Castaway Haven

STRANDED

"Do you think we're on Serenity Island?" Harry asked. He stood up, grains of sand cascading off his body as he brushed them away. His clothes clung to him, drenched from their recent adventure into the shimmering blue waters.

The allure of beaches and the soft touch of sand had always held a special place in his heart, but in this moment, all he yearned for was the soothing embrace of a refreshing shower.

Louis, his gaze scanning the surroundings, rose to his feet alongside Harry.

The beach stretched out before them, a pristine canvas of immaculate white sand. Unlike the bustling shores packed with enthusiastic tourists they had been used to for the past few days, this secluded haven felt untouched by human presence. A sense of tranquillity emanated from the empty expanse, as if nature itself had created a sanctuary for weary souls.

In the distance, a lush tropical forest beckoned, its verdant foliage tempting Louis with the promise of solace and serenity. He longed to escape the clingy sand beneath his feet, to immerse himself in the coolness and shade of the forest's embrace.

"Perhaps," Louis ventured, his words tinged with cautious hope. "Given the island's vastness, it's plausible that we've stumbled upon a deserted stretch of its coastline." He wasn't sure if he wanted to convince Harry or himself. "Let's find out."

Harry needed no further encouragement, his legs instinctively propelling him forward. He followed closely in Louis' footsteps as they ventured deeper into the untamed wilderness of the tropical forest.

Harry wasn't sure how long they walked. His weary legs trudged forward, each step feeling heavier than the last. The relentless passage of time seemed to stretch on endlessly, making him question if hours had truly passed or if it had been an eternity. As beads of perspiration trickled down his forehead, his body struggled to find respite from the sweltering heat, even beneath the comforting canopy of trees.

A sense of unease gnawed at his gut, intensifying with each passing moment. It wasn't merely the physical exhaustion that weighed him down—it was the eerie absence of signs of civilization. The absence of roads, the absence of people. It was as if they had entered a desolate realm untouched by human presence, a place forgotten and forsaken.

With each stride, Harry's mind oscillated between hope and despair, between the belief that salvation lay just around the bend and the fear that they were doomed to wander endlessly, lost in this desolate maze.

He dreaded what it meant. He didn't want to voice it out loud. Neither did Louis.

In this shared silence, their unspoken fears grew louder, the weight of the unknown pressing against their chests.

They kept walking.

Harry's feet throbbed with each step, sending shooting pains up his legs. He couldn't help but groan in discomfort. "My feet are killing me," he complained, his voice filled with exhaustion and frustration.

Louis, who had been trudging along in front of him, added his own complaint to the mix. "I hate hiking," he grumbled, his voice tinged with annoyance.

It felt like they had been walking for an eternity. Harry didn't dare to check his watch.

"I'd love a good coffee right about now." Harry didn't need to see Louis' face to know he was grimacing.

"You're a savage. Tea is way better," the boy retorted.

Harry couldn't help but smile, rolling his eyes at the silly debate, if it could be called as such. "Whatever. I'll drink and eat anything at this point."

As if the divine had listened to his unspoken plea, if such ethereal beings still existed, Harry's eyes caught sight of a peculiar shrub. It bore an array of fruits, their vibrant colours enticing him closer.