Rainstorm
1148 Words
"Yeah, why?" replied Elvira without turning around.
"You want another sea urchin? I'll get it for you."
Without waiting for an answer, Darren immediately ran towards the sea.
"What's he doing?" she wondered, watching the figure that had now almost reached the water.
This is the only way, he thought. He didn't want to get caught and be considered a pervert. As the cold seawater touched his body, some of the tension in him eased.
Morning came with golden rays sweeping the shore. With a lazy movement, Elvira squirmed, her eyelids flickering a few times before finally opening fully. Instantly, she realized she was still on this deserted island—not in a luxurious apartment or a yacht that was supposed to bring her pleasure.
In the distance, Darren sat on a log, busy with something in his hands. His face looked serious, and his eyebrows were slightly furrowed as if he were trying to solve a puzzle.
"What are you doing?" she asked, still half sleepy.
A glance was given before refocusing on his work. "Making spears."
She stepped closer and looked at a long piece of wood with one end sharpened with a penknife.
"You think you can hunt with that?" Her skeptical tone was unmistakable.
A light nod. "Better to try than nothing."
A small snort escaped Elvira's lips. "Why are you so obsessed with survival? We should be waiting for help, not acting like cavemen."
A flat look was given in response. "And if help doesn't come?"
Elvira's mouth opened, but no words came out.
A small smile appeared on Darren's face. "Look, princess... I've lived too long on the principle that hope is not enough. If you want to survive, you have to move."
Elvira let out a long breath. She wanted to argue, but in her heart, she knew there was some truth to it.
"Alright," she finally relented. "So, what's your plan?"
Darren stood up, patting his sand-filled pants. "I'm going to walk along the beach, looking for stuff from the wreckage. There might be something useful. Then, find some fish for us to eat."
Her gaze was full of doubt. "I'm in."
Eyebrows raised. "Fish?"
"No, along the beach."
"Sure?"
Elvira crossed her arms over her chest. "I don't want to be alone here; it's a bit scary."
A long look was given before a slight nod was offered. "Alright. But don't complain later."
They walked along the beach, sharp eyes scanning every inch of sand, hoping to find something useful. The wreckage of the destroyed ship came into view—pieces of wood, floating suitcases, and several other objects that had washed up on the shore.
A black suitcase was half-buried in the sand. It was pulled out with some effort, and the zipper was slowly opened.
Elvira approached, her eyes sparkling. "There might be dry clothes inside."
However, when the suitcase was opened, the contents were far from what they expected.
Stacks of cash were scattered, along with several thick envelopes containing documents.
Elvira's eyes widened. "Is this real money?"
A heavy sigh escaped before the suitcase was closed again. "There's no point here," Darren said, disappointed.
Elvira chuckled a little bitterly. "Ironic. We have money but can't buy anything."
The suitcase was put down, and the search resumed. Soon, something more interesting was found—a small black bag still sealed.
When it was opened, Darren's expression instantly changed.
A commando knife, a Glock pistol with several magazines, and a broken communication device.
Elvira gave the items a serious look. "What is it?"
Darren glanced at her before a faint smile appeared.
"Just survival gear," he replied casually, tucking the gun into his waistband.
There were no further questions, but she knew that Darren understood what to do.
After finding the suitcase with the money and the mysterious bag, they returned to the shelter by the beach as the sky grew cloudier and the sea breeze blew stronger, a sign that a storm might be coming soon.
Elvira sat on a log. She glanced at the person beside her, who was now staring at the commando knife in his hand.
"You look too comfortable with that thing," she muttered.
Darren tossed the knife into the air, where it was caught with a swift movement. A glance was given before the knife was tucked into his belt.
"Old habits."
Elvira's eyes narrowed. "You're just a former chef, aren't you?"
His blank gaze was directed to the sea for a moment; Darren's expression was hard to guess. Then, a faint smile appeared. "I'm retired."
"Retired from what?"
There was no direct answer. Just a look that said that not all questions needed to be answered.
A low snort sounded. "Forget it."
A faint smile remained on Darren's face. He knew the questions wouldn't stop there, but this wasn't the right time to discuss the past.
As the sky darkened, rain began to fall, making the beach sand feel even colder. They took shelter behind a large bush, using a few broad leaves to protect them from the drops.
Darren's gaze remained focused on the Glock in his hand.
She returned to watching Darren's every move.
"You keep playing with that thing. Do you know how to use it?" Elvira asked again.
A brief look was given before the weapon was deftly turned, checked, and returned to its original position in seconds.
"You think a chef can do this?" A sardonic smile accompanied his answer.
"It's possible that, besides being good with frying pans, you have a hobby in shooting."
When the rain finally stopped, they emerged from their hiding place. The air was bone-chillingly cold, so Darren lit a bonfire to warm up.
After that, Darren returned to the sea to catch fish—a job the rain had delayed.
Almost an hour later, he returned with a sizable catch of fish. A simple spear of twigs and sharp stones helped him catch fish in the water.
Sitting not far from him, Elvira watched with a look of admiration—though reluctant to admit it.
"You know how to survive," she murmured.
A small nod. This wasn't his first time in a situation like this.
A fragrant aroma filled the air as the fish began to roast over the fire.
Elvira stared impatiently.
"Since you're the hungriest, this is for you." One of the largest grilled fish was handed over.
Without hesitation, Elvira immediately devoured it. However, a gurgling sound was heard from behind the bushes before she could fully savor the food.
Their eyes exchanged glances.
Darren's hand reached for the gun, ready to fire if anything dangerous appeared.
A large rock was already clutched tightly in Elvira's hand, ready to be thrown at any moment.
From behind the trees, two figures emerged with tattered clothes, messy hair, and bodies full of wounds and dirt.
They were starving.
- Writer
