The jungle was thick with silence.
Eyes stared into the green.
Muscles tightened.
Behind the moss-covered tree, the figure slowly stepped forward — into the light.
Everyone stiffened.
Barry's expression shifted — from suspicion to surprise.
> "It's… Edward?"
The figure nodded calmly.
Francis blinked in disbelief.
> "You scared the hell out of us, man!"
> "I was just tracking you," Edward said casually. "Didn't mean to sneak up. Saw you setting the trap and didn't want to interrupt."
Daniel sighed, the tension finally fading.
> "Next time, just say something before watching like a ghost."
The group chuckled, their nerves finally easing.
Francis glanced sideways at Daniel.
> "Captain, I think we've spent more time waiting for that boar than we realized."
Daniel let out a light laugh.
> "Yeah. Time really flew."
Just then — a rustle.
The underbrush shifted sharply.
They froze again.
Only this time, it wasn't a man.
It was a boar.
A massive, well-fed one — thick body, strong legs, head lowered in caution.
It sniffed the air and stepped slowly into the muddy patch.
The group remained perfectly still, their eyes fixed on the trap.
Another step.
Then—snap!
Its hoof triggered the hidden wire. A sharpened bamboo spear shot upward, piercing the boar through the ribs.
The beast let out a sharp cry, thrashed, and collapsed in the mud.
Francis jumped up with a grin.
> "Bullseye!"
Charlie pumped a fist into the air.
> "We're eating good tonight!"
Daniel smiled, satisfied.
> "Enough meat to feed all of us."
Francis, still focused, added with caution:
> "Let's wait till it dies. If we move too soon and it escapes, all this work will be wasted."
Minutes passed.
The boar kicked once. Then again.
Then it stilled.
Francis approached, crouched down, and pulled the bamboo spike from its neck.
> "It's done."
He and Edward hoisted the carcass, tying it securely to a thick stick. With effort and rhythm, they began their walk back.
But not the same way they came.
> "Let's try another path," Francis said. "We might find fresh water."
The brush thickened as they moved through a new route, the boar swinging gently between them.
Then—
> "Daniel!" Charlie called from behind.
"I hear something… like a waterfall!"
They stopped in their tracks.
Daniel turned.
> "You're sure?"
> Charlie nodded. "From that direction."
He pointed to the right.
No hesitation.
They ran.
Leaves slapped their faces, twigs cracked beneath their boots. The sound grew louder with every step.
A trickle.
Then a rush.
Then — a roar.
They burst through the treeline, and there it was.
A wide, majestic waterfall thundered down a cliff of black rock, plunging into a crystal-clear basin. Sunlight pierced the mist, scattering into shimmering fragments.
They stood in silence.
Staring.
For a moment — everything else faded.
They had forgotten their pain.
Their hunger.
Their fear.
This felt like salvation.
Francis was the first to move.
He tore off his shirt with a grin and ran.
> "I'm going in!"
With a splash, he dove into the water and disappeared beneath the surface.
Moments later, he burst up, wiping water from his face, and shouted:
> "Guys! It's salty!"
Everyone blinked.
> "What?"
> "It's saltwater! Undrinkable!"
The joy drained from their faces.
The beauty of the waterfall remained — untouchable, perfect…
But once again, the island had lied.
Once again, hope was a mirage.
---
To be continued...
Next chapter release date 25/6/25