Chapter 304: Chapter 305

Chapter 305

Nikolai’s POV

Building two separate shelters on the open beach was definitely the smartest move.

The dark rainforest behind us was far too dangerous to enter, and a cave would trap us in a corner if a wild animal wandered inside. Out here on the sand, we had clear sightlines, fresh sea air, and a direct view of the horizon if a rescue boat came searching for our beacon.

I carried Nina out of the freezing ocean water, setting her down gently on a dry patch of sand near a cluster of large grey rocks.

Without wasting a single minute, I went straight to work. I gathered thick driftwood branches washed up along the tide line, large palm fronds from the outer edge of the tree line, and long vines to lash everything together. My muscles burned with fatigue, and my wounded leg throbbed with a dull, aching pain, but I pushed straight through the discomfort.

Within two hours, I had constructed two separate, sturdy lean-to shelters tucked against the rock wall. I made sure they were raised slightly off the damp sand to keep out crawling insects, weaving dense palm leaves together to form thick roofs that would block the cool night wind.

Next, I set up a small, controlled fire in a shallow pit between the two tents. I used dry palm husks and a spark struck from two sharp pieces of flint rock I found near the tide pool. The flames flickered to life, casting a warm, orange glow across our small camp and pushing back the dark shadows of the rainforest.

I sat down on a flat rock beside the fire, fussing slightly under my breath as I rolled my damp tactical trousers up past my knees to inspect the bloody bandage on my leg. The salt water had cleansed the wound, but it was raw and inflamed.

Nina sat inside her shelter, wrapping her arms around her knees. She was still giving me a cold, heavy attitude, her lips pressed into a stubborn line as she stared directly into the flickering flames, refusing to speak a single word to me after her outburst on the beach.

I reached for the wooden spear I had carved from a sturdy branch earlier. I walked down to the shallow tide pool near the rocks, using the firelight to spot two decent-sized fish trapped in the current. With two fast, precise strikes, I impaled both fish, brought them back to the fire, and roasted them over the hot coals until the skin turned crisp and brown.

I pulled the first roasted fish off the wooden stick and walked over to Nina's shelter, handing it directly to her.

"Eat," I said simply. "You need your strength."

Nina looked at the fish, then looked up at me with her sharp, defensive glare. She did not say a word, but her stomach let out a loud, betraying rumble that shattered her tough act. She snatched the fish from my hand and instantly began ravishing it, taking large, hungry bites as if she had not eaten in days.

Within less than two minutes, the entire fish was completely gone, leaving only the thin white bones in her lap. She licked her fingers, looking down at her bare hands with a small, unsatisfied frown.

I looked down at the second roasted fish resting in my own hands. I had not eaten a proper meal in over twenty-four hours, and my body was screaming for calories. But looking at her pale, tired face and hungry eyes, I did not hesitate for even a second.

I stepped forward and handed my own roasted fish directly to her.

Nina paused, looking up at me in genuine surprise. "What about you?" she asked, her voice quiet and hesitant.

"I am fine," I replied smoothly, placing the fish in her hands. "Eat it."

She hesitated for a split second before taking a bite, devouring the second fish just as fast as the first.

While she finished the food, I walked over to a fallen palm tree near the sand, picking up a heavy green coconut. I used my sharp wire tool and a heavy stone to strike the top of the shell, splitting the hard coconut perfectly into two clean halves without spilling a single drop of the clear liquid inside.

I walked back to her shelter, bending down and handing her the larger half filled with fresh, sweet coconut water.

Nina took the heavy coconut half into her small hands, taking three long, greedy gulps until her lips were wet. She set the empty shell down on the sand, looking up at my face through her long lashes.

"Thank you," she muttered softly, though her voice still carried that stubborn, defensive edge.

Without waiting for a response, she turned her body around, pulling a thick pile of dry palm leaves over her shoulders and crawling deep into her private tent. She intentionally turned her back to me, clearly still holding onto her dramatic attitude.

I stood there in the quiet firelight, watching the back of her tent. I shook my head slowly, a small, subtle smile tugging at the corner of my lips as I turned away.

"Women's tantrums," I whispered quietly to myself, shaking my head again.

I took a slow, deep breath, looking back toward the dark, rustling rainforest behind our camp. "I just hope she does not get her period while we are trapped out here," I muttered under my breath, letting out a long, heavy sigh at the mere thought of navigating that situation on a deserted island.

Leaving Nina to rest inside her shelter, I turned and took a slow walk down toward the edge of the water. The cool night air brushed against my bare chest, soothing my warm skin.

I stopped near the shoreline, leaning my weight onto my good leg and tilting my head up toward the vast, dark night sky. Millions of bright stars stretched across the black void above us. I scanned the clear sky meticulously, looking for clues, checking the star constellations to estimate our general nautical position, and searching the horizon to see if I could spot the distant flashing lights of an airplane, a cargo ship, or Dante’s rescue boat searching the sector.

The ocean waves lapped rhythmically against the shore, and for a brief moment, the island was completely quiet.

Suddenly, a sharp, terrifying sound tore through the peaceful night air.

A loud, ear-splitting scream echoed from the direction of the camp.

It was Nina.

I was completely taken aback, my heart dropping into my stomach as her desperate, horrified voice echoed across the open beach, shattering the silence of the night.