The Hunt

15. Everly

15

Everly

A man crowed victoriously from the back of the crowd. “I fucking knew it!” he said. “I knew this was all part of the game!”

“Shut up,” someone else snapped. “We need to hear this!”

The deep voice on the audio device crackled to life again, smooth and composed.

“Firstly, please allow me to apologize for the unconventional manner in which you were brought here,” it began. “Let me assure you, it was necessary, for your safety and ours. You see, ensuring you never return and pinpoint this location is of utmost importance. But please, rest easy. At no point were any of you in actual danger.”

A murmur rippled through the group as the voice paused to let the words sink in. After a moment, it continued.

“The yacht was never in trouble. What you heard—the booms, the creaks, the storm—it was all simulated. Cleverly crafted sound effects, flashing lights, sprinkler systems for the fake rain. As for the strange quality of the air below deck that some of you may have noticed—it wasn’t smoke or a chemical spill. Just a harmless sedative, delivered in gas form. Completely safe for humans. It simply ensured you drifted off to sleep.”

Someone gasped, and the voice sounded as if it were gloating as it went on. “While you slept, you were carefully loaded onto boats and brought to this beach. When you awoke, the scene was set, just like in your favorite movies. Washed ashore. Confused but unharmed.”

A nervous laugh escaped from someone in the group, and within moments, more chuckles followed. Relief spread, loosening the tension as people exchanged wide-eyed glances, some shaking their heads at the absurdity.

“This is so fucking cool!” one guy said. “They really got me!”

I rolled my eyes, lips thinning. It wasn’t cool. It was cruel —making us all think we might die in a yacht sinking before stranding us in a random place. It was also needlessly elaborate, considering the whole point was just to scare us. It made it seem like the organizers reveled in their cruelty and the fear they instilled in the contestants. That didn’t bode well with the feeling I already had that something was wrong here.

Also, my first question still remained. Who the hell signed me up for this and brought me here? My first suspect for fucked-up shenanigans would usually be Jake, but he hated me, so why would he sign me up to potentially win millions of dollars?

An image of Rhett’s face, along with his tattooed, scarred chest and arms, suddenly flashed in my mind. No, I told myself. He wouldn’t bring you here either. Why would he?

The voice on the device continued, smooth and dispassionate. "The wristbands you were given at the marina weren’t assigned to prove your guest status. They’re actually GPS trackers. Don’t worry, the hunters won’t have access to the location data. They’re solely for our tech team’s use, allowing them to monitor your movements and ensure no one gets lost in the wilderness. Your safety is our priority, after all."

There was a brief pause, the silence hanging heavy before the voice resumed.

"Each of you will be assigned a survival kit. Inside, you'll find a map, basic clothing and shoes, essential tools, and rations. The bags also contain a radio that will communicate valuable information to each player through a small earbud that fits in your right ear. If you lose it, don’t worry. There are five spares in the bag,” it said. “How you use your tools and rations is up to you, but remember, these items are all you have; at least for the time being. You must rely on yourself—or on others, if you choose to form alliances. However, you must remember: there can only be one winner, so trust is a luxury, not a necessity."

The voice grew colder, more detached, as if relishing the weight of what was to come.

"In a game like this, out in the real wilderness, injuries are inevitable. Minor cuts or bruises? The first aid kit will take care of that. But should something more serious happen, don’t worry. You’ll be airlifted out and taken to a hospital immediately. Unfortunately, if that happens, you’ll be out of the game and therefore out of the running to win the prize.”

The tension in the air thickened, and I could almost feel the cold smile in the voice's words as it continued. “To make the game more interesting, there are safe zones all over the island."

“Wait, this is an island ?” Nathan said, eyes wide with disbelief.

“Seriously?” The tall blonde woman next to him rolled her eyes. “You didn’t figure that out already from the lack of phone signal?”

The voice went on. "In these zones, you’ll find more rations and necessities, and you’ll be safe from the hunters. Even if they’re right next to the safe zone, they are not allowed to touch you,” it said. “The safe zones are available for limited times only, and the locations and times will be announced over your earpiece. You’ll need to keep moving, because after a few hours, the zones will shift. Once a safe zone closes, anyone still inside must leave immediately, or they will become vulnerable."

“Great,” Nathan muttered. “That means we can’t just find a safe zone and hole up there for the whole game.”

“Did you really think they’d make it that easy?” Chris asked, upper lip curling with derision.

