‘How’s he?’Yvaine rolled her eyes at me while she pared an apple with a knife. ‘Shouldn’t you be more worried about yourself? Doc said your fever nearly fried your brain.’‘I’m fine now,’ I said, though my voice was still hoarse.It had been three days since the rescue.The helicopter that landed on the island hadn’t been a rescue helicopter at all. It was a team of location scouts from a TV production crew, searching for a spot to film a survival reality show.The sudden storm had blown them off their course and straight onto the island.But as the saying goes, misfortune can be a blessing in disguise. Thanks to that storm, they had stumbled on an ideal location that wasn’t even on their list.With their help, Ashton and I were flown out and sent straight to the nearest hospital.I drifted in and out of consciousness on the journey, too feverish to keep track o
His right hand was trembling violently. It was still covered by a diving glove.I remembered asking him once why he always kept it on. He had said it made work easier. It seemed reasonable enough, so I hadn’t questioned it.But now...My breath caught as I reached for his gloved hand. He was unconscious, unable to resist, and I peeled the glove away with ease. When it came free, I clapped a hand over my mouth to stop a cry escaping.His right hand.The palm was split by a raw, unhealed gash. The whole hand was swollen, red, eaten away by infection. It was barely recognisable as a hand at all. The wound had been there for days, festering until it rotted like this.My chest ached with worry, but another question gnawed at me. When had he hurt himself? What could have done this?I forced myself to think back. And then it struck me. That afternoon when we dived in the deep sea. After the tsunami, when we lost our torches, Ashton had
That night, the breeze grew cooler. I pulled my long-sleeved shirt tighter around me and leaned towards the shelter of the hut.I didn’t dare move too much, though, because Ashton was lying just behind me, asleep.We were taking turns to sleep half the night each. I tried to stay alert, but my eyelids grew heavy.Suddenly, a chill brushed my arm. Startled, I opened my eyes. A few droplets had fallen onto the sleeve of my shirt.Before I could react, more rain came spattering down on me.The weather changed in an instant.I sprang up and ducked into the hut. Even so, I couldn’t avoid the downpour completely. My chest, back and legs were soon speckled with drops, and though I wasn’t as bedraggled as a drowned rat, I looked at least half like one. The damp clothes clung to me uncomfortably.I glanced at Ashton.He must have been exhausted from the day, because he slept on soundly without stirring.A shiver
The signal needed bright colour, so Ashton told me to coat the exposed sides of the stones in red.Make-up was useless on the island, so I wasn’t upset by the request. In fact, I was almost excited, glad to be useful again. My mood was ridiculously cheerful.When the lipstick was ground down to an unrecognisable stub and the final ‘S’ was in place, I stepped back and admired the result.[SOS]As I stood there, arms folded, sea breeze in my face, a thought struck me. I broke into a run, back to my suitcase, and began rummaging again.Ashton, busy tying bark over the cone-shaped frame, glanced my way. ‘What are you looking for?’‘You’ll see,’ I said, still digging.Seconds later, my triumphant voice rang out. ‘Found it.’He looked over to see a camera in my hands.I carried it to the lipstick SOS and began snapping photos.Ashton, meanwhile, kept working wi
I had zero experience in survival. Sitting on my suitcase, I felt lost. I looked over at Ashton, who was still sorting through his own small case. ‘What do we do first?’‘We get out of this forest.’The suitcase wheels had long since snapped, so Ashton hoisted one on each shoulder and started walking.I hurried after him, trying to lend a hand. But he didn’t need my help.‘Walk beside me.’‘Hm?’ I didn’t understand, but obediently moved next to him. ‘Why?’‘Take my arm.’My eyes slid down to his arm. Because of the weight on his shoulder, the muscles stood out sharply. A mixture of strength and raw power.I swallowed before I could stop myself. ‘Why?’‘There’re fallen branches and rocks everywhere. I don’t want you to trip and fall.’‘I can manage.’‘There could be animal
The sharp tone made me freeze.‘Hold onto my neck. Unless you want to fall.’I hesitated, then frowned up at him. ‘Do you think I can’t cross on my own?’But Ashton only shook his head and looked straight at me. His voice was steady, almost solemn. ‘I don’t want to make the same mistake twice.’Even with me in his arms, he crossed the stream without effort. In less than a minute, we were on the far bank.He set me down gently. My feet touched the cool ground, and the heat of my frustration ebbed.Then Ashton took my hand again. We walked in silence. The only sounds were the rustle of leaves in the wind, the occasional chirp of birds, and the crunch of our steps on the forest floor.Suddenly, we both stopped.I saw the yacht.To be precise, the wreck of the yacht.Before us lay broken pieces, twisted and scattered, half buried under a tangle of branches.For th