The wind tore through the rocky terrain, sharp and relentless, as though it was trying to claw the very life out of anyone foolish enough to remain exposed. Dan Shillings adjusted the straps of his worn-out backpack and squinted into the distance. The cliffs loomed ahead like silent sentinels, cold and unyielding, their shadows stretching across the jagged ground.

He hated this place.

Not the island, not the caves, not even the treacherous winds that made moving from one place to another a daily battle. It was the memories. The smell of salt in the air, the constant echo of crashing, the faint hiss of something slithering in the distance—it all reminded him of Sarah and Lila. He had failed them here. On this cursed island, he had lost his world.

"Dan!"

A voice cut through the roar of the wind, snapping him back to the present. He turned to see Owen jogging toward him, his boyish face lit up with a grin that didn't belong in this desolate place.

"Rachel's looking for you," Owen said, stopping just short of where Dan stood. "Town square. She's rounding up the team."

Dan nodded, tightening his grip on the machete strapped to his side. He didn't need the reminder. He knew why Rachel wanted him.

It was always the same: a new cave, a new family, a new mission to clear out whatever was lurking inside. And lately, it was always snakes—massive, venomous creatures that had claimed more lives than Dan cared to count.

Owen lingered, his smile faltering as he looked at Dan more closely. "You all right? You look... off."

"I'm fine," Dan said sharply, turning away. He started walking toward the town square, not bothering to check if Owen was following.

The truth was, he wasn't fine. He hadn't been fine for two years. But on this island, fine was a luxury no one could afford.

The town square was buzzing with activity. Makeshift stalls lined the edges, offering everything from dried fish to tattered clothing. Children darted between the adults, their laughter a rare and fragile sound in this harsh world. Dan spotted Rachel near the center, her tall frame unmistakable as she barked orders at the gathered Cave Players.

"Listen up!" Rachel's voice cut through the noise as Dan approached. She didn't wait for silence before continuing. "We've got a family that just arrived last night. Their ship was a wreck, and they were barely holding it together. They need a cave—fast."

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Dan glanced around at the other Cave Players. There weren't many of them left. Malik stood off to the side, his scarred face unreadable as always. A few others nodded grimly, their expressions mirroring the exhaustion Dan felt in his bones.

Rachel's gaze settled on him, and for a moment, he thought he saw something like pity in her eyes. He hated that look.

"There's a cave near the eastern cliffs," she said. "Big enough for a family of three. The problem is, it's uncharted, and there have been reports of snakes in the area."

Dan stiffened. His jaw tightened as memories he'd fought to bury clawed their way to the surface.

"You're in, Shillings," Rachel said, her tone leaving no room for argument. "You and Owen take point. Malik, you're with them."

Owen gave an eager nod, while Malik simply grunted in acknowledgment. Dan didn't say anything. He just turned and walked away to prepare.

The journey to the eastern cliffs was as brutal as Dan had expected. The wind tore at their clothes, and the rocky ground made every step a struggle. Owen kept up a steady stream of chatter, clearly trying to lighten the mood, but Dan barely heard him.

"Ever wonder what this place used to be like?" Owen asked at one point, his voice barely audible over the wind.

Dan didn't answer. He had wondered, of course. Everyone did. The ruins scattered across the island, the strange carvings in the caves—none of it made sense. The island had a history, but whatever had happened here had long been buried.

When they finally reached the cave, the group paused to catch their breath. The entrance yawned before them, dark and uninviting, like the mouth of some ancient beast.

Rachel had been right—it was big. Big enough to house more than one family if they cleared it out. But the size only made it more dangerous.

"Stay close," Dan muttered, pulling out his flashlight. He didn't wait for a response before stepping inside.

The air inside the cave was heavy, carrying the faint, acrid smell of something that made Dan's skin crawl. He swept his flashlight across the walls, noting the smooth, polished surface and the strange symbols etched into the stone.

"Think these mean anything?" Owen asked, trailing behind him.

"Focus," Dan snapped. His grip on his machete tightened as he moved deeper into the cave. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the occasional drip of water.

Then he heard it—a faint hiss that sent a chill racing down his spine.

"Did you hear that?" Owen whispered.

Dan froze, his heart pounding. The hiss grew louder, echoing off the walls. His flashlight beam landed on a snake coiled in the corner, its scales shimmering like liquid metal.

"Snake!" Dan shouted.

Owen cursed under his breath, and Malik raised his weapon. The snake uncoiled, its massive body sliding toward them with a speed that made Dan's stomach lurch.

For a moment, he was back in that other cave, watching helplessly as Sarah and Lila screamed, their voices cutting through the darkness as the snakes closed in.

"Dan, move!" Owen's voice jolted him back to the present.

The snake lunged, and Dan swung his machete, the blade connecting with a sickening crunch. The creature writhed, hissing and snapping as it fought to escape.

"Get it!" Owen shouted, but Dan's hands were trembling. He stumbled back, his chest heaving as memories threatened to overwhelm him.

It was Malik who finished the job, driving his spear into the snake's head with brutal precision. The creature went still, its glowing eyes dimming.

Dan sagged against the wall, his breath ragged. He felt Owen's hand on his shoulder but didn't look up.

"You okay?" Owen asked softly.

Dan nodded, though he wasn't sure it was true.

As he lifted his flashlight, something caught his eye—a strange object embedded in the wall. It was small, almost unnoticeable, but the patterns on its surface glowed faintly, pulsing like a heartbeat.

"What is that?" Owen asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Dan didn't answer. He stepped closer, reaching out to touch the relic. The moment his fingers brushed its surface, a wave of warmth spread through him. For the first time in years, he felt... calm.

The calm didn't last.

A loud hiss echoed through the cave, louder and more menacing than before. Dan spun around his flashlight beam landing on a massive snake coiled in the darkness. Its eyes burned with an unnatural light, and its fangs gleamed as it prepared to strike.

Dan's heart stopped. He raised his machete, but his hands were shaking. Memories of Sarah and Lila filled his mind, their screams blending with the snake's hiss.

The creature lunged, and Dan barely had time to react.

And then everything went dark.