Summer kills

The beach was a scene of despair a stark contrast to the carefree, luxurious life they had known just hours before. The jet, once a symbol of their wealth and freedom, was now a crumpled wreck, a deadly trap that had brought them to this forsaken island. Their group, once full of laughter and life, was now broken, bloodied, and on the brink of collapse.

As the storm continued to rage around them, the group's survival instincts began to take over, but the trauma of the crash and the loss of Maddie weighed heavily on their minds. They were alive, but the island was unforgiving, and the night was far from over.

Jake, struggling to keep his composure, turned his bloodied face towards Liam, who was still sitting on the beach, clutching his shoulder. The rain had slowed, but the heavy drops continued to fall, each one feeling like a reminder of their grim reality.

"Liam," Jake called out, his voice rough and urgent. "We need to do something about Ethan's leg. We can't just leave him here bleeding out." His eyes darted towards Ethan, who was lying on the sand, writhing in pain as blood continued to seep from his wounded foot.

Liam looked up, wiping the tears from his eyes with the back of his hand. He nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Yeah, you're right," he replied, his voice shaky but determined. "What do we do?"

"We need to find something-leaves, cloth, anything to wrap his leg and stop the bleeding," Jake explained, glancing around the chaotic beach. The remnants of their jet were scattered everywhere, but the jungle beyond the beach offered the only hope for shelter and supplies. "We should also find some shelter, maybe a cave or something, before it starts raining again."

Liam nodded again and pushed himself to his feet, wincing as he adjusted his shoulder. "Okay, let's go," he said, his voice filled with resolve. He cast one last glance at Ethan, who was biting down on his lip to stifle his screams, before he followed Jake towards the edge of the jungle.

The two men moved quickly, their adrenaline pushing them forward despite their exhaustion. The jungle was dense, the foliage thick and wet from the storm, but they pushed through, knowing that time was of the essence. The sounds of the night-chirping insects, rustling leaves-felt eerie in contrast to the chaos they had just left behind on the beach.

As they searched, Jake's mind raced, replaying the events of the crash over and over. The thought of Maddie's death, Olivia's shock, and Ruby's unconscious form haunted him, but he forced himself to focus. Survival was the only option now, and he had to keep it together for the sake of the others.

Liam, equally on edge, kept scanning the area for anything useful. After a few minutes, he spotted a cluster of large leaves that looked thick and sturdy enough to use as a makeshift bandage. "Over here!" he called out to Jake, who quickly made his way over.

"These should work," Jake said, inspecting the leaves. They were broad and tough, perfect for wrapping around Ethan's foot. "Let's grab as many as we can and get back to him."

They quickly gathered an armful of leaves and began to make their way back to the beach. As they emerged from the jungle, they noticed a small cave tucked into the side of a rocky hill, not far from where the jet had crashed. It wasn't much, but it would offer some protection from the elements.

"Liam, let's check that cave out after we help Ethan," Jake suggested, pointing towards it. "We'll move him there once we've stopped the bleeding."

Liam nodded in agreement, and they hurried back to where the rest of the group was. Ethan was still on the ground, his face pale and covered in sweat. Olivia hadn't moved, still sitting in shock, and Ruby remained unconscious, her breathing shallow.

"Hang in there, man," Jake said as he knelt beside Ethan, carefully wrapping the large leaves around his injured foot. The bleeding slowed as the pressure was applied, and Ethan's pained groans softened slightly. Liam helped secure the makeshift bandage, and together, they lifted Ethan to his feet, supporting him between them. "We found a cave," Liam told the others, trying to sound reassuring. "We'll move there for shelter." With great effort, the group began to move towards the cave, each step a painful reminder of the nightmare they were now living. The storm had passed, but the real battle for survival was just beginning.

As Liam and Jake attempted to lift Ethan, a sharp, agonizing sound echoed through the storm-drenched beach-Liam's shoulder cracked under the strain. He let out a cry of pain and crumpled to the ground, clutching his shoulder, now throbbing with renewed intensity.

"Damn it!" Jake cursed, his voice raw with frustration and concern. He glanced down at Liam, who was writhing on the sand, his face contorted in agony. Ethan, barely conscious from the pain in his foot, leaned heavily on Jake, his weight almost too much to bear.

"I can't-my shoulder," Liam gasped, his breath coming in short, sharp bursts as he tried to push through the pain.

Jake knelt beside him, his mind racing as he tried to figure out their next move. They were losing time, and with each passing second, their situation grew more dire. He looked around, desperate for something, anything, that could help. Just then, a faint movement caught his eye. Ruby, who had been lying unconscious, began to stir. Her eyelids fluttered, and she groaned softly as she slowly opened her eyes, blinking in confusion as the nightmare of their reality came into focus.

"Ruby!" Jake called out, relief mixing with urgency in his tone. "Ruby, are you okay? Can you move?"

Ruby, still groggy, managed to prop herself up on one elbow, her gaze sweeping over the scene the wreckage, the injured, the blood on the sand. Her eyes widened in horror as the memories came flooding back. "What... what happened?" she asked, her voice trembling. "The plane crashed," Jake explained quickly, "and we're in bad shape. Liam's shoulder is dislocated, Ethan's foot is torn up, and we need to get everyone to shelter. Can you help?"

Ruby nodded weakly, forcing herself to sit up fully despite the dizziness that threatened to pull her back down. "I'll try," she said, her voice shaky but determined.

Jake knew they needed to act fast. He spotted some broken branches near the tree line, their thick, sturdy wood ideal for fashioning a makeshift splint. "Hang in there, Liam," he said, his tone both reassuring and urgent. "I'm going to make something to support your shoulder."

He quickly gathered the branches, snapping them to the right length before returning to Liam. Working as efficiently as he could, Jake bound the branches together with strips of fabric torn from his own shirt, creating a rudimentary splint. "This is going to hurt, but we have to do it," Jake warned as he prepared to secure Liam's arm. Liam nodded, gritting his teeth in anticipation of the pain.

With careful, deliberate movements, Jake positioned the branches against Liam's arm, supporting his injured shoulder. Liam winced, sucking in sharp breaths through clenched teeth, but he didn't protest. The makeshift splint held, providing some much-needed stability.

"Okay, that should help," Jake said, more to himself than anyone else. He looked at Ruby, who was now fully awake and beginning to regain some of her strength. "Ruby, help me with Ethan. We need to get him up, and then we can move Liam."

Ruby nodded, shaking off the lingering grogginess as she moved to support Ethan from the other side. Together, they managed to lift him, careful not to put too much strain on his injured foot.

Liam, with Jake's makeshift splint in place, struggled to his feet, biting back the pain. The group, though battered and barely holding together, began to make their slow, painful way towards the cave Jake had spotted earlier. The rain had finally stopped, but the air was still thick with tension and the looming threat of what lay ahead.

As they trudged forward, Jake couldn't help but steal a glance at the darkening sky, where the storm clouds still lingered ominously. They had survived the crash, but the fight for survival was far from over.