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“I thought I saw some fallen palm fronds not far down the beach. Why don’t you guys grab them?” Adam asks the others, keeping his tone even. He obviously doesn’t want Tiffany coming with us and gives them a task they can’t really refuse. He turns to me. “I know you don’t want to go back into the forest, but can you help me find the creek again?”
I lick my dry lips, tasting ocean salt on my mouth. It takes everything in me to nod my head, but I would want someone to do the same for me. Just because we were attacked by wild animals and monstrous men left us here doesn’t mean I have to act like them. We can still be civil and help each other.
“I will protect you, Eliana. I promise. We’re going to survive this.” Adam holds out his hand to me.
If only I believed him.
If only I didn’t feel as if my life was almost over.
“Watch your step. I think this is where I ate shit and fell. Keep your eyes open for a grey wolf with freaky blue eyes. The one from the beach. It was the one that attacked me here too.” I release a breath and look around the forest. Nothing has changed since I was here. I can even see the slide lines on the ground where I toppled into the ravine.
“It doesn’t look as steep over there.” Adam points to the right. “See how the trees begin to level out and straighten instead of curve? That’s what we’re looking for.”
“You should’ve been the one helping to look for water.” I smirk at him, trying not to think about why we’re back here so soon. “You seem like you know what you’re doing.”
He shrugs. “My dad was a prepper. He thought the world was going to end, so we did a lot of camping and survivalist stuff. Who fucking knew that it would come in handy for me? And so, you know, I had planned to join whatever group you were on, but Tiffany kind of forced me into helping out with food.”
“Davian avoided her too. Did you know he was in agriculture? I bet the guy can farm and shit.” I let Adam guide me toward the level ground, leading to the creek shore.
“Already close to Davian, huh? I thought it would be Chase I’d have to worry about.” He raises his eyebrows and stares at me in his peripheral vision.
“What?” I laugh in surprise. I knew they were all flirty, but this might be a bit ridiculous to think about right now. “I hope you guys aren’t competing. That would be absurd. We’re stranded on a damn island.”
His smile widens, his face even more handsome with the gesture. I don’t have to read his mind to know that he’s only semi-serious. He’s gauging my reaction. “Depends. Are the others my competition? Do I have a—”
Adam stumbles, his grip on me so tight that he pulls me with him, and together we trip. I land on my knees beside him, and something moves beneath me. I screech as fingers lock around my calf. Adam thrashes and kicks his leg, knocking whoever is beneath us away.
“Help...me.” The strange, guttural voice sends ice down my back, and I scramble to get to my feet. It doesn’t sound human—or at least, not like any human I’ve ever heard. “Help.”
“Fuck, Eliana. Don’t look. Turn away.” Adam’s desperation scares me even more. He waves his hand, shooing me, trying to get me to listen. My feet refuse to move. My fear wants me to throw myself at Adam for protection, but he holds his palm up. “Please. Just step back and look away. Don’t look down.”
Why did he have to say that? My rebellious eyes flick toward the ground. I gasp and cover my mouth, finally spinning away. I can’t even process what I saw.
“Help,” the creature—monster, weird-ass thing, whatever the hell it is—says again, groaning. “Adam.”
Adam huffs and swears. “This can’t fucking be real. I mean, what the fuck? What happened to you, Freddy?” He knows him. Iknowhim. Freddy is from our group. But that thing? No. Adam’s right. This can’t be real.
I look again, cringing as I force myself to try to pick out the familiar features of the man who was fine last night.
It must mean...I don’t even know. Something in the food? The water? If that’s the case—
“Help...” Freddy groans again. His words turn incoherent, and it sounds as if he lets out a deep cough.
“What the—shit! Shit!” Adam places his hand over my eyes, stopping me from looking again. It must be bad. “We have to go. This place is fucked up. Shit. Come on. We’re tripping or something.”
I snatch his hand and pull it away from my eyes, jerking my attention to where Freddy grunts and grumbles. And holy shit. Adam is right. I don’t know what’s going on but Freddy...he’s not Freddy anymore. I don’t know what he is.
His bloody body cracks and shifts, his back arching. His mouth opens inhumanly wide, and sharp fangs cut through his gums. His skin breaks apart, and strange fur sprouts across his body in small patches. Freddy screams, pain lacing his voice.
“What do we do?” I step a few feet away, pulling Adam with me. “Fuck. Let’s go back to the others. Maybe Chase—”
A deep rumbling noise escapes Freddy’s elongated mouth. He stretches his curled fingers out. “Kill you. Run.”
My body cools with his words.
I don’t hesitate heeding his warning.
Grabbing Adam’s hand, I drag him with me.
