Tue, Sep 9 G
Chapter 31 Eyes in the Forest
Chapter 31 Eyes in the Forest
Facing Louis’s threat, I gave a calm smile.
A threat without power is like a stray dog barking at a tank.
That confidence came from an iron will forged in life–or–death trials.
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If it weren’t for the kindness of the women, I would’ve killed Louis right then and there–eliminated the threat.
I would’ve slit his throat like slaughtering a chicken.
But since the women had decided only to drive him away, I respected their choice.
Louis and I locked eyes for a few seconds before he turned and left without a word.
Watching his retreating figure, I was sure he wouldn’t leave the island.
Shadow Island had plenty of food and enough space to survive. Louis wouldn’t give that up easily.
And he would definitely want revenge.
I’d be waiting for him…
That night, we reinforced our camp’s defenses slightly.
To guard against a possible sneak attack from Louis, we scheduled three people for night watch.
Each would take a shift of three hours, beginning at 9 p.m.
This way, every watchwoman could rest and still stay alert enough to keep us safe.
If anything dangerous happened, they would wake me immediately.
Two days passed without incident.
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Chapter 31 Eyes in the Forest
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Still, I warned everyone not to let their guard down.
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When we went out to gather or hunt during the day, we tried to move in groups of at least three.
On the third day, Lily and I set out to explore, heading into unfamiliar parts of Shadow Island.
The goal of exploring new areas was to find more usable resources.
Most importantly, we needed a backup water source.
If danger struck, or someone polluted the stream, or an armed force seized it, our survival would be at risk.
Lily, with her knowledge of biology and geography, was the perfect person to lead the search for water.
I followed her with a camping knife in hand, scanning our surroundings with sharp focus.
That morning, we explored a stretch of land two miles long and two hundred meters wide, due north of our camp.
We advanced slowly, leaving knife marks on tree trunks and picking edible berries along the way.
Every so often, Lily would test the soil’s moisture content.
Unfortunately, we didn’t find any water.
“The island’s ecosystem is still too limited,” Lily said. “We haven’t seen any animals larger than rodents, and plant diversity is very low.”
I nodded. “That tells me Shadow Island is far from any mainland. I’d guess we’re at least two miles offshore, and not near any shipping lanes.”
We ate lunch in the forest, then continued exploring.
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Chapter 31 Eyes in the Forest
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Based on the time, we could go no more than three more miles before we’d need to turn back.
After traveling another three hundred meters, I signaled for Lily to stop.
I crouched to examine the grass underfoot.
Some blades were bent–signs of having been trampled.
I motioned for Lily to follow, and we crept forward slowly.
Two hundred meters of silent movement later, we found Louis and Elsa in a hidden wooden shack.
It was a small, crude structure–barely two square meters.
Natural foliage and underbrush disguised the exterior so well, it would’ve been impossible to spot without a close inspection.
From a distance, Lily and I observed the scene inside.
Louis was asleep on a pile of straw.
Elsa was slumped against the wall, her hands bound to the roof beams.
Her head hung low. She seemed to be asleep too.
From the looks of it, Louis didn’t trust Elsa. He treated her as a release tool, not a
partner.
Judging by their condition, they had access to food.
I gestured to Lily: there must be a water source nearby.
We began to circle the shack, searching carefully.
If Louis had taken up residence here, he’d done it because there was water.
I studied the tracks on the ground and, sure enough, Lily and I soon found a
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natural basin about two hundred meters from the shack.
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It was surrounded by forest and hillside, forming a small, naturally sunken area.
Rainwater collected in the dip, creating a small pond.
Louis had even dug it deeper, allowing it to hold more water.
“This spot’s not bad,” I remarked. “The trees help prevent fast evaporation, and the cover keeps the source hidden.”
The only real downside was the pond’s limited volume.
In a humid, rainy season, it might last for twenty days.
But in a drought, it would dry up in under two weeks.
Lily offered a more technical suggestion. “We could dig the pond deeper to increase capacity. During rain, it would store more water. To reduce evaporation, we could cover the surface with leaves and grasses.”
I nodded and had Lily mark the water source’s location on paper.
Shadow Island held many dangers. Mapping the terrain was our top survival priority.
As we made our way back to camp, I suddenly stopped in my tracks.
Then I called out behind me.
“Louis, come out. I’ve already seen you.”
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
