As soon as I opened my eyes, I had to shut them again—the world was a glaring white, as if the sun had decided to throw all its light in my direction. The salt-laden wind swept across my face, carrying the scent of brine and seaweed, stinging my skin like tiny pinpricks. I raised my hand to shield my eyes and blinked against the harsh brightness.
Before me stretched an endless ocean, its surface rippling like a sheet of glass, broken only by the occasional crest of a wave. Behind me, the sand crunched under my feet, a warm, golden blanket that clung to my ankles. I turned around, trying to make sense of where I was, and that’s when I heard it—a voice, sharp as a whip, cutting through the heavy air.
“Run!”
The shout came from behind me, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps. I whipped around, just in time to see a figure—disheveled and frantic—dash past me. I barely had time to register the panic in his face before my attention shifted. A swarm of Sand Sprites, their tiny bodies flickering with an otherworldly glow, were charging toward us, their shrill cries a banshee wail in the wind. Grains of sand whirled in their wake, forming a storm of dust that choked the air.
Instinct kicked in. I bolted after the runner—my heart pounding in my chest like a war drum. I wasn’t sure if he was a savior or just another fool trying to survive, but either way, staying behind wasn’t an option.
The Sand Sprites closed in, their claws digging into the earth as they launched themselves at us. One shot past my head, its wings buzzing like a swarm of angry wasps. I ducked, narrowly missing its razor-sharp tail. The wind screamed in my ears, or maybe that was me—I wasn’t sure anymore. Another Sprite swooped down, aiming for my legs, but I leapt out of the way just in time, kicking up a spray of sand in the process.
The air was thick with the scent of salt and sweat, the heat clinging to me like a second skin. My muscles burned with each step, the ground hot beneath my feet, but I forced myself to keep running. The figure ahead—whoever he was—seemed to know where he was going, his movements confident despite the chaos behind us.
By the time we reached the river, the world had blurred into a dizzying haze of sand and sun. I collapsed to my knees, my breath ragged, chest heaving as I tried to suck in the thick, humid air. The water in front of me was cool and inviting, shimmering under the sun, but I was too tired to move.
The man—Maris, I would later learn—dipped his hands into the river, drinking greedily. His movements were quick, desperate, like he hadn’t seen water in days. I, on the other hand, was still trying to make sense of everything that had just happened. My body felt like it had been put through a meat grinder, but at least we were alive. For now.
“What did you do to upset those guys?” I gasped, still trying to catch my breath. My throat felt like sandpaper, and every word scratched its way out.
Maris wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, his eyes flickering with a mix of amusement and exhaustion. “I crash-landed here a couple of weeks ago, and I’ve been trying to survive ever since.” His voice was steady, but there was a hint of something darker beneath the surface—something he wasn’t saying.
I glanced at him, and that’s when I noticed it—the lack of a crystal above his head. My breath caught. Everyone had a crystal, didn’t they? I blinked again, making sure my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me. But no, it wasn’t there. No crystal, no glowing guide to track his life force or whatever it was supposed to be.
How the hell was he still alive?
“You don’t have a crystal,” I said, more to myself than to him. The words tumbled out before I could stop them.
Maris raised an eyebrow, clearly unfazed. “Noticed that, huh? Yeah, guess I’m special.” His grin was all teeth, the kind that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
I wanted to press him for more, but something about the way he said it told me I wouldn’t get any real answers. Not yet, anyway.
“So, what’s your plan for leaving this place?” I asked, hoping to steer the conversation somewhere useful. My legs were still trembling from the run, and the thought of staying on this monster-infested beach didn’t sit well with me.
He gave me a look like I’d just asked if the sky was green. “You kidding me?” He shook his head, laughing under his breath. “This place is paradise. Don’t let a few monsters straight out of mythology scare you off. Besides, I came here for a reason.”
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He paused, eyes scanning the horizon, as if the very air held secrets he was just waiting to uncover. “The treasure of Ghuilina, King of Pirates. They say he hid his life’s work here—every ounce of treasure he ever earned, and then some. But I haven’t found it yet.”
Now it was my turn to look at him like he was crazy. A pirate map? Really?
[Hey, give the guy a break. It’s not like he’s out here chasing UFOs or something.] Still, a treasure hunt? In the middle of this... nightmare?
I shook my head, rubbing the back of my neck. “Alright, let’s say I help you find this treasure. What’s in it for me?”