I hushed them so I could hear as the voice droned on. "Some safe zones are hidden and marked only by certain symbols. These zones will not be announced over your earbud, and the information about their opening and closing times will only be available at the zone itself. You’ll need to be observant and resourceful to find these places. Not everyone will be able to locate them, but those who do will gain an advantage,” it said. “Next, there will occasionally be supply drops delivered to random locations within the safe zones. The contents of these drops are limited—first come, first served. Lastly, beware of false safe zones. Not all areas that seem safe truly are. Some places may appear to offer protection but come with unforeseen risks."

The voice paused for a moment to let all the information sink in. Then it went on, chillingly smooth as ever.

"Scattered across the island are hidden caches containing weapons, tools, and other items to aid you in your survival. However, not all caches are created equal. Some may hold items that could be your downfall if used unwisely,” it said. “Also, throughout the Hunt, some contestants will be randomly marked as 'bounties.' Hunters who capture and tag a bounty will receive extra points. For the bounty, survival becomes even more crucial. Be prepared—anyone could be next."

“It better not be me who has to be the bounty first,” a young woman said in a scathing tone. She was the one who’d complained about getting sand under her nails earlier.

I twisted my lips, wondering why she’d willingly signed up for a survival game when she so clearly hated the wilderness. I could only guess that the offer of five million dollars was too enticing for her to ignore.

"The game begins at five p.m. today,” the voice went on. “Until then, you have the rest of the day to prepare yourself, get to know your fellow contestants, or do whatever you want."

The crowd of contestants split off into smaller groups to chat amongst themselves as Nathan, Peter, and Chris began to unload the backpacks from the cache. I grabbed my bag when it was handed to me and carried it over to a shady spot beneath a tree, settling down to sift through its contents.

Inside was a survival kit, just like the voice promised: a map, a compass, a small pocket watch, a flashlight, water, a few packets of rations, a small roll of toilet paper, and a first aid kit.

Beneath that, there was a pair of sneakers, three pairs of socks, underwear, a khaki long-sleeved sweater, and matching pants. All of them were in my exact size. I frowned, wondering how they knew that information about me, before deciding it wasn’t even close to the most important question I had right now.

“Seriously,” I muttered to myself, head spinning. “Why the hell am I here?”

I sifted through everything carefully, mentally checking off what I thought I’d need the most. Then I spotted the small black box at the bottom of the bag.

I pulled it out, examining the sleek surface, and popped it open. Inside, there was a tiny radio, complete with a matching earbud. I placed the earbud in my right ear, testing the fit. It felt fine, but I couldn’t ignore the faint static that buzzed through it, followed by the sound of a voice, crackling softly.

"Test one, two… can you hear me?"

I froze, the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. The voice was faint but clear, as if someone was speaking directly into my ear.

"Test one, two… can you hear me?" the voice repeated. “Nod your head if you can. We’ll catch you on the cameras.”

Oh, great, we’re under constant surveillance here, I thought bitterly. As if this shit wasn’t already weird enough.

I nodded to confirm the earbud was working and slipped the box back into my bag. Then I peered up at the tree behind me, looking for the camera. I couldn’t see it anywhere, but I knew it had to be there somewhere. There were probably thousands of them all over the island.

I glanced over at the other contestants, trying to get a read on their reactions. No one seemed worried, but fear was starting to settle in my chest anyway; a dark knot that I couldn’t untangle.

Taking a deep breath, I turned my attention back to my map, checking out the various landmarks.

“There you are.” Nikki appeared in front of me. “You totally disappeared.”

“Sorry.” I smiled weakly and patted the ground next to me, gesturing for her to sit. “I just needed a few minutes to process all of this.”

“It’s pretty hectic, right?”

“Yeah, but…” I trailed off and sighed, shaking my head. “I didn’t sign up for this thing, so I’m really confused. It feels like it’s not even real.”

“Wait, what ?”

I ran through the story—or what I knew of it, anyway, considering how much I couldn’t recall—and Nikki’s eyes widened more and more with each passing minute.

“Holy shit,” she said breathlessly. “Can’t you say something?”

“To who?”

“The game organizers. I’m pretty sure there’s cameras everywhere, so they must be listening to us, right?”

“I don’t think the cameras pick up sound,” I said, shrugging listlessly. “Besides, I’ve already talked about it to other people earlier. So if the organizers are listening, they already know I’m not meant to be here, and they don’t care.”

“That’s fucking crazy.” She shook her head, frowning, and leaned back against the tree. “I guess all you can really do is play. But hey… you might win. So that’s a silver lining.”

“I doubt I could ever win something like this,” I said. “Maybe I should just let myself get tagged at the start. Then I can go home right away.”

