked when she slipped for what felt like the hundredth time.

“Well it was either this or school, come on what’s the worst that can happen?”

They had heard about kids going over to the island but not recently. It was well known that it was a protected place and could be dangerous if the tide caught you off guard. But with Ryan’s persuasion both the girls had exuded to go with him.

The stepped out on to the small pebbled shore front. “If we make our way into the trees back there and head off towards the middle.” He said leading the way for the girls to follow. Ryan had his own reasons for being on the island, but he wasn’t about to let his friends in on that yet but it was, to him at least important that he went onto the land to find out exactly what his cousin had been talking about the month before.

Simon was older than Ryan by a few years, popular and life and sole of the party, that was until a month ago. It had taken more than five visits to his cousin, who he had always had a close relationship with to get him to say anything about what had happened. The older boy had traveled to the island, like Ryan was doing now, with a few of his friends. They had spent a few hours walking around and drinking before something had happened that lead them to flee the island and non of them would talk about it. His cousin had practically gone mute. He was nothing like the outgoing young man he was before that afternoon.

It had played on Ryan’s mind for over a week and he had waited for an opportunity to visit the island for himself, he just hadn’t wanted to go alone. Convincing his best friends to go with him had been easier than he had thought, of course he hadn’t told them anything about his cousin, or what could have happened to him on the island.

“Are you sure the tide isn’t going to be coming in anytime soon?” Kelly asked him as they made their way deeper into the trees.

“Yeah don’t worry, it will all be fine. We have hours before it comes up.” He told her more to buy himself time than anything else. If truth be told he hadn’t a clue when the tide would come up blocking their path back to the town.

The group walked further into the wood before Ryan suddenly stopped to look around. He wanted to keep off the usual walking path. If he had any chance of finding out what happened he thought it was best to keep of that popular route, just like he was sure his cousin would have done.

“So what are we going to do now that we are here?” Emma said interrupting his thoughts.

“We will just explore I guess.” He told her hoping that would do for now.

They had been walking for an hour when they heard the first of the heavy footsteps behind them. “What was that?” Kelly asked as she span around in the direction of the noise.

“It was probably nothing.” Ryan said, although he turned in that direction looking for anything that was slightly off about the place.

“It sounded like someone was following us.”

“Let’s keep going.”

“I think we should turn and make our way back to the walkway.” Emma said as she looked all around them. Whatever the noise had been it had clearly spooked her too.

“Ok we can make our way towards there, but let’s take this way.” Ryan said pointing to a thicker part of the forest.

“You kids shouldn’t be out here.” The voice came from somewhere behind them, but as all three turned they couldn’t see anyone. “Kids shouldn’t come out here.” A small man stepped out from behind a row of tall thick trees.

“Where just walking.” Ryan said doing his best to explain. Then he started to wonder where the man had come from, could he have had anything to do with whatever had happened to his cousin? “Come on let’s go back.” He said to the others as a sudden feeling of unease washed over him.

The group turned their back on the man and took a few steps away before he spoke again. “You can’t go. You have to come with me now.”

“No we are going back.” Kelly was the one to speak up this time.

“No he said you have to go with him. I suggest you do as he says.” A man of similar stature came out of the trees to stand beside the first man.

“Run!” Ryan’s voice suddenly made both of the girls snap into action and do as he said.

They darted around the trees and towards the shore line.

Running closer to where the wooden walkway was located they could immediately see that the tide had come up making it impossible to get off of the small island.

“What now?” Kelly asked fearing that the two men wouldn’t be that far behind.

“We have to keep moving. Just keep going.”

“Where? There is nowhere to go.” Emma said.

“Listen to the girl. You have no choice. You have to come with us now.”

“Water. Get in the water. We can swim it isn’t that far.” Ryan spat out in a panic as both men walked towards them, one now with a shot gun in hand. “It will be fine. Just get in the water we don’t have a choice.” Just as he said the final words a shot rang out. The girls jumped closer to where Ryan was stood as dust from the rocks on the shore went up into the air.

“Water now.” He said again and this time both of the girls listened. Another shot rang out as they entered the water. Ryan fell on his front his face landing into the ice cold water.

“No, please.” Kelly cried out before Emma dragged her into the water.

“We have to go, we have to swim.” Laughter was now coming out of both of the men that had just shot their friend.

The girls waded further into the water doing their best to ignore the cold. “Keep going.” Emma panted. It was all she could do. There was no way they could stop now, they couldn’t think about what had just happened, they had to get to town. As soon as they were deep enough both of them kicked off the walkway and did their best to swim. They ignored the cold that was biting at their flesh even though their bones where slowly seizing from it. The further into the middle they swam the current got stronger. “I can’t do it.” Emma cried out.

“Yes you can, not far now. We have to do this for Ryan.” Kelly panted although she herself only half believed that they could actually make it across to safety.

“For……Rya……” Emma tried to say before the current got too much and her legs became too tired. Kelly splashed around in the freezing waters trying to call out her friends name. It was no use, she knew that the girl had gone. If there was going to be any justice for her friends now, she knew that it was down to her. “It’s going to be fine. It’s going to be fine.” She repeated the words over and over until she felt her feet touch the bottom of bed. Dragging her freezing body out onto the shore of the town, she collapsed onto the ground below. “It’s going to be fine.” She whispered as her eyes closed.