The morning sun peeked through the tall trees, shadows visible across the forest floor. Aeliana stretched her arms and took in a deep breath of fresh air. The forest was alive with the noise of birds chirping, leaves rustling, and far-off animal calls.
Today was a new day, and she had work to do. Her stomach growled, and this made her smile. The bananas and vegetables from yesterday had been enough to get her through the night, but she needed real protein. She needed to fish.
After drinking from the stream and washing her face, Aeliana grabbed her knife and some vines. She walked toward the nearest body of water, a wide, slow-moving river not far from her camp. The river was clean, clear, and full of life.
She stood by the water's edge and stretched her arms.
"Let's see if I can catch something."
Aeliana found a long, straight branch and sharpened one end to a point with her knife. It wasn't perfect, but it would work as a fishing spear. She also gathered some thin, flexible branches and wove them together to form a small basket. This could help her catch crabs, small fish, or anything else she found nearby.
The camera drone floated overhead, silently recording her every move. Another hidden camera was watching from behind a bush. The audience at home saw it all. She was focused, her flexible hands were fast, and the smart tools she made were convenient and easy to use.
[Is she really an actress?]
[She's not asking for help like the others.]
[She swam in the river without a second thought.]
[What if she drowns?]
[Is that water shallow or deep?]
Aeliana didn't know what they were saying. She didn't care. Her mind was only on survival. She stepped into the river slowly. The water was cold, but refreshing. She moved carefully, not to scare the fish away.
Her eyes scanned the surface, searching for movement. Every now and then, she poked the spear into the water, hoping to hit something. She missed at first, but she kept trying.
Finally, after a few minutes, her spear hit a fish. It flopped in the water, and she quickly grabbed it with both hands. Aeliana smiled in triumph.
She placed the fish in her basket and went back for more. Her smooth movements and stable attitude surprised the audience. They expected her to scream, panic, or give up. But she was steady, optimistic, and determined.
Suddenly, the water rippled behind her.
The drone zoomed in.
Something was moving toward her.
A snake was seen through the lens. It was long, dark, and dangerous.
The snake swam very fast. It was a water viper, one of the most poisonous creatures in the region.
The audience gasped.
The chat exploded with comments.
[Someone tell the crew!]
[Get her out of there!]
[She's going to be bitten!]
[Get the rescuers ready!]
[Come and save her!]
[She will die if she gets bitten.]
Far away, in a tall building in the Imperial Capital, Reinhardt Razalo sat at the head of a large table during a business meeting.
His secretary quietly walked in and handed him a tablet. There were no extra expressions on Reinhardt's face.
But he was angered by the disturbance. He hated anyone interrupting important meetings.
"Sir," he said, "there's something you need to see."
Reinhardt frowned, waving him away. "I'm in a meeting."
"But it's your wife… on the island. Something's happened."
At first, Reinhardt ignored it. She had chosen to join the show. She had known the risks. She signed the contract without asking for his opinion. If she wanted to play games, she could face the consequences.
But when the secretary left the tablet on the table and walked out, Reinhardt's eyes were drawn to it. He sighed and tapped the screen.
There she was, Aeliana, in the river.
What was this woman thinking?
Why would she swim in the river unequipped?
And behind her, the snake.
Does she want to die?
His face changed.
Damn it!
Get out of the water!
He watched as Aeliana turned her head and spotted the snake. She didn't scream. She didn't freeze. Instead, she took a step back and raised her spear.
Reinhardt sat up straight.
Woman, what are you doing?
Don't you recognize the danger?
Do you think you can kill it?
That's not a fish!
Stupid!
Back on the island, Aeliana narrowed her eyes. Her heart raced, but her hands were steady. The snake came closer, its body sliding through the water like a shadow. With a sudden move, she stabbed the spear down.
She missed.
The snake lunged at her, its mouth open, fangs flashing.
She dodged out of the way, grabbed a nearby rock, and hit it once, hard. The snake thrashed in the water, but Aeliana didn't stop. She hit it again and again, until it finally went still.
She stood over it, soaked, breathing heavily. Blood stained the water around her. The drone hovered silently above, recording everything. She had won the fight.
Aeliana picked up the dead snake and stared at it for a moment. She dropped it far from the water and walked out, her face still unbothered. Her fingers trembled a little, but she didn't show fear. She had faced danger and survived.
Reinhardt stared at the screen, shocked. The conference room had gone silent. Everyone had seen his wife kill a poisonous snake with her bare hands.
His chest tightened.
This woman… was not what he expected.
"Prepare a team," Reinhardt instructed his secretary. "Send guards to the island."
The secretary nodded. "Yes, sir."
But even as he gave the order, part of him knew she wouldn't need saving.
Later that night, as the live show replayed the footage, the internet buzzed with talk of Aeliana Torres.
[Who is she?]
[I admire her courage and bravery!]
[I would've cried if that snake came near me!]
[That was mindblowing! I can't kill the same snake with bare hands!]
People across the country were watching. Her fans were growing at a rapid pace, reaching a hundred thousand. But Aeliana didn't care.
She sat by her fire, roasting the fish she had caught. Her eyes were devoid of warmth, her hands steady. She had faced the wild, fought it, and won beautifully. And she wasn't done yet.
I wonder how Riri was doing?
If not for saving Riri, I wouldn't be forced to enter this marriage.