LOGINAria’s POVI couldn’t feel my legs anymore, I just kept running.Branches slapped against my arms as Orion pulled me through the forest, both of us stumbling over roots and wet rocks.Behind us, I could hear them after us, Jason and his brother, they were so relentless and still coming after us.“Don’t stop,” Orion breathed.“I can’t run anymore.”“You can.”He grabbed my hand tighter “Keep going.”Rain had started falling, at first, it was only a few drops and then more and within seconds, it was pouring.My hair was sticking to my face, and the ground beneath my feet was becoming slippery, I looked over my shoulder.For one second, I thought we’d lost them and then a figure stepped out from behind the trees, it was Jason.I stopped so suddenly that Orion nearly crashed into me and Jason smiled.“You really thought you could get away?”My heart dropped and the second man appeared behind him.Orion stepped in front of me “Stay behind me.”Jason laughed “You’re still trying to protect
Aiden’s POVThe call ended and for a few seconds, I just stood there with the phone pressed against my ear.I could still hear Aria’s voice in my head.Aiden.We’re alive and there’s a family here but they won’t let us leave.Then the scream and sound of something hitting the ground, my heart was pounding so hard that I could barely breathe.“Aria?”I pulled the phone away from my ear and stared at the screen, the call had ended “No.”I immediately called her back and there was no reply, i tried again and still nothing.My hands were already shaking when I ran toward the others.Andrew was standing near the vehicle with Lily beside him. Orion’s parents were a few steps away, speaking with one of the search team members.Andrew looked at me “What happened?”I didn’t answer immediately, i was struggling to get the words out.“It was Aria.”His face changed instantly “What?”“I spoke to her.”Lily rushed toward me “You spoke to Aria?”I nodded “She’s still alive.”Lily covered her mouth
Orion’s POVI couldn’t stop thinking about the way Aria had looked at me.She had been crying against my chest, holding onto me as though I was the only thing keeping her from falling apart and maybe I was.But the truth was, she had become that for me too.I just hadn’t wanted to admit it to myself and definitely not to her.Years of depending on only myself could be the cause, I had spent so much time pretending what I felt for Aria was simply because we were trapped together.Because we had survived the wave together and I was responsible for keeping her safe, we were the only two people here who understood what the other was going through.But it wasn’t just that anymore, I cared about her because I don’t see myself jumping into a wave to save any other persoon.And when I imagined this island without her, my chest tightened and even when she cried, I wanted to make it stop.When she smiled, I wanted to be the reason.I had been hiding from the truth because admitting it scared
Aria’s POVI woke up with a strange feeling in my chest, for a moment, I didn’t remember where I was and then I felt the hard ground beneath me.I remembered our kiss and then my cheeks warmed and I quickly looked away, now was definitely not the time to think about that.We were still trapped on an island with three psychopaths who had already tried to stop us from being rescued.I sat up carefully and Orion stirred awake “Aria?”“I’m here.”He opened his eyes “Are you okay?”“Yeah I guess.”He pushed himself up and his face was still a little bruised from the fight and I reached toward him.“Your face.”“I’m fine.”“You don’t look fine.”He gave me a small smile “Neither do you.”I rolled my eyes “Very funny.”For a moment, neither of us spoke and then we heard footsteps, my entire body went rigid and Orion immediately looked toward the entrance.“Did you hear that?”I nodded and the footsteps became louder and then we heard voices, ome sounded like Janice.“Check inside.”My stom
Aiden's POVWe searched until there was nothing left to search.The helicopter circled the island again and then another one joined it.Boats moved along the coastline while the search team spread out across the nearby islands.Every time someone returned, I looked up expecting to hear the words I had been waiting for.We found them.Instead, I kept hearing the same thing "Nothing."I stood beside the command vehicle, staring at the latest satellite image.The island was small, it shouldn't have been possible for two people to disappear from it but somehow, they had."Search the eastern side again."I pointed at the map "The first team may have missed something."The officer looked at me "We already searched that area twice.""Then search it a third time.""Aiden."I turned and Andrew was standing behind me, his expression told me he was exhausted too."We can't keep sending people over every inch of that island.""Why not?""Because we've searched it already ""No, we haven't.""Aide
Aria's POVThe helicopter was still above us. I could hear the blades cutting through the air as I stood in the clearing, waving my arms frantically."HELP!"Orion was beside me."OVER HERE!"For one beautiful moment, I believed it was over and we had been found, Aiden would be coming for me.My family would be waiting and I would finally get off this horrible island, I laughed through my tears."Orion..." He looked at me "We're going home."I nodded "Yes."The helicopter moved closer and Its searchlight swept across the trees before settling directly on us.I could see the light reflecting off the ocean, I raised both hands "PLEASE!"I could barely contain myself and then Jason grabbed my arm.I turned around sharply "What are you doing?"His expression was completely different now, the fear he'd shown when the helicopter arrived was gone.There was something cold in his eyes."Let go of me creep." I snapped He tightened his grip "You're not leaving."My heart dropped "What?"Orion







