The sky above the island went dark in a flash. A fierce wind whipped in from every direction, tearing down leaves and shaking the trees. Nova and Axel, who had just left their hiding cave, now faced a new, equally dangerous threat: nature itself.
Lightning cracked, a searing white light splitting the overcast night sky. Thunder boomed, shaking the ground beneath them, as if the island itself was enraged.
Nova wiped the rain from her face and turned to Axel, who was struggling to keep his footing against the gale. "We can't keep going in this!" she yelled, her voice almost lost in the storm's roar.
Axel nodded. "We need to find shelter before this kills us."
They pressed on through the wet, slippery jungle path, their progress slowed by mud and gnarled tree roots that jutted from the earth. The wind howled louder, branches snapped and flew, and the rain poured down harder.
Nova remembered the map they'd found in Marcus Langley's suitcase. There was a strange symbol near their location—something that looked like a cave or some kind of hidden structure.
Nova tugged on Axel's arm. "The map! Let's check it again!"
Axel quickly pulled the soaked map from his jacket pocket. They scanned it for the symbol Nova was talking about.
"Here." Nova pointed to a spot. "There's something around here. If we're lucky, it might be shelter."
Without hesitation, Axel said, "Let's go!"
They moved faster, pushing through the dripping foliage and rising puddles. Their steps were heavy, but the hope of finding a safe place kept them going.
About ten minutes later, they spotted something odd among the trees—a large stone structure almost hidden by tree roots. It had an unusual shape, like a cave entrance but with symmetrical lines, as if it were man-made.
Axel walked up and touched the wall. "This isn't just rock. It's built."
Nova felt the surface and found a gap in the middle, like a hidden sliding door. "Maybe this is the place marked on the map."
They looked for a way to open the door. Nova pushed with all her might, while Axel searched for a hidden mechanism.
Then, something happened.
When Axel pulled on one of the tree roots coiled around the stone wall, a click sounded. The stone door slid inward with a heavy groan, revealing a dark space inside.
Nova and Axel exchanged a look.
Axel sighed. "Should we go in?"
Nova swallowed. "I'd rather face the storm outside than go into this place without knowing what's in there."
Axel switched on a small flashlight he'd taken from Marcus's suitcase. The white beam lit up the interior—a narrow corridor that looked like it had been abandoned for a long time.
The walls were stone, but there were faint carvings in places. The floor was smoother than the ground outside.
Nova stepped in first, followed by Axel, who swept the flashlight around.
"What is this place?" Nova whispered.
Axel shook his head. "No idea. But someone built it for a reason."
They walked deeper, through a slightly descending corridor. The sound of the storm outside gradually faded, replaced by an unsettling silence.
Nova found something on the floor—an old, dusty wooden chest. She crouched down and touched it. "This looks like storage."
Axel set the flashlight on the floor and tried to open the chest. With a bit of effort, the lid creaked open, revealing the contents.
Nova frowned. "This... supplies?"
Inside the chest, they found several cans of food, water bottles, and survival gear like spare knives, matches, and basic medicine.
Axel picked up one of the cans and checked it. "Still sealed. Someone left this here planning to come back."
Nova looked at the bottom of the chest and found something more interesting—an old notebook with a peeling leather cover. She opened it carefully, reading the first page filled with handwriting.
"Year 1987. We arrived on this island after a failed mission. There's no way out. We're hiding here, trying to find out the truth about this place. If anyone finds this... be careful. They're watching."
Nova felt a chill run down her spine. She showed the book to Axel.
"We're not the first ones here," she whispered.
Axel read a few more pages, his eyes narrowing as he took in the information.
"It's not just Marcus Langley hiding on this island. There were others before him—and they also knew something they weren't supposed to."
Nova closed the book slowly. "If they were hiding here and writing warnings... we're in danger."
Suddenly, a soft sound came from the corridor behind them.
Nova and Axel froze.
Footsteps.
Soft, almost inaudible on the stone floor.
But definitely, someone—or something—was moving towards them.
Axel quickly switched off the flashlight. Nova held her breath, trying to ignore her racing heartbeat.
The sound got closer.
They hid behind the chest, waiting in the dark.
Then, the sound stopped.
Silence.
Axel peeked out from behind the chest.
A dark figure stood at the end of the corridor, barely visible in the gloom.
The figure didn't move. Didn't speak.
Just stood there.
Then, a soft voice came from a small radio clipped to his belt.
"They're inside. Wait for orders."
Nova's heart skipped a beat.
They weren't alone. And worse... their enemies knew they were here.
Axel gripped the knife in his hand and whispered to Nova, barely audible.
"We have to get out of here. Now."
Nova moved closer to Axel and whispered back, "We can't stay here. If he has backup, we'll be trapped."
Axel nodded. "We need to find a way out without him seeing us."
But before they could move, the figure did something that made their blood run cold.
With a slow movement, he pressed something on his radio.
"I'm going in to check."
Then he started walking.
Axel and Nova held their breath. The heavy footsteps came closer, small echoes bouncing off the stone walls around them.
Nova glanced around, looking for another hiding spot. But the cave was narrow, with only one exit now guarded by the man.
Axel tightened his grip on the knife. His eyes met Nova's—a look of determination.
If they couldn't escape, they would have to fight.
The figure came closer, now only a few feet from the chest where they were hiding. Nova could see his muddy black boots, the weapon on his belt, and the black gloves gripping a pistol tightly.
Axel signaled to Nova.
Ready.
The figure reached out to open the chest.
Axel moved.
In one swift motion, he lunged forward, grabbed the man's hand and forced it down before he could pull the trigger.
Nova reacted just as fast—she grabbed a small rock from the floor and slammed it into the back of the man's head with all her strength.
The man groaned, but stayed on his feet. With incredible strength, he shoved Axel back and tried to grab his weapon again.
Axel didn't give him a chance. With lightning reflexes, he punched the man in the jaw, hard enough to make him stagger.
Nova snatched the pistol from his belt before he could react.
Without thinking, she pointed the pistol straight at his chest.
"Stop," she threatened.
The man froze, his breath heavy, but his eyes remained cold.
Axel quickly grabbed his knife and pressed the tip to the man's neck. "Who are you? What are you looking for here?"
The man smiled faintly, despite his disadvantageous position. "You're too late."
Nova looked at him suspiciously. "Too late for what?"
Before the man could answer, the voice from his radio crackled again.
"Target located. Main team heading to the bunker. Prepare for execution."
Nova and Axel exchanged a quick glance.
Bunker.
Was this what Marcus Langley had been after all along?
Axel pressed the knife deeper into the man's neck. "Where's the bunker?"
The man chuckled, though a trickle of blood ran from the corner of his mouth. "You think you can stop this?"
Nova gritted her teeth. "We'll see about that."
Without wasting any time, Axel hit the man on the head with the hilt of his knife. The man collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
Axel pulled Nova away. "We have to go before their backup arrives."
Nova nodded and took the man's radio. If they could tap into their communications, they might learn more.
They hurried out of the stone corridor, back into the raging storm. The wind lashed at them with icy blows, the heavy rain soaked them to the bone, but they had no choice but to keep moving.
Axel looked at the map, now almost ruined by the wet. "We have to find a way to that bunker before they get there first."
Nova glanced into the dark forest. "And we don't even know where it is."
Axel bit his lip, thinking hard.