Castaway: The Game of Death

Chapter 10

"She went to the bathroom," Merrick said, his tone nonchalant.

Victor froze. The game was about to begin. According to the rules, a single hunted player meant the entire team lost. Patricia was alone, and if the hunters found her, she'd be in grave danger.

"Which way did she go?" Victor pressed, his voice tight with urgency.

Merrick shrugged, his indifference infuriating. "Why ask me? If you want to know, go find out yourself."

Victor's voice was cold. "Aren't you worried she'll get lost and the hunters will find her?"

Merrick shrugged again, his disinterest palpable. "What else can I do? If I go, you'll accuse me of having ulterior motives," he scoffed.

Amanda spoke up, her voice soft but firm. "I wanted to go with her, but she insisted on going alone."

Victor looked at her, his concern growing. "I'm worried she won't make it back in time. How long has she been gone?"

"About ten minutes," Amanda replied.

"That long?" Victor muttered, his mind racing. He decided to head into the woods. Merrick let out a derisive scoff. "You always think I have bad intentions. I think you're the one with bad intentions. A woman goes to the bathroom, and you run after her?"

Victor glared at him, his patience wearing thin. "I'm worried that if she doesn't come back before the game starts, we'll have failed."

"Such self-importance!" Merrick scoffed, rolling his eyes in disdain.

Amanda, sensing the escalating tension, spoke again. "I'll go with you."

"Good. If she's really just using the bathroom, it would be awkward for me to be there..." Victor nodded, hefting his spear and heading into the deepening shadows of the woods. Amanda followed closely, maintaining a silent, respectful distance. Marina, her face grim with worry, remained behind. She'd planned to accompany Victor, but Amanda had been quicker.

Darkness was rapidly descending, a giant curtain drawn across the island. Visibility in the woods was already poor. Victor pressed forward, quietly calling Patricia's name. Silence answered him. He walked another ten yards and then stopped, turning to Amanda. "She wouldn't go that far just to use the bathroom."

"Right. She knows how dangerous it is here. She wouldn't go so far away," Amanda agreed, her brow furrowed in concern.

Just as Victor was about to voice his growing apprehension, something in the grass caught his eye. He rushed over, his heart pounding. It was a piece of fabric, about as thick as a finger, seemingly torn from clothing.

Victor turned to Amanda, holding up the fragment. "Is Patricia's pants this color?"

Amanda's eyes widened in recognition. "It is!" she breathed.

"Did Patricia get into trouble?" Victor whispered, his voice strained. He scanned the ground again, spotting a clear footprint in the soft earth. His heart sank. It wasn't human. 'Could Patricia have been attacked by a wild animal?' The thought sent a chill down his spine.

Victor's heart leaped into his throat. He spun around, his body instantly taut. A pair of luminous green eyes stared intently from the shadows directly in front of him. Without hesitation, he yanked Amanda behind him, making her gasp in surprise.

"What was that for?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"There seems to be a wolf," Victor said, his voice low and urgent, his hands tightening around his spear.

Terror seized Amanda. Her eyes widened, and she clung to Victor's shirt, hiding behind him, too petrified to speak. Goosebumps prickled her skin. Victor felt a knot of unease tighten in his stomach. He'd never faced a wolf before, and uncertainty gnawed at him. But Amanda was with him, and he had to act; he couldn't let her become prey.

"But aren't wolves pack animals?" the thought flashed through his mind. As if to answer his question, another pair of green eyes slowly materialized from the darkness, then a third, a fourth... and more.

"Oh my god!" Panic clenched at Victor's chest. He might stand a chance against a single wolf, but a pack? It was hopeless. Seeing more than ten pairs of glowing eyes fixed on them, he took a deep breath, whispering urgently, "Amanda, I'm going to get you to run. Run as fast as you can."

"What? What about you?" Amanda stammered, her voice choked with fear.

Victor whispered, trying to keep his voice steady, "I'll hold them off, buy you some time. Don't worry. They're no match for me."

"But..." Amanda hesitated, her eyes wide with doubt. His words were meant to reassure her. Facing such overwhelming odds, she knew he couldn't deal with them all.

Sensing her hesitation, Victor turned, his jaw clenched, his gaze intense. "Listen to me. If we waste any more time, we'll both die." The raw intensity in his voice sent a shiver down her spine, and she instinctively nodded.

"Run!" he roared, simultaneously charging at the wolves, spear raised high, a battle cry ripping from his throat. Startled by his sudden action, Amanda turned and fled. It was pure instinct; the will to survive overriding all other thoughts. Escape was her only focus.

Meanwhile, Victor lunged at the snarling wolves, their fangs bared, thrusting his spear with all his might. But the wolves were cunning; they didn't wait passively. One easily dodged his attack. A bloodcurdling howl erupted from the pack, and several wolves charged, their eyes burning with predatory intent.

"D*mn!" Despair threatened to engulf Victor. He was outnumbered, outmatched. But his survival instinct kicked in, overriding his fear. He charged into the heart of the pack, spear raised high. One powerful swing sent the wolves reeling back. Seeing this worked, he wildly swung his spear, slowly backing away, buying himself precious seconds. The wolves, sensing his retreat, paused their retreat and charged again, their snarls echoing through the woods.

Victor cursed under his breath, realizing escape was impossible. As he continued to back away, his eyes frantically searching for a solution. Fleeing into the cave would be suicide; Amanda and Marina would be in danger. He had to find another way out. He decided to try and lure the pack away from the cave.

Victor retreated a short distance and then feigned an advance, raising his spear as if to attack, causing the wolves to hesitate. Seizing the opportunity, he turned and fled. Howls of fury echoed behind him as the pack pursued. Without looking back, Victor sprinted into the deeper woods, his life hanging in the balance.