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As the warm colours of the sunset faded into the night, the beach of Aralith Island slowly sank into its own darkness. The sky was now lit only by the stars, each shining as if whispering with eternity. The ocean lapped against the shore without disturbing its rhythm; stones, shells and seaweed silently accompanied this ancient music.
Naomi and Linda sat down on the warm sand. They had enjoyed the sea during the day and now left their sunburned bodies to the cool of the night. The ice-cold beers they had taken from their bags were in their hands. The sound of opening the bottles left a brief crackle in the night, then absolute silence returned.
Naomi lay face down, her arms buried in the sand. The warmth left by the sun all day was still hidden in the sand. A tired but satisfied expression settled on Naomi's face as the golden grains moved between her palms.
Look at the silence,' she said, turning her eyes to the stars. Just the sound of the waves and us... It really is paradise here.
Linda shook her beer slowly, then drank it in silence. There was a fluctuating feeling inside her. A restlessness she couldn't put a name to.
I don't know, Naomi... Don't you think it's too quiet?
Naomi raised her eyebrows and turned to her. 'What do you mean? Were you expecting a squirrel party at night?' she laughed.
Linda smiled slightly, but her eyes were serious. 'Seriously,' she asked, 'on an island this big, are there no animals? No birdsong, no insects. It's completely silent at night. It doesn't seem normal to me.
Naomi took another drink. She put the bottle down on the sand. She lay back and put her hands under her head. Maybe the island treats us special,' she said. Maybe this silence is here just to keep us in.
Linda turned her head to the side. Her eyes went to the forest. 'What if this is a warning?
Naomi gave Linda a quick glance. Linda looked at the edge of the forest. The trees were deep in the dark, the shadows intertwined. It was... too quiet. As if the forest had stopped breathing.
Naomi stood up. The moonlight cast silvery reflections on her body. She took a last swig of her beer and put the bottle in her bag. Then, without thinking, she untied her bikini.
Linda immediately turned to her. 'Really?'
Naomi smiled and let her black bikini fall to the sand. 'There's nobody here. Isn't it time you felt some freedom?
Linda smiled slightly. Naomi's relationship with nature had always been different. She lived outside the rules and didn't care about boundaries. But there was a feeling inside Linda that she couldn't shut out. A tension that was invisible to the eye but made its presence felt.
Don't be so relaxed, Naomi. Someone might be watching us,' she said almost in a whisper.
Naomi rolled her eyes. 'Who, Dorian with binoculars? Or the native tribes hiding in the trees?' It was sarcastic, but there was a little tension in her tone.
Linda remained silent. Her eyes were still scanning the edges of the forest. There was something there. It couldn't be seen, but... it could be felt.
Naomi lay on her back in the sand. 'If anyone's watching, take a good look,' she said. The view isn't bad.
Linda smiled at her indifference, but her anger didn't go away. 'You're a lunatic.
Naomi closed her eyes. 'And you love me for who I am.
They were both silent for a while as the stars twinkled. Just the sound of the ocean... and everything else.
Then Linda heard a sound. A slight rustling. At first she thought it was the wind, but... it wasn't.
'Naomi...' she whispered.
Naomi opened her eyes. She saw Linda's expression, serious.
'What happened?'
Linda pointed a finger into the woods. 'I swear, something moved out there.
Naomi sat up. She looked out into the forest. The wind had picked up, the trees were rustling. But this was something else. Maybe a moment's movement. Maybe a shadow...
Naomi stood up and took a few steps.
Naomi, stop! Where are you going? I'm listening...' Naomi said. She narrowed her eyes.
And then... not a hum, just an echo. Is it the sound of the wind hitting the stones? Or... a footstep?
Linda went to her bag and took out her torch. She shone it at the edge of the forest.
And there... there were tracks.
Tracks that looked as if they'd been left in the sand, as if they'd been dragged. Neither human nor animal. Shallow but unmistakable. Freshly made.
