{ Mia }
It's been hours and neither Ace nor Cole have moved a single inch!"
For the tenth time I went to check if they were still alive.
" Ace? Cole ?" I muttured checking their pulses.
Ace's pulse was weakening by the minute. " Shit!"
What to do what to do ? I paced around in the cabin.
My hands trembled as I pressed my fingers against Ace's wrist again. His pulse was weak... too weak.
"Think, Mia, think!" I muttered, pacing in frantic circles.
Hydration. That was the first rule of survival, right? If they were dehydrated, their bodies wouldn't function properly.
I grabbed one of the coconut shells and sprinted toward the stream, dipping it into the cool, clear water. I had no idea how long Ace and Cole had gone without drinking. If it had been too long… I swallowed hard, refusing to finish that thought.
Kneeling beside Ace, I tilted his head up carefully and pressed the shell to his lips. "Come on, drink," I urged.
Nothing. His lips barely parted.
Panic coiled around my ribs like a vice. I needed another way.
Salt. Sugar. Suddenly I remembered reading something once about how the body needed more than just water when it was weak. Electrolytes. But where was I supposed to find sugar and salt on a deserted island?
My gaze darted toward the beach. Sea salt. That could work. And sugar? The coconut!
I scrambled to my feet, grabbing a handful of damp sea salt from the shore and sprinting back. I cracked open another coconut, letting the sweet water drain into the shell before adding a tiny pinch of salt. Stirring it with my finger, she prayed it was close enough to what his body needed.
"Ace, please," I whispered, pressing the mixture to his lips again.
This time, he swallowed. Just barely, but it was enough.
I exhaled sharply, relief flooding my veins.
I turned to Cole next. He wasn't as bad, but I still had to act fast. Carefully, I helped him sip some of the mixture, watching his eyelids flutter slightly.
It wasn't a perfect solution, but it would keep them alive... for now.
"Now, your arm." I whispered patting Cole's head.
" How can I—"
"Wait! I know!!" I exclaimed and quickly ran towards the sea.
I quickly gathered some seaweed to serve as dressing for the wound, and I sprinted back to camp.
"Now, all I need is some coconut oil." I smirked I have plenty of that!!"
I grabbed one of the coconut shells filled with last night's leftover oil. It wasn't much, but it would have to do.
I knelt beside Cole, my stomach twisting at the sight of his wound. It had stopped bleeding, but the gash was deep, angry, and red. Infection. That was the real enemy now.
Scooping a bit of the oil with my fingers, I hesitated. Was this even safe? I wasn't a doctor. Hell, I barely knew what I was doing. But I had to try.
I took a steadying breath and pressed the oil gently onto his wound. He flinched slightly, a weak groan escaping his lips. That was a good sign. He could still feel.
"Sorry," I murmured, spreading the oil evenly. "But we don't have the luxury of painkillers."
Once I was done, I reached for the seaweed. It was damp, slightly slimy, but it would work as a makeshift bandage. I wrapped it carefully around his arm, securing it with a strip of fabric torn from the hem of my shirt.
I sat back on my heels, my breath coming out in short, uneven bursts. I had done all I could. Now, it was up to them to fight.
I glanced at Ace and Cole. They looked fragile, too still. The fire outside crackled softly, the jungle whispering beyond the shelter. We weren't safe yet, not by a long shot.
But at least for now, they were alive.
I just had to keep it that way.
I sat back, my legs aching from kneeling for so long, but I couldn't stop. Not yet. I had to stay alert.
I glanced at the horizon, the sky starting to darken as the sun dipped low. We needed shelter, more food. Something, anything, to keep us alive for the night.
I rose to my feet and walked outside, squinting against the setting sun. The jungle stretched endlessly in every direction. The ocean's rhythmic waves were the only consistent sound.
But that wasn't enough. I needed more than just water and coconut shells.
A sudden thought hit me—signals. Smoke. If I could build a bigger fire, maybe someone would see it. Maybe…
I glanced back at the shelter, my heart pounding as I thought of Ace and Cole. No. I couldn't just wait around. I had to act.
I grabbed the axe, feeling its familiar weight in my hand, and started looking for dry branches to start a larger fire. At least then, we would have some form of hope.
The fire would be our signal.