2 – The arrival

I barely slept at night waiting for the following day. Neither did the others.

It has been three months since the last time we had someone here. But this time I told them it was my family and they promised me they would be friendly and fewer animals. I don't believe they will stick to their word. Only being one of us to understand how hard it is to resist new prey.

Now I am here, waiting for them. Mom called me half an hour ago saying her boat had just left. It takes four hours from there to here. But I am here, waiting. Staying at home is not an option. I would be thinking and thinking.

I rather wait in the Sun, listening to the birds singing and the sound of the sea crashing against the rocks. I hope they like it here as much as I did. I believe with all of us together, life won't be so hard. The island is beautiful and paradisiacal.

The four hours sitting here seem to take a whole year to pass. But I finally could see the boat on the horizon, growing as it approached the island.

I could have used the real name of the island to present it to them, but I believe that the "Doomed island" wouldn't be very attractive.

I prefer my more optimistically version: "The forever Island".

The boat was getting closer.

And my heart races.

And the boat arrives at the port and the sweat runs on my whole body like a waterfall.

And they appear and the tears go down.

"Oh, son, Don't cry. We missed you too". This is my mother, comforting and hugging me.

Right after my father gets together. And seconds later I feel Rebeca's small hands around my legs.

"Little brother, I missed you so much.".

How she has grown these years. She is already ten now but looks like fifteen.

I take her in my arms and spin her around.

"Are you ready for the best Christmas of your life?",

She says "yes" putting her arms in the air and shouting a loud "yupiiiiiiii".

***

I took them to my house to leave the luggage and food, and then, I enjoyed the daylight to show them the island. I could see their eyes shining and how delighted they were with the place. We spent the whole morning walking all over the place and I was telling them the names of the birds, the trees and the animals which live with us in this isolated place.

On our way back, I asked them:

"Did you enjoy the island?"

I received three big fat "yeses"

"Would you live here with me forever?"

My mother looked at me distrustfully, but then she answered:

"If we didn't have to pay our bills, absolutely. Look at Beca, see how happy she is."

And everybody really was, including me.

Their presence sent away all my loneliness. And their answer made me fell more relived.

They wouldn't have to pay any bill and they would live there with me, forever.

***

As we arrived at my house, the other residents showed up. They were all wearing a Santa's cap and I asked myself how they had that if they had never worn them during the time I've been living there. Maybe they didn't care much about Christmas and that's why they've never worn it. But my plea for them to be friendly may have made them take this attitude. And I liked it.

Beca left my hand and started jumping of joy.

"Look, mom, how many Santas"

I laughed and got scared of how it sounded. There was such a long time I haven't heard it that it was strange.

My parents got along with the visitors and soon they started to prepare the turkeys and food for the Christmas dinner while drinking beer and chit-chatting. We would make it in the yard, and everybody would eat together.

And after dinner, my family would be the dessert.

At least this was what I thought.

But things got out of control when the sunset, as I suspected it would.

We transformed.

Our teeth grew and our eyes got red. My parents and Beca realized and got frightened. But before I could do anything, we jumped on them, thirsty for real food.

And with a tear running on my face and saliva getting out of my mouth I stuck my fangs on my father's neck while I observed the others doing the same with Beca and mom.

On the other day, they would be warned about the dangers of trying to leave the island.

On the other day, they would be with me forever.