Daylight streaks through the trees, shining down on the small structures nestled in the heart of the jungle. I study the village, looking for any sign of life.
"Do you think anyone lives here?"
"Only one way to find out."
Kai takes a cautious step toward the nearest hut. I tug his arm, pulling him back.
"Wait...the smugglers could be here. They did just try to kill us."
Kai brandishes his knife, holding it in an expert grip.
"If they are here...I'll be ready. Just...remember those moves I taught you."
We both quietly make our way further into the village, alert to every sound and movement. Together, we approach the closest home and peer into the grimy window.
"Looks like it's been abandoned for years."
"It might be empty now, but this was definitely occupied at one point."
"let's check the rest of the village to be safe. If there is someone here, they might know a way off this damn island."
We search hut after hug, but find each one empty. The more I see, the more I realize how old this village is, with some areas completely overgrown and falling apart.
"Well, it was along shot that we'd find people here."
"Must be from before the island was abandoned. The people here couldn't get supplies with so many ships wrecking on approach."
"How long ago do you think these were built?"
Kai runs his hands along the rotting wood, moving some of the thick vines out of the way.
"Not sure... At least a few decades. I've seen buildings like this on the older part of the island I grew up on."
"Fascinating... I wonder what else is on this island. In all my time studying the satellite imaging of Moku, I never saw any villages. Maybe we'll run into more villages...or people living on the island."
"Like the smugglers?"
"I was thinking more like islanders thriving despite the harsh environment..."
"Ever the optimist."
As we venture inside the abandoned hut, I catch a ray of sunshine glinting off metal beneath the thicket of vines.
"What's that...?"
I pull on the object, trying to detangle it from its prison of greenery... Then it suddenly gives, sending me stumbling back!
"Whoa!"
I fall into Kai's arms, victoriously clutching my prize.
"Watch it, Doc!"
His strong arms envelop me, and he helps me regain my balance. My gaze holds his for a long, lingering moment...
"Thanks."
"It's nothing. Hope that was worth it."
He nods to the long object in my hands.
"All this for a shovel..."
"Maybe it could be useful. I bet this would make quick work for future fire pits."
"I bet you could also take out a smuggler or two with it."
I twirl the shovel in my hand, pretending to whack an invisible enemy in front of me.
"Hi-YAH!"
Kai shifts my stance and rotates the shovel so the edge points toward my imagined target.
"Pro-tip...hit with the sharp edge of your weapon. Less surface area, but greater impact."
"Sounds like you've used a shovel to attack before."
"Not exactly. But a club that uses the same basic skills."
I practice for a bit longer, feeling secure with the weight of the shovel in my hands.
"Maybe you should go into this teaching thing full time. You're pretty good at it."
"What if it's just because of the student?"
His eyes meet mine, hungry with desire... I feel the bond between the two of us, tugging us closer together...
"Kai..."
...But before I can act on the impulse, Kai steps away, shaking his head.
"We can't let our guard down... Not with smugglers searching for us. We should split up and see if there's anything useful around here."
My gaze flits back to his enticing lips for a moment before I reluctantly nod. Kai heads toward the huts on the far side of the village, while I take the near ones. I search through the disheveled houses nearby. When I enter one of the ruins, I discover scraps of discarded clothing and fabric.
"This must've been a tailor's shop or something..."
Beneath some of the dirty, moth-eaten clothes, I discover a dusty box with a few hidden, well-preserved pieces inside.
"These don't look like they've aged a day. Maybe I could surprise Kai... He wouldn't be able to keep his eyes off me."
I slip out of my clothes, then slide into the blue-patterned skirt and tie the white bandeau across my breasts. A light breeze blows through the hut, brushing across my high slit and exposed chest...
"Easy, breezy, and dare I say sexy..."
As I leave the small hut, Kai calls for me across the way.
"(Y/N), over here! "
I hurry over to him, past the numerous huts, stopping in front of an overgrown stone ruin.
"Amazing. This building is unlike anything else here."
Kai turns toward me, his eyes widen as he drinks in the sight of my outfit.
"Guess you found where the treasure was hidden."
Kai comes closer, running a hand along the edge of the skirt and brushing against a strip of exposed skin. My breath catches in my throat.
"I take it you approve?"
"You look like something out of a dream... A very good one."
