Chapter 1 Deserted Island

• Shannon Morris' POV:
• When the storm clouds started gathering over this deserted island, I knew the downpour was inevitable.
• Huge waves crashed against the rocks, almost like some eerie drumbeat.
• Half a month ago, I finally uncovered the truth about my real identity and discovered I had some connection to the Stapletons of Nearburg.
• I planned to return to the Stapletons to uncover the truth behind my mother's death and the reason I was abducted all those years ago. But before the cruise ship I was on could even reach the port, I was ambushed by a group of people claiming they were here to "take me home."
• Even though they were carrying silenced pistols, it was obvious these guys weren't professional hitmen. Their shooting was laughably bad, they didn't even know where to aim.
• I easily fought them off, managing to snag one of their guns and a few remaining bullets. I wasn't sure if more would come after me, but having a gun felt better than being empty-handed.
• Unfortunately, during the fight, the cruise ship started taking on water, and I ended up drifting here to this deserted island.
• Today marks my seventh day here, and I haven't seen any passing ships. There's not much food on the island either, and I have no idea if cannibals are lurking around. I know I have to figure out how to make a simple raft and get off this place.
• The knife I had on me has been a lifesaver. With it, I managed to build a small wooden boat. Now, all I need to finish are the oars.
• As I was focused on carving the wood, fat raindrops began falling on my arm.
• Within seconds, the rain was pouring so hard I could barely see a hundred feet ahead.
• D*mn! The oars were the last thing I had to make, and now it decided to rain like this.
• I reminded myself to stay calm. As long as I was alive, I'd make it back to the Stapletons and find out the truth.
• As I stood up, ready to stretch, I caught something in the corner of my eye—a black shape near the rocks not far away. I thought it might just be the heavy rain messing with my vision.
• But better to be safe than sorry. I had to check out whatever that black thing was.
• If it was a lone cannibal out scavenging for food, my knife could easily pierce his throat.
• "What the hell is that?" I muttered to myself as I got closer. To my surprise, it wasn't a "thing" at all—it was a man!
• I moved forward, my eyes cautiously locked on him. He looked like he was barely alive.
• "Hey!" I shouted, but the sound of the rain and crashing waves almost drowned out my voice. I walked over and kicked his leg. "Are you still alive?"
• I crouched down, quickly glancing over the half-dead man. His face was pale but hauntingly handsome. His waist was badly injured, blood pouring out and mixing with the seawater, creating an eerie scene.
• "Alright, alright. Since you're not too bad to look at, I'll check if you're still breathing." I crouched lower, checking for any signs of life. He was still breathing, and when I pressed my hand against his chest, I could feel a faint heartbeat.
• As I slipped my hand into his shirt, I noticed a strange tattoo on his chest.
• It seemed familiar. I paused for a few seconds, trying to place where I'd seen it before, but nothing came to mind.
• My gut told me this man wasn't ordinary. Saving him might not be such a bad idea after all.
• I hope he survives and makes it off this island.
• I felt a faint heartbeat. It turns out he's not dead yet!
• I couldn't help but marvel at this man's incredible will to live. If fate led him to me, then maybe it's a sign that his time hasn't come just yet.
• With all the strength I had, I dragged him onto the island and carried him to the cave I'd been sleeping in for the past few days.
• Luckily, I'd picked up quite a few survival skills during the time I was kidnapped. After starting a fire with dry wood, I braved the rain again to search for plants that could stop the bleeding.
• There wasn't much to eat on this island, but it was covered with all kinds of wild plants.
• "You're really lucky to have run into someone as kind-hearted as me. Anyone else would've just left you to the fish."
• As I spoke, I started taking off his clothes to examine his wound more closely. It wasn't a gunshot wound; it looked like he'd been stabbed with a multi-edged blade. The wound was deep, and I had no idea if it had hit any organs.
• I chewed up some of the herbs that had healing properties and pressed them onto the wound. The man groaned in pain.
• "Who are you?" His voice was weak, but he still managed to grab my wrist with surprising strength. His other hand instinctively reached for a gun.
• I'm sure if he had one nearby, he would've blown my head off by now.
• "I saved you! I'm your savior! If you want to bleed out and die, then I'll stop wasting my energy on you."
• As I finished speaking, it seemed like his mind cleared. His gaze met mine, then shifted to his wound.
• "Thanks. I can take it from here." His gratitude was so insincere it was laughable. He even pushed my hand away, not just with indifference, but with those sharp green eyes full of suspicion.
• "What did you put on my wound?" he asked in a low, cold voice.
• "It'll help stop the bleeding and prevent infection." My eyes drifted to his wound again and couldn't help but notice his toned abs and chest. He had a light dusting of chest hair, and even with the injury, his body still radiated an aura of strength.
• "Where are we?"
• His icy tone snapped me back to reality. Honestly, I wanted to know that too! After all, I'd been stuck on this island for seven days.
• If I knew where we were, I wouldn't still be stranded here.
• "Even a baby learning to speak isn't as chatty as you are. If you've got the energy to talk, you should use it to rest instead."
• "Is that how a doctor talks to their patient? If I had a gun, I'd shoot you." His tone was dripping with irritation.
• The fact that he was threatening me with a gun was almost funny. I shot back, "Oh really? Is that how you treat the person who saved your life?"
• "Do you even know who I am?"
• "I don't know if you could shoot me, but I know I could shoot you right now." I pulled out the gun I'd been keeping for self-defense and pointed it right at his head, just to show him I wasn't someone to be messed with.