The Stranded

Chapter 3: New Hope

Today's conditions are better than the previous day; at least we have food, water, and a place to shelter, so our bodies don't feel as tired. We gathered again around the campfire, even though it had already died down.

"Any luck with the radio, Ash?" Daniel asked. I frowned, not understanding what radio Daniel was referring to.

Asher shook his head. "Nothing yet. But we'll keep trying. We have to believe someone will pick up our signal eventually," Asher replied. "Yesterday, Rafael also brought a radio from the yacht, in case anyone was wondering. We can use the radio to seek help."

Before I could ask, Asher had already answered my question. Only a few people seemed to know about the radio, as I heard several people murmur in understanding.

"Today, I will go back to the yacht to pick up some other things," Rafael said. "We need to build a raft to seek help. I will bring equipment like a hammer and nails from the yacht."

This time, there was no debate over Rafael's announcement. Everyone seemed to agree, having faith that Rafael would return safely.

"I think we also need to look for more food supplies; we cannot solely rely on the food supplies Rafael brought," Tiffany finally expressed her opinion.

"We could explore this island in groups, I think," Mila interjected. "We can collect fruits and herbs."

"Can I not go?" asked Sara. "My body is unwell, and I don't think it's a good idea for me to go."

"Me too, my allergy is acting up," said Thea.

"Alright, so I think it is a good idea for some of us to stay here," Daniel said. "Sara, Thea, Callie, and Asher should stay here. You guys can also help Rafael bring things inside."

"The rest of us will be divided into two groups. The first group will consist of Mila, Natasha, Tiffany, and Felix. The second group will be Nadia, Diana, Leona, and me."

Daniel quickly and efficiently divided the groups. Group one would explore the right side of the island, while group two would explore the left side. I then prepared to bring the necessary items for this exploration.

"We should come back before dark," Daniel decided. I gave him a light nod in agreement.

I followed Mila as she slowly walked into the forest. We walked in a line with Mila leading the way. In this team, Mila had survival knowledge and martial arts skills.

As we ventured deeper into the island's interior, the foliage grew thicker, and the air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and exotic blooms. The sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor. We moved cautiously, our senses on high alert. Every rustle of leaves and every snap of a twig sent a shiver down my spine.

"Look at these flowers! They're beautiful but definitely don't touch them," Mila said, pointing to a cluster of bright red blooms.

As we ventured deeper, the sounds of the jungle enveloped us. Birds called out from the canopy, and we occasionally heard rustling in the underbrush, though we never saw any animals.

"Tiff, keep an eye out for more edible plants or fruits," Mila instructed. Tiffany was our best bet because she knew about botany. We had already picked some berries and mangoes that surprisingly grew on this kind of island.

"Mila, watch out!"

"Ugh!"

Too late, my warning came a fraction of a second after Mila tripped forward, stumbling over a tree root that jutted out from the ground.

"You good?" Felix asked.

Mila tried to stand and said, "I'm o—wow!" She fell again before finishing her sentence. It seemed her ankle was sprained.

"We can't continue this trip. Let's go back to the shelter," I suggested.

Everyone agreed, so we turned back to the shelter. Mila was still leading the way, but now she was being carried by Felix. She couldn't walk on her own.

We walked slowly and carefully, feeling our way back. Getting lost was not an option at a time like this. Fortunately, we made it back to the shelter safely. Rafael had already returned from his trip to the yacht.

"Callie, Mila is injured," I shouted to Callie. She and Thea were the ones knowledgeable about medicine and first aid.

"What? Luckily, we have the first-aid box," she said, rushing toward Mila, who Felix had already set down inside the shelter.

Callie quickly rolled up Mila's pants. "You sprained your ankle. It shouldn't be too bad. Thea, could you help me bring the glass bottle and fill it with water?"

Afterward, I watched Callie wrap the swelling on Mila's ankle and elevate it with some boxes. When Thea returned with the bottle, she applied a compress to Mila's ankle.

"You should take this," Callie said, handing ibuprofen to Mila, who was still grimacing in pain.Once I was sure Mila's ankle was well taken care of, I got up and walked outside. It seemed Tiffany had already organized the fruits we had collected near the other food supplies.

"So, what now?" I asked quietly, almost to myself.

Not long after, I saw Daniel appear, supporting Leona, who was limping. God, what had happened to her?

"What happened to Leona?" I asked Nadia.

"She fell from a tree while trying to pick some fruits," she replied. Oh God, what next? First Mila, now Leona. I hope no one else gets hurt.

I approached Rafael to ask what we should do now, and he responded that we should stick to the plan: continue sending signals and build a raft to seek help.

The team was divided again. Rafael, Daniel, Felix, Nadia, and I now had the task of building the raft. Asher had the task of continuing to send signals. Tiffany, Callie, and Thea would take care of the injured and handle the food.

My earlier melancholy gave way to a renewed sense of hope. I hoped that after this, a miracle would happen.

TO BE CONTINUED.