12. Which One of Them? #2
Block One, 14.00 CST (six hours before the lock island system activates)
“So, they’re moving into this room now?” Gina asked Tyrell, her expression filled with concern.
She glanced over at a group of people from Block Three making their way into room 213. It had been nearly two hours since they all arrived in Block One, and now everyone from Block Three seemed to be venturing out of their rooms.
“Do you think it’ll be safe for us if that baby keeps crying?” Gina whispered, nodding towards a baby in the room wailing in its mother’s arms. “And there are twins here too, crying non-stop. What if the predators down there hear them?”
“All the mattresses from room 214 have been taken away,” Tyrell said. “And Kiya turned the sheets and blankets from room 212 into ropes. Both 212 and 214 are packed with tables and small cupboards from the other rooms. This room is the only one big enough for them now.”
“Why did our group split up? We should’ve stuck together in one room like before, right?” Gina complained, casting a glance back at Tyrell. She seemed uneasy about the idea of some Block Three folks joining her and Kiya in their room.
“I talked it over with Aslan, the leader from Block Three,” Tyrell explained. “The women from their group weren’t keen on coming here either. But with rooms 212 and 214 all filled up with furniture, and room 212’s window busted, our options were limited.”
“Originally, the plan was for the men to take guard duty outside the room,” Tyrell explained further. “But Danica and Sara are used to having their own space. Since they’ll probably be rotating on guard duty, they were given their own rooms.”
“Are there really no other rooms available for them here?” she asked once more, hoping for a different answer.
“Unfortunately, on this floor, there are only three big rooms with bathrooms,” Tyrell pointed out. “We’ve agreed that the girls not staying in this room will use the bathroom in 214, and the guys will use the one in 212. There’s a meeting room by the stairs, but we might need that for gatherings. So, since this room’s the best fit, they’re stuck here.”
“What about the first floor…?”
Tyrell shook his head. “All the doors on the first floor are locked and barricaded from the inside. Those down there aren’t taking any chances by venturing out.”
Gina let out a sigh. “I’m just worried that baby will keep crying and draw the attention of the predators below. Plus, one of the women from Block Three is really getting on my nerves, acting all rude since earlier.”
“Aslan told me the baby boy’s mom is Sofia, and his name’s Gergő,” Tyrell told her. “The other woman’s Mia, and the twins are Pavel and Paloma.”
“The twins’ parents passed away,” he continued, “as did a friend of Mia’s. They’re probably upset with our group, thinking we’re to blame for the mess here. That’s why they’re not exactly friendly. Let’s just try to be patient; they’re dealing with their own shock.”
Seeing Gina go quiet, Tyrell jumped back into the conversation. “You and Kiya can handle cooking, right? Since everyone outside this room will take turns on guard duty, they’re counting on you girls in here to whip up dinner. Luckily, we managed to bring some food up from the first floor to the kitchen on the second floor.”
Gina blinked in surprise. “Me? Uh, I can’t really cook. Kiya’s the one who knows her way around the kitchen. I’m not sure about the two ladies from Block Three.”
“Sofia told Aslan she’s on board for cooking,” Tyrell said. “Mia’s not much of a cook, but she’ll help with the dishes. You need to understand that everyone here might be asked to contribute. We’re in an emergency situation, Gina.”
“I understand, but I’m really not the kitchen type,” Gina said, looking guilty. “How about I watch over the kids? The baby and those twins will need looking after if the others are busy, right?”
Given Gina’s background, Tyrell smiled. “Sounds like a good plan. Taking care of kids isn’t a walk in the park. Once that’s sorted, I’ll outline our tasks until help comes. Kiya still in the shower?”
Gina nodded. “I’ll tell Kiya about this. But, Captain, do you think there’s a chance we’ll get rescued soon?”
Tyrell paused, contemplating. “This place must have connections—people, organizations, maybe even companies. Whoever runs this island likely knows something’s wrong and will send help. Especially with the network and power down, no one can reach us.”
“But what if the power doesn’t come back? What happens tonight?” Gina’s voice trembled with worry. “It’ll be totally dark, won’t it?”
Tyrell nodded grimly. “Yes, without power, it’ll be pitch black. We found one emergency light in the storage room, but it might be needed for guards in the hall. So, yeah… it’ll be dark in every room tonight.”
“On the bright side, water’s still running, and we’ve got gas for cooking,” he added. “But our food’s only good for two days. We’ve gotta hope help shows up fast.”
“What if they don’t make it before our food runs out?” Gina’s voice carried a hint of panic.
Tyrell took a moment before replying, “If that happens, we’ll have no choice but to venture out of Block One to scrounge for food.”
___
In the second-floor hallway, Kevin found himself staring down the barrel of an AK-47, held firmly by Sara Dudka. Her glare was sharp, filled with menace.