“Well, for starters, you get a share of the treasure. I get a little more since I’m letting you in on the secret.” Maris gave a grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes, the edges of his bushy red beard twitching as he spoke. His green eyes flickered with a mix of greed and desperation, and I could see the wheels turning in his head. “But I don’t mind parting with, say… 25%?”
I suppressed a grimace, keeping my expression neutral. He was trying to undercut me, clearly. The way his hands fidgeted slightly at his sides told me all I needed to know—this wasn’t a confident negotiation. He was desperate, and that desperation was something I could use.
I eyed him for a moment longer, taking in the ragged state of his clothes, the smudges of dirt clinging to his face beneath that mess of red hair. His shirt hung loose on his frame, hinting at a man who hadn’t eaten well in days. His lips were dry and cracked, though he tried to maintain an air of control. This wasn’t just about the treasure for him. This was survival.
“Only 25%?” I let the words hang in the air, as if they tasted bitter on my tongue. “Seems a bit light, especially since, from the way you’re talking, I’m going to be the one doing most of the work.”
Maris shifted his weight, his eyes darting to the ground for a split second before he forced that grin back on his face. “I’m the one who found the location,” he countered, but the crack in his voice betrayed him. He wasn’t just dealing with greed—there was something else gnawing at him.
I stood up slowly, brushing the sand off my legs. Every movement deliberate. I closed the space between us, watching how his posture stiffened, his fingers twitching as though ready to grab at something—what, I wasn’t sure. Fear? No, it wasn’t fear exactly, but close enough. Whatever cards he thought he held, he knew he was losing his grip.
“50%, or I walk away right now,” I said, my voice low, calm, like I had all the time in the world. I wanted him to sweat. I needed him to crack.
He blinked, his mouth opening as if to argue, but no words came. He was weighing his options, I could see that—considering if he could really pull this off alone. His eyes flickered toward the horizon, toward the dense jungle beyond. The island wasn’t just beautiful, it was alive in a way that demanded respect. Towering trees stretched up toward the sky like ancient sentinels, their trunks wrapped in thick vines. The air was heavy with moisture, carrying the scent of damp earth and salt. The sound of distant waves crashing against rocks provided a constant, rhythmic reminder of how isolated we really were.
“35%,” he finally said, his voice breaking the stillness. His grin had faded, replaced by something far more human. He wasn’t bargaining anymore; he was pleading.
I stared at him, watching the way his beard twitched as he clenched his jaw. His green eyes, once sharp with cunning, now looked tired, like someone who had run too many calculations and realized they didn’t add up. He needed this treasure. Needed it bad.
“45%,” I replied, taking a step closer, pushing him just a little further. I could feel the tension rolling off him, like a coiled spring ready to snap.
“Damn it.” He exhaled sharply, his shoulders sagging as if I’d just pulled the last bit of resistance out of him. “Fine. 40%. But that’s it. Please. I really need this treasure. It’ll barely be enough.”
There it was—that crack I’d been waiting for. Desperation, raw and unfiltered. I had him. I could’ve pushed for more, squeezed him until he gave me 50%, maybe more, but I decided to pull back. There was something about that last plea, the way his voice faltered, that told me he wasn’t just being greedy. He was on the edge of something worse—something personal.
I nodded, extending my hand. “Deal.”
His grip was firm but trembling slightly. His hand was rough, calloused, like a man who had fought hard for every inch of progress in his life. We shook, sealing the agreement. He gave a weak smile, but I could still see the anxiety in his eyes. Whatever burden he was carrying hadn’t been lifted by this deal—if anything, it had grown heavier.
As we started walking toward the jungle, I took one last glance at him, noting the way his gaze lingered on the distant trees, the way his jaw clenched as if he were preparing for a battle far more complicated than just finding treasure.
The island loomed ahead, a vast, untamed expanse of green and brown. The canopy above swayed gently in the breeze, casting shifting shadows on the forest floor. The vines twisted around ancient trunks, their leaves glistening with dew in the humid air. Somewhere in the distance, a bird let out a shrill cry, its voice echoing through the jungle like a warning. And beyond it all, the volcano stood silent, a dark, jagged peak stabbing into the sky.
The map feature I had zoomed out gave a bird’s eye view of the island. From here, it looked almost peaceful, a perfect little paradise in the middle of the ocean. But I knew better. The jungle was alive, and not in the friendly, welcoming way. This place was going to test us, push us to our limits, and it would take everything we had to come out on top.
But first, we had to find that treasure.