(EXOt)ox(ic)

Chapter 1: Pilot

Location: The Bahamas
Time: 11:30 am 

The salty air around the hot beach on a warm summer day, the sea breeze blowing through one's locks of hair, the heat radiating from the fierce Sun, the sound of the waves hitting the sandy sea shore and the water being splashed around by some people enjoying the steamy environment while others slowly sipped the juice of tender coconut. This was the definition of paradise according to Alisha (Ally) and Harui, who's sun-kissed skin were shone like silk under the beach sun, while they basked in the glory of their vacation. The hectic bothersome situations back at home seemed to  have vanished to them and even the women who eyed them mysteriously, and the men who took interest in gawking at them didn't grab their attention as they were too occupied, reveling in a short-lived time in paradise.

"This is much better than Swiss. My feet almost froze into popsicles at Mt. Titlis!", exclaimed Ally. Harui chuckled and replied," I remember how I had to ask a stranger to help me carry you, while you whined  and caused a ruckus". "Gee, I wonder who's idea it was to go to the Tundra land".

" But don't you remember how we had snow fights, made snowmen and went ice skating? Those 'frozen moments' also had their own beauty. Maybe I should reconsider our plan to visit Paris during next Christmas...", but Harui was interrupted by a very child-like Ally. " N-N-No! I never said I HATED the cold. I just said that the heat is much better than having frozen limbs". As the two friends chuckle, their heads turned towards the tour guide, who wore dark shades, kakhi-coloured trousers and a blue shirt, and spoke in a booming voice.

"Alright everyone! It's time to explore the dense forest! We will only go to the safer parts of the forest to view the diverse flora and fauna. I request all of you to remain together and I strictly forbid you to wander off on your own! The vast forest is filled with perils and its difficult to find one's way out. Please be careful and follow me!"

Walking through the jungle surrounded by mere trees and fascinating flowers, whose pictures are seen in High School Botany books didn't seem to interest the crowd of tourists. The tour guide explained the variety of weird looking creepers and climbers, but it seemed as though what he spoke fell on deaf ears. Just then, "Psst, Ally! Look! It says ' DANGER. PROHIBITED AREA'. Intriguing right?" "Right, Harui! It's SO weird. I mean who would put up a sign like that unless and until there actually IS something dangerous RIGHT? I mean, it is a forest after all. Not like it has snakes, tigers and wolves!", said Ally sarcastically.

"Aw come on! Just a few SECONDS. We'll just take a peak and come back to join the others!I've got this, trust me." "B-But we- HEY! "   Harui had already dragged Ally into the forbidden territory with her. Being the inquisitive and adventurous person, Harui didn't mind the perils lurking in the jungle. 'YOLO' was definitely her life motto. Just when they were walking through the area, Ally pestered Harui if they could go back, but Harui was too interested in chasing a spotted buck. As they chased through the tangled vegetation, they heard silent growls. Harui reassured Ally that it was nothing and shrugged it off. Just then, they heard the growls get closer and louder. Two dark eyes filled with ferociousness and deep hunger - eyes of a howling giant - made the two adventurers stumble through the trees. Their intention was to lose the wolf chasing their tails, not each other though.

Location: Middle of the jungle    Alisha's point of view

I was panting, breathless in the middle of the jungle. Though I was mad at Harui for her recklessness, I had more things to worry about, now that I was in the middle of nowhere, separated from Harui- "OH MY FREAKING CHOPSTICKS! HARUI!!???!!".

After a few minutes of calling out for her I decided that it was wise to keep my mouth shut, lest I attract unwanted beasts and become a feast in the jungle. I went about, trying to look and listen to any sign of civilization nearby- any sign of a human, really. I walked for about a couple of hours, until I had no energy left to move forth. As clumsy as I was, I didn't notice the root of a tree emerging out from the ground- a perfect obstacle to trip and fall over. Falling down wasn't a problem here, but spraining my ankle was. No matter how much I tried to stand up, I always lost balance and ended up landing on my butt every time. Dejected, I lost hope of being found. As I lay there, immovable with pain for a long 30 minutes, I heard the bushes rustle. As I prepared to attack the unknown carnivore (as I assumed) with a fallen branch beside my leg, I let out a sigh of relief, almost teary eyed as I saw two concerned men approach me with a confused look.

One of them, on seeing me injured, immediately bent down to tend to my wound. "Does it hurt? Where exactly did you get injured?", he asked. But all I was able to do was let out grunts and moans of pain, as he tried to ease the pain. I took a short glance at the man helping me. He seems like a good person. He doesn't even know me, yet he's so ready to help out. He's even good looking, I thought as I admired how he handled my injured ankle. But as I threw a glance at the other man, I immediately looked away. He looked too annoyed and had a frown etched on his forehead. You know, when you meet someone and you get the feeling that they hate you for a reason you're not aware of? That's how I'd describe this situation. "Hey Suho, I'd really like some help here. Stop standing idly there.", said the man tending to my ankle. Suho muttered something I couldn't perceive. He then grumpily bent down and reached under my legs and my back. If not for the sand and soot that covered my face, I would've looked pink as a strawberry. He carried me cautiously on the other man's command. "It's a good thing we came by this way by chance. Who knows what would've happened if we didn't", said the kind- hearted man. "Either way she would've been saved, Baekhyun. She IS pretty close to the villa anyway.. Our domestic help would've taken care of her instead, and we would've been exploring.", said Suho grumpily. Baekhyun shot Suho a glare that made him silent. I wondered why Suho seemed to obey him, when he could've easily disobeyed, especially with a personality like that. But my thoughts were interrupted by a third man's voice. "Yah, what happened? Who's that?", said he, with a questioning expression. The man was fairly tall and had black, ruffled hair. As soon as he laid his eyes on my swollen ankle, he didn't hesitate to make way for us and lead us into a lux villa.

This was no ordinary villa in my opinion, it was HUGE! It looked so posh and clean, though placed in the middle of the woods. It clearly belonged to somebody who grew up with a silver spoon. As they carried me inside, I saw the eyes of the domestic help dart their curious gazes towards my direction. Just when Suho had placed me roughly on the sofa, I realized something , wincing with pain. "W-W-Wait! Please!My friend is lost in the woods as well!S-She-"

"Just when I thought you couldn't be more troublesome, you say this? And NOW? You couldn't have told us when we were STILL IN THE JUNGLE?", raged Suho, his impatience increased as the seconds ticked by. "Sigh.. Ignore him, please. And since we're unsure of your friend's location, we should wait a few more minutes, just in case she stumbles across our place.", said Baekhyun, as he sprayed my ankle with pain reliever. I nodded my head in agreement. Just a few more minutes and we'll find her... We will.

Meanwhile, a couple of hours ago

Location: Somewhere in the jungle    Harui's POV

I kept running through the forest, hitting every branch that stood in my way, earning scratches and ruining my outfit, but I didn't care. All I wanted was the wolf out of my range. I desperately hoped that Ally was safe and I'd rather have the wolf devour me, than my best friend. When I realized that I lost the howler, I stopped, panting for breath. "This is bad, This is really really bad... Damn me and my curiosity." I wandered around the forest, searching for an escape. After an hour or so, I stopped as soon as I heard two female voices. 

"Well, look who we found, Jiwoo..."