The minutes go by and Brooklyn, always accompanied by Noemi, advances towards this path which intrigues the first named so much. Far from arguments, the young ladies wear a smile as they walk along the beach. As during their visit earlier, they find nothing new. Finding the paved road, they begin their real walk and, barely a few meters traveled, Brooklyn says she is disappointed, seeing nothing but trees. Undeterred, they keep moving forward.
- It's amazing! brings out Noemi as she looks around. This road is very long, but there is nothing but trees. Don't you find that strange?
- Not at all, Brooklyn replies instantly. In Heartland I know a place identical to that: at home... As we are high up, there is a long road that leads to the beach and, as the place is not habitable, there is no is only a long one with trees on each side. On the other hand, I prefer not to find myself in such a place in the middle of the night.
- I can imagine. On the other hand, it would be cool if we made a discovery before returning. Do you realize how great it would be if we found a house?
- That would be really great. Either way, I feel like it's still early days and we still have a lot of time ahead of us. I say that based on the position of my shadow when we were on the beach. If it turns out that I'm right, we can explore a good part of the island... At least, follow this road for a long time.
- I would not say that we are wasting our time because, necessarily, this road must lead somewhere.
- Exactly. The ideal would be for us to find a home and manage to find those who are not with us...
- It's true that that would be great, agrees Noemi. How do you think the others are doing?
- That's a good question... It would have been perfect if we didn't have to deal with Amber. I don't understand how Jessica could allow her to continue the contest. She took it out on Daphne without a doubt to deprive her of all her chances...
- That's for sure. Especially since Daphne found herself in the top three each time. Besides, I even heard that Daphne is an excellent swimmer. As luck would have it, it was this contest that Amber decided to sabotage. And she wins it! This is unbelievable...
- Jessica should have expelled him. Already there would have been only five young ladies who would have been selected for the final stretch, expelling Amber would not have been a problem.
- Especially that by eliminating it, and giving the reasons that followed this elimination, it would have served as a lesson. To tell you frankly, I wonder if this plague is not protected... underlines Brooklyn.
- Wait a second, Noemi stops her, starting to whisper.
- What's going on? Brooklyn worries, speaking, too, in a low voice.
- Didn't you hear anything?
- No, I didn't hear anything... Did you hear something?
- Hush! she says once more. You didn't hear anything there?
- No, still nothing... What do you hear?
- There is someone. I hear someone sneeze. There is someone? Noemi suddenly shouts, hoping that someone will answer her, making the woman accompanying her jump at the same time.
The ladies are silent for a moment. A few seconds later, the youngest gets an answer and she can't help but jump for joy.
- I have the impression that it comes from over there, connects Brooklyn while pointing to the left.
- Make some noise! We are moving towards you! she cries once more.
The voice being distant, the young ladies are unable to deduce who it is. Meanwhile, on the other end, the damsel has managed to find something to make noise with and she's keeping that noise constant. Meanwhile, Brooklyn and Noemi move in his direction. The sound becomes louder and louder, giving more courage to the young ladies who cannot help but accelerate. Five minutes later, they have the pleasant surprise of falling on Aurore. Crazy with joy, they run towards them and hug each other for a long time.
- I'm so happy to see you girls! says Aurore with a huge smile. I thought I was going to die alone here. Besides, where are we?
- We have no idea, Brooklyn replies. You're okay? she continues, happy that their walk has been used for something.
- Yes, I'm fine.
- How long have you been lost in the middle of nowhere? asks Noemi.
- I woke up on a beach this morning and, as I was alone, I made the decision to walk to try to find someone and I got lost in this forest. I feel like I've been here forever. You have no idea how scared I was of running into something dangerous; a human I don't know or an animal.
- My question might be silly, but I'm going to ask it anyway. Have you seen anyone else? asks Brooklyn.
- I always wonder how I could survive in this shitty place where I woke up. I opened my eyes and was lying on the beach with my head a few meters from a large volcanic stone. If the wave that had dropped me a meter away, I would have smashed my head and died like Jennifer.
- Jennifer is dead? they jump before Noemi's eyes fill with tears.
- I'm really sorry girls, suddenly says Aurore realizing that she had just done something stupid. In the euphoria of having found you, I completely forgot that you were together all the time…
- Do you think she suffered? Brooklyn asks her as her friend is lost in thought.
- I don't think that's the case. She smashed her head with a volcanic rock. Do you want me to take you to see her?
- No, it would be better not. This loss affects Noemi a lot. Seeing his body would demoralize her further.
- You are only two? Aurore asks, still addressing Brooklyn.
- We are eight to have failed on the same side. Five girls were missing. There, we found you and we know that Jennifer is unfortunately no longer with us. Only three are missing.
