SPLASH!
Saltwater slapped Axel Drake's face, stinging his skin with its biting cold. The violent waves hurled him onto the shore like a corpse rejected by the sea. He coughed harshly, his lungs revolting, expelling the water that had nearly drowned him.
"Ughh… KHAAKK! KHHK!"
Axel coughed so hard that his chest and throat burned. His entire body trembled—not just from the cold but from the fear creeping into his mind.
He was still alive.
But… where was he?
He looked up at the sky, now painted in golden orange hues. The sun was setting. That meant night would fall soon. And his instincts screamed that darkness was not something he wanted to face in his current state.
But before he could gather his thoughts—
PLAK!
A sharp slap struck his cheek. His head jerked to the side, leaving a burning sensation on his skin.
"Bastard! What the hell were you touching?!"
Axel looked up at the figure standing before him. A woman. Her long hair was a tangled mess, her face flushed red with fury. Her clothes were torn in several places, exposing sun-kissed skin. Her eyes burned fiercely, like a hawk ready to tear apart its prey.
Then Axel realized something.
His hand… had unintentionally pressed against something soft.
Oh, shit.
"I—I was just dreaming about eating a burger!" he blurted out.
The woman scoffed and took a step back, still muttering angrily under her breath. Axel rubbed his face. Drowsiness, exhaustion, and lingering trauma nearly made him lose his mind.
However, before they could speak further—
KRRAAK!
The sound of snapping branches echoed from within the forest behind them.
Axel tensed immediately, his eyes scanning the surroundings.
White sand. Clear blue sea. A lush tropical forest.
The place looked too beautiful. But… too quiet.
Something was off.
The woman—Nova Sinclair—crouched down on the sand, writing something with her finger. Axel stepped closer and read the large letters forming in the sand:
S.O.S.
Axel exhaled sharply and snorted. "Seriously? You think someone's gonna see that from above?"
Nova shot him a glare. "If you've got a better idea, go ahead!"
Axel just shrugged. Hoping for a miracle was pointless. If they wanted to survive, they needed to find food and fresh water first.
But—
SSSHH… SSSHH…
The leaves rustled in the forest.
KRRAAK!
A branch snapped.
Footsteps.
Axel gripped his folding knife tighter, his body on high alert. Nova was tense too, her breath caught in her throat.
Then, from behind the bushes—
BRRAAAK!
A dark shadow lunged at them!
"GRRAAAHHH!!"
Nova screamed.
Axel barely caught a glimpse of wild eyes and a mud-covered, emaciated body before his instincts took over.
"RUN!"
They bolted across the sand, their breaths ragged, their hearts pounding wildly.
Axel glanced back. A thin, filthy man with hollow eyes was chasing them!
His mouth hung open, his hands clawing at the air like a rabid animal.
"I don't know what the hell that is, but KEEP RUNNING!" Axel shouted.
THUD!
Nova tripped!
Axel turned, trying to pull her up. But the crazed man was already upon them!
"GRRAAAH!!"
Axel instinctively swung his knife.
SREETT!
The blade sliced across the man's arm. Black, thick blood seeped out.
"Shit…!"
Axel yanked Nova up and ran again. But the man didn't stop. He crawled forward with unnatural speed, his eyes brimming with madness.
Then, someone burst out from the bushes, yelling, "Don't stop! They're hungry!"
Axel didn't recognize the man, but there was no time to ask questions. They kept running until they reached the shore.
Nova collapsed again, her knees scraped, fresh blood dripping onto the sand.
Axel quickly pulled her behind a large rock, hiding while holding their breath.
The wild man halted at the edge of the beach. His breathing was heavy.
Then… he smiled.
Axel shuddered.
The man didn't attack. He just stood there, staring at them with hungry eyes.
As if saying:
"I'll wait."
Nova bit her lip, her hands trembling. "I really don't like this."
Axel stared at her, then back at the man.
This island… wasn't just any island.
This island was a trap.
And they had just walked straight into it.
KRRAAK!
