Episode 3 - The Escape Plan Part 1

The last traces of daylight disappeared as Ethan led the group deeper into the jungle, the towering trees casting long, shifting shadows. Every step felt like a gamble. The group’s movements were cautious, each footfall as quiet as they could manage on the uneven ground, but adrenaline coursing through his veins made every noise sound amplified in the oppressive silence of the jungle.

The humid air clung to them like a second skin, and the oppressive darkness made it nearly impossible to see. Every rustle in the bushes or snap of a twig sent shivers through Ethan’s spine. He motioned for the group to crouch behind a cluster of ferns as the distant sound of muffled voices filtered through the trees. Pirates. They were close—too close.

Ethan strained his ears, trying to make out the voices. He gestured silently to the others, pointing toward a shallow ravine just ahead. Liza’s face was pale but focused, her hand gripping Daisy’s tightly as they began to move. Grant followed close behind, his breathing controlled but shallow, his usual bravado stripped away by the gravity of the situation.

As they descended into the ravine, the voices grew louder, accompanied by the crunch of boots on leaves. Ethan froze. Just ahead, a small group of pirates emerged from the treeline, their torches casting an eerie glow against the dense foliage. Ethan’s heart thundered in his chest as he pushed the others down into the undergrowth, signaling them to stay silent.

One pirate suddenly stopped, tilting his head as if he had heard something.

“Wait,” he said, his voice was sharp. “Did you hear that?”

Ethan’s heart nearly stopped. The pirate turned, his torchlight sweeping dangerously close to their hiding spot. Ethan could feel the group holding their breath, every second stretching into an eternity. The pirate stepped closer, the glow of his torch illuminating the brush where they lay hidden. Ethan’s grip on the makeshift knife in his hand tightened, ready for the worst.

But just as the pirate bent down to inspect the area, a distant call echoed through the jungle.

“Hey! Over here!” another pirate shouted.

The man hesitated, his brow furrowing, before straightening and moving toward the source of the call. Ethan didn’t dare move until the last of the torchlight disappeared into the trees.

Ethan exhaled shakily, signaling the others to move. They crawled through the undergrowth, keeping low and silent until the voices and light were far behind. Every muscle in Ethan’s body screamed for rest, but he couldn’t stop now. The jungle seemed endless, but finally, they stumbled upon a small, secluded clearing—a shallow depression shielded by thick brush and a towering hill behind them.

“Here,” Ethan whispered, his voice hoarse. “This will have to do.”

The group sprang into action despite their exhaustion. Grant quickly fashioned a makeshift tarp using fabric he had salvaged earlier. Daisy gathered leaves and branches for cover, her movements steady despite her trembling hands. Ethan and Liza worked together, securing the perimeter with makeshift barriers of branches and rocks.

The fire they built was small, its flickering flames barely enough to pierce the darkness, but it was a beacon of hope in the oppressive jungle. Sitting around it, the group exchanged quiet glances, their fear palpable but unspoken. They had survived the crash and evaded the pirates—for now.

Ethan’s gaze drifted to the dense jungle surrounding them. The island was vast and dangerous, but their will to survive burned brighter than the fire before them.

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