Nate and Madison made their way back through the dark tunnels, their footsteps echoing softly against the damp walls. The flickering fire on Nate's hand illuminated their path as they approached the others. The once-bound survivors were now free, standing or sitting in groups, many of them trembling but alive.
Alice was helping an older man to his feet when Nate arrived. She looked up at him, her face pale but determined. Nate nodded at her, silently commending her courage.
"It's time to go," Nate announced, his voice steady. "We need to get everyone back to camp."
The group began to stir, murmurs of relief spreading among them. As Nate moved through the crowd, he paused to ask about the casualties.
"How many?" he asked quietly.
"Three," one of the survivors said, his voice tinged with sorrow. "The beast only killed three before you arrived."
Nate closed his eyes for a moment, a mix of relief and guilt washing over him. Three lives lost was better than what it could have been, but it was still three too many.
Then, he spotted the young man who had led them here. The man was crouched on the ground, holding a little girl tightly in his arms. Tears streamed down his face, but there was a small, relieved smile as he clung to his sister as if she might disappear again.
Nate walked over to him, crouching down to meet his eyes. "I'm glad you found her," he said softly, a small smile on his lips.
The young man looked up at him, his eyes glistening with gratitude. He bowed his head deeply. "Thank you," he whispered.
Nate shook his head, his smile faint but warm. "Take care of her."
The young man nodded, holding his sister even closer as Nate rose to his feet. He glanced around one last time, ensuring everyone was accounted for, and then led the group out of the tunnels.
---
Back at the camp, Ryder was deep in discussion with a group of older men, including the art teacher who had been responsible for organizing the trip to the museum. The teacher had taken on a leadership role since the crash, helping to manage the camp and keep morale up.
Ryder glanced up mid-conversation, his eyes narrowing as he spotted movement in the distance. His expression shifted as he realized who it was—Nate. And Nate wasn't alone.
"They're back!" Someone shouted, his voice carrying across the camp.
The news spread like wildfire. People rushed out of their tents, running toward Nate and the returning group. Cries of joy and disbelief filled the air as loved ones reunited, embracing tightly and sobbing with relief.
Nate stood to the side, watching the scene unfold. A bittersweet feeling settled over him as he saw the joy on so many faces, but his gaze was drawn to two figures in the distance. They were crying, their faces twisted in grief as someone broke the news to them about their lost loved ones.
His chest tightened, and he looked away, guilt gnawing at him. He had saved most of them, but not all.
"Nate," a soft voice called from beside him.
He turned his head to see Bella standing there, her expression gentle. She smelled faintly of something sweet, like jasmine, and her presence was oddly calming.
"There's nothing more you could've done," she said, patting his shoulder.
Nate didn't respond, his eyes scanning the camp as the joyous reunions continued.
"Look around," Bella urged, her voice firm but kind. "Look at the smiles you've brought back. Look at the happiness you've given these people. You've given them hope in a place where there was none. That's not something they'll forget."
Nate sighed, his shoulders heavy. "I hope you're right," he said quietly.
Bella smiled softly and gave his shoulder one last pat before walking away, leaving him to his thoughts.
Nate lingered a moment longer before turning and heading toward his tent. Once inside, he collapsed onto his bed without even bothering to remove his clothes.
The scent of the sheets caught his attention—something faintly floral. Madison, he thought absently. It smelled like her. He didn't care, though. If anything, it was oddly comforting.
Exhausted and emotionally drained, Nate closed his eyes. The day's events swirled in his mind, but for now, the scent and the soft bed beneath him were enough to let him drift into a deep, much-needed sleep.
---
Madison was inside her tent, her brow furrowed in irritation as she tried to restore some semblance of order to the mess before her. Clothes, supplies, and random trinkets were strewn about the small space, making it impossible to move freely. She huffed as she picked up a shirt from the floor, shaking her head.
"Who the hell went through my stuff?" she muttered under her breath, folding the shirt and tossing it into a neat pile.
She didn't have the answer, but the intrusion left her unsettled. Her tent had always been her little corner of peace in this chaotic new reality. Whoever had rifled through her belongings had violated that, and it irked her more than she wanted to admit.
Meanwhile, in the tent across from hers, Jason and Axel sat near the opening, their eyes glued to Madison's tent through the small gaps in the fabric.
"Man," Jason whispered, his voice thick with lust. "Look at that. That ass is begging to be spanked, those tits are just screaming to be sucked, and that face? I'd do unspeakable things to that face."
Axel grinned, leaning back with a cocky smirk. "She's got it all, alright. But between her and Bella? I gotta say, Bella's got that tight little body I wanna wrap my legs around. Just slightly better, though."
Jason nodded, pretending to weigh the imaginary scale in his hands. "Yeah, I'll give you that. Bella's definitely the fuckable queen of the camp. Madison's hot on her tail, though. Second place, but damn, that body."
The two snickered quietly before Jason's expression turned thoughtful. "But, hey… don't you think it's kinda fucked up how close they are to Nate?"
Axel scoffed, waving his hand dismissively. "What's so fucked up about it? There's no way Nate's fucking either of them. Not with his crybaby act."
Jason shook his head, his tone more serious now. "Are you blind? Haven't you noticed? Nate's different now. He's not the same pussy we knew when we first crashed here. He's more confident, more… I don't know, capable. It wouldn't surprise me if one of them—or both—had taken his cock for a ride."
Axel's playful grin melted into something darker, his lips curling into a scowl. His fists clenched at his sides, and for a moment, a murderous glint flashed in his eyes.
But as the tent flap across the way shifted, revealing Madison stepping out, his expression transformed in an instant. The anger vanished, replaced by an almost predatory look as his gaze locked onto her.
Madison stretched her arms above her head, arching her back slightly as she tried to shake off the stiffness from hours of cleaning. Her movements were fluid and graceful, highlighting the natural curves of her body.
Axel's breath hitched, and Jason let out a low whistle.
"Damn," Jason muttered, his voice husky. "She's too fucking much, man. Look at that shape… it's criminal how perfect it is."
Axel could only nod, his tongue darting out to wet his lips. "Yeah… I'd bend her over right now if I could."
The two of them sat in silence, their gazes never leaving Madison as she moved to fold the tarp outside her tent. Their thoughts were filled with images they wouldn't dare speak aloud in public, their breaths shallow as they watched her every move.
Madison, oblivious to their stares, continued with her task, her mind still preoccupied with the mess someone had made of her things. She sighed, muttering to herself as she folded the tarp with practiced efficiency.
Inside their tent, Jason elbowed Axel, breaking the trance. "Dude, you okay?"
Axel shook his head, tearing his eyes away from Madison. "Yeah… just thinking about how I'd make her scream my name."
Jason smirked knowingly, but he didn't press further.
The two boys stayed quiet after that, their earlier banter forgotten as their thoughts remained fixated on Madison and the growing tension they felt whenever they saw her—or Bella.