Chapter 4

Before Helen could say anything else, John pushed her away.

"Helen." His voice turned serious. "Back off. Give Nina some space so she can breathe."

Helen stood up and glared at me with venom in her eyes.

Enduring the agonizing pain in my abdomen, I looked at John and said coldly, "Stop acting like you care about me. It makes me sick."

John froze at my words.

I thought his Favoritism Meter would rise, but to my surprise, it dropped again.

"Nina..." His voice was hoarse as he apologized. "I shouldn't have knocked you unconscious. I'm sorry."

Ivan gently took my hand and blew air onto it, trying to warm my cold fingers.

I sneered, "Ivan, don't touch me. Your fake concern makes me want to throw up."

But he ignored me and only tightened his grip on my wrist. His face went pale as he whispered, "How did you become... this thin?"

Ivan no longer cared about giving themselves away. He turned anxiously to John and asked, "Didn't you say what we ate every day provided the bare minimum of nutrients a person needed?"

Their Favoritism Meters continued to fall, dropping below half.

How ironic. When I gave them everything, all I received in return was deception. The moment I began treating them with indifference, they suddenly pretended to care.

The hidden camera among the leaves shifted, turning toward me. I knew it was my parents watching from behind the scenes.

I stared straight at the camera and couldn't help wondering if they felt guilty, or if they would finally reveal the truth behind this whole farce.

I didn't want to hold on to any more false hope, so I closed my eyes and said nothing.

John picked up the walkie-talkie and said, "Get a doctor—"

Suddenly, a man emerged from the forest. He wore almost nothing, his body covered in thick, tangled hair. With thick brows and a fierce gaze, he looked wild and intimidating. His skin was weathered from years under the sun, with scars left by insect bites.

Helen screamed and stumbled away in panic. John and Ivan exchanged a glance, hesitation flashing in their eyes.

I curled my lips into a faint smile.

Two years ago, they had already planted the idea in my mind, telling me that they had discovered traces of a wild man and the remains of women he had eaten.

I had never fully believed it. Now I knew it was all for their so-called final test.

The "wild man" appeared, holding a sharp spear-like weapon as he charged toward us with a roar.

Just as expected, Helen was captured. He threw her over his shoulder and turned toward me, ready to grab me next. John and Ivan pretended to fight back desperately.

In the end, the wild man gave up. Before leaving, he pointed at me, then at Helen.

John and Ivan exchanged terrified looks.

"I think... he only wants her," John said hesitantly. "He wants us to trade Nina for Helen."

"Maybe it's because Helen is too weak..." Ivan added.

I quietly watched their charade until they finally turned to look at me.

After a moment, I nodded. "Go save Helen."

They supported me as we followed the wild man's footprints deeper into the forest.

Helen was hanging from a tree, covered in blood. Below her, the wild man had set up a large clay pot. It bubbled and steamed over a roaring fire.

"Nina, Helen isn't going to make it. If we wait any longer, she's going to die," John said.

"We've already figured out a way to save her. You go take her place first," Ivan urged.

Seeing my cold expression, they grew even more anxious.

"This is only a temporary measure. We promise we'll come back for you once we're ready," John assured.

I stared at the hidden camera among the trees and raised my voice. "Wouldn't it be better if she died? Actually, I've always been jealous of how much better you treat her."

Just as I expected, John and Ivan immediately looked disgusted. The Favoritism Meter above their heads shot up.

I continued, "With one less person, our chances of surviving will be higher. There isn't much food here anyway."

He slapped me hard across the face. My cheek burned, and it quickly swelled.

He exploded in anger. "How can you say that? Helen is your sister!"

Ivan also yanked off his grass ring and threw it to the ground.

It was the ring we had woven for each other when we first arrived on the island, to encourage each other to hold on. We had promised that if we made it out alive, we would get engaged.

"I was wrong about you, Nina. If you don't go save Helen, then our engagement is off!" Ivan shouted.

A glowing line of text suddenly appeared in the air.

[Favoritism points: Maximum!]

I glanced at the Favoritism Meters above their heads and smiled. Both bars were full.

Then I said lightly, "I was just joking. Helen is my dear sister. Of course I'll go save her."

John and Ivan exchanged a look and breathed a sigh of relief.

"How can you joke about something like this when lives are at stake?" John looked at me seriously. "Nina, I promise I won't let anything happen to you."

They led me toward the wild man.

After a brief exchange of gestures, the wild man tied me up and let Helen go.

As I took Helen's place, she leaned close to my ear and whispered, "Nina, do you really think that if you keep giving in, they'll finally feel sorry for you?"

Then she pretended to faint into Ivan's arms.

As John carried her out of the forest, he looked back at me. "Nina! Hold on a little longer. We'll prepare something to take him down and come back for you!"

I looked out toward the distant sea. The rescue boat was approaching the shore.

I shouted at the wild man, "Hey, you fraud! Stay back, or you're gonna get splashed."

Upon hearing that, his whole body went rigid as he stared at me in shock.

Using the sharp stone in my hand, I cut through the rope binding me. Before he could react, I fell toward the boiling pot below, sending water spraying into the air.

"She's... She's dead!" the wild man screamed and ran away.