“I handed you that gun because Captain Tyrell ordered me to,” Kevin stated without shifting. “He wanted me to assess your handling of it and load the bullets. This weapon isn’t a toy—it’s loaded and dangerous.”
“Think I’m joking?” the green-eyed girl asked him. “You caused all the trouble for Block Three earlier, didn’t you? Aslan’s right about you and your buddy Bayu—only looking out for yourselves!”
“Sara, enough,” Danica’s voice cut through the tension. She sat on the hallway floor, tending to a wound on her shoulder with Bayu’s assistance. “You were given that gun because you and Aslan are on guard duty tonight. Don’t give them a reason to reconsider. Take this time to rest before dinner.”
Sara reluctantly lowered the weapon, her gaze still burning with animosity towards Kevin. “Why do Aslan and I have to be on guard duty? Why aren’t any of these newcomers on guard duty?”
“They’ve been through a lot since their private jet landed near the island last night,” Danica explained.
“Private jet? So, they’re from well-off circles?”
Sara’s expression darkened. Suddenly, she turned the gun around, striking Kevin across the face with the butt of the weapon.
“What the hell?!” Kevin’s shout echoed down the hallway as he cradled his reddening cheek from the blow. “Are you out of your mind?!”
“You’re lucky I didn’t pull the trigger,” Sara hissed, her eyes blazing with fury. “You rich folks are nothing but scum!”
With a final curse, Sara stormed off towards her room, disappearing from Kevin’s sight. Still fuming, Kevin turned to Danica.
“You said your friend was good with guns?” Kevin’s anger was palpable. “From what I just witnessed, she’s more likely to misuse one!”
“Don’t be mad at Sara,” Danica said, “she’s got a chip on her shoulder about wealthy folks because they’ve been at the root of her biggest problems. And considering the people running this cursed island are supposed to be loaded, well… just give her some patience.”
“That’s no reason for her to generalize all rich people as the worst!”
“You don’t generalize all the women in Block Three?” Danica countered. “When you heard from Igor and Ivan that many women in Block Three were from the entertainment or prostitution industry, you immediately underestimated Sara, didn’t you?”
“I… I didn’t mean to—“
“Sara’s been through a lot,” Danica interjected. “She’s not like us. She pretty, but used to be a firefighter. She witnessed a horrific massacre at a nightclub in Kiev. She was trying to put out a fire when she was attacked and raped by a group of rich mafia’s sons.”
“That’s what landed her in prison,” she explained further. “She killed those sons in self-defense. After she was released, the mafia pursued her. Her entire family fell victim to those same mafia bosses. That’s why she’s here now.”
Kevin suddenly froze. “I… didn’t know she had gone through something that terrible.”
Danica remained silent. Once Bayu finished tending to her shoulder, she stood up and addressed the two men. “Aslan mentioned dinner at six, right?”
“Captain mentioned it too. That’s why we were advised to rest,” Bayu confirmed. “Are you sure you want to sleep alone in your room with all that’s going on?”
Danica raised an eyebrow. “Are you offering to keep me company?”
“I just thought maybe you could bunk in with room 213. Those two Russians seem to have a grudge against you for telling Captain to not giving them weapons. I’m worried they might cause trouble for you. They don’t seem trustworthy,” Bayu suggested.
Danica chuckled. “Don’t worry, I have my arrows. They won’t dare mess with me.”
“But…” Her tone turned serious. “I meant what I said earlier. If you’re ever bored in your room, feel free to come to mine anytime. You saved me downstairs, and I don’t like owing anyone. So, my door’s always open for you.”
With that, Danica strolled into her room, leaving Bayu and Kevin exchanging bewildered looks.
“Did I hear that right?” Kevin whispered to Bayu, staring at Danica’s closed door. “Did she just, um, ‘invite’ you?”
“But she doesn’t owe anything. She saved me too,” Bayu murmured in confusion.
“Dude, you know exactly what she wants,” Kevin remarked, giving Bayu an irritated pat on the shoulder. “Lucky jerk!”
“But seriously, Kev, I’m worried about those two Russians,” Bayu said, trailing after Kevin towards their room. “Remember when Captain mentioned the kitchen knife went missing? Those Russians seemed to calm down all of a sudden after being upset about not getting weapons. It doesn’t sit right with me, especially since their room is close to the kitchen.”
“They’re sketchy, but Danica’s got her bow. They won’t mess with her,” Kevin reassured. “Plus, it might not even be them who took the knife. Could’ve been someone from our group or Block Three folks who nabbed it and forgot to give it back.”
“The thing is,” Bayu continued, “Gina and the other girl from our group haven’t budged from room 213. Somsak and Daniel hit the sack right after moving. If nobody from Block Three admits to taking the knife, then… one of them has some shady intentions.”