Another branch snapped. Closer this time.
Nova pressed herself against Axel, her breath shallow. "Is he still there?"
Axel peeked from behind the rock.
The filthy man was still standing at the shore. Motionless.
But his gaze…
Axel shivered. His eyes were empty yet full of insanity.
And worse—
KRRAAK!
More sounds came from within the forest.
Not just one. More.
Axel tightened his grip on his knife. We can't stay here. We have to move.
Nova looked up at Axel, sweat beading on her forehead.
"I don't know where we'll go, but if we stay here, we'll die."
Nova bit her lip, then gave a small nod.
Axel peeked again. The wild man was still waiting.
But… he wasn't alone anymore.
From between the trees, more figures emerged.
One. Two. Five.
They crawled out of the jungle like beasts. Less than ten meters from where Axel and Nova were hiding.
Axel's blood ran cold.
Nova grabbed Axel's arm. "Oh my God… there are more of them…"
"GRRAAAAAHH!!"
They moved.
Like a pack of wolves smelling fresh blood, they charged toward them!
"RUN!"
Axel yanked Nova to her feet.
They sprinted toward the forest. Entering the jungle meant danger. But staying on the beach wasn't an option.
Their breaths were ragged, panic clawing at their chests. Sharp branches scratched their skin, but they didn't care.
Behind them, footsteps grew louder.
Not just one. Not just five.
Axel was sure—at least ten of them were hunting them.
"Keep running! Don't look back!" Axel pulled Nova's hand as she nearly tripped.
Darkness began to envelop the forest, suffocating them. The beach they had left behind was no longer visible.
CRACK!
A thick branch snapped in front of them. Nova almost ran into it, but Axel yanked her aside.
"Shit! We can't just keep running like this!" Nova panted, sweat and dirt covering her face. "They know this island better than we do!"
Axel knew she was right. The wild ones moved as if the island was an extension of their own bodies.
And that made it even more terrifying.
Axel scanned their surroundings. If they kept running aimlessly, sooner or later, they'd run out of stamina.
"Here, hide!" Axel pulled Nova behind a massive tree entwined with thick roots. They held their breath, listening as the footsteps approached.
"GRRRHHH…"
Someone was close.
Axel glanced at Nova. The girl's eyes widened, holding her breath.
Then—
"HUUAAAGGHH!!"
A bloodcurdling scream shattered the silence.
One of the wild men shrieked in agony. The sound of flesh ripping, bones snapping echoed through the jungle.
CRACK!
KRUSHH!
Axel and Nova froze.
Then… silence.
No more footsteps chasing them.
But something far worse had arrived.
Heavy footsteps. Slow movements.
Something bigger. Something deadlier.
Nova clutched Axel's arm. "What… is that?"
Axel swallowed hard, cautiously peering past the roots.
His eyes widened in horror.
In the darkness, a towering creature loomed, covered in thick fur. Its glowing red eyes burned like embers, its breath heavy like a beast that had just finished a hunt.
In its massive hands, it held one of the wild men—lifeless.
Then, with a casual motion—
CRACK!
The monster ripped off the man's head, as if unwrapping a candy.
Nova clasped her hands over her mouth, suppressing a scream.
Axel felt nauseous, but he forced it down.
That thing… wasn't human.
It was more like… a monster.
"Dear God…" Nova whispered.
Axel pulled Nova deeper into their hiding spot, ensuring they remained unseen.
The creature sniffed the air, as if searching for something.
They held their breath.
After what felt like an eternity, the beast turned and lumbered back into the jungle's darkness.
Axel and Nova remained frozen, barely daring to move.
Only when he was sure the creature was truly gone did Axel whisper,
"This island isn't just a trap, Nova. It's a hunting ground. A living hell."
Nova swallowed hard. "We… we're not the only ones trapped here."
Axel looked at the blood-stained ground.
He didn't know which was mo
re dangerous now—the wild men hunting them or the monster lurking in the shadows.
But one thing was certain…
They needed to get off this island. Fast.