Venture

Chapter 18: Before Time Escapes

Slowly drawing to one another as time flew by, Esther and Hunter decided to tell each other about themselves. The warrior had forgotten what her purpose was on the island and where her friends could be. She found herself enjoying her time with the pretty man, though reality shot her like a bullet.

     The twenty-year-old woman stood and dusted her clothes off. "Okay," she turned to the man, who copied her movements. They stood a few feet away from each other, shoving the urge to pull closer. "You're free to go."

     Hunter cocked an eyebrow. "Did I hear that correctly, beautiful? You want me to go?" He smirked teasingly, making her stomach mash together like mashed potatoes.

     Esther paused. The word 'want' was a dangerous play on words. "I've decided you weren't worth the interrogation once we've reached my friends. As you said, you are different from The Ruthless, so I wouldn't want them skinning you alive. So, I think it's best to let you go."

     He took a step closer. Dangerously close. She craned her neck to meet his intoxicating honey-colored eyes. Her heart pounded away, though she tried to calm herself. Without helping, Hunter leaned down to her pierced ear, his hot breath tickling her skin. "The question is, beautiful, do you want me to go?"

     The timid warrior knew she shouldn't be swayed by him. Shoving down her feelings, she instantly pushed him away, her gloved hands touching his clothed broad chest. "Hunter-"

     He grabbed her wrists roughly, yet gently. Hunter yanked her even closer, their sweaty bodies practically touching. She could hear his heartbeat. It sped at the same pace as her heartbeat. Esther's deep blue-green eyes widened in shock at the space between them. She forced herself to look up, to meet his beautiful eyes. The warrior felt herself melting at the way he was staring at her, as if he wanted her. There was a mix of lust, love, and desire in his captivating honey-colored eyes.

     "Answer the question, Esther," Hunter whispered seductively, his breath tickling her bangs. His grip on her never loosened. If possible, the muscular man pulled her even closer, skin touching clothes.

     Using all her muscular strength, the warrior pushed the pretty man away. He stumbled back, surprised by her strength. Esther all of a sudden felt cold without his touch, but she knew it couldn't happen again; at least not while they're on this island, trying to stay alive. Being distracted by a man wouldn't have gotten her anywhere.

     Esther started, "Look, Hunter, I was just planning on taking you to my group so they could question you. But I know I can't find them, so I'll just look for the treasure. That means I don't need to keep you hostage anymore, so you're free to go." Her delicate heart ached for his touch.

     Hunter's expression switched to panic mode with a little mix of confusion. She cocked an eyebrow, wondering why he looked so frightened. "What? You're going to look for the treasure?"

     She nodded, still wary. "Yeah, why? Is something wrong?"

     Suddenly, he frantically paced back and forth, thinking. "You can't go! You need to leave this island right now. I have a device from the company! I could press the button and they'll send a helicopter to pick you up and get you safely back into the States," Hunter rambled.

     Processing those words, Esther still couldn't understand why he was acting so weird. "Hunter, what is going on? What are you talking about?" She was dreading the answer, her expression matching his.

     The ponytail-cut man paused to look at her, his worried eyes breaking her heart. "Esther, don't you understand? This whole competition is a set up! It was a trick. The company wanted to play a dangerous game: experimenting on animals and mixing them, allowing crime to happen, and the participants are the pawns! The Ruthless is with an alliance of the company. There was never a treasure in the cave. You need to get out of here!"

     Esther gaped wide-eyed. She couldn't believe it. This whole island was a joke, and her friends are probably currently dying out there. She had to save them and tell them what he had told her. Anger seeped into her, realizing Hunter hadn't been completely honest. "You're telling me this now?! My friends are out there! I can't leave them!"

     Hunter took a step further, but she flinched back. His heart broke. "I'll-We'll find them! I'll help you find them and I'll use the device to call the company. I'll get you guys out of here."

     "No!" the warrior spat harshly, "you've done enough help. I'll-"

     The pretty man snapped, his deep voice bringing goosebumps upon her skin, "Esther, you have a better chance of finding them if I help you-"

     "Why is that?"

     He breathed, "They probably have them by now."

***

Alex, Scarlet, and Amora stood dumbfounded. They stared incredulously at the empty cave. How could this be possible? Could it be that they ended up in the wrong cave? What if The Ruthless had taken all the treasure?

     "Where is that damn treasure?!" Scarlet seethed in frustration, pulling at her locks. "We've spent days on this island searching for that shit only to find nothing! Nothing! Is this a joke because it's not fucking funny!"

     Amora, normally calm and emotionless, was also about to throw a hissy fit. They had every right to be angry, considering the fact her group had lost their insanities just to find the nonexistent treasure. Not to mention the prize was just within their reach, but with no treasure, there's no prize.

     Their leader nodded, a plan in her head. She turned to Scarlet, "Scar, you scour the right outside of the cave and see if there's anything else there." Facing Amora, she ordered, "You take the left side to look for anything that could be a clue for the treasure."

     Without turning back, the two girls followed their leader's orders, leaving Alex all alone at the entrance of the cave.