Emma, bolstered by my support, spoke with renewed conviction. "Right. Don't save him. Let him die."
I quickly nudged her with my elbow. Confused, she followed my gaze—and froze.
The bald man was slowly sitting up, his dead-fish eyes locked onto Emma.
She clutched my arm, her breath catching in her throat.
When his glare shifted to me, I saw pure malice in those eyes—the kind that promised violence.
Then, a faint sound cut through the tension.
A whimper.
I stiffened, listening.
Again: "Help..."
The voice came from the wreckage. I rushed toward the torn fuselage and called into the darkness, "Can you hear me?"
A weak but clear response: "Yes."
Carefully, I climbed inside. "Are you hurt?" I asked, groping blindly.
"Someone's... on top of me," a girl gasped.
Moonlight revealed a pale, bloodless face beneath a corpse. I tried dragging the body, but my footing slipped.
"I need to reach under him," I warned.
She gave a small, understanding nod.
My arm slid beneath the dead man's ribs. The girl squeezed her eyes shut as I wrestled the weight off her with a grunt.
Once free, she inhaled sharply. "I'm okay—just passed out earlier."
Outside, the new survivor immediately extended a hand to Emma and the amnesiac. "Kate Morris."
Emma shook it limply. "Emma Stone."
Kate's eyes flickered with recognition, but she only smiled politely. "I know who you are."
Emma's response was flat. "Thanks."
When Kate turned to the amnesiac, I cut in. "She doesn't remember her name. We're calling her Daisy."
Kate's dimples appeared. "Suits her."
"David Carter," I introduced myself.
She glanced past me. "And him?"
The bald man strode forward, grinning. "Jack Krause."
Kate recoiled—she knew exactly who he was.
Jack reveled in her fear, gripping her chin with bloodied fingers. "Aren't you a pretty thing?"
She ducked behind me.
Jack's blade-sharp gaze met mine. "Walk away now, kid, if you wanna keep breathing."
I smirked. Physically, I had the advantage—his only edge was the feral glint in his eyes.
Neither of us moved. He was sizing me up too.
Then, without warning, he seized Emma's blonde hair. "You were the one who wanted me dead?"
Emma whimpered soundlessly.
Seeing my idol manhandled, I grabbed his wrist. "Let. Her. Go."
Jack's pupils dilated with rage. "Looking to die early?"
I tried diplomacy. "We're all stranded here. There's no need—"
His fist smashed into my nose.
White-hot pain blinded me. More blows rained down before a sweep of his leg sent me sprawling. His hands locked around my throat. "Say hello to God for me."
As my vision tunneled, Emma lashed out with a shaky kick to his ribs.
The momentary slack in his grip was all I needed. I flipped us over, pummeling his face with everything I had.
Exhaustion made him sloppy. When my hands found his throat, Emma screamed, "Do it! Kill him!"
But as Jack's eyes rolled back, clarity struck—murder would cost me everything.
I released him with a shove. "Try that again, and you'll regret it."
Jack spat blood and laughed. "Not killing me? That's your mistake." He spread his arms, baring his throat. "Last chance, hero."