The sun glared down on me as I woke up, sand in my mouth and boots, bruises, and scratches covering my body. My vision was blurred, and a harsh cough racked my chest. Every part of me ached as I struggled to stand up. Disoriented, I wobbled and scanned my surroundings. Where am I? I wondered. It looked like a beach, but something felt off.
Questions flooded my mind as I lost balance and sat down to catch my breath. My head throbbed, a sharp pain like pins and needles. Gradually, my vision started to clear. I got back on my feet and stumbled along the shoreline, searching for any sign of life or a clue to my location. That's when I noticed smoke rising from the tree line.
Slowly, I made my way toward the source. My memory was still hazy, but something clicked when I reached the wreckage of an airplane. Yes, that's right, I recalled. I had boarded a flight from Germany, bound for somewhere in Asia, though I couldn't quite remember where. There was no use dwelling on it now. The smoke stung my eyes and irritated my lungs as I searched the wreck for supplies—anything that might help me survive.
As I scavenged, muffled noises caught my attention. I pushed aside debris and twisted metal until, to my surprise, I found a survivor—a woman, tall and slender, with wavy, blonde hair now matted with dirt and ash. Her blue eyes are sharp but clouded with pain. clearly European. Makes sense, I thought. The flight did take off from Germany. My thoughts were interrupted by her frantic shout for help. She had injured her leg badly.
I quickly helped her out of the wreckage, and she mentioned that an emergency first aid kit might be at the back of the plane. If it hadn't been destroyed or burned, it could save her. Luck was on our side; I found the kit with minimal damage. After patching up her leg and giving her painkillers, I took some myself before handing her the rest.
"Do you think you can walk or move?" I asked.
"Maybe," she replied, wincing as she tried to stand. With my help, she managed to get up, but it was clear she was in no shape to move far on her own.
"Well," I said, adjusting my grip on her arm, "all we can do now is move away from the wreckage."
As we moved away from the wreckage toward the coastline, I noticed a shadowy figure in the distance. Moments later, a disturbed flock of birds took flight, their wings flapping wildly as they vanished into the sky. Must be some kind of animal, I thought, dismissing it. I had more pressing matters to attend to. Anna, however, glanced back with a hint of concern, but she, too, seemed more focused on survival.
I set her down on the beach, where the shade of the trees offered some relief from the relentless sun. She extended her hand and introduced herself, "Anna Köhler."
I shook her hand, but as I did, a strange confusion swept over me. Something is wrong. What is my name? The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. I couldn't remember. I couldn't recall anything beyond boarding the flight. Worst of all, I knew nothing about myself.
Anna's face shifted from wary to puzzled. "So, did your brain stop working? How long do you plan on holding my hand? And who are you?"
The words stuck in my throat as I tried to explain. How could I put it into words? "It seems…I can't remember anything about myself," I said, the absurdity of it all almost laughable. "Quite a curious situation I find myself in."
She frowned. "Did you hit your head somewhere?"
I hesitated, "No... not that I can remember. Maybe. I really don't know."
With an exasperated sigh, she muttered, "Does your head hurt, you dumb cowboy?"
"Yeah," I admitted. "What's with calling me 'cowboy'?"
"Because you look and talk like an American, that's why."
"Okay," I replied. It was only then that I realized I had forgotten even that detail. I sighed. "It seems I'm in a predicament with my memories." I paused, taking in the surroundings. "Where are we?"
Anna's expression shifted to one of dry sarcasm. "Oh, we're in my friend's luxury resort. Isn't it obvious?"
I almost smiled. "So, we don't know," I concluded.
I glanced at her, "Where was the plane headed?" The only thing I remembered was boarding a flight bound for somewhere in Asia.
She adjusted her position and winced. "Thailand. The plane was filled with researchers and other interested parties. I didn't know everyone on board, certainly not you. We were on our way to investigate some new find in a cave. The details were scarce, but there were whispers—alien life, ancient civilizations, who knows. They spoke in riddles."
I looked around. The sun had dipped lower in the sky. Afternoon would soon turn to evening, and darkness would bring new challenges. "Anna, I need to cut you short. We need food or shelter before nightfall. Wait here for me."
She crossed her arms, managing a wry smile despite her pain. "Not like I can go anywhere anyway."
Anna waited on the beach, her eyes flicking nervously between the tree line and the thickening smoke from the wreckage that now darkened the sky. The sun was slipping fast toward the horizon, painting the scene in hues of orange and deepening purple. She shifted uncomfortably, wincing at the pain in her leg. Did that cowboy keel over in the forest? Or did he just abandon me, figuring I was dead weight? she thought grimly.
A sudden rustle in the bushes behind her snapped her attention away from the sky. Her heart thudded painfully as she tried to get up but failed. If this is something dangerous, I'm done for, she realized, the thought sparking a cold rush of fear. "Is that you, cowboy? Stop messing around!" she shouted, voice strained.
A wild boarlet burst from the foliage, making her jump and let out an involuntary scream. The small creature sniffed around her feet before darting off into the underbrush. But the encounter left her feeling uneasy, her instincts buzzing with alarm. Something's not right, she thought. An island shouldn't have wild boars. The ecosystem doesn't make sense.
A few moments earlier, I was making my way back to the coast, clutching a few coconuts, some sticks, and the memory of a small cave I'd found. This should be enough for tonight, I thought. If the fire is still going, we'll be in decent shape. Suddenly, I heard Anna's scream. Panic surged through me. That's definitely her. What happened?
I sprinted through the trees and stumbled onto the beach, out of breath. "What happened? Why did you scream?" I panted.
She scowled. "Where were you? It took you long enough!"
"I was making preparations so we can survive the night," I said, holding up the coconuts. "I found some food and a small cave for shelter." Anna pushed herself up with my help, wincing as she stood. "We need to move out soon," she insisted, urgency replacing her earlier frustration.
"Hold on," I said, glancing at the smoking wreckage. "Let me see if there's any fire we can use." We moved cautiously back toward the wreck, the sky now a dark canvas streaked with smoke. The scene was surreal—eerie and almost beautiful in its foreboding way.
A small fire still crackled weakly in the twisted remains of the plane. I used a stick to transfer the flame carefully, glancing back at Anna as we started toward the cave. "You still didn't tell me why you screamed," I pressed.
She took a shaky breath. "You agree this is an island, right?"
I nodded. "Yeah, seems that way."
"Well, I saw a wild boarlet."
I paused, a mix of surprise and relief in my voice. "That's... actually good news. Where there are young ones, there will be adult boars. We can hunt them, cook the meat, and have a reliable food source."
Anna shot me a glare, frustration brimming in her eyes. "You dumb cowboy, is food all you can think about? We shouldn't be here at all!"
"Hey, we're in survival mode. We need food," I replied calmly.
She sighed, pressing her fingers to her temples and taking a few deep breaths. "I'm sorry. I got ahead of myself. I forgot not everyone knows this... but different ecosystems support different kinds of wildlife. This place—it's too small. An island shouldn't support a wild boar population. It doesn't add up."
We reached the small cave I'd found earlier. The air was cooler inside, shadows dancing as I set up the small fire. Anna settled in, the tension from her outburst fading as fatigue set in. "And about earlier—I'm sorry for snapping at you. I'm exhausted, injured, and just... frustrated."
"It's fine," I assured her. "I know what it's like to be tired and hurt. No harm done. Just rest; I'll keep watch."
With a final glance, Anna closed her eyes, leaving me to stare out into the dark forest, mind racing with unanswered questions and a gnawing sense that we were missing something crucial.