《Survival of the Fittest》 Prologue It was a dark and stormy night, or day he couldn''t tell all he knew that the ship was rocking back and forth really bad and things were sliding across the floor. Soon his dogs began to get uneasy and they started to bark. He got up and walked, or more like a crossover between that and a crawl, to the door. Suddenly the door burst open someone yelled "WERE RUNNIN'' AGROUND BRACE YOURSELF!" then there was a loud rumbling and the whole ship started to shake. He hit his head on the wall and everything dissapated into an endless oblivion.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Chapter 1: Survival He woke up with a grogginess feeling. He scanned the room to see the dogs gone and everything trashed. He got up and went outside to see the ship run aground and an island straight ahead. He heard a whimpering noise. He ran below decks to see both dogs in the brig trembling and wet. The ship was in a couple inches of water. He ran to the dogs and picked one of them up and brought it to the deck and he did the same for the other. He then decided to go to the island. He strapped together some boxes with some nets and started putting food, water, and tools. He also put a pistol and some magazines. He got the dogs each into a box and himself as well and brought and oar along with. Halfway there he started to wonder where the rest of the crew was. Then he heard both dogs barking and he turned to see what the problem was. He suddenly turned pale when he saw it, it was curved and had a right angle with the water. It was a shark. He started to row faster but he wasn''t fast enough. The shark hit his makeshift vessel and everything floated apart. He and one dog were flung from their boxes and he started to panic. He did the one thing he could; he started swimming to shore. He wasn''t far but he was afraid that it might be too far. Then suddenly he heard a gunshot and he turned around to see blood filling the waves. The shark turned belly up and just floated there. He got to shore and collapsed and blacked out. He woke up in a hammock in a room with wood walls lined with paintings. There was a window to his right and the whole of the room was to his left. There was a side table with a book and a candle next to the hammock. He sat up and tried to walk to the door. He fell immediately to the floor with a loud thud. A man rushed into the room and helped him into the hammock. Hey, your not well. You need rest. Who are you? That depends on your perception. I could be a hobo, a lost man, a criminal, a hero. All on your perception. The man walked out of the room. He came back a few minutes later with a wooden bowl with a certain kind of soup. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Eat up, you¡¯ll need the energy. At least tell me your name. My name is John. Ben, nice to meet you. We shook hands. I started eating my soup. It tasted like it had some kind of meat in it but I couldn¡¯t make it out. It also had some vegetables. I could taste the carrots and beets. As I finished it I layed back down and closed my eyes. So much was going through my head at that moment. Who is this man? How did he get here? What am I supposed to do now? He woke up to see the sun almost set. He decided to try to get up a second time. He successfully got to the door and opened it. He saw that he was in a small hallway with three other doors to the right and a stairs to the left. He went down the stairs to see John sitting and writing on a piece of paper with a quill and ink. Feel better? Kinda. Where are Jack and Bob? They are upstairs in the room across from your room. He went back upstairs and opened the door of the room he was told they were in. Immediately after he got the door open both german shepherds bounded to him and stood up on their hind legs with their paws on his chest. They were licking him all over and he rolled on the floor. They played for about fifteen minutes until they all calmed down. You sure are glad to see them aren¡¯t you? Well, they were a christmas gift from my mom. She died two years ago. I¡¯m sorry to hear that. You should probably let them outside before the piss on the floor. Ok, Which door do I let them out? Follow me. They went downstairs through the kitchen past what looked like a living room and into a back hall. There was a pair of boots there and a pair of leather shoes. There was a door there as well. He opened the door and he let the dogs go. They played out their for ten minutes then started barking. John raced into the living room where Ben was. Bring your dogs in¡­.. NOW!!! I raced to the back door and called them in. The dogs were obedient and came inside but still whimpered. What was that? Chapter 2: Verschlingt John grabbed Ben¡¯s arm and he raced to a door he hadn¡¯t noticed before. He swung it open and rushed both of them into a basement of sorts. He turned on a light switch and the room lit up. It was like a bunker. It had a table in one room and there were spears, swords, and bows lining the walls. He closed the door which he estimated to be at least a couple inches thick. The meager bulb barely lit up the place but he could also see a metal door that was about ten inches high by five inches wide. What is this place? Well, you heard your dogs barking outside right? Yea. Well I¡¯ll tell you this much, I call them Verschlingt. Ver-what? Ver-sh-lie-t. It¡¯s a bear of sorts but it is bigger and has poison fangs. Wh-wh WHAT? Do I really need to repeat myself? I think so. Fine I¡¯ll go slower V-e-r-s-h-l-i-e-t. I-t i-s a b- OK I get it. Stolen novel; please report. See, I told you I didn¡¯t need to repeat myself. Now, we wait here until dawn then we go outside and see what the broke. Ben couldn¡¯t sleep that night, the floor was hard and cold, there was a constant roaring all night, he was freezing and worried about Jack and Bob. He also wondered why John didn¡¯t just build a boat and sail out of here? Why would anyone want to stay in a place like this? Did he come here by choice? Does he have a way off this island? He finally drifted off into the endless abyss of sleep. He woke up after what seem like a couple of seconds, He say that the door was open and that his dogs were on the other side of the room. One of them looked up and wagged its tail. He got up and walked to Bob and started stroking his back. We¡¯ll get out of this. Together. Well when you¡¯re done giving your sulky speech to your dog, breakfast is ready. Ok, be up in a minute. He wondered if he was right. Maybe John did come here by choice, to do research or something. He brushed the thought off and dusted himself off. Sleeping on a dirt floor doesn¡¯t leave you the least bit clean. He went up the stairs to find some apples and a cup of orange juice. There was also a coffee machine. He sat down and grabbed an apple and took a bite out of it. It was like the sweetest and richest fruit in the whole world. He took another bite and came up with the same satisfying taste. He couldn¡¯t stop savoring the flavor and he soon realized there wasn¡¯t any apple left. John came into the room and stared at him for a moment. Then his mouth filled with the most horrific taste he ever experienced. He coughed and gagged and spit everywhere. John couldn¡¯t stop laughing. He was on the floor laughing hysterically to the point where his face turned red. Ben slapped the table. That is NOT funny. Ok boss, it¡¯s not funny. He was still giggling uncontrollably and then he stopped. I should have told you not to eat them too quickly. Don¡¯t worry, it doesn¡¯t happen if you eat is slowly. Ok, I¡¯ll remember that. Oh there is something I want to show you. What is it? The way off this island. They packed a backpack with some more apples and a thermos of water and set off. It took about a half an hour to get there. There was a huge building by the water. They went into the door and he could only stand there in awe at what he was seeing. It was a huge ship, sails and all. Wow. Cool, right? Yea. But I have a question, why haven¡¯t you left yet? Well isn¡¯t it obvious? I can¡¯t pilot this ship all by me oneself now can I? Good point. Well let¡¯s get packed.