The storm didn't faze him. He stood at the edge of the ocean, eyes filled with tears, staring into the distance. The waves looked like water demons—dragging everything in their path. Hungry for the darkness beneath, they waited for another victim. Someone like him—a broken, defenseless boy.
At that moment, he saw no hope for himself. He wanted to disappear. Forever. To free himself from this place, this world, from the lives of people he had brought pain to.
It was his fault they had all ended up in this nightmare—on a deserted island where nothing was real. Trapped, hopeless, they fought every day to survive against a murderer who should never have existed.
He stepped forward, ready to end it all. But then, someone stopped him. Wrapped their arms tightly around him from behind and began to sob.
"Noah, please... stay. Don't do this to me. Don't give up. This will end, I promise. We'll get out of here."
The blond boy closed his eyes as tears slid down his cheeks. He lowered his head. He couldn't answer.
They stood in silence, crying together.
"Mason, what are you doing?! Get back inside! It's dangerous!" Nancy yelled from halfway down the beach.
"See? She doesn't even see me. To her, I'm just a killer. Everyone hates me. They treat me like I'm invisible. You have to let me go, Mason. I have to end this," Noah whispered.
"No!" Mason replied firmly, holding him even tighter. "You're my brother. I won't let you disappear. I'll protect you, regardless of what!"
"Let me go... please..."
"No!"
Mason began dragging him back toward the beach. Noah struggled, trying to escape.
"Leave me alone! Get off me, Mason! You don't get to decide for me!"
"No! I'm taking you home. No matter what it takes! Things will get better!"
"Nothing will get better! You know it! Dad hates me. He'll never let me come back. To him, I'm a freak, a monster. I shouldn't even be his son. He has to protect his reputation."
Mason lost his patience. He threw Noah onto the sand and pinned him down.
"Listen to me, you idiot. You know he only says that stuff. But he cares about you. He'll protect you too. You're his son."
Noah turned his head. Tears streamed down again.
"Nothing will ever be the same again. I don't want to go back. I'd rather stay here. Forever."
Mason couldn't take it anymore. He slapped him.
"Don't you ever say something like that again!" he shouted, trembling all over.
Nancy watched them with growing concern. She had never seen Mason like this before.
Suddenly, she turned. Something had unsettled her. She looked toward the hill, where the abandoned hotel stood. A scream echoed through the trees. It wasn't human.
"I think... we're in danger again," she whispered, rubbing her arms.