บท 16: Strangers
ASH had read about Death zones, but hearing Felis utter those words made the danger they were in all too real. As a thick, squirming vine lifted him into the sky, Ash's heart pounded with fear. He fidgeted, feeling the vine tighten around him.
The world is divided into various island types, classified by zones. The most common are the Inhabitable zones, where there is at least an eighty percent chance of human survival. On these islands, aside from some wildlife and a few other challenges, nothing significantly hinders the growth of human life.
Next are the Hostile Zones, areas where nature itself turns against humanity. These islands teem with dangerous wildlife and poisonous plants, or they might be barren deserts devoid of any oasis. Despite their challenges, survival is possible but precarious, with a fifty percent chance of making it depending on one's preparedness.
The third classification is the Uninhabitable Zone. These areas are death traps, rendered lethal by extreme radiation or other toxic conditions. The atmosphere here cannot sustain human life, making survival almost impossible, with a grim survival rate of just five percent.
The final and most dreaded classification is the Death Zone. These islands don't just pose a threat due to hostile wildlife or inhospitable atmospheres; they are actively and mysteriously malevolent. It's as if the island itself is sentient, intent on exterminating anyone who dares to set foot on it. Few who enter ever leave, and it's widely accepted that survival in a Death Zone is nearly impossible.
Recalling this, Ash's body went limp, resigned to his fate as the vine hoisted him skyward. His mind blanked, unable to process or plan. Then, unexpectedly, the vine loosened its grip, dropping him face-first to the ground. Fueled by adrenaline, he scrambled to his feet and sprinted toward an open area.
"Run!" Felis shouted, as spikes shot out from the trees around them. The captain clapped his hands together, creating a shockwave that deflected the deadly projectiles. Ash was the first to break free from the forest, diving headlong into the sand of the clearing.
Glit was next, and then the captain leaped out, landing beside them. They all paused, catching their breath, before Felis sprang to his feet in alarm. "You kids, stay here. This seems to be the only safe zone. I'll go and get those two," he commanded, vanishing back into the woods.
Ash glanced at Glit. "Are you okay?" he asked.
"Most definitely," she replied, a newfound realization in her eyes. "The outside world is scary."
"Yes, but I'm just confused," Ash admitted, his breath still ragged.
"About what?" Glit asked, tying her brown hair into a bun, her brows furrowed in curiosity.
"Why would an island possess sentience and then be hostile towards a certain species? What did we do to incur its wrath?" Ash wondered aloud, not really expecting an answer. He was just voicing his sense of hopelessness.
"I don't know, maybe sorcery. When I was little, before I got separated from my Aunt Gertrude, she always told me, 'Do not harm the mountain, because it will come back to harm you,'" Glit said thoughtfully. "I never really understood it until now. Whatever happened on this island, humans must have hurt its very soul, and now it's angry."
"Do the trees of an island have souls?" Ash asked, almost dismissively.
"Of course they do. Everything has its own soul," Glit replied. She wanted to say more, but Ash silenced her with a quick gesture.
They both heard rustling and panting sounds nearby. Before they could react, four strangers burst out of the trees, gasping for breath. "Azim, this is the safe zone," said the first man, a broad-chested figure with a full brown beard.
"Yes, I think so too," replied Azim, who looked like a younger version of the first man.
The other two were women: one, an elderly woman with tear-streaked cheeks, and the other, a girl about thirteen years old.
Ash and Glit instinctively shifted backward, wary of the strangers who had just noticed them. The newcomers also jumped back defensively, the fully bearded man shielding what seemed to be his family.
"This must be one of the island's tricks. I've heard stories of the horrors that lurk in Death Zones—misshapen creatures that can take human form," the bearded man said, eyes wide with suspicion.
"What?" Glit exclaimed. "No, we're not creatures, but keep your distance. We don't trust any of you. How the hell are you on this island?" She demanded, while Ash scanned the group, assessing any potential threats.
"Oh, yeah? Two kids alone in a Death Zone," Azim retorted. "And you think we're the weird ones?"
Realizing how out of place they appeared, Glit and Ash relaxed slightly. "We're not alone," Glit replied. As if on cue, Felis and the others burst from the woods, with Kay yelling frantically.
"Screw higher calling, why in the world would a tree want to eat me!" Kay cried as they sprinted toward the sand.
Ash felt a wave of relief wash over him in the presence of their captain. "Who are these people?" Felis demanded as he reached them.
"Are you the father of these kids?" the bearded man asked, his stance relaxing slightly.
"No, I am their captain. Our boat capsized in the area, and we barely escaped to shore. We realized this was a Death Zone almost as soon as we arrived," Felis explained.
The bearded man let out a heavy sigh. "My family and crew have been trying to get off this island for a week now. We were twelve. This…"—he gestured behind him, his voice breaking; "this is all that's left. I lost two of my kids."
Felis and the bearded man stepped closer, sizing each other up. "I'm sorry for your loss. If you've survived a week here, you must know how to navigate this island," Felis said.
"Yes," the bearded man replied. "I'm a research manager with the Leviathan Marine Corp. We were supposed to observe the island from afar. But pirates infiltrated our ships, murdered our captain, and sailed here in search of some elixir of immortality." He shook his head in disbelief. "They're all dead now. We're all that's left."
Felis nodded, though Ash could tell he wasn't particularly interested in the backstory. "Alright, let's focus on how to escape this island," Felis declared, his voice resolute.
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