Chapter 4 The Eyes Of The Island

Piper Redding The wheels of my luggage squeak loudly against the polished airport floor as I drag them behind me. My arms are already sore, and I haven’t even boarded the plane yet. Around me, couples linger in clusters, holding hands, leaning into each other, and laughing like life is some endless rom-com. One guy wraps his arms around his partner, whispering something that makes her giggle. The sound grates against my nerves like nails on a chalkboard. I tighten my grip on the handle of my suitcase and keep walking, head held high, refusing to let their sickening happiness get to me. When I finally reach the ticket counter, the attendant gives me a polite smile, but I can feel the stares before I even present my ticket. “Um, excuse me?” A woman’s voice cuts through the noise of the terminal. I glance to my left and see her: tall, blonde, perfectly manicured nails tapping against her designer tote. Her smile is all teeth—the kind of fake politeness that reminds me too much of Paige. “Are you… going alone?” she asks, tilting her head slightly. Her husband—or whatever he is—stands beside her, looking awkwardly amused. I stare at her for a moment, then plaster on my own sugary smile. “Nope. I’m going with my luggage. They’re great company.” Her mouth drops open slightly, and her husband coughs to cover a laugh. Before she can respond, another woman standing nearby chuckles. She’s petite, with curly brown hair and an easy, genuine smile. “Oh, leave her alone, Amber,” she says, waving a hand dismissively. “Not everyone needs a chaperone to go on a trip.” Amber glares at her but says nothing, retreating with a huff. The curly-haired woman turns to me, still smiling. “Need help with those bags?” I hesitate for a moment, surprised, then nod. “Uh, yeah, sure. Thanks.” Together, we maneuver my suitcases to the counter. As the attendant processes my ticket, I glance at my unexpected savior. “Thanks for that,” I say quietly. “Don’t mention it. Amber’s… well, she’s Amber. I’m Zoe, by the way.” “Piper,” I reply, offering her a small smile. For the first time since stepping into this airport, I feel like I’m not completely alone. --- Once we’re on the plane, my temporary relief vanishes. Everyone—and I mean everyone—has a partner. Couples settle into their seats, leaning into each other and chatting softly. A guy two rows ahead wraps a blanket around his girlfriend. Another couple across the aisle shares a set of headphones. I sink into my window seat, gripping the armrest and staring out at the tarmac. The emptiness in my chest spreads, heavy and suffocating. What would it feel like to have that? Someone who loves you unconditionally, who chooses you every single day? I try to imagine it, but the memory of Adam’s betrayal sneaks in, twisting the fantasy into something bitter. I sigh, leaning back into my seat and closing my eyes. “Get it together, Piper,” I mutter under my breath. --- Twelve hours pass in a blur of restless sleep. A soft voice pulls me back to reality. “Ma’am, we’ve landed.” I blink up at the flight attendant, disoriented. My neck aches from the awkward position I’ve been in, and my heart sinks when I realize I’m the last one still seated. “Thanks,” I mumble, grabbing my bag and heading out. The terminal is bustling, and the tropical air that filters in from the exit feels sticky and warm. I collect my luggage and start dragging it again, the squeaky wheels echoing against the tiled floor. “Here we go,” I mutter to myself. My plan may be crazy, but it’s all I’ve got. **** I settle into a bus seat near the middle, pressing my forehead against the window and inhaling the faint scent of salt and pine. The bus rattles as it turns onto a narrow road leading toward Cedarwood Retreat—Where Nature Meets Tranquility, as declared by the crooked signboard with its faded, peeling paint. I glance around the bus. Most of the other passengers are couples, chatting softly or pointing out things they find interesting. Zoe sits a few rows ahead with someone who must be her partner, but she flashes me a quick, reassuring smile before turning back to her conversation. I sit alone, hugging my bag to my chest. Outside, the scenery changes quickly. The quaint beachfront houses near the docks become sparse, replaced by stretches of dense forest. The towering trees seem to close in on either side of the road, their canopies filtering the sunlight into golden streaks. The farther we go, the more unease creeps into my chest. I can’t help but mutter under my breath, “How am I supposed to find him in a place like this?” It’s almost laughable. What kind of man is going to appear in the