I turn back to the all but forgotten ruin behind him.
"This part looks older than the rest of the village."
"That's not all. Check out the inside... But be careful, it's a long way down."
I grab his hand to secure myself as I peer into the ruined building. Through the darkness, I can barely make out the edges of other ruins, sunken deep into the jungle floor.
"You mean there's more? Just think of what we could find down there..."
"I thought you'd be interested."
"That's an understatement. I have a million questions... Like how long ago did this section sink? Judging by the growth of the roots on this ruin, I'd hypothesize it was decades before the rest of the village was built."
"I can't say I've seen anything like this back home."
"Wow, a rare first for Captain I've Seen Everything."
"Ha. Ha."
I peer over the edge into the darkness of the sunken village.
"You wanna head down there? Might learn more about whoever used to live here."
"You'd really do that with me?"
"Look, I'm no science guy, but I bet the view down there isn't one I want to miss. I wouldn't mind pulling you into whatever...dark corners are around either."
"As if I could pass this up. We'll be the first people down there in decades, maybe even a century."
"And if there's a good reason for that?"
"We'll have to hope it's long gone. Unlike the smugglers up here."
"Can't argue with that."
Following Kai's lead, I carefully make my way down into the cool darkness toward the sunken ruins. There's just enough light to see by, but the descent is still slow going as I pick my way through rocks and rubble.
"Reminds me of that cave we checked out when we first got here..."
Kai pauses on his way down. He shifts to get a better view of the bottom.
"Hm... This'd be the perfect place for that panther to hide."
"Except panthers are ambush predators. They're not likely to attack if they think they've been seen."
"How reassuring."
"But it is a perfect place for fungi and lichens to grow... Just be carful you don't slip on any."
"Please. I think I can take on a tiny mushroom."
"Watch out! That's a patch of Parmotrema robustum! "
But as Kai's foot comes down on the pale green lichen, he slips and tumbles past me!
"Ahhh!"
"Kai! "
He catches the ledge of the small outcropping I stand on. I watch his fingers start to slip... I grab on to Kai's hanging hand, and pull him up to the same landing as me.
"You okay?"
We're chest-to-chest, my hands braced on his muscular shoulders and his hands on my hips. His breaths come heavy as I survey his face.
"Yeah... Can't believe a plant got me."
"Told you—"
"Don't finish that. I know. You were right."
"Aren't you proud of me? For once I wasn't the clumsy one."
"Looks like you're rubbing off on me."
The two of us are more vigilant as we descend deeper toward the source of the light at the other end. Soon, the sound of running water fills the cavernous space. I let out a gasp at the sight around me as I emerge from the dark.
"This is incredible... It's so different from what I expected."
"It's big. Real big."
A waterfall dominates one section of the sunken village, the water pouring over natural rocks and stone ruins alike. Lush foliage grows around the pool of water in the center.
"Even covered in roots and vines, the ruins look well-preserved. Almost like the jungle was protecting them..."
"What do you want to check out first?"
"Let's first explore the ruins."
We head toward one of the towering structures, covered in tangling vines and lush moss.
"An archeological team would have a field day down here... I can't believe how much survived the collapse."
Kai squats down to examine some of the ruins marked with swirling symbols. I notice a small carved figurine hidden underneath the vines beside him...
A squid figurine... Such intricate detail...
"Like this. The craftsmanship is amazing."
"My grandfather always said that anything good was built to last. Anything worth keeping would find a way to survive."
"Like the skills and traditions he taught you."
"Stuff like that's worth passing on to the next generation."
I run my fingers along the rough stone. In the distance, I can see the shadow of Mount Moku looming, and I remember the eruption poised to happen in the near future.
"I just wish we could save all of this. We'll be the last people to ever see this place. Once the volcano blows..."
"You never know, maybe the jungle really is protecting this place, and it'll survive."
"You don't truly believe that, do you?"
"Crazier things have happened. Like me ending up here with you."
"I can't tell if that's a good crazy or a bad crazy."
"Ask me again when we get off this rock."
The sun has fallen by the time we finish exploring the ruins. We return to the entrance.
"Ready to head back?"
"Hardly. I still want to catalog this flora. After all, I didn't come to Moku for a vacation."
