“This tastes so good!” Alice mumbled around a huge mouthful, happily munching on the cooked flesh of the massive fish.
Using her flame abilities, they had managed to kindle a roaring campfire right outside the cave entrance.
Watching Alice happily devour the fish stirred something inside him.
For the first time since entering the cave, he actually felt hungry.
He reached over, flaked off a steaming piece of white meat, and popped it into his mouth.
It was incredibly tender, melting on his tongue.
It certainly would have been nice if they had some salt or seasoning, but he knew that was unrealistic in a place like this.
“Ah, I am stuffed,” Alice sighed happily, tossing a picked-clean, giant fish bone onto the grass beside her.
She had devoured the vast majority of the meal, but Sam did not mind in the slightest.
She did far more of the heavy lifting than he did anyway, so it only made sense that she needed the extra energy.
The sun began to dip below the horizon, plunging the surrounding wilderness into a deep, heavy darkness.
The temperature dropped rapidly along with the light.
Shivering slightly, Sam extended his hands over the crackling embers of the fire to stave off the chill.
Alice, however, appeared completely unfazed.
While Sam huddled closer to the fire, she casually slipped off her suit jacket as though it were a warm summer evening.
“Don’t you feel cold?” he asked, pulling his arms tighter against his chest.
“Oh, not at all!” Alice beamed.
“Thanks to my powers, I can actually adjust my body temperature with ease!” She struck a ridiculous, triumphant pose, flexing her biceps to emphasise her point.
Sam couldn’t help feeling a little jealous.
That would save an absolute fortune on heating bills back home, he thought.
“I’ve also been meaning to ask… why do you keep wearing a suit even when you’re out here fighting monsters?” he asked, staring down at the sleek jacket she had just tossed onto the grass.
“Well, when you have flame powers, normal clothes just end up burning right off you,” she explained proudly.
“So I had this suit custom-made. It can resist any intensity of heat!”
“Okay, sure,” Sam nodded slowly, trying to wrap his head around it.
“But why a business suit? Why not something a bit more comfortable?”
“Well, that way I can use it for both fighting and formal events!” Alice beamed, holding up two fingers.
“Two things in one!”
Her response was so ridiculous that it made it impossible not to laugh.
Alice’s expression softened as she watched him, her voice dropping to a gentle murmur.
“Thanks,” he replied softly.
Sam lay back against the grass, resting his hands behind his head as he stared up at the vast, shimmering night sky.
After a moment, Alice settled down beside him, joining his gaze.
The stars were scattered like diamonds, creating a breath-taking pattern across the ink-black sky.
“To think such a beautiful place would be used for such a horrific game,” Alice mused quietly, her usual boisterous energy entirely replaced by awe.
Her words lingered in the cool air, sparking a thought in Sam’s mind.
Was this island something Nexis had created… or somewhere that had always existed?
He didn’t have the answer.
But either way, this was not a place he intended to remain.
His goal was clear: survive this island and get out safely with Alice.
No matter what.
“Welp. I’m going to bed,” Alice announced, shattering his deep thoughts with a sudden yawn.
“If you spot anything that looks even slightly dangerous, you wake me up immediately. Got it?”
“I will,” Sam nodded.
She closed her eyes.
Barely three seconds later, a loud, rhythmic rumble erupted from her nose.
SNORE!
Sam blinked in utter confusion, staring at her unmoving face.
Well.
That was fast.
He continued to admire the night sky in silence, but his eyelids grew heavier with each passing minute.
Eventually, his gaze faltered.
Without meaning to, he drifted off into a deep sleep.
“Gah!” Sam suddenly gasped, his eyes flying open as the brilliant morning sun beamed directly into his face.
He blinked wildly, panic shooting through him.
How long did I sleep for?!
Groaning, he tried to push himself up off the grass, but his upper body would not budge.
A heavy weight pinned him to the ground.
He glanced down and froze.
Somehow, during the night, Alice had completely rolled over and thrown both of her legs across his torso.
He struggled against her deadweight, finally shoving her legs off his chest before scrambling to his feet.
He quickly scanned their surroundings, checking for danger. This story is hosted at g.com.
His heart skipped a beat.
Standing just a few yards away was a silent figure, bathed in the morning light.
It was a young woman clad in a pristine white robe, with large, snow-white feathered wings sprouting from her back and a glowing halo floating softly above her head.
Long, cascading blonde hair framed her face, while striking purple eyes watched him silently.
“Who the hell are you?!” Sam screamed, stumbling backward so fast his heels caught in the grass.
“What?! What’s going on?!” Alice yelled, instantly jolted awake by his cry.
Her hands immediately ignited with sparks.
“Ah! Don’t hurt me!” the angel squealed, dropping straight to her knees on the grass and burying her face in her hands.
“Who are you? And why were you watching us?” Alice demanded.
She stepped between Sam and the stranger, her glowing palms directed straight at the trembling angel, ready to blast her at a moment’s notice.
“Wait! I’m not here to fight!” she cried, peering through her fingers with wide, tearful eyes.
“I just want to work together!”
“Work together?” Alice asked, raising a sceptical eyebrow.
She didn’t lower her hands, the heat radiating from her palms still distorting the air.
The angel nodded her head frantically, her halo bobbing up and down along with her movements.
What should I do?
Alice thought to herself, her eyes narrowing as she studied the trembling girl.
She didn’t look dangerous, but what if it was all an act?
If this angel was truly helpless, turning her away to die alone in the wilderness wouldn’t sit right with Alice’s conscience.
But if she let her guard down, a stranger could betray them in an instant.
“Okay,” Sam said, stepping forward and placing a reassuring hand on Alice’s shoulder.
“You can stay with us.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea, Sam?” Alice asked, her eyes darting to him, though she still refused to lower her stance.
“Yeah. It’s just a gut feeling, but I don’t think she’ll hurt us.”
“Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!” the angel exclaimed.
She practically threw herself forward, crawling across the grass to wrap her arms in a death grip around Sam’s legs.
“Hey, let go of me!” Sam exclaimed, trying and failing to shake his legs free.
But the angel utterly refused to release her grip.
She only clung tighter, burying her face against his trousers as she wept with relief.
Maybe helping her wasn’t such a good idea after all… Sam thought, staring down at her with a heavy sigh.