- It pains me a lot to see Noemi in this state…
- It pains me a lot too. To tell you the truth, I was somewhat prepared for it. I didn't want to tell him, but I think I should have. On the other hand, it will please you to learn that Amber is still alive.
- Really? Aurore enthuses. It will make me very happy to see her again. And then, who else?
- To put it simply, only Gabriella, Daphne and Anne-Sophie are missing.
- "Ouch. If Anne-Sophie isn't here, Amber must be freaking out right now. It would be better if I went to find her," thought Aurore. The others are far?
- Noemi and I were following a road to see where it takes us. Where we are now, there is no shelter or food. If it rains, we're in deep shit. We had come a long way when Noemi heard you sneeze. So, we came to meet you. As you would certainly like to see the others again, we will take you to them and then we will resume our journey.
- No! It's not worth it. Of course, I'd like to see Amber again, but I'm still not going to take you on a detour. We can walk the road together if that's okay with you.
- Are you sure you can walk?
- Look, I would have had no choice but to keep walking if you hadn't found me.
While the two young ladies are talking, they suddenly hear Noemi break down and cry hot tears. Immediately, Aurore and Brooklyn approach the youngest to console her, immediately understanding what puts her in this state.
- My poor darling... What can we do for you?
- Why is life so unfair? Why do I have to lose such a close friend when dirt like Amber is still alive? What did Jennifer do to meet such a terrible end?
This comment goes very badly with Aurore.
- It's not nice to talk like that about my friend Noemi. She may have done a lot of harm around her, but she's a golden girl.
- You can say whatever you want, but I don't want to know anything about that bitch! she says as she keeps crying.
- Drop Aurore, Brooklyn stops her by taking her away from Noemi. She's hurt and she's going to say things she doesn't really mean.
- I understand that she is hurt, but Amber is my friend and it hurts me to hear someone say that it would have been better if she died. I've been around her and I can tell you she's far from the bitch you think she is.
- I understand you, but Noemi still can't digest what Amber did to Daphne. As a result, she lets her emotions speak.
- I'm not going to make much of what she said to avoid weighing down the mood, but you all have a very erroneous image of Amber. It's true that she acted badly, and I've already told her that, but she's far from being mean. Just know that Daphne was not targeted. It could have happened to any of us.
- You mean it was the stress of the competition that pushed Amber to act like she did? Brooklyn wonders.
- I won't tell you what exactly, but something happened that made her act like that. If that reason wasn't there, she would never have been that hateful Amber you know.
- Look at that, girls, says Noemi.
- Seen what? Aurore is immediately interested.
- Raise your head! replies the youngest as she is amazed by what she sees.
- What is it? Brooklyn wonders when he sees the roof of a tall building.
- I have no idea. However, I want to know what it is. Let's go? the youngest offers them when she feels better.
- Let's get the others first, opposes Brooklyn.
- Why? Do you realize we may have found a place to keep warm?
- How can you imagine such a thing? They would never do such a thing to us.
- "Amber wouldn't have done such a thing to us?" asks the youngest immediately. "If I say what I think, Aurore will take it badly. "Let's go get them in this case… she concedes.
- It is very likely that this road leads precisely there, realizes Brooklyn.
- Why don't you go and see first? Noemi continues. It would be ugly to make them walk so much and find out that we were wrong.
Understanding that something abnormal is happening with Noemi, Brooklyn decides to take her aside to understand what is happening.
- Can you tell me what's happening to you?
- What's happening to me? What is happening to me?
- Exactly, that's what I want to understand. I have the impression that you do everything so that we go there without the others.
- It is! she answers without any embarrassment.
- Do you realize that what you are doing is not right?
- Not well? Because it's good that I make Amber enjoy this house?
- So, you penalize the others because of Amber? Brooklyn continues, suddenly making the youngest think.
- You're right, she concedes. On the other hand, I refuse that this plague accompanies us.
- What can you do to prevent this? Absolutely nothing.
- Really? Who said we can't do anything? We can send him to get something and then disappear.
- If you do that, Chelsea will accompany him. Her friends will be waiting for her… And then, you forget that Jessica is there? Do you really think she's gonna let you do that stuff?
- I know not. But it annoys me to know that this shrew is going to take advantage of our find.
- But you really took advantage of the fruits she brought back…
- Let's go get them, abdicates Noemi, not expecting to receive this spade, before returning to Aurore who is waiting a little further.
Noemi didn't say a word on the way back. Even though her mind has been somewhat taken up by the building she has spotted, she still cannot help but think of Jennifer again. Walking slightly behind, while Aurore and Brooklyn leave her while keeping an eye on her, the youngest dwells on the moments spent with the deceased and her tears start to flow down her cheeks. She was far from suspecting that a moment which was supposed to be a rewarding experience, would turn into a nightmare to the point that she lost someone who meant a lot to her and with whom she shared all her secrets.