One
Kiri
The sun blazed overhead as Kiri and Margo stepped off the ferry cruise ship onto the shores of Monster Island, their excitement palpable. The island’s tropical air was thick with a heady mix of salt and sandalwood. As they stepped onto the wooden planks, Kiri’s untamed shoulder-length blonde hair stirred gently in the ocean breeze.
“Can you believe we’re actually here?” Margo rushed forward, her curly red locks bouncing as she gestured toward the sign that greeted them: ‘Welcome to Monster Island!’ She twirled, her fashionable sundress flaring outward, her vivacious energy infectious. “Finally! We’re here! I was starting to lose faith that we would never get here.”
“I told you it would take all morning, Mar,” Kiri replied, grinning at her friend’s enthusiasm. She adjusted her sunglasses and scanned the bustling docks for their first stop on their itinerary for their contracted job. “But I agree. Finally stepping foot onto the island feels nice. Makes it more real.”
As they made their way toward the car rental booth, Kiri admired the rustic structure adorned with an assortment of keyshanging by various fruit-shaped keychains from toucan beak-shaped hooks coming out of a jungle mural on the wall. The booth seemed to blend the quaint charm of vintage aesthetics with a fun tropical theme. Not cheap, like tropical decorations for a pool party, but a classic elegant design to welcome guests to an exotic vacation.
And yet, Kiri was assigned to capture the picturesque mountain forest landmarks and Margo was given the desert cliff side that overlooked the ocean. None of the locations screamed luxury or something a human would book for a gataway trip, unless they enjoyed backpacking, which Kiri was totally against.
“Welcome to Monster Island, Kiri and Margo,” the friendly orc behind the desk greeted, handing them their keys with a smile that seemed strained, as if he were making an extra effort to appear welcoming. His tusks peeked out as he grinned widely, his green skin glistening under the sun. “And before you ask, yes, I already know who you are. Most of the island does.”
“How?” Margo asked, scanning the booth. “I don’t see any surveillance.”
“Your firm informed us about your arrival and your destinations when they booked your trip.” He gestured to his computer. “You are the only humans arriving today. I would be providing poor customer service if I didn’t know who you were and what your firm ordered for you.”
“That makes sense.” Margo frowned slightly, tilting her head. “It’s kinda like the hotel staff knowing my name whenever I stay at an extended stay.”
“Exactly, Margo,” Kiri confirmed, trying to help the poor orc out. She knew how her friend could talk anyone to death if they’d let her. “How about we grab our keys and get going? It’s going to get dark soon enough, and I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be lost in the middle of nowhere. Who knows what lurks in the dark?”
“There are plenty of nocturnal monsters, like the certain gargoyles and predators, that go about their business as soon as the sun starts setting.”
Margo covered her mouth and gasped.
“But you have nothing to worry about!” the orc worker urged, raising his hands in a pleading gesture. “We may be monsters, but we don’t eat humans.”
“That’s refreshing.” Kiri sighed, shaking her head. “The last thing I want is to help recruit humans to visit, only for them to meet their fate and be eaten.”
“There’s only one way for you to be eaten, so you have nothing to worry about.” He nodded as his dark gaze scanned their bodies. “I hope you find what you’re looking for and enjoy your stay here.”
“Thanks!” With a grateful smile, Kiri accepted the kiwi keyring, wanting to get on the road as soon as possible. Their conversation was dissolving into something she wasn’t interested in, especially when she was confused as to whether he was actually trying to calm them or was attempting to hit on them.
She turned her head in the direction of his pointing finger, her gaze landing on a bold lime green jeep in the parking lot, adorned with fierce monster paws painted along its sides. The vibrant colors and playful design immediately caught her attention, something that custom painted sports cars typically had, as the bright sunlight glinted off the polished metal.
She couldn’t wait to take it for a spin, hoping her off-road vehicle could handle the island’s unpredictable terrain to get her to her destination: some lycan village in the middle of the mountains.
“Thank you!” Margo beamed at the orc, taking her melon keyring, as he pointed to the sleek black convertible adornedwith neon green dragon scales parked beside Kiri’s assigned vehicle.
“Thank you for renting with Dock n Drive Rentals,” the orc added, his deep voice rumbling with genuine warmth despite a hint of unease in his eyes. “I hope to see you again.”
Kiri scanned the vibrant hues of the exotic flora surrounding the dock village, grinning at the thought that they were about to begin their groundbreaking mission to integrate humans into the monster community.
And get paid very handsomely for doing so.
“Looks like we’ll be turning some heads on this island,” Margo remarked, running her fingers over the smooth leather seats. “Especially since we are a few of the only visiting humans on Monster Island, at the moment.”
As they stood beside their respective cars, Kiri pulled Margo into a tight hug, her excitement momentarily replaced by the bittersweet realization that they would soon be parting ways. She couldn’t believe that they were assigned to different locations on the opposite side of the island, and neither knew when their contracts would end.
And the money was too good to walk away if there was still work to be done.
“I’m going to miss you so much,” Kiri whispered, the weight of their impending separation heavy in her chest.
“Hey, I’ll miss you too, but we’ve got this,’ Margo reassured her, squeezing back. “Remember, you’re like the smartest person I know, and I’ll only be a vidcall away. Besides, we’ll be sharing stories over tea and coffee before you know it. Just think of all the amazing stories we’ll have to share when we talk again.”
With a final squeeze, Kiri released her best friend and shared a reassuring smile. As Margo climbed into her car and drove away, Kiri took a deep breath, turned toward her assigned vehicle, and placed her bags in the backseat. Swingingthe driver’s door open, she slid behind the wheel, her hands automatically reaching for the controls.
