~HAZEL~

"Kiss or starve." Those two words echo in my mind incessantly. It's one of the game's rules: to have food delivered by the end of the day, we must share a kiss at least once.

If we didn't, then we had no choice but to hunt for something to eat but risk being found or possibly killed by one of the beasts roaming the forest, searching for their next meal.

"I can't believe this is happening to us," Ashton exclaimed as he ignited the campfire, leaning back to glare at the sky, his anger simmering just below the surface. I could see the flickering flames reflected in his eyes, revealing the intensity of his feelings about our predicament.

I understood his frustration. It was downright unfair that we had both been yanked from our families to take part in this twisted, sick game. Those damn soul keepers would do anything to keep themselves entertained even if it meant destroying the lives of others.

"We still haven't discovered anything to eat," I admit, my heart pounding rapidly as the anxious words tumble from my lips.

Instantly, I notice his body tense, the muscles in his shoulders tightening as the unspoken reality sinks in. He turns his gaze away from me, focusing intently on the flickering flames of the campfire, poking at the glowing sticks with a twig. The crackling of the fire fills the stillness of the evening, almost drowning out the unsettling silence between us.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart, the cool evening air brushing against my skin as a reminder of our dilemma. The shadows dance around us, and even the warmth of the fire feels insufficient against the growing weight of our hunger.

"I know," he replies, his tone flat and devoid of warmth, as if the words slipped out without any real thought. The rigidity in his posture made it abundantly clear that he was not interested in delving into this conversation at the moment. As much as I understood his reluctance—my own feelings mirrored his—we found ourselves trapped in an unavoidable trouble. After all, this was just the beginning of our experience here, some hours into our second day on unfamiliar ground. With five long months stretching ahead of us, it felt like an endless road. We were left grappling with the harsh reality that we had to forge a path through this together, finding a way to not only endure but to truly survive in this daunting new environment.

"I do not want to starve—,"

"You will not." He cuts me off, once again focusing on the fire in front of him and refusing to even look my way.

"Ashton, I understand this isn't something you want to face, and trust me, I feel the same way. But the rules of the game make it clear that if we don't secure food by nightfall, our only option—"

In one swift motion, he angrily tosses a handful of dry twigs and branches into the fire. The flames erupt with a fierce roar, crackling loudly as they consume the branches, sending sparks dancing into the sky.

"We'll find another way," he growls, his voice low and angry, determination etched into the lines of his face as the firelight flickers across his tense expression.

I've never seen my step-brother display such a grave expression before. His usually lively eyes were clouded with concern, and the corners of his mouth were turned down in a tight line. It was as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders, and the playful spark that usually animated his face was completely absent.

I found it deeply unsettling to witness the transformation, knowing it was unfair for both of us to be caught up in this whirlwind of challenges that seemed to prey on our better natures.

As I prepared myself to speak again on the subject, my words faltered and remained trapped behind my lips. It was only our second day in this unknown wilderness, after all. So what if our search yielded no food? The stretch of nature lay before us, and the sounds of the rustling leaves and distant bird calls reminded me that we had the strength to face another night without a meal.

I have a strong feeling that by the time dawn breaks, we will uncover something valuable during our hunt through the dense woods.

"Stay right here," Ashton commands suddenly, his voice steady yet filled with urgency, as the chilling roar of a distant beast echoes through the trees, sending tremors of fear coursing through me.

"No!" I exclaim, my heart racing as I instinctively clutch his arm, desperate to keep him close. "I can't let you venture out there. It's far too risky."

Ashton's gaze drops momentarily to where my fingers have wrapped around his arm, and an unexpected wave of discomfort washes over us both, engulfing the air with an awkward tension.

What was I thinking? The weight of the soul keepers' scrutiny rests heavily upon us, and I can almost feel their eyes, cold and calculating, eagerly waiting to seize on any sign of weakness. They were anxiously waiting for moments like this between us. I couldn't give it to them.

In a burst of emotion, I pull my hand away, pressing it against the fabric of my dress, as if to contain the rising tide of panic.

"I truly believe that leaving me behind is not the wisest choice," I insist, making every effort to maintain my composure and mask the effect of our brief connection. I need to remain calm and project an air of confidence, despite the chaos brewing in my mind.

It made me anxious just thinking about everyone watching us right now—our parents, siblings, Ariel, the soul keepers, and everyone we ever knew. Each person would be fixated on their screens, eyes glued to the live feed, ears tuned to every word that escaped our lips. We couldn't even have a private conversation. It was impossible to speak freely without fear of being overheard.

I hated every minute of this.