Chapter 5 Eliza's Plan

As a star, Eliza was confident on a movie set. But on a remote island, her confidence wavered. She didn't have the skills and bravery to survive here. She needed others to help her so she could survive until the rescue team came.

As a man who had just retired from the army, I was the most likely to survive this ordeal.

I understood Eliza better now. She was a woman who would do anything to survive, even if it meant she had to sell her body.

'Maybe she thinks she can control me,' I thought.

The memory of Eliza's soft waist and plump chest made my heart burn. But my mind was calm.

Survival was the top priority.

The skills I learned in the army came in handy. I caught a large fish in the gap of the reef, and Tracey caught a big crab.

We all returned to where Anya was resting. Rosie and Hazel brought back a lot of wood and dry grass, but Karin didn't bring much.

I evaluated Karin with a few quick glances. 'Maybe she thinks that, as a noble lady, she doesn't have to work,' I thought.

"Marlon, we don't have a lighter." For the first time in her life, Tracey wished that lighters were allowed on airplanes.

"Don't worry, there are other ways to make fire," I said with a smile. I took off my shoelaces and tied them to a branch.

I had been trained to use friction to make fire. It was a basic skill for survival.

Soon, smoke started to appear. Then the dry grass and branches ignited.

"Awesome!" Rosie and Eliza clapped their hands happily.

I used my dagger to prepare the fish and crab, then put them over the fire to cook.

With Anya's help, dinner was soon ready.

We ate before it got dark.

The seafood would have tasted better with seasoning. I knew this was just one of the many difficulties we would be enduring in the future. The rescue team might take longer to arrive than I imagined.

I caught Eliza glancing at me while she ate. The bonfire reflected in her eyes, which seemed to contain a hint of admiration.

I thought of what happened while we were fishing and silently avoided her gaze.

Hazel and Karin noticed the attention Eliza had been paying to Marlon. As women, they immediately understood what Eliza was trying to do, and they were filled with surprise and worry.

If Marlon and Eliza became a couple, he might favor her when it came to distributing resources. This would put their safety in jeopardy.

Hazel and Karin realized how precious the fish and crab they were eating really were.

Only several hours had passed since the crash. What would happen to them if they had to stay on the uninhabited island for a long time?

Both of the women began to realize the depth of the crisis they were in.

After dinner, Tracey said with a smile, "Now that we have a warm fire and dinner to fill our stomachs, I believe everything will be fine."

I didn't want to ruin Tracey's good mood, but it was risky to be too optimistic on our first day on this island.

"We're not safe yet," I said. "We need to find shelter, or we will die of cold tonight. It's colder by the sea than you think. We need to find a source of fresh water, or we will be on the verge of death in three days."

Tracey's face wilted. "How can this be happening?"

"Don't worry too much," I said. "I will protect all of you."