Kai just shakes his head and starts to look over the overgrown vines, faintly glowing in the moonlight. I trail my fingers gently along some of the flora, recognizing several of the species from my research into Moku Island.
"Fascinating...whatever's going on with the island is affecting this place too."
"What do you mean?"
I point to the bright white flowers growing up through the cracks in the ruins shadowed by a larger structure.
"These flowers look like tiare to me. Except they need a lot of sun and water to grow, and I doubt they get much sunlight down here. Yet here they are, somehow persisting."
Kai looks at the flowers with renewed interest.
"So they're survivors...like us."
"That's a good way to look at it. If these flowers can survive Moku's dangers, we can too."
"Yeah...but not years, please."
"Mount Moku would take care of that..."
"Then I guess we'll have to adapt like your plants."
"Look at you coming around to appreciate the plants."
"I guess you're rubbing off on me."
I notice the moonlight illuminating the mist coming off of the waterfall as it clings to my skin. The plants take on an ethereal glow like I witnessed in the cave on our first day on the island.
"Wow..."
"Yeah... This is something else."
I look over and catch Kai's gaze on me. The waterfall rages behind him, causing the shadows to flicker on his face. My eyes dart to his lips, as soft and enticing as ever before... My heart pounds so loudly, he must be able to hear it.
"Kai...thanks for taking me here."
I wrap my arm around his waist and lean my head against his shoulder, enjoying the glow around us.
"I'll remember this forever. It's beyond anything I could have imagined."
After a moment, Kai wraps an arm around my waist in return.
"Same..."
We share a smile before untangling ourselves from each other.
"We should probably get back before it gets too dark..."
Kai nods, offering me his hand before we carefully scale the rocky wall up to the surface.
Later, pinpricks of stars litter the sky above us as we search through the last houses in the village. Thick layers of dust coat the leather-bound books and torn strips of curtains buried under the rubble.
"It'd take years to pore over everything here..."
I trail my hand over the smooth edges of a hard, carved table, feeling the sturdy wood beneath my fingertips. The motion causes the furniture to shift and resettle, revealing something hidden underneath. I carefully pull it free.
"What's this...? It's a record player? And that's not all... Kai...look! "
"Is that a radio?"
"Yeah. Do you think we can use this to call for help?"
Kai examines the knobs and dials on the record player.
"It'll take some tinkering, but I think so. This could be our ticket out of here. When we get back to camp, I could use my pocketknife to open it up and take a look."
I can't help but do a small happy dance at the news. I feel a heavy burden lifted off my shoulders.
"This is almost too good to be true. I can't believe it was just lying here."
"And I thought this was a lucky find."
Grinning, Kai reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a glass bottle.
"I found some booze."
"You know, we could turn that into a Molotov cocktail."
"Or we could drink some... Hold up. you really want to kill the smugglers?"
"No. I was suggesting we could scare the smugglers off. Something tells me they wouldn't dare go near our camp again. Not murder. Scare tactics. I wouldn't kill anyone intentionally."
"But you'll leave the door open for accidental deaths."
"Hey now, I'm just thinking practically. The only thing I've ever blown up was a science fair volcano."
"Heh. That sounds more like you, Doc."
I roll my eyes, ignoring him.
"Put your pyro fantasies on hold tonight. We're gonna forget everything and enjoy one of these bottles."
Following his lead, I walk over to a mostly intact building and sit down with my back against the stone wall. Kai drags a broken crate over, showing me the green and blue bottles inside. He pops the cork off one and lifts it toward the sky.
"To getting off this godforsaken island."
Kai tips his head back, taking a giant swig. He then offers the bottle to me.
"We've faced some crazy odds, getting stranded on this island together..."
"That's one way to put it."
"But, despite it all, I wouldn't want to be stuck on Moku with any other stubborn, headstrong captain."
"Is this suppose to be a toast or a roast?"
I laugh as I raise the bottle.
"Cheers to us."
My gaze flickers to his, unwavering as I speak.
"Whatever the future holds, I'm glad you're by my side."
"Me too. We've been to hell and back together."
"Well, 'back' remains to be seen, but we're one step closer. Bottoms up."
I swallow the sweet, dark liquid, letting the fruity aftertaste linger on my tongue.
"Mmm. What is this? It's delicious."
"Some kind of bootlegged rum? Or moonshine maybe? Whatever it is, it aged well."