Naomi approached and knelt. She ran her finger over the sand. Wet and fresh.
Linda stood beside her. Neither spoke.
Naomi turned her eyes to Linda. 'The same mark... I had it last night.'
Linda cleared her throat. 'So... someone's been here before?
Naomi stood up. Her eyes grew serious.
'No. This trace is... new. Someone else was here tonight. Very close.'
Linda shuddered. Her eyes darted to her tent, then back to the forest.
'They're watching us...' she said in a low voice.
Naomi nodded. There was no smile in her eyes now.
'Yes,' she said. 'And this could be just the beginning.
Night had fallen, and the island was shrouded in deep silence. They had built a small fire in front of their tent, but the real source of light were the countless stars that stretched across the sky. The waves lapped the shore in a slow, rhythmic pattern, and the breeze whispered through the palm leaves.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRYwTLprYB
Jessica pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. "You know, this place feels even more deserted at night," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the waves.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn39ochjjvK
Tom chuckled. "Are you scared?"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVvTIBWHZQ
Jessica gave him a condescending look. "Please. I'm a woman and you're just a boy barely past puberty."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTCNpJUQ7f
Tom sighed and shook his head. "Great, we start the night with arrogance. But don't worry, I'm here. I'll protect you from giant spiders and mysterious creatures lurking in the shadows."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5xwecgFnR
Jessica raised an eyebrow. "Are you really trying to scare me? You're going to have to be more creative than that, Tom."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk56P7Rv1br
Tom threw another piece of wood into the fire, watching the flames flicker as he grinned. "All right then... let's start with a theory. Why do you think this island is deserted?"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FQy8f3rdx
Jessica groaned and lay back on the sand. "Oh God, here we go..."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUTsnnNAiX
Tom narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice as if telling a ghost story. "Maybe there were people here once... but they never made it off the island. Maybe it's cursed. A never-ending cycle that traps anyone who sets foot here. And maybe the lost souls return every night."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPy9NXc791
Jessica burst out laughing. "Oh wow, really? A cursed island? What's next, we wake up in the morning and find a ghost standing next to our tent?"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9gmli5UT8
Tom shrugged and grinned. "Who knows? Maybe there's one sitting right here with us and we just haven't noticed."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJHsgOBCQf
Jessica squinted at him. "All right, all right. My turn. What if this island really is a secret experiment? We think we're alone, but someone is watching us. A group of scientists put us here, watching our every move, studying how we react to isolation."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iqb4T0giO
Tom stared at her for a moment before bursting out laughing. "Jessica, you've been watching way too much science fiction."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOuGLSxgiK
Jessica shrugged with a grin. "If that's the case, I can be as arrogant as I want, because somewhere out there someone is watching me and thinking, 'Wow, what a fantastic character.'"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGlmT6G15X
Tom shook his head. "You're impossible."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KWYaqYaK7
Jessica continued to smile, but then her voice softened a bit. "But seriously... why is this place so empty? A place this perfect, completely abandoned... it doesn't make sense."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnq5AZjS61e
Tom hesitated, staring into the fire. "I don't know. Maybe we're just thinking too much. But still... being alone like this feels kind of weird."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcgyHb8t7W
Jessica rolled her eyes. "Don't get all emotional on me now, little brother."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTIoRy9mT2
Tom chuckled and lowered his head. "Fine, fine. Let's change the subject. Let's talk about your personal life instead. How's your big, dramatic love life going?"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyS5StbNE8C
Jessica raised an eyebrow. "Mine? Oh no, let's not ruin the evening with that."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7UuG2qpQm
Tom grinned sideways at her. "I think we should. When was the last time you had a serious relationship, Jessica?"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tDcrmTXNq
Jessica paused for a moment before she sighed. "Oh my God, Tom. We're not here for romantic drama."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYgjzBklzL
