King of The Island

The Others

Suddenly, something emerged from the trees. Linda screamed in terror, but it turned out to be nothing more than a wild jungle fowl. However, the bird was much larger than a typical jungle fowl. Without hesitation, Justin hurled his spear. This was their chance! The spear struck the bird’s leg, causing it to collapse.

“An easy catch,” Justin remarked.

“Ju-Justin… You can use a spear?” Linda stammered in disbelief.

“No, the bird kindly jumped onto my spear,” Justin replied sarcastically. He picked up the bird and placed it near the fire.

“We’re lucky to have food this easily. Tomorrow might not be the same. We’ll cook and eat it in the morning. It’s still the middle of the night—go back to sleep,” he said as he lay back down.

While lying there, Justin couldn’t help but wonder why the jungle fowl had run toward the beach. Was it fleeing from a predator? The thought unsettled him, but eventually, his exhaustion won, and he fell into a deep sleep, unaware that Linda had intentionally shifted closer to him for warmth.

***

When Justin woke up the next morning, he found Linda asleep in his arms. Her smooth thigh was draped across his waist, her torn dress offering little coverage. Justin swallowed hard, feeling his body react. Suddenly, Linda’s eyes fluttered open, and she gasped, realizing her position. Her legs were wrapped around his waist. She quickly pulled away, flustered.

“Well, it seems you’re the one taking advantage of me, dear lady,” Justin teased with a sly grin.

Linda’s face flushed a deep red, though it was unclear whether it was out of anger or embarrassment. She turned toward the campfire, which was nearly extinguished.

“I’ll relight the fire. You should cook the bird while I explore the beach. Maybe I’ll find something useful—or edible,” Justin said, handing her his folding knife to clean the bird before picking up his spear.

“Justin,” Linda called out softly.

“Yes?”

“Don’t take too long,” she said, her gaze downcast.

“Didn’t you want me gone from the start?” he quipped.

“This isn’t what you think! I’ll give you $50,000 if we make it back safely. Deal?” Linda shot back.

“Just focus on figuring out how to cook that chicken,” Justin replied with a smirk before heading off.

***

Justin walked along the shoreline, finding little aside from scattered debris that appeared to belong to other passengers. He picked up a tumbler, some torn fabric, and a bottle of alcohol. The items were helpful, but where were their owners? Or worse… their bodies?

Shaking off the grim thoughts, Justin decided to venture back into the forest. He needed to find fresh water. The fruits they’d eaten last night were no substitute for a proper drink.

The forest in the morning was just as gloomy and eerily quiet as it had been the day before. Justin pressed further until he finally heard the sound of running water. His pace quickened, and he soon stumbled upon a river. Relief washed over him as he filled the tumbler with the clean, cool water. He splashed his face and scooped handfuls of water to drink.

It was a small victory in their fight for survival, but Justin couldn’t shake the feeling that something—or someone—might be watching them from the shadows.

Justin's stomach growled in hunger. Surely by now, Linda had finished cooking the chicken. He decided to head back to the campfire. As he got closer, the aroma of roasted chicken filled the air, making his mouth water. Breaking into a light jog, he hurried to the campfire, eager to eat. His hunger was unbearable.

When he arrived, Linda was busy turning the large chicken over the fire. She looked a little flustered but determined.

"I’ve roasted turkeys for Thanksgiving before, but this chicken is even bigger. And I’ve never cooked over a campfire. It probably tastes terrible without spices or seasoning, but…”

“This is more than enough! Let’s eat!” Justin interrupted, his excitement overriding Linda’s worries.

Before they began eating, Justin reached into his bag and pulled out the tumbler he had filled earlier at the river. He handed it to Linda. “Here, drink some water first. I found a clean stream earlier,” he said.

Linda took the tumbler gratefully and drank deeply. The cool, refreshing water seemed to revive her spirits. “Thank you, Justin. This helps a lot,” she said with a small smile.

