The pain in my head was still there, throbbing beneath the bandage, but I ignored it. There was no room for weakness now. I had to focus, assess the situation. I was alive, and for the moment, that was enough.
The ground beneath my boots was uneven, and every step I took felt like a calculated risk. The forest around me was dense, the canopy thick enough to block out most of the sun. The trees were tall, with twisted roots that made navigation slow and clumsy. I had to stay focused, keep my head clear. But I couldn't shake the feeling that the island was watching me.
Taking a deep breath, I scanned my surroundings again. The air smelled salty, like the ocean, but there was something else—something sharper, like the musk of wet earth. I could hear the sound of the waves crashing on the shore in the distance, but everything else was dead silent, as if the island itself was holding its breath.
I checked my body. Bruises. A few cuts. My left ankle was swollen, probably from where I had twisted it during the crash. Nothing major, but enough to slow me down. I made a mental note to be careful with it—no need to push myself too hard this early.
The real question was, how did I survive?
Planes didn't crash like that unless something had gone terribly wrong, and I was pretty sure I hadn't just walked away from an accident that should have killed me. Was this some twisted game? Or was it just sheer dumb luck that I was alive?
I forced myself to shake the thoughts away. I couldn't afford to dwell on things I couldn't control. Survival was the only thing that mattered now.
I reached into the small first-aid kit again, pulling out some antiseptic wipes. There were more cuts on my arms and hands, but nothing serious. I dabbed at them, cleaning away the dirt and grime. The kit wasn't much, but it was enough to keep me going for now.
I had to find food. Water. Shelter.
My mind kicked into gear, running through the basics of survival. I could hear the faint sound of water from somewhere to the east. A stream, perhaps. Water was a priority. I knew how easy it was to dehydrate in this kind of heat, even with the cool shade of the trees above.
But I also needed food. Fast. I hadn't eaten in God knows how long, and I could feel my stomach growling at me, a reminder that my body wouldn't be so cooperative for much longer.
I checked the small bag slung over my shoulder, hoping for more supplies. There was nothing much—just a handful of small, useful items I had found earlier, including a lighter and a small water bottle that was almost empty. The first aid kit was the only thing that could really help me for now.
I took a moment to stop and breathe, letting my surroundings soak in. The air was thick with humidity, the ground beneath me soft and mossy, almost like the island itself was alive. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was waiting just beyond the trees, something I hadn't yet seen, but was nonetheless present.
No time to waste.
I turned towards the sound of water and limped in that direction, trying to keep my pace steady. The pain in my ankle was a dull throb now, manageable as long as I didn't push it too hard. I was moving slower than I wanted, but every step was a reminder that I needed to conserve my strength.
The sound of water grew louder as I moved closer. Soon, I came to a small stream running through the forest, its clear water sparkling under the slivers of sunlight that made it through the trees. I knelt beside it, drinking greedily, splashing the cool liquid over my face and neck. The water was refreshing, a shock to my parched throat.
As I drank, I let myself relax for a brief moment, allowing my body to recover. But even in this small act of relief, I kept my senses alert. Something about the stillness of the forest didn't sit right with me. The world was too quiet. Too empty.
I pulled myself up from the stream, my eyes scanning the area once more. Nothing moved. No animals, no signs of life other than the rushing water.
But then, something caught my eye. In the distance, through the thick trees, I could see what looked like a shadow moving. A flicker, like something—or someone—was hiding just out of sight. My heart skipped a beat. Instincts honed by years of detective work kicked in, and I immediately dropped into a crouch, hands tense, ready for whatever was coming.
The shadow didn't move again. It just... stayed there, watching.
I didn't move.
I didn't breathe.
The seconds stretched into minutes as I waited, the tension thick in the air. But the shadow didn't reappear. It could have been an animal, or it could have been something else entirely. I didn't know. But I did know one thing: this island was anything but safe.
I slowly stood, my muscles tight with caution. There was no way I could afford to ignore whatever it was. If there was someone—or something—out there, I needed to figure out what it wanted.
But for now, I had to focus on the next step. Food. Shelter. And figuring out who—or what—I was really dealing with on this godforsaken island.
I started walking again, keeping my eyes sharp and my mind sharp. Something told me I wasn't alone here. And that realization sent a shiver down my spine.