Tom couldn't help laughing and shook his head. "If you can't answer, that's an answer."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegG9fpv7FS
Jessica laughed easily. "All right, my turn. What about you? Any flings? Or are you still struggling to find a girlfriend?"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBXLqw1zs6
Tom looked away to the shore. "I... don't really think about that stuff much."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk31xXrXqEZ
Jessica narrowed her eyes and studied him. "Hmm... so you've never been in love?"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZHupbMFdf
Tom was silent for a moment, then shrugged. "Maybe. But love is strange, isn't it? Getting attached to people... sometimes it feels kind of scary."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0APdvPKbmq
Jessica watched him and smiled softly. "That's interesting to hear. Maybe we did pick an unusual vacation, but at least we're here now. Instead of coming up with horror theories, we should just enjoy the moment."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1q2pk5lwd
Tom nodded slightly. "Maybe you're right."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyOmdx0IQ6
As the night deepened, the fire slowly faded, but the waves continued their rhythmic song. Jessica and Tom gazed up at the stars, lost in their own thoughts. Here, on this deserted island, they had no one but each other.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktEcmE7FCt
And perhaps that was all they needed.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TsEkfLKRd
The embers of the fire slowly faded as the waves continued their rhythmic melody, gently lapping against the shore. Jessica lay sprawled on the sand, gazing up at the sky, while Tom stretched comfortably, his hands behind his head.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwS4FaVHOJ8
"By the way..." Tom said with a grin. "Don't you think the guy who brought us here was staring a little too hard?"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGanQlJQ0p
Jessica raised an eyebrow and turned to him. "What do you mean?"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgR9yd6m9qy
Tom narrowed his eyes and spoke in an overly dramatic tone. "I mean, sis, you saw it yourself. The boat captain who dropped us off couldn't even have a conversation without looking you up and down. The guy practically devoured you with his eyes."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvGK80fk80
Jessica paused for a moment before bursting out laughing. "Oh, God! That old, sea-scented man? You really think so?"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKjZYdP8PL
Tom grinned and nodded. "Just stating the obvious. When we got on the boat, his face was normal. But the moment you stepped out on the deck in your bikini, his eyes... how shall I put it... lit up. He practically undressed you with his gaze, Jessica!"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0hi9RD8By
Jessica rolled her eyes and let out a short laugh through her nose. "If my body can make a man's eyes change that drastically, then his problems are much bigger than mine."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxwxq8cFwE
Tom doubled over with laughter. "Exactly! But admit it, you noticed it too."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GdcBgia9W
Jessica took a deep breath and shook her head. "It was impossible not to. His stare was so blatant that at one point, when we made eye contact, I had to smile at him. Like a silent 'Yes, I see you, but please, pull yourself together.'"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpBOSYntr4
As Tom continued to laugh uncontrollably, Jessica suddenly sat up with an uncomfortable look on her face as she dramatically threw her arms out. "Okay, enough! I have to pee!"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfNrX692Yh
Tom leaned back, still giggling. "Ah yes, nature's inevitable call."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpu5we0hf3I
Jessica scowled. "Don't be an idiot. There's no bathroom here, so I have to... become one with nature."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0llI65IwqI
Tom chuckled and held up a hand. "Please, please! I wouldn't dare interfere with your moment with the wilderness."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7TN6FibQq
As Jessica quickly got to her feet, Tom squinted at her. "Just don't go too far. Remember, the night is cursed."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqs1XEW6Isa
Jessica rolled her eyes and held up a hand to silence him. "If you say another word, I'll have a very special surprise for you!"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCyUjW7gmg
Stifling his laughter, Tom watched as Jessica grabbed a flashlight and walked to the edge of the forest. As she disappeared into the quiet darkness, he shook his head with a small sigh.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOnZRvQgqX
"This trip is turning out to be more interesting than I expected," he muttered, looking up at the night sky as he waited in silence.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYuzU3QmOg
