The chilly air swept across the shore, curling around the coconut trees and sending their stem swaying in lazy arcs against the night sky. A few owls hooted low in the distance, their calls mingling with the steady crash of waves against the sand—a peaceful rhythm undercut by an eerie edge.
The metallic door stood under the trees, its surface solid, glinting faintly in the moonlight as three guards walked in front of it, their dark uniforms blending into the shadows. Two leaned casual against the concrete wall, guns loose in their hands, while the third stood rigid by the door, his posture sharp.
"Sighhh…" the first guard huffed, shifting his weight. "Three more days 'til this damn Island Event ends. I'm sick of standing out here every night—it's tiring as hell." His voice carried a lazy drawl.
