{ Mia }
I gasped awake, sand filling my mouth as I choked on the salty air. My body felt like it had been ripped apart and stitched back together too tight, too raw. Every nerve in me screamed.
The last thing I remembered was the warehouse, the fight, the shadows closing in. And then Ace's voice, desperate, pushing me to teleport. Get us out of here.
I had.
I blinked against the blinding sun, my head pounding as I forced myself up. Waves crashed nearby, the sound rhythmic, endless. A warm breeze rustled through the trees behind me, the scent of salt thick in the air.
An island.
I turned sharply, panic clawing up my throat. Ace and Cole lay motionless a few feet away, half-buried in the sand.
"Ace? Cole?" My voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.
No response.
Ignoring the dizziness threatening to pull me back down, I crawled toward them, my fingers digging into the warm sand. Ace's dark hair was plastered to his forehead, his breathing shallow but steady. Cole had a gash along his arm, but he was breathing too.
" Okay, think Mia think ! " I massaged my forehead.
" Alright. First things first... Cole's arm."
I scanned the dense jungle surrounding us, my heartbeat still uneven from the teleport. Thick green leaves rustled in the salty breeze, towering trees stretching high above.
I needed to know where we were.
I took a deep breath and stepped toward the nearest tree. Its bark was rough under my fingers as I reached up, gripping a sturdy branch. My muscles ached from the teleport, but I forced myself up, branch by branch, until I broke through the canopy.
The view stole my breath.
The island stretched out beneath me dense jungle, golden sand, and endless ocean on all sides. No boats. No buildings. Nothing but nature.
We were alone.
I swallowed hard, my stomach twisting. Pushing back the panic, I memorized the layout there was a freshwater stream nearby, and I could see coconuts hanging from trees not too far away. That was a start.
Climbing down was harder with shaking limbs, but I managed. My boots hit the sand with a soft thud, and I rushed back to Cole. His breathing was steady, but the gash on his arm was deep.
I needed to clean it before it got worse.
Tearing a strip from my already-ruined shirt, I hurried to the shoreline. The waves lapped at my feet as I dipped the fabric into the cool saltwater. It would sting, but it was better than an infection.
Back at Cole's side, I pressed the cloth to his wound.
He flinched, groaning softly.
"Sorry," I muttered, wiping away the blood. "But you're not dying on me, okay?"
His eyes fluttered, but he didn't wake. I tied the cloth around his arm, securing it as best as I could. Then, I finally sat back, exhaustion settling into my bones.
We had survived.
I glanced up at the sky, the sun beginning its descent. Night would fall soon. With no idea what lived on this island, I couldn't risk being caught without shelter.
Now came the hard part.
Building a camp.
I closed my eyes and imagined an axe. Trying to feel the weight imagine the size and sharpness of it.
I felt the energy shift around me. I slowly opened my eyes, a golem portal appeared in front of me. A golden light shone around me calming me down a bit.
I slowly reached my hand inside feeling nothing... Then, suddenly something appeared in my palm. Slowly pulling my arm back, I saw an axe appear right in front of me.
"Whoa…" I whispered, turning the axe in my hands. The weight was perfect, like it had always belonged there. Had I just… created this?
I swung it once, feeling the smooth handle in my grip. It felt… right. Like it had always been mine. A slow grin spread across my face. This could work.
I smiled triumphantly walking away just as the golden portal closed.
" Hmmm...." I thought tapping my chin rhythmically. " How do I move them ?"
I tried dragging them towards the direction needed but it was useless the pain in my body was still there.
"Maybe I can lift them ?"
I pointed my fingers at them I kept trying to lift them, but nothing happened! They were still sprawled on the ground."Come on, come on," I muttered, gritting my teeth. The thought of leaving them out in the open, vulnerable, made my stomach twist. I had to move them fast.
"Think Mia think !" I urged myself.
" Ace always used to say to feel it so maybe...."
I closed my eyes and felt the power coursing through my veins.
Then, I lifted my fingers opened my eyes and there! It worked. I sighed in relief.
" I don't have to carry them." I chuckled.
I slowly walked towards the place where I mapped out near the clean water source.
I glanced at the sky, the sun dipping lower. The jungle whispered around me, and a shiver crawled up my spine. It was going to be a long night.
The clearing was quiet except for the steady rustling of leaves and the distant crash of waves. Ace and Cole lay where I had gently set them down, their breathing even but their bodies still unmoving. I exhaled slowly, pushing away my exhaustion. There was no time to rest. We needed shelter before night fell.
I tightened my grip on the axe, feeling its weight ground me. The power that had created it still hummed faintly in my fingertips, but I couldn't dwell on that now. I needed to work.
Scanning the area, I spotted a cluster of tall, sturdy trees nearby. They would do. I rolled my shoulders, bracing myself, and raised the axe.
The first swing sent a sharp vibration up my arms, but the blade bit deep into the bark. I adjusted my stance and swung again. And again. Wood splintered, the rhythmic sound filling the air. My muscles burned, but I didn't stop until the first tree gave a final groan and toppled over.
I stepped back, panting, wiping sweat from my forehead with my torn sleeve. One down. A lot more to go.
As I worked, the minutes bled into hours. I cut, dragged, and stacked the logs into a rough framework, piecing together something that resembled four walls. It wasn't perfect, but it would hold for now.
The sun was sinking fast, casting golden streaks through the dense foliage. I glanced at Ace and Cole, still unconscious, and my chest tightened. They needed a roof over their heads before the cold set in.
Gathering long, flexible branches, I started weaving them together, creating a rough covering. It wasn't pretty, but it would block out the wind. I added broad leaves, layering them to keep the rain out. By the time I was done, the sky had deepened into deep purples and blues.
I dropped to my knees, my body aching, but the sight of the cabin a real, solid shelter made me smile. It wasn't much, but it was ours. We were safe.
For now...