Chapter 6
1142 Words
Myra and Ernie hurried to the hillside, over a thousand feet away.
"Ernie, I can't go any further. You go ahead!" Myra panted, holding her side and pushing him forward.
"He hasn't caught up," Ernie said, glancing back with a touch of disappointment.
They had been exhausted with barely any food, and his energy was running low.
"That guy was terrifying. Ernie, we need to find a place to hide," Myra said, her voice filled with worry.
Without realizing it, they had wandered into a dense forest.
"You're right," Ernie said with determination.
With Joe's appearance, the deserted island felt even more perilous. Finding a safe, hidden spot for Myra was his priority.
After that, he'd deal with why Finnley wanted him dead later.
The dusk was approaching, marking a full cycle since their ordeal began. So far, not a single rescue plane had appeared. The island was remote, and it didn't seem like help would arrive any time soon, which made Ernie uneasy.
'Joe claimed the rescue team wouldn't come. What if he's right?' Ernie frowned, thinking.
"Myra, there's a cave over there!" Ernie said, spotting a cave nestled in a cliff nearby with his skilled eyes.
It was a natural rock formation with a recessed, wider center and lower ends. The cave was shaped like a chrysalis, about twenty feet off the ground, with a steep slope providing a difficult but possible climb.
Ernie quickly scaled up to check it out. The inside was flat and sheltered from wind and rain, but aside from a single stone pillar at the entrance, it lacked any cover.
"How is it up there, Ernie?" Myra called up anxiously.
"Come on up, Myra," Ernie encouraged.
Myra struggled halfway, her legs trembling, so Ernie helped her the rest of the way.
"This place is great. We can see far from here," Myra said with relief as she settled inside.
Ernie, however, realized that visibility worked both ways—others could spot them too.
"I'll find something to cover the entrance. We'll stay here for the night," Ernie assured her.
***
At the camp on the far side of Dolphin Island, Finnley seethed with anger when Joe returned with the news that he had found Ernie but allowed him to get away.
"Don't worry, Young Master. He's stuck on the island and can't go far," Zain murmured to Finnley.
With years in the world of shady dealings, Zain knew all the tricks to handle such situations.
"Zain, you have to make sure he's finished. We can't let Lily discover he's still breathing!" Finnley said, his voice tight with frustration.
Zain had already gotten the details about Ernie and Myra from Joe. He knew they were alone, but their survival—or any other survivors—could unravel everything.
"You didn't mention the Young Master's involvement, did you?" he asked with a dangerous edge.
"No, I didn't. I told him it was that woman who ordered this," Joe responded nervously.
"Wise choice," Zain sneered, a smirk playing on his lips.
He then glanced over at Smith and Daniel, who harassed a female tourist in the woods nearby.
"Young Master, let's have those two fools track them down for us. I'll handle the rest," he assured Finnley.
***
Inside the cave, Ernie helped Myra settle in and got ready to head out to gather branches to hide the entrance.
"Ernie, hold on a second. I need to ask you something," Myra said, grabbing his arm.
"Sure, what's up?" he replied.
"Are you thirsty?" Myra inquired.
"Yeah, a bit. If you're thirsty, have a sip," Ernie said, feeling the dryness in his throat too. They had a half-full water bottle in the bag they found, but they were conserving it, taking only small sips.
"What if we run out of water and it doesn't rain?" Myra asked, concern etched on her face.
"I'll handle it," Ernie assured her. He knew he could look for water-bearing vines or get water from fish in these situations.
"Ernie, I've heard that when people get really desperate, they can drink urine to stay hydrated. If things get that bad, I'd drink yours. And you drink mine. What do you think?" Myra said, putting her shyness aside in their dire circumstances.
"Well..." Ernie hesitated, surprised. 'She could drink my urine, but how I could drink hers.'
"Ernie, I actually need to go now and I don't want to waste it..." Myra admitted, looking shy.
"Myra, there's a big cup in your bag. You can use that," Ernie suggested, glancing at the backpack she was carrying. He was already planning to find Finnley and Lily to uncover the truth. If he didn't come back soon, he hoped Myra could take care of herself and stay safe.
"Oh, I forgot about that!" Myra exclaimed, quickly rummaging through the bag to find the cup. Her eyes lit up with relief.
As Myra turned her back to him and pulled down her pants, Ernie averted his gaze and focused on measuring the height of the cave's entrance with his arm. Yet, he couldn't help but catch a glimpse of Myra's curves, causing his heart to race.
He quickly brushed aside the thoughts and climbed out of the cave, heading into the forest.
***
"If you want water, you'll have to entertain us," Smith taunted, holding a bottle of water just out of reach of the young girl tricked into the woods by the bay.
The girl had a delicate face, a few freckles dusted across her nose, braces on her thin lips. Despite her youthful appearance, her figure was notably developed.
Furious but parched, she closed her eyes in helpless surrender.
Smith, driven by his desires, tied her hands to a tree. "Daniel, you take the back, and I'll have her mouth," he jeered, starting to unbuckle his pants.
"Smith, you seem to be in high spirits!" Zain remarked, stepping into the scene with Joe.
Smith, with a past tainted by several stints in jail, was no newcomer to crime. Zain's offer of easy money had drawn him in instantly.
However, Smith held contempt for Zain's smaller stature, relying on his strength and boxing prowess.
"Damn it!" Smith cursed, annoyed that Zain interrupted his fun.
"f**k! Watch your tone!" Joe snapped, anger flashing in his eyes as he clenched his fists at Smith's arrogance.
"Why don't we just share the fun?" Daniel, a small and balding man, grinned wickedly, misunderstanding their intent.
"Smith, there's more to worry about. There are other survivors on the island. If they get away, we'll be in trouble," Zain stated coldly.
This revelation shocked the two sailors.
Smith's eyes, shifting nervously, narrowed with anger as his round face flushed deep red.
"Show me where they are. I'll take care of them," he growled, pulling out a gun he'd taken from the slain captain.
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