middle of nowhere? This whole island seems like a glorified wilderness retreat, not a hotspot for potential fake husbands. I sigh, slumping against the seat. Maybe I should’ve stayed home and just— A collective gasp from the women on the bus pulls me out of my thoughts. “Would you look at that?” one of them whispers loudly. I glance out the window—and my breath hitches. There, near a clearing by the side of the road, is a group of men—no, gods disguised as men. Shirtless, glistening with sweat, their muscles ripple as they chop wood and move heavy logs like it’s nothing. Their hair ranges from sun-bleached blonde to jet black, tousled in ways that could make a magazine cover. They’re ridiculously attractive. The bus erupts into a mix of whistles and giggles. Even some of the women sitting next to their partners can’t resist leaning closer to the window. “God bless this island,” one lady murmurs dreamily. “Rebecca,” her partner snaps, glaring at her. “Oh, relax. I’m just appreciating the scenery,” she says with a smirk. I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing, but my own reaction isn’t much better. My eyes are glued to the window, heart fluttering unbidden. The men don’t even seem to notice us, too focused on their work—or maybe they’re just used to being ogled. I can’t blame them. Those men are that kind of handsome—the kind that makes you forget yourself for a moment. Then I see him. Looking at me. One man standing slightly apart from the rest catches my gaze like a magnet. His broad shoulders and chiseled features would have been enough to make anyone do a double-take, but it’s his eyes that stop me in my tracks. Piercing blue, so intense they seem to glow, like they’re seeing right through me. He freezes mid-motion, his focus locking on me like he’s seen a ghost. My chest tightens, an unfamiliar heat spreading through me, and for a moment, it feels like the entire bus has disappeared. It’s just him and me, connected by something I don’t understand. Why is he looking at me like that? A shiver runs down my spine, and I can’t tear my gaze away. It’s not just that he’s handsome—he is, impossibly so—it’s that he feels…familiar. Like a half-remembered dream. My pulse quickens, and my fingers tighten on the edge of my seat as the bus begins to pull away. Stop staring, Piper. Stop staring. I twist my neck to keep him in view until the last possible second, but when the bus finally rounds a bend and he’s gone. “Wow,” I mutter under my breath, leaning back in my seat. My mind is spinning in a thousand directions, but one thought rises above the rest: Thank you, Adam, for being an ass. If you hadn’t dumped me, I wouldn’t be here. And I wouldn’t have seen…him. Suddenly, Adam’s betrayal doesn’t feel like the worst thing to ever happen to me. Because not seeing that man again will be. When we finally pull up to The Wildwood Lodge, it feels like stepping into another world. The hotel is massive, looking like something out of a storybook: a grand, rustic hotel made of dark wood and stone, with ivy crawling up its sides. It sits in the heart of the woods, surrounded by nothing but trees. As we climb off the bus, someone—probably a staff member—ushers us inside. “Welcome to Wildwood,” he says with a professional smile. “I’ll show you to your rooms. Dinner will be brought to you tonight, but breakfast is in the lobby with everyone else. Please note, until breakfast, no one should leave their rooms.”He pauses, his gaze sweeping over the group. “I repeat, no one should leave their rooms tonight. For your own safety.” “For our safety?” someone repeats, their voice laced with curiosity. The staff member’s smile doesn’t waver. “This island is a sanctuary for both humans and nature. We simply want to ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable experience.” I glance at the others, catching a mix of reactions. Some seem curious, others uneasy. As for me? My mind still stuck on him. That man, with the piercing blue eyes, the one who looked at me like I wasn’t a stranger. What was that? ____ My room is cozy but luxurious, with a four-poster bed, a fireplace, and a balcony that overlooks the dense forest. After dropping my bags on the floor, I wander to the window and stare out at the darkening woods. If those men we passed earlier are any indication, this island isn’t as barren as I thought. And if luck is on my side, I might just find the perfect candidate to help me win back my independence. My thoughts drift back to him—the strange, magnetic pull I felt and the unsettling question that lingers in my mind. Why did he look at me like that? One thing is certain—I’ll never forget those eyes.