The Island

Community Short Story 

“WELCOME TOO EXTRAVAGANZA.” The attended shouted loudly to the group as they made their way off the pier.

It had been an extra long trip that Neds wife Brooke had dragged him on and he was keen to get to their bungalow and just sleep. It was a full day and nights flight plus a four hour boat ride to get to this island in the middle of the pacific. A couples luxury retreat it was advertised, it was the first time he had heard of it when his wife mentioned they had won the getaway in a raffle. She hadn’t even mentioned entering in the first place, apparently it was some sort of promotional thing on Facebook she had put her name down for. The attendant kept yammering on but Ned paid no mind, drowning him out with his thoughts he looked around at their surroundings. The beach stretched as far as he could see, beautiful sandy shores lined with palm trees and the cabins they would be staying in.

The Bungalows were lined intentionally spaced so that each couple would have privacy and their own stretch of beach, but close enough that it would not be too much distance to travel from there to the main reception. The only building that wasn’t dressed up to look like it was part of an island get away retreat. It was a rather sore sight in contrast to the lush green fields, forest of trees and large mountain in the distance. At least it was practical though, a short walk from the pier, hopefully check in would be quick. Brooke noticed her husbands eyes darting around and she gently nudged him in the ribs. He got the message and turned his attention back to the man.

“Now enjoy your stay I know you will, check in is very important so make sure you pay close attention.”

That felt rather foreboding Ned thought to himself, what was that supposed to mean, pay close attention? Very strange, maybe that was lost in the translation and English wasn’t his first language, the man was obviously native to the Island they arrived on before taking the boat over here. Ned let the several other couples walk off in front of them as they made their way across the gravel path.

“Come on stop being a drag.” Brooke told her husband.

She grabbed his arm and pulled him eagerly back towards the front of the pack. At least they didn’t need to carry their luggage, the attendants dressed in their matching white pant suits adorned with golden buttons had already loaded them onto a flatbed and driven them away to another entrance of the building. As they entered the main reception their were a few muted gasps and Ned couldn’t help but agree as he laid sight on the extravagance that stood before him. Marble flooring, beautiful ordained furniture and a sea of red drapes hung from the walls. Why would they go to all this effort to make the interior look so glamorous and leave the outside to look so bleak and unsightly. Maybe it was for this very reason, the shock value. He did admit it was impressive, Brooke shared his sentiment with an open mouthed ‘wow’ face.

Each couple was broken off into their pairs by an attendee who greeted them and lead them into seperate rooms. As soon as Ned and Brooke were seated across the desk from a beautiful tanned olive skinned woman they were both offered a bright blue cocktail, a tacky little umbrella sticking out of it.

“This drink is very special.” She spoke with a strong accent. “It will tell us everything, revealing all about your true selves.”

Both Ned and Brooke looked at each other with a mixed level of hesitation. ‘Drink’ The woman asked again. Brooke was first, shrugging it off she quickly downed hers. Not wanting to be the downer Ned followed suit quickly drinking his, enjoying and savouring the sweet lemony taste of the drink. He looked over at Brooke who sat back with her eyes closed and a big smile plastered across her face. Suddenly the hair stood out on his arms and he shook slightly as he felt a prickly sensation moving across his body. He tried to speak but he couldn’t move.

“Just relax, I assure you that you are perfectly safe.” The attendant spoke in a hushed tone.

The last feeling he could place was a warm sensation running down his legs before passing out.

****************************************

It took sometime for Ned to regain consciousness, he felt very disoriented. He put his palm to his head as he sat upright, blinking rapidly he tried to gain sense of his surroundings. He could hear a voice but his hearing was patchy so he spoke out.

“What…happened…Brooke… is that you….”

“Looks like baby is awake, don’t worry your mommy will be here in a moment.” A woman spoke in a gentle voice.

Mommy? What was going on, he heard his pants crinkle as he shuffled around and the numbness was wearing off. Finally he blinked away the sleep in his eyes and fully grasped his predicament.

His first thought was that he had been locked in a cage, but it wasn’t this had no roof he was in some oversized crib. He looked down pulling the thick juvenile blanket away from him, gasping at the pastel green onesie he had been dressed in and pawed at the large diaper bulge that was underneath.

“Uh-uh no fiddling with your diaper mister, or you will get a spanking.”

He turned to the voice and saw the woman who had given him the drink.

“Y-YOU, what have you done, you drugged us where is my wife?”

The woman smiled, “Don’t worry your mommy is safe in the other room she’s just woken up her self too.

Ned was shaking now, fear had taken hold and he so desperately needed to see Brooke, but he was so shaken he couldn’t stand and confront this woman properly.

“Now I believe I have some explaining to do, you see this place is rather magical that drink you had came from a special pool deep below the islands depths. It alters a person, well rather a couple who drink together so that they become better matched to each other. It effects everyone differently, most times its subtle and simply tunes them to be more interested in each other. You suddenly find you enjoy doing more stuff together, share hobbies that one was and wasn’t interested in previously. Sometimes though the changes are more….drastic.”

Ned couldn’t help but listen in, he had no choice really he had to hear the end of what this crazy woman was talking about.

“Sometimes it can altar a persons behaviours or mannerisms, but well in your case I guess the maturity gap was so vast between you that the island thought that the best way for you to be closer is if you were a mother and son. So you see you still have that closeness intact you’re probably closer than any other couple here, you will find it quite impossible to do much at all for yourself. Too compelled to act infantile, but don’t worry your wife now mommy is definitely much more maternal now.”

Ned suddenly felt a rush of warmth enter his diaper, he was wetting himself and couldn’t stop it.

The woman smiled. “Im afraid diapers are definitely going to be here to stay, you have no control anymore no better than any other baby.”

He couldn’t take it, this was just some bad dream surely he would wake up soon. Suddenly he felt himself tearing up before he burst out crying.

“Baby, it’s ok mommy is here.”

Brooke had burst into the room, her maternal instincts kicking in at the sound of her husbands bawling.

“You just need a nappy change baby, shhhh mummy will give you a feeding after you will feel much better I promise.”

The attendant smiled, it was almost sinister.

“I think you can handle it here, I hope you both enjoy your stay, we’ll take care of everything and make sure that when you leave we fill up your luggage with enough diapers for the trip. Enjoy your new life Neddy, you will make an adorable baby for your mommy.”