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Chapter Ten

Day Seven

We’ve been stranded on this island for one week, and I already feel like it’s changing everyone. Unveiling our true selves beyond the high school image, after we’ve been stripped down to nothing. Micah is obsessed with survival—hunting, fishing, making those spears—and is beyond moody. Some nights he pulls Naomi in with him, while other nights he leaves her in the cold, and she ends up crawling in with Ezra. It’s exhausting watching them, and sometimes I feel sorry for Naomi. Her life would be a lot easier if she just chose Ezra. Micah seems to just exist to screw up people’s happiness with others. Ezra is fixated on Naomi—she’s all he can look at. Nigel is a shell of a human. He barely helps and hardly leaves his shelter. He can stay there for all I care; ever since he threatened me, I don’t trust him. Jade mostly stays with Nigel, but sometimes I see her sneak off with Thomas, who spends most of his time guarding our supplies for Micah. Micah gave him the job of watching our food to make sure no one steals from it. If Maison’s not with Micah hunting or fishing, he’s with me. Micah might be the best hunter, but Maison’s the better trapper. We sneak away at night to kiss and cuddle until exhaustion takes over. He’s not pushed me for anything more yet, although I know he wants to. I’m not ready for that, not when we are trying to survive, and especially with Nigel glaring at us, knowing I’ll be crossing a line when I do.

The other camp is surviving, but we lost Jess. She held on longer than I thought she would, but eventually, her body gave out on her. Serena, Ollie, and Nathan are with James until he recovers enough to make the trek—exactly one hour from their camp to ours. They’ve made shelters there to help them bide their time. Micah and Thomas bring them fresh water every other day so they can survive, and they’re doing okay.

The boys were gone today, and while I was out foraging, I found a stunning cove. It’s a perfect little spot about ten minutes away from the others. A place where I can bathe, swim, relax, and read by myself. It’s just mine, and it’s perfect. I decided to spend the day here.

The early evening sun casts a long, jagged shadow from the overhanging rock cliffs above me as I rest my head on a blanket on a flat rock on the shores. The cove is hidden by thick tree cover and a few large boulders emerge from the water ten feet from shore. I brought a spear with me—Micah had made plenty—just in case I ran into any wildlife while out here alone, even though I’m not skilled at using them. I doubt he will notice any missing, especially since I favor the wooden ones, not the ones he made from hockey sticks and skates.

The vast mountains loom in the distance and seem to sparkle as if a thin layer of snow rests on their jagged tips. A heaviness sets into the thin fresh air around me, and I shiver even though I’m wearing three layers.

I peel off my clothes and slip into the chilled water. I take out my braid and run my hands through my strands, using a bit of shampoo to help get the grime built up in it and let the water soothe me. I then lay out my blanket on a flat rock and dry myself before putting my clothes back on and head back to camp. The darkening sky and hint of rain signal it’s time to head back.

Maison will return shortly, but I can’t help but feel uneasy when he’s away. The mere thought of the potential dangers that surround us—such as the wolves I hear sometime at night or other lurking animals that leave tracks near our site. It leaves me anxious.

The wind cuts into my back as I head to camp. The shadow of the trees pulls me in different directions, so I pick up my pace, not wanting to get lost in these woods, especially since I have shown no one my spot.

I freeze when Naomi’s voice cuts through the wind and bounces off the surrounding trees. That had to have been Naomi, because I recognized her shrill laugh. I glance around uneasily, unsure of the direction I heard it.

She cries out again—to my left.

My head jerks toward the source of the sound.

“Naomi?” I call out to her.

I mutter under my breath and switch directions to seek her out. If she’s messing with me, I want to put an end to it. I step around a large tree and it’s not Naomi, but Micah, who stands in front of me. At least I think it’s Micah, definitely a twin, but the shadowed light gives me pause. His body is tense, like he’s grabbing onto something, and he’s leaned back against a large tree, and his strong hands are indeed gripping the stump. The tempo of my heart picks up when I notice Naomi’s blond ponytail and her slim body crouched beneath him.

Micah’s eyes are closed, his head tilted back, and he bites his lip with his soft bangs drifting over his eyes. He looks devastatingly hot with his pants slightly lowered, and I can see the cut of his muscles and abs. It’s good he doesn’t notice me because I can’t look away as Naomi takes him deep into her mouth.

I hear that cry, a moaning sound, as he forcefully thrusts to the back of her throat while gathering her hair in his hands. His eyes are still closed as he bangs her mouth. He’s not smiling, but clearly, he’s enjoying it—I can tell by the way he bites his bottom lip. I watch them, knowing I should look away but can’t; instead, I’m fascinated by how intimate they are together.

No… not intimate. Nothing about what he is doing is intimate. He’s not even looking at her. He’s kept his eyes closed the entire time. If I did that, I’d hope for the guy to show some decency and, at the very least, look at me.

Even though I’m utterly disgusted by him, I keep my eyes on Micah and marvel at how much he looks like Maison. Except, Maison is soft, loving.

Micah’s vicious.

He hasn’t seen me yet; his eyes still closed, even as Naomi seems to pick up her pace and his hands grip the back of the tree. I watch as his face twists into what I can only assume is pleasure, and his eyes shoot open.

My hands draw down to the line of my waistband as I watch, and I curl my fingers in my stomach right in the spot Naomi is resting her fingers on Micah. I push my fingers farther down, right on my throbbing clit, as a roll of heat develops in my lower belly. I let out a soft, breathy moan. Loud enough, he looks right at me.

He catches me looking at him while touching myself, and he likes it. It’s the first time I’ve seen Micah smile, and I don’t stop. All his attention is directed at me as he climaxes, and my own wave of pleasure courses through me. I stand vulnerable, open, raw, and a witness to what should have been a private moment between him and the girl pleasuring him.

Instead, the moment is with me.

His lips curl to that cocky, cruel, and utterly sexy smile.

With my heart pounding a wicked beat, I turn and run before he can say anything. Before he can tell Naomi I was lurking, watching.

I come undone as I flee. The pressure inside me boiling over from what I just witnessed. I can’t fathom being on the receiving end of something like that, especially since I didn’t know people our age did it. I’ve never done that before, even with Chris.

Twilight descends as I return to camp, turning the forest into an unknown void. I sigh with relief when I spot Maison and Ezra chatting by the fire—not only for the fact I want his hands on me, but because I worry so deeply whenever he’s gone. Although he looks grim, his eyes light up when he sees me.

Nigel, I notice, has also come out of his cave, and sits darkly, not contributing as per usual. Jade is next to him, her face sunken because he’s sucking the energy right out of her while Thomas breaks up some of the kindling nearby.

“How are the others?” I ask Maison once I approach them. He immediately pulls me into his chest and curls his hand around my waist.