On This Island, I Make the Rules

Chapter 004

Brooke ran toward the clearing.

Ethan glanced around and followed, tightening his grip on the sharpened branch he had brought along. Logan was the first person they had seen since the crash. He wanted to feel relieved.

Then Brooke screamed.

The smell reached Ethan a moment later.

Logan was dead.

“How...?” Brooke whispered. “What happened to him?”

She seized Ethan's hand.

A low, rasping growl came from the brush. Her nails dug into his arm.

Ethan looked past Logan's body and froze.

Something was eating him.

It was about the size of a wolf, with a sloping, hyena-like body, an unnaturally wide mouth, and long exposed fangs. It tore at Logan's leg, then lifted its head toward them.

Every hair on Ethan's body stood on end.

The creature bared its teeth.

“Ethan,” Brooke whispered. “It's eating him.”

She looked at what was left of Logan and gagged.

“Don't make a sound.”

Ethan didn't dare move too quickly. The animal already had food. Maybe, if they didn't threaten it, it would leave them alone.

“Back away. Slowly.”

He guided Brooke a step backward, trying not to make the creature think they were coming for its meal.

“Is it going to attack us?”

Her legs barely seemed to work.

The animal growled again. It hadn't stopped watching them.

“Keep moving. Don't stare at it. Just stay with me.”

Ethan's whole body was rigid. He had no idea what this thing was, only what it could do. It had broken through Logan's leg bone. One bite could be enough to kill them, even if they escaped the initial attack.

Brooke's foot slipped.

She screamed and fell backward onto the ground.

The creature lunged.

“Help me! Ethan!”

She couldn't even get up.

Ethan stepped in front of her and swung the branch with both hands.

“Back!” he roared.

It was the only weapon he had. He made himself as loud and threatening as he could, praying it would be enough.

The creature stopped just short of him.

It lowered its head, studying him.

“Go,” Ethan said without turning.

They couldn't both stay here. He hated Brooke, but he couldn't let the thing get to her.

“What about you?”

“Get to the beach. I'll be right behind you.” He forced a strained smile. “What's a bite or two?”

He knew perfectly well that a bite from this thing could be the end of him.

Brooke scrambled upright.

“I'll wait by the rocks. Don't you dare die, Leech.”

Then she ran.

Ethan kept the branch moving between himself and the animal.

With a sudden snarl, it leaped.

He hadn't thought anything that size could jump so high. It hit him before he could get out of the way and drove him flat onto his back.

He thrust the branch across its mouth.

Its teeth clamped down inches from his throat.

Hot, foul-smelling saliva dripped onto him. Up close, the fangs looked even longer. Its forelegs pinned him with a strength he could hardly believe.

His arms began to shake.

Then a sound drifted through the forest.

A hollow, wavering note, almost like someone blowing into a clay whistle.

The creature's ears pricked.

It stopped struggling.

A heartbeat later, it sprang away and disappeared into the trees without another glance at Ethan.

He lay there, stunned.

What the hell was that?

Had someone called it?

Was somebody keeping these things?

He didn't stay to find out. He got up and hurried to the shore.

Brooke was hiding among the rocks.

“Where is it?” she asked when she saw him. “Did you kill it?”

“It ran off.” He was still struggling to catch his breath. “I think someone might be controlling it.”

“Someone?”

Some of the fear left her face.

“So it was somebody's pet? And you were that scared? God, Ethan, you're useless. What happens if we meet a real wild animal? How are you supposed to protect me? What are you going to tell my dad if something happens to me?”

Something inside him snapped.

He had nearly died getting her away from that thing, and this was what she had to say?

At home, she had almost drowned him. Out here, she still didn't care whether he lived or died.

“I risked my life for you.” His voice shook. “And you're standing there calling me useless?”

“Don't raise your voice at me.”

“Stop bringing your dad into this. I'm done. Do you hear me? I'm done.”

Brooke stared at him.

“What's wrong with you, Leech? You were supposed to help me. You owe me.”

“No. I've had enough. You keep treating me like this, and I swear you'll regret it.”

The words came from somewhere deep and ugly, somewhere he had kept locked away for years.

They had been stranded for days. No rescue had come. David was a police officer; if anyone could have set people looking for them, it was him. The silence made Ethan fear that nobody even knew where to search.

He might die on this island with Brooke Mercer still telling him he was worthless.

For once, saying what he felt gave him a little room to breathe.

He had never spoken to her like this before.

Then he saw her expression.

Contempt.

She didn't believe he would do anything. She never had.

“I'll regret it?” She tilted her chin. “What exactly are you going to do? You barely have the guts to look me in the eye.”

Ethan's jaw tightened.

Brooke gave a sharp, dismissive laugh.

“That's what I thought. You're a leech, Ethan. You always will be. Go on, then. Try me.”