Rudra clung tightly to Star, shielding her as the other men descended upon him like vultures. Fists flew. Bones cracked. One of them snatched the gun from the ground and aimed it straight at Rudra's head.
As the struggle intensified, one of Star's bracelets slipped from her wrist, landing beside a blood-stained rock.
"Forget this wannabe hero," one of the thugs barked. "Is the girl dead?"
The man with the gun glanced at Star's still body. Blood trickled from her temple and pooled beneath her head. He lifted his phone and snapped a photo.
"Yes!" he hissed, grinning wickedly. "Yes, she's gone. We did it!"
Rudra froze, stunned, then fury ignited in his chest. His face twisted with rage.
Meanwhile, the play squads arrived at the base of the mountain, breathless and triumphant.
"We made it! And neither my brother nor Rudra are here," Bonita exclaimed, holding up a delicate bird bone.
Daniels beamed. "That's a win."
Mandume and Olivia emerged from the forest trail moments later.
"What did you guys find?" Bonita asked, still riding the adrenaline high.
"Nothing," Olivia replied flatly. "Your lover boy's worried sick about Star."
Bonita's smile dropped. "What happened to Star?"
"I don't know. Just a gut feeling," Mandume said, voice grave. "You two may have won the game, but until we're back at the tents, I won't rest."
"Who's Star?" Daniels asked, confused.
"My sister," Bonita answered. "We left her resting in the tent."
"She's injured. Couldn't make it through the jungle," she added as they all sprinted back toward the campsite.
"Star?" Daniels murmured to himself, brow furrowed with dawning realization.
When they arrived at the tents, panic spread like wildfire.
Star was gone.
They tore through the camp, calling her name, searching every corner.
Olivia found Star's phone tossed in the grass. She quickly switched it to silent mode and slipped it into her pocket.
"She was just here… Where could she have gone alone?" Mandume said, his voice tight with worry.
"I'm calling her now," Bonita said, but after several rings, she looked up, frustrated. "She's not answering!"
"Relax, maybe she ran off with her boyfriend," Olivia suggested with a sly smile.
"I am the boyfriend!" Mandume barked, his face flushed with fear and anger.
"Wait… where's Rudra?" he asked suddenly.
"Exactly my point!" Olivia interjected. "I saw them kissing earlier. What do you think Rudra was doing when he disappeared?"
Bonita's eyes widened. "No, my sister wouldn't do that. Rudra has a girlfriend—someone else."
Mandume clenched his jaw. "Exactly."
"But… they're not here. Together. Right?" Olivia pressed, fueling the doubt.
Mandume pulled out his phone. "Why is my phone on airplane mode?" he muttered. He immediately called Rudra.
Back at the mountain, Rudra's phone buzzed in the dirt while he fought off the men, his hands bloodied and bruised.
"He's not answering," Mandume said, devastated.
"See? They're together," Olivia whispered. "Star and Rudra made excuses to sneak away."
Mandume hurled his phone into the dirt in anguish. Olivia retrieved it and led him to the tent, her arm around his shoulders.
In the other tent, Daniels turned to Bonita.
"You said Star's your sister. Then who's your brother? I'm lost here."
Bonita groaned. "I can't believe she did this. Mandume loves her so much. And now this? She's a cheat… a traitor—"
"Whoa. Slow down," Daniels said, holding up a hand. "So, she's your sister-in-law?"
"She's my brother's girlfriend," Bonita spat. "And she's pregnant."
Daniels blinked. "Damn... this is really bad."
Olivia saw her moment. She leaned in and kissed Mandume.
"Don't worry," she whispered. "I've always been here for you. When Mom told me you had feelings for her—even with her carrying someone else's child—I was heartbroken. But love is blind, and I'm glad—"
"Stop!" Mandume interrupted sharply. "If my love for Star is blind, then I blindly love you too!"
Olivia gasped. "Wait… you love me?"
"You don't get it," Mandume muttered, brushing past her and storming out of the tent.
Back at the scene of the ambush, Rudra stood victorious. Bloodied and exhausted, he had beaten them all.
He staggered toward Star's body.
"Star… Star, please, wake up," he begged, shaking her gently. "Open your eyes. Don't do this to me."
Her eyelids didn't flutter.
"Please, Star…"
He pressed his fingers to her neck.
A pulse.
Faint, but there.
Relieved, Rudra scooped her into his arms and retrieved his phone.
"Mandume called several times," he noted, then quickly dialed back.
In the tent, Mandume's phone rang.
Olivia answered.
She glanced at the screen, cancelled the call, and deleted the history.
"Was that Star?" Mandume asked.
"No, it's just mine. Changing the ringtone," she lied. "Besides, Star wouldn't call you if she was having the time of her life with Rudra."
Mandume's heart sank deeper.
"She's not answering," Rudra muttered, teeth gritted. "I've got to get her to the hospital—fast."
He dialed for an ambulance and called the police.
As he carried Star to the roadside, one of the thugs staggered from the bushes, gun in hand.
The man fired.
The bullet missed Rudra by an inch.
He raised the gun again—but it jammed.
Without hesitation, Rudra set Star down gently and lunged at him. Within moments, he had the man pinned and tied.
"No, please!" the thug whimpered. "I just joined them today. I didn't know! Have mercy!"
But Rudra heard nothing. His focus was Star.
The ambulance arrived. Paramedics rushed to her. Police cuffed the thug and threw him into the van.
Rudra climbed into the ambulance, holding Star's hand tightly.
He wouldn't let go.