“I think you should at least try. I mean, it’s five million dollars.”

“I guess so.” I cocked my head. “Why did you sign up, anyway?”

“I’m drowning in debt, like half the others here,” she said with a rueful half-smile. “I know it sounds ridiculous, because I literally work at a loan center. So you’d think I could get it all under control, right? But everything is just so fucking expensive . And every month, it seems to get even worse.”

“I hear you,” I muttered, mentally cringing as I recalled the amount of student debt in my name. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I should try to win.”

Cheryl joined us a moment later. “Hey, I’ve been looking for you,” she said, giving me a tight smile. “Did you get your earpiece working?”

I nodded. So did Nikki, who then jumped to her feet. “Sorry to be rude and run away the second you arrive, but I really need to pee,” she said. “I’m going to go find a bush to squat behind.”

Cheryl watched her go. Then she crouched next to me. “I’m glad I’ve got you alone again,” she said. “No offense to Nikki. She seems nice. But I don’t know who I can trust yet, apart from you.”

I nodded. “I get it.”

“I’m guessing you remember our conversation from the yacht?”

“Most of it. But we were cut off.”

“Yeah.” She nodded curtly. “Right when I was about to tell you that I’m a journalist.”

My brows shot up. “Are you here to write about the game?”

“I’m an investigative journalist, to be specific. So I’m not just here to write about this so-called game. I’m here to expose The Wild Hunt for what it really is,” she said, her voice hard with resolve.

“I’m… a bit lost.”

“It’s fine. I don’t expect you to know anything, given how you’ve been dropped into this with zero knowledge of it,” she said, patting me on the shoulder. “But I’ve been looking into this game for four years now. Gleaning whatever snippets of information I can get. It hasn’t been easy.”

“Yeah, I imagine they’re very hush-hush about everything,” I said, nodding slowly. “I remember that guy talking about NDAs.”

Cheryl scoffed. “I don’t think the NDAs actually mean anything. I have a feeling they’re just for show.”

“For show?” I frowned. “What do you mean?”

She hesitated. “I mean… I think the contestants are made to sign them so they’ll feel like it’s all real and perfectly legal. But they don’t matter in the end.”

“Why?”

“From what I’ve managed to find out so far, no one who joins the game is ever seen again.”

My heart skipped a beat. “ What ?”

She lowered her voice. “I’m pretty sure this whole thing is either a trafficking scheme or a real hunt. A way for rich, powerful people to satisfy whatever sick fantasies they have.”

I stared at her, my stomach twisting as her words sank in.

A real hunt.

My breath caught in my throat as a wave of terror washed over me. I could almost see it—rich, faceless people watching us from the shadows, hunting us like animals, relishing every second of it.

No, no… it can’t be real.

I swallowed hard, trying to steady the panic rising in my chest, but it was impossible. The fear was tangible now, not just the anxious thoughts in the back of my mind, but an overwhelming dread that gripped my every sense.

If this was really happening—if they were really hunting us—then there was no escape. After all, we were on an island. The resources we had were limited, including space. There was only so far we could run before our backs were up against the wall. Or in this case… the vast, freezing ocean.

I kept staring at Cheryl, trying to find some kind of reassurance in her steady gaze, but I could see the same fear reflected in her eyes.

“You really think it’s real?” I finally said, voice almost cracking.

She nodded. “I believe it enough to have found a way to join the game myself. That’s why I’m here.”

“How did you do it?” I asked, eyes wide. “And if you honestly think there’s such a risk, why the hell would you want to do it? Surely an article isn’t worth your life.”

“To answer your first question—I faked some paperwork to make it look like I was in terrible debt. Then I went to a bank owned by a family that’s known to be associated with The Wild Hunt. One of the society’s founding families, from what I’ve gathered,” she said. “The bank rejected my loan application, obviously, but it didn’t take long for me to get approached by a recruiter after that.”

“How did you know you’d get recruited that way?”

“That brings me to your second question.” Cheryl’s eyes darkened, a flicker of something painful passing through them. She swallowed hard before speaking again, her voice soft but resolute. “My sister was a participant. Someone recruited her into the game after they approached her about her mortgage debt. I didn’t hear many details from her, because she said she’d signed an NDA and was breaking it just by telling me anything at all. But she told me enough.”

“What happened to her?” I asked, heart thudding. “Did she disappear like the others you mentioned?”

