جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 330

ARIA’S POVThe ocean is a vast, unforgiving expanse, stretching endlessly in every direction. The waves rise and fall like living things, their power evident as they surge around me, threatening to pull me under with each crest. My heart pounds in my chest, my limbs burning with exhaustion as I fight to stay afloat, to keep my head above water. Panic claws at my throat, but I force it down, knowing that giving in to fear now will mean certain death.Then, in the distance, I see it—a flash of color against the dark water, a sudden, desperate movement. It’s Ethan. Relief floods through me, a momentary respite from the terror that grips me. He’s alive. But as I watch, that relief turns to horror. He’s struggling, his arms flailing wildly, his head barely breaking the surface as the waves batter him from all sides. He’s drowning.Every instinct in my body screams at me to go to him, to reach out and pull him to safety. But the ocean has other plans. The waves are ruthless, pushing us apar

ARIA’S POVExhaustion weighs heavy on my limbs, and despite the fear gnawing at the edges of my mind, sleep overtakes me. My body, pushed far beyond its limits, gives in to the desperate need for rest. I collapse onto the sand, the cool earth beneath me, and I fall into a deep slumber, the kind that comes only when the body has nothing left to give.Every muscle in my body aches, but the relief of lying still is overwhelming. My eyelids, heavy with fatigue, close almost involuntarily, shutting out the disorienting darkness of the night around me.For the first time in my life, there’s no one around, no familiar faces, no voices to break the silence. It’s just me, stranded in some remote corner of the world, far from everything I’ve ever known. This island, a place that should feel like a refuge, instead feels like a prison.The solitude is suffocating, the silence oppressive, and despite the stretch of land I now call my own, I feel more isolated than ever before. The waves that had o

ARIA’S POVMy mind races as I try to make sense of everything. Adam is here, but how? The vastness of the ocean, the isolation of this island—how did he manage to find me in this seemingly endless expanse of water and land? I can’t help but ask, my voice still shaky. “How did you find me, Adam?”Adam looks at me, his eyes reflecting a depth of emotion that I’ve rarely seen. There’s a flicker of something in his gaze—joy, yes, but also wetness that hints at the tears he’s holding back, and a profound relief that seems to wash over him as he begins to explain.He tells me that after the news broke about the crash, the rescue teams located debris some kilometers away in the North-Western Leeward Islands. The world had known about the disaster, and rescue operations were swiftly mobilized. Neal, Nathan, and Dad were all there, scouring those waters, desperate to find any sign of life. But Adam followed his instinct.He goes on to explain that while the others focused on the area where th

ARIA’S POVWe spot three motorboats speeding towards us, slicing through the water with alarming urgency. Something about them feels wrong, and my heart drops. I know neither my brothers nor the rescue team would arrive in such boats. The vessels are small, rugged, not the kind of craft used for rescue missions. My eyes dart to Adam, and I see the same realization flash across his face. His frown deepens, and in an instant, I feel his hand clasp around mine, firm and protective. The tension in the air thickens, and I can feel the first stirrings of fear clawing at my chest.As the boats pull up to the shore, my breath catches in my throat. The men who step out are not rescuers. They’re rough-looking, with sun-weathered faces and eyes that gleam with a cold, predatory sharpness. Their clothes are worn, a mishmash of utility and intimidation.Some wear tattered jeans and boots, others cargo pants tucked into heavy-duty combat boots. Bandanas and headscarves cover their heads, some sport

ARIA’S POVThe realization that I’m stuck with pirates feels like a cruel twist of fate, an absurdity too great to fully comprehend. All I wanted was to be safe, to find the others, and to go back to some semblance of normalcy. But now, not only am I caught in this nightmare, but so is Adam.Soon, if this continues, my brothers and Dad will be dragged into this mess as well. My heart clenches at the thought of them arriving, only to find themselves ensnared in the same trap. The absurdity of the situation is almost too much to bear. My father’s well-meaning but ill-timed announcement has made me a prize, a target. Now, it’s not just about survival; it’s about escaping this chaos before more lives are endangered.But I can’t blame my father. He’s doing everything he can, throwing everything he has into finding me. This is a consequence no one could have foreseen.Adam is beside me, his jaw clenched in silent fury. I can see the tension in his shoulders, the way his hands curl into fist