Chapter 8
1158 Words
We had barely covered a few dozen meters when the sky turned threateningly dark. Clouds gathered quickly, and strong winds started howling. The trees near the beach swayed violently, their rustling sounding eerily like mocking laughter.
The ocean started to roar; the blue waters turned menacing gray-green. Waves piled up more aggressively, slamming into the beach with relentless force and leaving behind thick, stinking foam speckled with glowing jellyfish.
"These jellyfish are poisonous! Be careful! We need to make it back to the cave fast!" Mandy shouted.
I was deeply concerned. Getting drenched could easily lead to sickness, which would be a major issue.
But instead of heading straight back to the forest, Mandy and I first ran towards the beach. Poorly managing a storm in such conditions could be deadly.
Although we had split from Stella and the others, I just couldn't watch them die—except for Leo Williams.
As we returned to the beach, Stella and the others were looking up at the sky in terror, unsure of what to do.
On my cue, Mandy invited them to shelter in the cave.
Stella seemed relieved by the offer. She looked at me, about to speak, when Quinn suddenly pointed at the sea, screaming. We all turned to look, and we were instantly alarmed by the sight.
The sea, which had been calm, suddenly turned furious under the relentless winds, with waves crashing against the shore like the roars of a distant giant.
Under the wild storm, the water quickly surged toward the shore. The tide was rising rapidly, and at this rate, it wouldn't be long before our spot was completely flooded.
The sight of the roaring waves brought back memories of the shipwreck day when the sea had been like an enraged giant, terrifying everyone. Everyone's face went pale in an instant.
"Run!" I yelled, not forgetting to grab some essential supplies from the camp before we all dashed towards the forest.
Mandy took the lead, with Leo, myself, Quinn, and Stella right behind her.
Ironically, Leo made me sneer inwardly.
He had been lying about a leg cramp that hadn't healed. Earlier at the beach, he had limped, feigning injury to garner sympathy from the women. But now, he was the fastest runner. Had it not been for Mandy leading the way, he would have charged to the front already.
Suddenly, a pained scream came from behind me. Stella had tripped and fallen, clutching her reddening ankle with tears welling up in her eyes, looking utterly disheveled.
I sighed inwardly, turned back, and quickly went to her side. To her amazement, I simply picked her up on my back.
A second later, a tree bent by the fierce wind crashed down behind us. I dodged it, narrowly avoiding a direct hit. Stella was unharmed, but the branches scraped my shoulder, drawing blood, though it wasn't deep.
"Zack, I'm sorry. I mean... thank you," Stella fumbled her words.
"Save it for later." Her timid apology somewhat improved my mood, prompting me to move even faster. Despite carrying Stella, I managed to sprint rapidly. As the forest flew by and the sound of the sea receded, I breathed a sigh of relief.
Soon, we reached the cave just as the rain began to fall hard. Looking out from the entrance, the rain seemed to whip the trees, and the sky darkened with frequent flashes of lightning darting across like silver snakes.
A silent shock settled among us around the campfire.
I wanted to break the silence, but unexpectedly, I heard chewing noises. Looking up, I found Leo casually eating a wild fruit that Mandy had gathered with effort. He didn't even ask before he started eating. It infuriated me, and I snatched the fruit from his hand.
"What the hell are you doing?" Leo sprang up, yelling in anger.
"What do you think? Who said you could eat? You're just a damn pig!" I pointed at Leo and snapped.
"Say that again? Little jerk, you think too highly of yourself. Back home, I'd have dealt with you in no time!" Leo barked back.
"Too bad we're not back home," I sneered. "Wanna try fighting again? I think you're ready to lose your legs," I said this while gripping the fire axe more tightly.
Normally, Stella and Quinn would have jumped in by now, blaming me for starting trouble. But this time, the cave was silent; even Quinn quietly lowered her head.
"What do you mean? Why are you acting all tough? It's just bad luck. If it weren't for..."
"Enough with the excuses," I cut off Leo abruptly. "Didn't you say your leg had been cramped for a long time? How come you were running faster than everyone just now?" I laughed, exposing his deceit.
"That was...," Leo's face stiffened. "In a life-or-death situation, my potential was somehow unleashed. I don't know how it happened; it just healed!"
I scoffed at him, watching him like a clown performing a solo act.
"I'm telling the truth. You have to believe me! Once the rain stops, I'll find us food. What's he compared to me? I'm definitely stronger!" Leo continued to argue defiantly.
"Alright, Leo, let's calm down. Once the rain stops, you have to prove yourself!" Quinn comforted him, gently patting his back, her tone less harsh than before.
I scoffed inwardly. Waiting for the rain to stop, huh? I was eager to see what excuse he would find then. He likely thought rescue was imminent and was just stalling for time.
But I understood more than anyone that rescue was not likely to arrive quickly, especially since a rescuer had already died; this island was ominously mysterious!
As the atmosphere grew tense, Mandy handed out some wild fruits to Stella and the others. They had gone hungry all day, and eating something improved their mood significantly.
After biting into the wild fruits, Stella sighed, "I really want some ice cream and to lie on a sofa drinking coffee."
For someone like her, who was used to luxury, life on a deserted island was unbearably hard. Wasn't it the same for us? We could only nibble on sour wild fruits, huddling together in the cave to keep warm as the cold wind howled in through the cave entrance.
Because of the rain, the temperature had dropped significantly, and there was little shelter at the cave's entrance.
Leo and Quinn had already huddled together.
Seeing them together, memories started to resurface in Stella's mind, stirring a sense of unease, but she was too preoccupied to dwell on it. She and Mandy also huddled together for warmth.
As for me, I was left to shiver alone by the campfire. Fortunately, when we ran from the beach, I had tied some clothes around my waist. Wearing them now, I felt slightly less embarrassed.
Still, the occasional cold breeze made my teeth chatter.
In my drowsy state, someone hugged me.
- Writer
