Chapter 3: The Island

Senna’s POV

The helicopter hovered precariously close to the vast expanse of ocean. So close, that it caused the water below us to ripple.

In the distance, we saw the island. From our vantage point, it looked like a tropical paradise, with white sand beaches and azure waters.

We all knew the truth though.

The island wasn’t a paradise; it was the gates to hell.

Suddenly, the helicopter doors opened.

“Move!” One of the guards shouted.

Confused, we all paused.

“I said, MOVE!” he repeated. Then he grabbed the person closest to the door and shoved him out.

They weren’t even going to land on the island. They were just going to toss us out, one by one, into the ocean.

When it was my turn, I readied myself to jump.

But the guard shoved me. Hurling through the air, I hit the water hard. It slammed into me like cement, knocking the wind out of me. I sunk beneath the surface, and for a split second, everything went silent.

Then instinct took over. Kicking hard, I forced my body upwards until I broke through the surface with one sharp gasp.

All around me, chaos erupted. People splashed, shouted, panicked. Scanning the bobbing bodies, my eyes found Thor. He was making his way to the shore, his arm wrapped around Kulos, who was on his back.

“Stay calm,” I chastised myself. “Get to the shore. Swim, Senna. Swim.”

The cold water made the swim to the shore feel endless. My muscles burned and my lungs ached.

“Some of us won’t make it,” I thought to myself. “They’re gonna drown out here.”

But I forced the thought of out my head, my eyes fixed on dry land. That wasn’t my problem. I had to get to the island.  

When my feet finally hit sand, I push myself forward, stumbling out of the water, my heart racing. Three people in front of me bolted for the trees, desperate to get out of the open.

I didn’t.

Instead, I took a steadying breath and assessed.

The ground beneath my boots was damp, damp enough to hold tracks. To my left, I heard the faint sound of running water. A creek maybe? A fresh water source. The forest in front of me was dense, the foliage thick.

Thick enough to provide cover.

To my right were small structures, like little wooden stages. ‘That’s where they’ll drop the supplies’, I realized. Towering out of the island was a large mountain, with white rock cliffs.

“Senna! Go!”

Thor’s voice broke out from the shore. He was dragging Kulos along, across the sand. Spinning around, I saw three people emerging from the water. Their eyes were locked on me. They had wolves. I could feel it.

An alliance. A small pack of three.

They hadn’t even left the water yet and they were already hunting.

I made a mad dash for the forest. Just as I approached the tree line, I heard it. A terrified, gut-wrenching scream. Pausing, my body trembled. The scream was followed by the unmistakable sound of flesh tearing and bones crunching.

One person down.

Already.

Darting into the forest, I caught up with Thor and Kulos. Kulos was bleeding. He tripped and sliced open his knee. The scent of his blood made us a target. We had to get out of there.

“Where do we go?” Thor asked, his eyes panicked.

“High ground,” I replied quickly. “Come on. Up the mountain. I saw some cliffs as we were coming in. If we can get up there, we’ll only have to defend one side. It will buy us some time while we tend to Kulos.”

Nodding, Thor swallowed hard.

Then he hefted Kulos onto his shoulder and we ran.  

***

Kalev’s POV

“Two dead already?” Viktor scoffed at the at the large screen. My eyes stay fixated on the broadcast. “At this rate, the games won’t last a week.” He turned to face everyone and feigned a pout. “That’s no fun.”

Viktor strut across the room, his wine glass in hand and sunk down into the oversized sofa. The room was full of the city’s nobility. The games had just begun, and while they lasted, these same people would be gathered here, watching the games unfold with rapt attention.

I suppressed my urge to scowl at Viktor. He was crass and uncouth. He enjoyed the games more than anyone, blatantly cheering with each death.

It was true. The games had been on for less than three hours and two were already dead. One never made it out of the water. We watched her drown in real time.

And the other? She was attacked right on the shore by a pack of three. Her blood stained the white sand. Her body was still there, in pieces.  

The feed bounced around from contestant to contestant. They’d all dispersed to various areas of the island. This was the way it always went on the first day. Everyone ran. Everyone hid. Very few hunted. Not yet. Not until things became more desperate.

Just then, the feed landed on a young woman. Behind her, a man and a young boy were perched on a cliff. She was making some sort of trap out of leaves and twigs.

“What is that she doing?” Viktor said, leaning forward with an amused smile.

“Senna,” I said, my tone flat. “Her name is Senna. She’s from District 6.”

“Oh,” Viktor chuckled, turning to me. He shook his finger. “She’s the one who yelled at you? Right? At your estate. Feisty little thing. The bitch is an Empty Shell though. She won’t last two days.”

I didn’t reply. My eyes followed her on the screen. She seemed to know what she was doing. She moved with a confidence that I found alluring.

Dark was descending on the island and the contestants started settling in.

“Well,” Viktor said, slapping his hand on his knees. “No point in watching them sleep.” He stood up to leave, but before he did, his eyes landed on me.

“We still haven’t received your RSVP, Kalev. For my sister’s birthday party?”

Leaning back in my chair, I slung one arm over the back of it and crossed my legs.

“That’s because I haven’t replied,” I said off-handedly.

“Hm,” Viktor said, eying me up and down. “Well perhaps you should. Twenty-six and no mate in sight. There will be plenty of eligible she-wolves at the party. Unless….you’re cursed by the Moon Goddess?”

He was trying to get a rise out of me. It didn’t work. I didn’t give a rat’s ass what Viktor thought of me.

So instead of taking his bait, I smiled dangerously.

“True,” I said. “I don’t have a mate. But if you’re so concerned about it, I could take yours.”

Viktor opened his mouth to reply, but then wisely closed it. He said nothing else as he exited the room, along with the majority of the other nobles.

I stayed. The feed was still on Senna. Her hands worked quickly with the traps, even in the descending darkness. I had no idea why, but I couldn’t peel my eyes away from her.

Even though I knew, without a wolf, she’d be dead within a week.