They were somewhere deep in the forest when a violent wind picked up, and it started pouring rain. Both of them took shelter under the nearest tree, exchanging worried glances.
"I have a bad feeling about this. Maybe we should go back to the hotel?" Noah asked, squinting against the rain. "We've got nowhere to hide."
"I think we do," Mason replied, pointing to the entrance of a cave.
Noah looked in that direction with obvious unease, but he had no choice. Mason was already running, and he followed.
Inside, they were swallowed by thick darkness. The cold pierced right through their bones. Mason rubbed his arms.
"Why is it so cold in here?" he muttered.
"I'm more concerned about that smell. It's not just damp..." Noah trailed off, stumbling. "Dude, can you shine your phone over here? There's something on the ground..."
Mason turned on his flashlight. His eyes widened in fear. Noah was standing next to a skull — or rather, an entire skeleton.
Noah screamed and jumped back, hiding behind Mason. As Mason shone the light deeper into the cave, it turned out there were dozens of skeletons piled up. One on top of the other.
"Dude… do you think there was a massacre here?" Noah whispered, clinging to his brother's arm. "Why do these bones look so… sinister?"
At that moment, lightning flashed, and their hearts froze. Behind the skeletons stood a crying girl.
At first, they thought she was a ghost, but when she spoke, they had no doubts.
"I need help. I'm scared to walk through here..."
"Nancy!" Noah cried out, looking pleadingly at his brother. "Help her. You know I can't do it."
Mason closed his eyes.
"I'll help. My motto has always been 'Over corpses to the goal'... today it takes on a new meaning."
He pressed his lips together, aimed the flashlight at the ground, and began walking through the pile of bones. With each step came a crunch. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his head and his vision blurred.
He saw people running in panic through the hotel corridors. Blood on the walls. And among them, a man in a hood — the same one he had seen when he was drunk.
"Mason, are you okay?" Noah snapped him out of the trance. The vision vanished. Nancy was standing in front of him, crying.
"I... I don't know if I can do this, Mason. This place is a nightmare," she sobbed.
"Nancy, look at me. Imagine you're walking on stones at the beach. Give me your hand."
After a moment, he felt her touch. He took her hand and helped her across the bones.
"This sound… Mason, it's awful," she said. "How did I end up here? Who am I in this story?"
"That's what we wanted to ask you. We've been looking for you."
"You were looking for me?" she whispered, her heart slowing. "I... I woke up here alone. I couldn't get out. I was terrified."
"I don't know who brought you here, but there's someone else on this island. Did you see anyone, Nancy?"
The blonde girl nodded.
"Yes. I think he's the one who brought me."
Noah stared at their joined hands like a shadow. Nancy hadn't noticed him. That hurt.
***
After the storm, it got cold. Nancy was shivering, rubbing her arms.
"Can you make it back to the hotel?" Mason asked.
"Yes. I'm just cold."
He took off his hoodie and draped it over her shoulders. When he looked back, he saw the unhappy expression on his brother's face.
"Since when are you such a gentleman?" Noah muttered.
Mason ignored the comment. He glanced at his phone and cursed.
"The battery's dead. The last working phone... Why didn't anyone think of a power bank?"
Then, they heard branches snapping in the trees. They exchanged worried looks. A girl ran out — dirty, but with a beautiful face.
"Olivia?" Mason froze. "Why are you on the island too?"
Noah tensed. He was afraid that Olivia would reveal something she shouldn't.
"Did you forget I was at your party? You bastard! Since I woke up, I haven't eaten, I haven't showered, I feel like crying! Who is she?!" She pointed at Nancy.
Noah smirked.
Nancy immediately let go of Mason's hand.
"You don't have to announce it to everyone," Mason said coolly. "I'm glad you're alive, but I'd rather you disappeared from my life."
"I invited myself. And I regret it." Olivia glanced at their clothes. "I'm filthy, and you're all clean."
"I'd gladly leave you here, but our parents already planned our future." Mason took a deep breath. "Come to the hotel. You'll wash up and wear my clothes. I can't have them thinking I'm engaged to a slob."
"A slob?!" Olivia stood next to him, and shot Nancy a hostile look. "I'm starving!"
"I'm not giving you food. Go catch fish from the ocean and eat them raw."
"I don't have the strength!" she yelled and jumped on his back.
"Get off me!" Mason shoved her away.
Nancy watched sadly.
***
At the hotel, no one knew Nancy had been missing. Instead, everyone's attention turned to Olivia — freshly washed, wearing Mason's T-shirt.
"We found her in the forest. She fits in with the wilderness," Mason commented.
"How do you know her?" Betty asked.
"She's my fiancée," he muttered.
Olivia's smile blossomed.
"We always knew you were mysterious," Will said.
Noah watched everything in silence. Olivia was going to block Nancy from getting to Mason. And she'd do it effectively.
Jake placed food in front of Olivia, and her eyes lit up.
"Nancy, are you feeling okay?" Betty suddenly asked. "Maybe you should lie down?"
"I would rather not be alone," the blonde girl forced a smile.
"I'll go with you," Betty offered. Nancy nodded, and they left together.
"Perhaps they'll bury the hatchet," Will joked. "Fighting over a man is the worst."
Mason looked at his brother, who gave him a strained smile.
"Good thing you didn't write an article about it," he said.
"Talking about Noah?" Olivia chimed in. "Sorry, but isn't it your fault, Mason?"
"You talk like I'm not even here," Noah muttered.
"Yeah, it was my fault," Mason admitted. "I misunderstood the situation. Daniel was in love with him. My brother's a victim."
"He died here, and maybe that was his punishment," Jake said.
"But how can a man fall in love with another guy?" Will asked with disgust.
"It's the 21st century," Jennifer snapped. "Let people love whoever they want."
"And I was terrified our father would kill him if he found out," Mason admitted, looking at Noah with concern. "I went crazy with fear. I wanted to kill Daniel."
"Someone died anyway," Jake added quietly. "And now we're all in hell."