The sun hung high over the shoreline, warming the sand beneath their feet. There wasn't much to do, so those at the beach had fallen into light conversations—checking on each other, trading tired smiles, trying to forget they were stranded.
That's when Joseph—the businessman, sharp-suited even in a crisis—suddenly stood up, eyes wide.
> "Did anyone hear that?" he asked, cutting into the quiet chatter.
Wendy Bird, the wife of Officer David, turned toward him.
> "Hear what?"
> "A helicopter," Joseph said. His voice held a strange urgency.
At first, no one reacted.
> "A helicopter?" Wendy repeated, skeptical.
> "Yes," he insisted. "I swear I heard it. Just now."
A few people exchanged glances. Then, slowly, they began to listen.
Ears tilted to the sky. Breath caught in their throats.
And then—
A faint, unmistakable hum broke through the air.
Getting closer.
> "He's right," someone said, eyes wide. "That's a chopper!"
A spark lit up in their hearts. Hope, hot and blinding.
Within seconds, the beach came alive with motion.
> "Signals!" someone shouted. "Make smoke! Flames!"
Martha, one of the younger women, had already acted. She grabbed a piece of dry wood they'd set aside, jammed it upright in the sand, and struck a match.
Flames rose quickly. Then came the smoke—thick, dark, and rising into the sky like a desperate scream.
Everyone gathered, waving their hands, jumping, screaming at the top of their lungs.
> "Help! We're here! Help!"
Their voices cracked.
Some waved shirts. Others lit more leaves on fire.
Above, the helicopter's sound grew louder for a moment.
So loud it felt like rescue had finally arrived.
They screamed again.
Cried.
But then…
the sound began to fade.
First slowly.
Then rapidly.
Their faces fell one by one.
Martha's hands trembled.
Joseph took a step forward, still staring into the blue sky as if he could pull the machine back with his will alone.
> "No…" he whispered. "No. It was right there…"
The sky returned to silence.
Their cries vanished into the empty wind.
A few of them stared upward for minutes, unable to move. Others collapsed to the sand, defeated.
Eventually, someone put out the fire.
They walked back to the camp—heads down, hope shattered, the smoke trailing behind them like a ghost of what could've been.
---
Far above, the last trace of smoke curled into the sky.
And beyond the clouds, where no one could see...
Meanwhile, back in the forest...
A twig snapped.
Daniel's eyes narrowed. He raised his hand slowly—a signal to stay silent.
> "Nobody move,"
Another sound followed.
Leaves brushed. A foot shifted.
It wasn't the boar.
Someone was watching them.
Daniel shifted slightly and peered beyond the thick foliage.
About ten meters ahead—behind the trunk of a thick, moss-covered tree—a human stood perfectly still.
Charlie saw it too.
> "Who's that?" he whispered.
The figure didn't move.
Daniel rose slowly from behind the brush and called out.
> "Hey! Who are you? Step forward."
No answer.
For a few seconds, no one breathed.
Then—
The person stepped forward from the shadows.
Their face came into view.
The group froze.
Expressions shifted—suspicion turning to shock.
Barry stared at the figure, eyes wide.
> "It was you…?"
🟢 To be continued...
Next chapter release date 23/6/25