The first thing Jenna remembered after the island was the smell of antiseptic.It clung to everything—her skin, her hair, the air she breathed—so different from salt, smoke, blood, and rot. The hospital ceiling above her was blinding white, too clean, too quiet. For a long moment, she lay still, half-expecting to hear drums or the hiss of the jungle answering her breath.Instead, she heard voices.Low. Familiar. Breaking.“Easy,” a nurse murmured as Jenna stirred. “You’re safe. You’re back.”Back.The word settled slowly.Her father stood at the foot of the bed, hands gripping the railing as if it were the only thing keeping him upright. Gino paced near the window, his usually sharp composure fractured, while Kelvin stood frozen beside him, eyes rimmed red, jaw clenched hard enough to ache.Melvin hovered closer, fingers twitching like he wanted to reach for her but was afraid she might vanish if he did.“You scared us,” Gino said, voice rough. “Do you have any idea what you put us th
Last Updated : 2025-12-25 Read more