Chapter 3
1144 Words
“Are you sure?” Fred asked, voice low. “Because once I start... I won’t stop.”
Just as Fred was about to make a move, a question slipped from his mind to his lips. “Don’t you have any doubts? Aren’t you going to regret this?”
Isabella raised a brow, amused. “Doubt? Why would I hesitate just to listen to you vent? I volunteered, remember? Because I actually care about your mental well-being.”
Fred froze. His thoughts had wandered way too far from the actual situation. Embarrassed, he stepped back instinctively, trying to gather himself.
Isabella narrowed her eyes. “Wait... are you thinking something completely different from what I’m thinking?”
“Of course not! I mean... sure, I wanted to vent, but I suddenly feel... awkward.”
Despite everything, Isabella seemed genuinely concerned about him. Fred appreciated her kindness, her kindness is more than he expected. Around her, he felt... at ease.
After a bit of conversation, Fred stood up, a quiet resolve forming in him. He picked up a few sharp rocks lying nearby and walked to the cave's mouth, peeking outside to assess their surroundings.
“Where are you going?” Isabella called after him.
“Looking for food. We can’t survive on last night’s leftovers forever. Aren’t you hungry?”
Isabella pouted. “I’m coming with you. No way I’m staying in here alone.”
“There’s no need,” Fred said quickly. “You’ll be fine. Just trust me.”
“No, that’s not it,” she insisted. “I want to help.”
Fred blinked in surprise. “Help? The boss’s daughter lending a hand to an errand boy? Come on. Just wait here. I’ll be back soon.”
But Isabella wasn’t budging. She followed after Fred, and in the end, he gave in, allowing her to tag along. On their way, he kept glancing back at her, making sure she was okay. Even far from Mr. Damian’s reach, Fred still held onto his responsibilities tightly.
“Uhm, Miss Isabella—”
“What?”
“Stay behind me, okay?”
He kept asking her to walk behind him, but Isabella completely unaware, she kept distracting him. Her every step and bounce made it hard for him to stay focused.
Not that he was afraid of losing control, it was just plain annoying. He stumbled more than once.
“Why are you babying me? Don’t underestimate me. I’m used to doing things on my own. Especially after Sisca took all the privileges. I ended up doing everything myself.”
Fred was taken aback. Isabella was so different from Sisca. Her attitude, the way she spoke—there was something sincere about her. Perhaps she really wanted to help, or maybe… maybe something else was on her mind?
Then suddenly....
“Oh! Don’t move!”
Startled, Isabella froze. A terrifying-looking snake was slithering dangerously close to her foot. Even the bravest soul would flinch. This wasn’t about courage anymore, it was pure luck.
“Don’t move,” Fred said calmly.
He approached carefully. Oddly enough, his senses felt... off. Then his instincts kicked in, urging him forward. In a swift motion, he caught the snake in his hands before it even had the chance to strike.
“How did you do that?” Isabella asked, stunned. “You caught it before it even moved!”
“It’s not venomous,” Fred replied casually, brushing off her astonishment.
“But... it looks like a viper,” she muttered.
Truthfully, Fred wasn’t sure himself. A voice had been echoing in his head, telling him the snake was harmless. Even its scent seemed strangely familiar. Something inside him just knew.
He felt different lately. Like his body was changing on its own. He didn’t have full control anymore, that everything was instinct. Reflex.
“We can eat this,” he said confidently. “It’ll be good for our stamina.”
“What?! Are you serious?!” Isabella shrieked.
Before she could protest further, the snake was already roasted. She hesitated, still grossed out by the idea of eating a slithery creature—but Fred was the only one she could trust right now. There was no one else.
Fred, meanwhile, sat quietly for a moment, thinking about everything that had changed. His body felt different—his temperature was higher, and earlier, he’d noticed faint scales forming on his ankles. They’d fallen off, thankfully, but it still shook him.
He was mutating, and he couldn’t let Isabella know. If she told Mr. Damian, who knew what would happen?
If they ever made it out of this forest, that is.
This place... was unlike any other forest Fred had known. His years of military survival training didn’t help here. The geography was bizarre, the creatures even stranger.
“Alright, let’s keep moving,” Fred said, brushing the dirt off his pants. “We need to look for supplies. Anything useful.”
Isabella nodded and quickly stood up, determined not to slow him down. She stayed behind this time, choosing safety over pride. She’d seen enough snakes and creepy crawlies for one day. With Fred leading, at least she felt protected.
They walked for what felt like half a day—climbing ravines, crossing valleys, weaving through dense trees—but no signs of escape appeared.
“Do you smell that?” Fred asked suddenly. “Blood. And something burning.”
Isabella sniffed the air. “Nope. Nothing. Are you messing with me?”
“I’m serious,” Fred said, frowning. “I can smell it. Come on, follow me.”
She gave him a skeptical look but decided to go along. His face was far too serious for this to be a joke. Maybe, just maybe, they were getting closer to a clue.
“Oh my god... What the hell?”
Just as Fred had said, a wrecked airplane lay ahead, half-burned. The fire had mostly died out, probably because of the rain. But inside the broken fuselage, blood had pooled and trickled down, leading right to where Fred was standing.
“We need to check inside,” Fred said grimly. “You wait here. I’ll go in.”
“No!” Isabella protested. “I’m not a helpless girl. I’m coming too.”
Fred didn’t argue. He let her come and made sure to keep her close. He was being extra cautious now.
He activated his infrared vision, hoping it could help him scan the wreck more effectively.
“Fred?” Isabella called, watching him pause. “What did you see? Why did you stop?”
Fred turned quickly. “Nothing. Just be careful. There’s debris everywhere—it’s dangerous.”
But in truth, Fred had seen something strange.
“Those… are footprints,” he thought. “Heat signatures. Someone’s been here recently. But… who?”
- Writer
