There were barely any snakes landing from the shore and the forest behind is set in flames. Aside from a few brave volunteers, the rest of the survivors including Liam and Tyler were resting on the beach.
"Hey, fire guy." Hair man approached Liam and Tyler, who were sitting beside eachother on a log next to the fire Liam had previously started.
Neither Liam nor Tyler gave a verbal response to him, he received one gloomy look from Liam and nothing else, "You're quite smart huh? The fire and all?" He asked Liam, who still didn't give more reaction than simply gazing.
"I'm Brandon, I was just hoping if you'd join my plan on finding any survivors left in that forest." Brandon explains while pointing towards the burning forest.
"Any survivors left are more than likely bitten or burnt."
"It's worth a shot."
There was determination in Brandon's eyes, he genuinely wants to venture into the forest in flames in the hopes he might save a few survivors that were stranded.
"I'll pass."
"Please, we could use someone with your composure even during such situations."
Tyler on the side remained silent the entire time, still in utter disbelief of how he lost two of his dear friends in the matter of seconds.
"Still pass."
Brandon sighed, "Can I know your name?"
"Liam Dye."
"Nice to meet you Liam, and thank you for saving our lives." Brandon extends out a hand hoping for a handshake.
"I did what I did to survive, it wasn't to save anyone." He did not give the handshake.
"You still saved all of us. Each and every one of us, we will get a chance to survive this and get back to our loved ones, and it's all thanks to you..." Brandon hesitated for a second, then bowed down formally, "Please, you can still save more people! I want to help those people! Please."
Liam felt a bit guilty after that, but nonetheless, he never really valued anyone else's life, it doesn't affect his own after all.
"I'll go." Tyler who were silent this conversation stood up and announced with conviction.
"Thank you."
"And you're coming too."
"What?" Liam was surprised at how quickly Tyler's mood swung, his voice now carries weight instead of trembles, and he's willing to risk his own life after witnessing the horrors of this island on his friends.
"Bryan and Melissa, they just...I know you were never close with them, but goddamn it, just hearing their conversation with me should give you an idea who they are. They're good people man, we can't let more die young, just because of this stupid Would You Rather game. And if you wish to sit on your ass here Liam because you can, well then fuck you, fuck you man. Now get up."
Tyler forces Liam up, leaving basically no options for Liam, he's not passing this time.
"So will you be going?"
"I guess I am now."
Brandon lets out a satisfied smile and extends out his hand for a handshake again, this time responded, by Tyler, "Looking forward to working with you two."
"Let's kill these asshole snakes."
"Wait, Brandon, can I ask where you're from?" Liam suddenly inquires.
"Um...Chicago, why?"
"Chicago where?"
"Around Lakeview. Why are you asking this?"
"Me and him are close, also Chicago. You got in here from a Would You Rather question right?"
"It's looking like it, this is exactly what the question described." Brandon looks down on his watch before continuing, "If it's exactly like how it describes, this should end at 4a.m., in about 2 hours and a half."
"Yeah, exactly the same as us. I asked because I don't believe in the supernatural, I don't believe we've been teleported here by a magical Would You Rather question. It's probably orchestrated by someone, and if it is, it'd require a large force of workers to transport players from the entire globe to this one place for the game. I'm willing to bet all of us are from Chicago, I don't see any foreigners around. There's someone or some insane organisation in Chicago that's doing this, and they're not trying to hide it."
Brandon paused for the long explanation that he couldn't entirely follow. After a second of processing, he asks, "Let's ask around then, where everyone is from, to confirm this."
"Chicago."
"Chicago."
"I'm from the US, near Chicago."
"You're right..."
"Doesn't matter anyways, who else is joining your plan?"
"Oh, let me introduce you two to the team, then we'll begin."
Brandon the leads them to two other survivors. Yes, only two other.
"This is James, this is Chris. This is fire guy, Liam, and..."
"Tyler."
"Tyler."
After shaking hands and a few greetings, they armed themselves with rocks and sharp wooden sticks or fragments from tree trunks.
Everyone was transported here in the clothes they last wore, so a lot of people were in their pajamas, no shoes, of the five, only Liam and Tyler had shoes on. The other three took off their shirt to wrap and cover their feet as a method to protect against shallow bites, it's not very effective, but it's better than nothing.
"Wait a second guys, before we go, I must say something to all the survivors." Brandon said, but was halted by Liam who grabbed his arm when he was about to make his announcement to the crowd.
"You want everyone to go to the same police station in Chicago and report this together in the case that we survive. If it's only one person that reports this, he'd seem like a lunatic, if it's a group, it'd be more credible."
"Ye-"
"But think. Someone or some organisation capable of kidnapping this many people and locating them here, on an island with an unknown and unprecedented species of snakes. Do you think they're incapable of stopping us to report this case?"
No flaws in that logic, it certainly had Brandon thinking. He wants to say "It's worth a try" but it isn't worth the try if it risks not just a few's life, but everyone's.
"Instead, tell everyone to not report it. There's another group of survivors, the mall with the rabid hounds, they'll report, it's the logical thing to do. We'll see what happens to them, and prepare the appropriate countermeasures. It's the best solution." Liam continued.
Brandon clearly didn't like the suggestion, his expression was ugly, frustrated and contemplating. Eventually, he turned to the crowd, "EVERYONE PLEASE LISTEN TO ME FOR A BIT! Everyone, in the case we make it out of here, do NOT report this incident to anyone. Simply stop playing the game. If you need explanations, I'll give it!"