SOUL SNATCHERS

Chapter 16

"Rose!" Brenan called out to her as he briskly walked along the white powdered sand of the island, unfazed by the heat of the sun.

Brenan's voice resonated across the beach, reaching Rose's ears as she sprinted towards the Eastern part of the island where the boatmen picked up passengers. Chantelle, struggling to keep up, followed close behind, gasping for air. Rose turned her head to see Brenan and Chantelle trailing her, their determination evident. Suddenly, a gust of wind shifted, carrying the scent of salty seawater, causing Rose to sneeze twice. Stopping by the shore, she realized there were no available boats to take them back to the main island. She took a moment to catch her breath, placing her hands on her waist and forehead, deep in thought about leaving the island.

Brenan reached her side, his concern etched across his face. "Are you okay, Rose?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine worry. Rose lifted her hand towards him, taking a deep breath, her eyes still glistening with tears. Recognizing her distress, Brenan retrieved his handkerchief from his pocket and gently offered it to her.

"Here," he said, his voice gentle and soothing. Rose stared at him for a moment, then slowly reached out and accepted the handkerchief from his hand.

"Thanks," she whispered, attempting a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Brenan wasn't sure if it was the right moment to offer comfort, but he wanted to be there for her.

In that instant, Chantelle caught up to them. Rose's hands instinctively covered her face when she saw Chantelle approaching, ready to lend her support. Sensing her vulnerability, Chantelle wrapped her arms around Rose, tapping her shoulder gently in an effort to ease her burden.

"Shh... It's okay now. You can cry on my shoulder as much as you need to, but after this, no more tears, okay?" Chantelle reassured her, her voice filled with empathy. Brenan remained silent, silently witnessing their exchange. He felt a pang of sympathy for Rose.

"Perhaps it's not the right time for me to be here," he uttered to Chantelle, his voice tinged with regret. "Please take care of her." Chantelle nodded, offering a gentle smile.

"I'll make sure she's alright. You should go," she replied, understanding his unspoken need to give them space. Brenan bowed his head to Chantelle and slowly retraced his steps, walking back towards the island.

The sun's intense heat still beat down on them as the afternoon wore on. Rose and Chantelle sought solace under the shade of the Agoo tree, situated about ten meters away from the Eastern Shore. Rose had made up her mind to return to the hotel where her family was staying. She knew that their absence during lunch had likely angered her parents, as she had mentioned in the note she left behind. Exhausted and worn down, all she desired now was to lie on the comfort of her bed. Her tears had left her eyes red and swollen.

Karl had been her boyfriend for nearly a year. Discovering his infidelity was difficult to bear. Agnes, a friend who was almost like a sister to her, had helped Rose secure a scholarship at their company—a benefit reserved for employees' children. Despite the lack of familial connections to the furniture company, Agnes had been granted the scholarship. Rose vividly recalled Agnes introducing Karl to her, his charm and good looks captivating her from the start. She fell in love with him instantly, and Agnes was overjoyed when she revealed Karl as her boyfriend. Every moment spent with Karl had been the happiest time of her life. She had risked everything, including hiding the relationship from her parents, despite Karl's parents and her mother being former high school classmates. Her mother had warned her against dating or forming serious relationships while studying, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing her education. Yet, Rose broke her promise as she succumbed to the allure of Karl's presence. Perhaps her mother had been right about avoiding relationships during her studies. It had only brought her pain, taught her to keep secrets from her parents, and now she had been betrayed, just as her father had betrayed her mother.