“Yes. I haven’t seen her since she left four years ago. The police think she just ran off somewhere. Barely even investigated it,” she said. “So I’ve spent the last few years trying to find out exactly where she went and what happened to her. I know I’m risking my life by being here if either one of my theories is correct, but I’m willing to do that if it means finally getting some answers. If it means I can find her.”

I could hear the raw pain in her voice, and it made my chest tighten. “I’m so sorry about your sister. I really hope you can find her.”

“Me too.” Cheryl’s eyes flicked to the backpacks next to us, and she let out a breath. “I’ve been training for the last few years. Learning everything I can about survival, hunting, and fighting techniques. So at least I know I’ve got a real chance.”

I bit my bottom lip and looked down at the sand, hesitating. Then I looked back up at her. “Could I join you?”

“You mean when the game starts?”

“Yeah. We could try to survive together.”

Cheryl’s eyes flickered with a mix of regret and guilt. “I really wish I could say yes. But everything I’ve learned to protect myself is for solo stuff, so I can’t risk teaming up with anyone else,” she said. “I’m so sorry. I know you didn’t sign up for this, and you’ve probably got no idea what to do out here, but—”

I waved a hand, cutting her off. “No, no. I understand. It’s fine,” I said, voice thick with emotion. I did understand, but on the other hand, I was absolutely fucking terrified.

“I can give you some tips.”

I nodded. “I’ll take whatever I can get.”

Cheryl gave a soft sigh, her gaze turning to the horizon, as if considering the best place to start. “The most important thing is staying calm. Panicking will get you killed. It’ll cloud your judgment and make you an easy target. Don’t ever let them see that you’re scared.”

Her words hit me like a cold splash of water. I had no idea how I’d react when the game started. I wanted to say I’d keep my cool and fight, but I’d never been in this kind of situation before.

The worst scare I’d ever had was when Jake broke into my dorm in the middle of the night, and I hadn’t kept my cool in those moments. Instead, I’d panicked. Totally froze. In the end, Rhett had to save me… and he wasn’t coming to save me now. Hell, he was in The Wild Hunt. He was probably going to be hunting me soon.

“Second,” Cheryl continued, “be on the lookout for anything out of the ordinary, because that’s probably where you’ll find the hidden safe zones. And trust no one—not even me. In a game like this, you can’t afford to have anyone get too close.”

“Got it.”

“Now, some self-defense basics. If someone’s coming at you, catch them off guard. Use the environment. Throw sand or dirt in their eyes, or use nearby objects like rocks or sticks as a weapon to defend yourself,” she said. “If you end up in close hand-to-hand combat, the eyes, throat, and groin are effective targets. No need to worry about playing fair in a situation like this.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Even if you don’t know how to fight at all, keeping your hands up and elbows close to your body can defend you from their strikes. So try to do that as much as possible.”

“Okay.”

“Distraction tactics can be a lifesaver,” she went on. “If you happen to find something colorful, like a flower, or even better, a bright shell from this beach—keep it in your front pocket. Then, if someone comes near you, you can toss it to the side to draw their attention over there. It would only be for a split-second or two, but that could be all the time you need to escape.”

“That’s a good one. I think I’ll go shell-hunting as soon as we’re done talking.”

“I’ll join you for that.” She gave me a tight smile. “We might even find one big and sharp enough to keep as a weapon.”

I swallowed, trying to shake off the knot of anxiety tightening in my chest. "Thanks for all the advice, Cheryl. Really."

“It’s the least I can do.”

When Nikki returned, the three of us headed to the beach to look for anything useful we could add to our packs. Cheryl and I surreptitiously slipped a few colorful shells and smooth, shiny sea stones in our pockets, and Nikki found a few full water bottles that had been placed on the shore amongst the fake wreckage, along with a bag of muesli bars. We divided them amongst the three of us and headed back to the main group once we were done.

There were murmurs about the island’s possible location, but no one could agree on anything concrete. Some swore they recognized the terrain from a reality show they'd seen, while others speculated it was somewhere in the remote north based on the position of the sun.

I glanced around, still processing everything that had been said. My mind was a whirlwind of uncertainty—about the game, the people I was stuck with, and whatever the hell was coming next.

I’d learned a few names, and even more contestant numbers, but they were already blurring rapidly in my mind. Everyone seemed on edge, sizing each other up, trying to decide who might be an ally and who would be a threat… and they didn’t even think the hunt was real. They still thought it was a game.

I could only pray that they were right, and Cheryl was wrong.

I barely registered the passage of time until I heard the unmistakable sound of a horn in the distance. Then a familiar voice crackled through my earbud, cutting through the heavy silence.

“Get ready, players. The Hunt begins now.”