As I hand the bottle back to Kai, his fingers wrap around mine. His eyes hold my gaze for a lingering moment... I ignore the warmth blooming in my cheeks and look away. The two of us take turns swigging the sweet liquor.
"This is nice..."
"Hm. It's missing something."
Suddenly, Kai jumps to is feet and starts fiddling with the record player.
"What are you doing?"
He continues tinkering for several moments before turning back to me with a wide smile.
"Dance with me."
There's a loud crackle before a jazz song starts playing, and Kai holds out his hand to mine. Maybe it's the alcohol or the thought of being rescued, but Kai seems looser, lighter, and more open than I've ever seen him.
"You want to dance to this? "
"Yeah, I do...with you. If you don't know the steps, I could teach you."
I look at his outstretched hand and the wide grin across his face, and consider...
"Show me those moves. Let's dance."
Happiness radiates from Kai as he pulls me to my feet. He takes my hand in his, then twirls me around and tugs me to his chest.
"Follow my lead."
Kai then sweeps me up, dancing me around the village in a big, elegant circle.
"This is a box step. Mirror me."
He goes slow for me to follow along. Facing me, he steps forward and I step back. He crosses over to the left... I cross my left foot over my right, moving the opposite way from Kai. He stretches to keep his hold secure.
"Uh...not quite." he smiles.
"I march to my own rhythm."
"Nothing's ever simple with you."
"Simple is boring."
Kai makes a point to guide me a little more with his arms, and I try to keep up.
"Where did you lean how to dance swing?" I ask.
"My mom liked to dance to old stuff like this. I picked up on some of it over the years."
"I think it's fair to say you did more than just 'pick up on it'. "
The temp increases, as does Kai's speed right with it... I try to keep up. With one hand on my lower back, Kai begins rocking me back and forth, dipping me down slightly as he does.
"Oh!"
Using his arm to steady myself, I glance down at his feet, modeling my steps after his.
"I'm surprised you like this dance."
"What's the supposed to mean?"
"It's very energetic, and you're...you."
"I enjoy bursts of energy in the right setting."
"So no spontaneous outbursts allowed?"
Kai rock-steps back, then spins me out. I return to his hold, his hand pressed tight against my back.
"I can do spontaneous... See?"
The two of us bounce to the beat. A lighthearted smile remains fixed across Kai's face.
"I like this side of you... You should let loose more often." I tell him with a playful smile.
"Why? 'Cause I'm more honest when I drink?"
"You smile more too."
A genuine grin appears across his face...just as the record crackles to life again. The music shifts to a new song... This one is much slower and smoother than the last.
"Let's see if your moves transition."
"Everyone knows the steps to something like this."
"In that case...I'll let you lead."
"How generous of you."
"I've been told I have a very giving spirit."
With a chuckle, Kai rests his hand on my waist and presses me flush against his body. My thighs brush his as he guides me across the grass before spinning me out in a reverse turn. His eyes never leave mine. When I come back to him, he holds me to his chest. I tuck my elbow in so I can rest my cheek against his shoulder. I sway in gentle circles, safe and warm in his arms as we dance through the streets of a village lost to time.
Sometime later, Kai and I lean against one of the houses. My head spins slightly, tipsy from the drink. Kai tilts back the last swig of the bottle... He tosses it aside by the crate of unopened bottles.
"That's the last of that."
"No! What are we going to do now?"
"Look up."
Kai falls on his back, looking up at the cobalt sky. I join him, admiring the stars stretching as far as the eye can see...
"I'll never get over how beautiful it is out here..."
"Heh. Bet you don't get stars like this in LA."
"You sure don't..."
Kai's hand finds mine, our fingers intertwining as we both keep our gazes skyward.
"I wouldn't trade this moment for the world. Great sights...great company..."
"I know what you mean."
The smile on my lips fade as he props himself up to face me. The intensity of his stare leaves me breathless.
"Kai..."
He looks at me with sincerity, his honeyed words just above a whisper...
"(Y/N), you're beautiful..."
I have to remind myself to breathe as he inches closer and closer. The charged moment feels different...more honest, more pure, more real. He presses his lips to mine and kisses me deeply! The kiss is like nothing I've felt before... As if I finally see all of Kai's heart and soul... And I'm ready to jump all in.