Amy turned to Jimmy, her voice low and serious. "Why did you really come here? Why attack our packs?"
Jimmy sighed, the weight of the situation settling on him. "There have been... cases. Odd deaths back in our town. Every victim is found the same way: with deep wolf scratches across their neck. We came to this island to see if there was a connection. But as soon as we landed, we were swarmed. There were so many of them... I lost consciousness before I knew what hit me."
Amy looked at Luca, her eyes wide. "A wolf in a human city? How is that possible? The only ones who ever left this island were Luca's mom and her followers. But she's a good person. she would never do something like that. Not unless someone escaped her watch."
As Jimmy spoke, Amy caught Luca staring at him with an unreadable expression. She noticed the intensity in his eyes but decided not to push it. Instead, she turned back to Luca. "When are you going to let him go? It's too dangerous to keep him here. You know that, right?"
"As soon as I can get him off this island safely," Luca replied firmly. "I've been marking the trails every time I go hunting, trying to find a path to the main roads. He wouldn't last twenty steps on his own before he was dead."
Amy let out a small, teasing chuckle. Jimmy frowned. "You're laughing at me, aren't you?"
"Nah," Amy winked, her tone softening. "Just joking. We're cool, Jimmy."
As the sun began to set, Amy stood up. "I have to get going before they start looking for me."
"Can you bring supplies when you come back?" Luca asked.
"Sure thing," she promised before disappearing into the trees.
With Amy gone, the air between Jimmy and Luca turned thick and awkward. To break the silence, Jimmy asked, "Your friend Amy... how old is she?"
"Same age as us," Luca said.
"Are you guys close?"
"Ever since I've lived here, she's been my best friend. She's always been there for me. She's like the sister I never had."
Jimmy nodded. "That's a nice story. I had someone close, too. A girl named Sarah."
Luca stiffened. "Sarah? Who is she to you?"
"She was my everything," Jimmy said, his voice trailing off. "My best friend. I even planned on starting a family with her."
Luca looked away. "What if she doesn't love you back?"
"Why would you say that?" Jimmy asked, defensive. "She's always there when I need her. When she had her last breakup, I was the one she called. We've done everything together. We've been intimate... you really think she doesn't love me?"
"I didn't say she doesn't love you," Luca replied quietly. "But maybe she's just using you to relieve stress. Maybe she's only there because she knows how much you care."
"Let's just drop it," Jimmy snapped. They both lay down to sleep, their hearts heavy with unspoken words.
The next morning, Jimmy woke to find Luca gone. He knew Luca was out hunting, so he waited. When Luca returned, he apologized for the "small talk" from the night before. He suggested they keep their distance, even as he continued working on the escape plans.
When Amy returned with meat, fruit, and fresh water, the tension was still palpable. "Hope no one followed you," Luca muttered.
"Rest assured, I came alone," Amy said, handing the supplies to Jimmy.
Jimmy felt a surge of jealousy as Luca went back to talk with Amy. He wanted Luca's attention all to himself. He's the one who wanted distance, Jimmy thought bitterly, so why can't I get him out of my head?
To grab their attention, Jimmy began to sing. Amy looked over, amused. "Hey mister, are you bored?"
"Kind of. You guys seem pretty busy talking to yourselves."
Amy smirked. "Look who's jealous."
In his mind, Luca was happy to hear that, but he kept his face like stone. To lighten the mood, Amy suggested a game. Luca was hesitant, fearing the tension would only get worse, but Amy insisted.
"What kind of games do you play here?" Jimmy asked.
"We hunt animals and humans and keep their skulls as trophies," Amy said seriously. Jimmy's face went pale. Then, she burst out laughing. "I'm teasing! Did you really fall for it? Let's just play a question game."
She turned to Jimmy. "What do you do for fun in the human world?"
"Normal stuff," Jimmy explained. "We don't really hunt, except maybe on Saturdays with pistols. We get our meat and fruit from stores."
"A store?" Amy asked, fascinated. "It's your turn, Luca."
Luca looked at Jimmy. "How do you get around over there?"
"Trains, cars, buses, bicycles," Jimmy listed.
"What are those?" Luca asked, genuinely curious.
"When I leave, I'll send you a photo," Jimmy promised.
The game continued until a sharp snap echoed from the bushes. Amy immediately pushed Jimmy into hiding while she and Luca stood guard.
Out of the shadows stepped Luca's brothers, Masion and Dylan.
"I'm your older brother," Masion growled, looking at Luca with disdain. "You dare speak to me like that? What are you doing out here? We haven't seen you in days."
Jimmy held his breath, terrified. He had heard the stories about Masion.
"Mind your own business," Luca retorted.
"There's a meeting soon," Masion warned. "I expect to see you there. Stop messing around in these bushes; you're not a kid anymore."
Once the brothers vanished back into the woods, Jimmy crawled out. "Damn, Luca... those were your brothers?"
"Yes," Luca said, his eyes scanning the treeline. "This place isn't safe for you anymore. They'll be back tonight. Amy, where can we take him?"
"I have a hideout," Amy said. "But we have to move right now."
As they hurried through the brush, Amy looked at Luca. "We don't have much time before my brothers discover us, too. You know I have brothers just like yours, Luca."