“Now that you’re hydrated, let’s dig in,” Justin said, sitting down and tearing off a piece of the roasted chicken.

The two dug into the chicken hungrily, tearing at the roasted meat with their hands. It wasn’t gourmet food, but to their starving bodies, it tasted heavenly. They barely spoke, focusing instead on devouring the meal. However, just as they were settling into the satisfying rhythm of eating, a rustling sound came from the forest again.

“Do you hear that?” Linda whispered, moving closer to Justin.

Justin instinctively grabbed his spear, scanning the tree line. “Something might have caught the scent of this roasted chicken,” he murmured, his voice steady but cautious.

They waited tensely as the sound grew closer. Then, stepping out of the shadows of the trees, two familiar figures emerged—Tom and Diana. Their clothes were tattered, their faces dirty, and their bodies marked with minor injuries.

“Tom! Diana! Oh my God! I’m so glad to see you!” Linda exclaimed, her relief evident.

“Linda! Thank God you're okay! And... you have food!” Diana cried, her eyes lighting up at the sight of the roasted chicken.

Tom, however, wasted no time. He charged forward, his eyes locked on the chicken. “Give us that chicken!” he demanded.

Justin stood protectively in front of the food, gripping his spear. “Give you this chicken? Keep dreaming!” he shot back, his tone sharp and unyielding.

The tension in the air thickened as the four survivors faced each other, hunger and desperation evident in every glance.

“Justin! What is wrong with you? We have plenty of chicken. What’s so wrong about sharing it with them?” Linda exclaimed, her voice rising, her eyes glaring judgmentally at Justin.

Justin’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing, choosing instead to focus on his meal, though it was clear her words stung.

“See? That’s exactly the kind of person Justin is. Everyone at the office already knows, right? He’s selfish! Even in a situation like this, he still refuses to help others!” Tom sneered, his voice dripping with contempt as a smug grin spread across his face.

Linda glanced back and forth between Justin and Tom, clearly torn. Justin clenched his fists at his sides, his gaze hardening as Tom’s words echoed in his ears. He had always tried to ignore Tom’s provocations back at the office, but out here, in this desperate situation, the accusations hit differently.

Diana cast a condescending look at Justin, her expression cold and unyielding. The woman who had once been his lover now supported Tom, whose leg appeared slightly injured. Tom, ever the opportunist, wrapped an arm around Diana’s shoulders, using her as both a crutch and a prop, all while throwing Justin a smug, triumphant glare.

“If you want this chicken, get on your knees and beg!” Justin demanded, his voice dripping with challenge as he pointed his spear toward the sizzling meat.

“Justin! Have you lost your mind? They’re hungry and injured! We can’t eat all of this chicken ourselves!” Linda shouted, her tone both furious and incredulous.

“Don’t listen to him, Linda,” Tom interrupted, his voice smooth and arrogant. He stepped forward despite his limp, reaching out brazenly for the chicken. “Just hand it over.”

“Don’t you dare touch that chicken!” Justin growled, stepping between Tom and the fire.

“And what are you going to do about it?” Tom snapped, his tone oozing contempt. “You’re nothing but a lowly employee. Back home, you’ll learn the consequences of going against someone like me! A worthless, insubordinate fool like you should know your place!”

Justin’s eyes narrowed dangerously. In one swift motion, his fist connected with Tom’s face, sending him sprawling onto the sand. The impact was loud, and both women screamed, rushing to Tom’s side as he groaned in pain.

“Tom! Are you alright?” Diana cried, crouching down to inspect his bruised face. She turned to Justin, her eyes blazing with anger. “Justin, what’s wrong with you? Have you completely lost your mind?”

Tom struggled to sit up, blood dripping from the corner of his lip. His face was twisted in fury as he spat, “How dare you hit me! A miserable nobody like you has no right to touch me! When we get back, you’re done. I’ll make sure you lose your job!”