Castaway: The Game of Death

Chapter 15

Victor awoke to the soft, warm light filtering through the cave entrance. He pushed aside the encroaching weeds and stepped out, breathing in the fresh morning air. But the small island was cloaked in a thick, white mist, an eerie glow that settled uneasily on his chest, tightening it with a sense of foreboding.

Amanda and Marina soon followed, emerging one after the other. Amanda bit her lip, the events of the previous night still vivid in her mind. Her heart pounded, a blush warming her cheeks. She considered herself modern and open-minded. Even her grief over her husband's death hadn't dulled her yearning for a passionate connection. Beneath her quiet, demure exterior, a wild spirit resided. She craved intimacy and longed to leave her mark with a lover, believing that society's structures were ultimately designed to serve humanity's primal desires. This was why she'd always dreamed of a large house, a space to indulge those desires. But last night, Victor had shattered her preconceived notions, forcing her to confront the inadequacy of her previous attempts at self-expression.

Marina, noticing Amanda's flushed face, asked with concern, "Why are you so red? Are you feeling unwell?"

Amanda waved a dismissive hand, hoping to conceal her inner turmoil. "I'm fine."

"Let's go see Victor and the others," Marina suggested, rising to her feet. Amanda nodded and followed her toward the cave entrance.

The sight that greeted them was almost enough to make them retch.

A black bear lay sprawled against the cave wall, its body deflated and grotesque. A gaping wound marred its abdomen, greasy intestines spilling out like ragged, glistening ribbons, mingling with thick, dark blood. The stench was overpowering, nauseating.

Marina, shielding her nose, pointed at some pinkish chunks scattered on the ground. "What... what are those?"

Victor, his gaze fixed on the gruesome scene, replied flatly, "I believe those are kidneys."

Marina, initially shocked, noticed the grim set of Victor's jaw, the strained lines around his mouth. A wave of relief washed over her, and she attempted a lighthearted comment. "Wow, I didn't expect you to be scared too."

Victor's voice was low, measured. "If it were a normal bear, I wouldn't be afraid."

Marina, still confused, pressed him. "It is a bear. What's so special about it?"

Victor's reply was grim. "Those intestines... the organs... they're not right for a bear."

A horrifying tone edged into his voice. "Then what is it?" Marina asked, a shiver tracing its way down her spine.

From the side, Patricia's voice cut through the silence. "He's a person."

"What?" Amanda and Marina gasped, their eyes wide with disbelief.

Marina stammered, "You... you mean... he's a person? How is that even possible?"

Victor didn't answer. Instead, he produced a small knife, his movements hesitant as he began to carefully cut into the bear's chest. As the skin yielded, the others recoiled in horror.

Slowly, a human face emerged from the bear's chest—pale, dirt-caked, and grotesquely fused to the animal's hide. No matter how Victor struggled, he couldn't separate the man's body from the bear's skin.

Victor felt a wave of nausea rise as he stood over the man's disemboweled body. After swallowing hard to steady himself, he wiped his mouth and turned to the others, saying, "I guess he was another player—a hunter."

"A hunter? Wearing a bearskin?" Amanda's mind went blank, struggling to process the scene before her.

Just then, the familiar ding echoed, causing everyone to instinctively cover their ears.

The metallic scraping followed, announcing, "Congratulations, everyone, you're the winners of this round. Please take a short break to find food and water. The next round will be announced shortly. A friendly reminder for you. There are various unknown creatures on this island. Please be careful."

"So... sick," Marina murmured, covering her eyes with her hands. "If we were the hunter team, wouldn't we have ended up sewn into animal skins too?"

Amanda felt numb, her arms tightly crossed against her chest as she tried to block out the horror.

"I'll find a place to bury him," Victor said, his voice steady despite the chaos around them.

"Wait," Patricia stepped forward, her gaze fixed intently on the man's face.

"You know him?" Victor asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.

"He was a wildlife conservationist, a professor at our school," Patricia replied, her tone flat.

"Yeah, I remember him now. He was on TV," Amanda suddenly recalled, her eyes widening in recognition.

"Looks like karma's a b*tch," Patricia said with a smirk.

"What do you mean?" Victor asked, curiosity piqued.

"He used to abuse the school's experimental bear cubs. One of them eventually died," Patricia explained, her expression hardening. "But he was high-ranking, so no one dared to report him."

"So that's it. No wonder Amanda said the game targets guilty people. That's the point," Victor sighed, a mix of relief and anger washing over him. "He got what he deserved."

"Let's get him out of here," Merrick said, pinching his nose in disgust.

"I can't move him by myself," Victor replied, glancing at Merrick for support.

"What? You want me to help you carry him?" Merrick exclaimed, horror etched on his face. "No way."

"Are you sure?" Victor asked, shaking the small knife in his hand as a reminder of their grim reality.

"Fine," Merrick relented, albeit reluctantly. Together, they lifted the bearskin-clad corpse and carried it to a nearby patch of relatively soft ground. They dug a hole and buried him, the weight of their actions heavy in the air.

"God bless, may justice be served. If you're looking for someone, go after Victor, not me," Merrick said, folding his hands in a mock prayer.

"Shut up," Victor said, giving Merrick a light pat on the back. "Let's go."

On his way back, Victor picked a few coconuts and carried them to the cave. He planned to go hunting before the next game started, knowing he needed to find some meat to boost his protein intake if he wanted to survive longer.

As soon as he stepped inside, Amanda rushed over, pressing a soft, squishy object into his hands. "Go wash this," she whispered urgently.

Victor squeezed it, and the familiar texture confirmed his suspicion—it was Amanda's underwear.

"Okay, I'll take care of it," he replied, setting down the coconuts before heading back outside.

"Wait for me!" Amanda called after him a moment later. "Forget it. You probably wouldn't know how to do it right. I'll come with you."