Castaway: The Game of Death

Chapter 6

Victor was speechless at Merrick's brazen accusations. The sheer audacity of it all left him momentarily stunned. But when he saw Marina's skeptical gaze, a surge of anger erupted within him. "You actually believe that punk?"

Marina met his gaze, her expression unreadable. "Remember the game instructions? We need a team."

"I'm not teaming up with that animal," Victor stated firmly, his disgust palpable.

Marina glanced at the trembling girl, her concern evident. "What did he do to you?" she asked gently.

"N-nothing... it was a misunderstanding," the woman stammered, her voice barely a whisper, shaking her head.

Victor was stunned. This woman had just been violently attacked; if he hadn't intervened, Merrick would have almost certainly succeeded in his assault. Yet now, she was denying it.

"Did you hear that? It was all a misunderstanding. Patricia saw a beast and was scared. I went to save her, and we both fell," Merrick said smugly, a sneering grin twisting his lips. "I was rescuing her." His tone dripped with sarcasm.

Victor glared at him, speechless with rage.

Merrick turned his attention to Marina, his gaze calculating. "Who is this guy? Why are you with him? Did he do anything to you?"

Marina calmly explained her reasons for aligning herself with Victor. Merrick scoffed, his sneer widening. "I understand. You think cozying up to a big star like you will get you somewhere when we get back? You know what? Look at yourself. Someone like her would never be interested in a loser like you."

Victor's face hardened, his fists clenching. "Say that again, and you'll regret it," he warned.

"Merrick, you heard the rules. We need a team before nightfall, or we die," Marina said firmly, cutting through the tension. "And I believe Victor can help us get out of here alive."

"What? You want me to team up with him? He just said he wouldn't," Merrick scoffed, incredulous.

"We have four people now, just one more to make a team," Marina stated. She then turned to Victor. "Victor, if you'll take them, I'll split the prize money with you."

Victor looked up at the sky. Sunset was fast approaching. He had no better option, and besides, he needed to get close to Merrick to uncover the truth about his brother's death. He nodded curtly. "Fine, I agree."

"Ha, typical bottom-feeders. Life or death, and it's all about the money. You might make the money, but you might not live to spend it," Merrick sneered, his contempt unconcealed.

Ignoring Merrick's taunts, Victor approached the young woman, who was still visibly trembling. "You're Patricia, right? Put your clothes back on. Don't think about covering up for that 'beast'. But remember, once you lie, no one will believe you even when you tell the truth later."

Patricia nodded, her body still shaking with a mixture of fear and relief.

"Come on, let's grab some drinks and recharge," Victor called out.

Reaching the coconut palms, Merrick's eyes widened at the sight of the coconuts nestled amongst the fronds. "Finally, something to eat! I'm starving!" he exclaimed, turning to Victor with a grin. "Give me a hand with this one?"

Victor sighed. He crouched down, expertly drawing his army knife to husk a coconut. He handed the refreshing fruit to Merrick, and then he glanced at Patricia. He still didn't understand her earlier deception, but a coconut was a coconut, and he opened one for her as well.

"Thank you," Patricia murmured, her cheeks flushed with a mixture of gratitude and guilt. Her downcast eyes betrayed her.

Victor looked up, counting the remaining coconuts. There weren't nearly enough to go around. He made a mental note to scout for more palms later, stockpiling the bounty in the cave—a small measure of preparedness against whatever uncertainties lay ahead.

They soon returned to the cave's dim interior. Patricia announced she needed to use the restroom. Marina, worried she might get lost alone in the unfamiliar terrain, accompanied her. Victor remained behind, intending to fashion some rudimentary tools, just in case. Then, a distant scream sliced through the quiet. He bolted outside, instantly pinpointing the sound to a nearby thicket.

It sounded unmistakably like Patricia. Victor froze, his heart pounding, before sprinting toward the source of the cry. Suddenly, Marina appeared, running after him, her voice sharp with urgency. "Wait!"

Bursting through the thicket, they found Patricia already dressed, her gaze fixed on the undergrowth ahead. Victor peered closer, his breath catching in his throat. A woman lay half-hidden amongst the tangled branches.

"Oh my god, is she alive?" Marina gasped, her face paling as she instinctively covered her mouth.

Victor cautiously approached, hearing a faint, low groan. He gently moved aside some branches, carefully pulling the woman into the clearing.

"It's you!" he cried out, his voice thick with disbelief as he recognized the woman's face.

Amanda's eyes were squeezed shut, her lips cracked and dry, her skin devoid of color. Instinctively, Victor knelt, pulling her close to check for a pulse.

Marina and Patricia arrived then, their faces mirroring Victor's shock at the sight of Amanda. She was strikingly beautiful, even in her unconscious state.

"You know Amanda?" Merrick's voice cut through the stunned silence.

Victor looked up, his eyes blazing. "Go away!" he barked.

"What's going on? Can she be saved?" Marina asked, her voice laced with desperate hope. She knew that if Amanda could be revived, they would have the full team they needed, eliminating the need for further searching.

Victor silently watched Amanda. The simple T-shirt and shorts she wore clung to her figure, highlighting its curves, but they were stranded on a deserted island with no medical supplies. 'God! What do we do now?' Victor thought.

Just as despair threatened to overwhelm him, Merrick's callous grin sliced through the tension. "Looks like she's a goner. Let's leave her and find another man."

Victor's glare burned into Merrick. Marina quickly silenced him with a sharp gesture, then stepped forward to help Victor lift Amanda to her feet. Together, they carefully carried her back to the relative safety of the cave.

Once inside, Victor gently laid Amanda beside the crackling fire. He swiftly cracked open a coconut, carefully coaxing the cool, sweet water into her mouth. He had to try something, anything, to rouse her from her unconscious state.

"I think she fainted from dehydration and hunger," Marina offered.

Amanda felt a cool liquid trickle into her mouth. Instinctively, she extended her tongue, tasting the sweet coconut water.

As a faint pink color returned to her tongue, a surge of hope coursed through Victor. He continued to feed her, his movements gentle.

After the coconut water was gone, a delicate blush bloomed across Amanda's pretty face. After what felt like an eternity, her eyes fluttered open, her gaze swimming in confusion.

"You're finally awake," Victor breathed, a wave of relief washing over him as he helped her sit up.

"Where... Where are we?" Amanda mumbled, her voice weak.