Chapter 27: Jean’s survival tactics
Jean glared at the berries, then turned her sharp gaze toward Logan. "Do you even think before doing things? You act so smug and calculated, but in real situations, you’re just a reckless child!"
Logan flinched at the scolding, trying to open his mouth to respond... but she didn’t give him the chance.
"You could’ve died, Kingsley! What kind of idiot eats random berries on a deserted island without checking them first?" she snapped, the panic in her voice slipping past her anger.
He looked away, irritated but also ashamed. "I was trying to help..."
"Well, congratulations. You’re now my problem to fix."
Jean’s eyes lifted to the sky...it was already past noon. The sun had shifted positions, casting longer shadows on the sand. "Damn it," she muttered. "It’ll get dark soon. And you’ll get worse if I don’t act fast."
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "Okay. First, I need water. If we don’t rehydrate you, your body won’t last the night." She looked down at him, her voice more composed now. "Leave it to me. I’ll find something."
She turned to go, but Logan’s hand suddenly reached up and clasped hers. She looked down, surprised.
"Don’t go too far..." he said, his voice a bit hoarse now. "It can be dangerous."
Jean blinked. There was something raw in his voice. Something real. But she forced herself to stay level.
"If I don’t," she replied firmly, "you’ll die. So stay here. Be alive while I get you a cure."