On the sixth day of the search, Aqua's hopes were starting to fade away.
After waking up, as always, Richard shaved with the ocean water. Aqua actually preferred his five o'clock shadow, for it looked as if he had dipped half his face in ashes. He watched him perform this almost automatic ritual, as always, longing for his hands to caress her face. If they didn't find her family, she'd be satisfied if she could stay with him.
In the afternoon, the sky began to turn gray. It was a pleasant change of scenery, and the absence of the blinding, burning sun gave Aqua more energy to keep walking. It rained for a few minutes, and Aqua delighted in the soft droplets of water on her face; Richard delighted in watching her so lightheartedly at peace.
It stopped raining and the sun came out for a couple hours, but Richard knew the island and its weather too well, so he stopped the trek. Aqua didn't protest. While Richard set up the small waterproof ridge tent he had brought, Aqua started a fire; Richard had taught her how to do it properly, and she was very proud of herself when a small flame burned.
Richard fished so that they could eat a substantial meal before the impending downpour arrived. Aqua was admiring his skills from afar when the air filled with a metallic rumble. She spun around, every hair in her body standing on end. She had never heard anything like that. It was a metallic roar, a force ripping through the jungle, approaching them at unbelievable speed. She ran for Richard, who was already out of the water and heading for his rifle and his backpack. He took out a pouch and made the frightened Aqua stand in one place while he drew a circle around her with what looked like ashes. When he was done, he stood in front of her, protecting her with his body, aiming the rifle at the jungle. Aqua didn't understand, and she clung to Richard's soaking shirt, peeking over his side.
That's when it came out of the jungle. It was the dark shadow from her nightmares. It flew towards them, made Aqua scream, and halted right in front of Richard's defiant face. Through her tears, Aqua observed the thing; it was dark as the night, and it made terrifying crackling noises, as if filled with hundreds of little thunderstorms. She couldn't say how, but she knew it was watching her. She hid her face behind Richard's back, willing the thing to go away.
"Leave," Richard commanded the thing. It stared him down, surrounded them both, roved about their camp, and just as fast as it had come, it left. Richard pointed the gun a few minutes more, making sure the thing wouldn't come back. The air felt electrical. Richard lowered the gun and turned around, facing Aqua, who hugged his waist tightly, still utterly terrified, shaking and sobbing. He hesitated for a second before putting his arms around her, and he held her and dried her tears, whispering soothing words to her.
"What… was that?" she muttered in between sobs.
"An evil creature," Richard said with a hard voice. "But it's gone now, alright?" he looked at her while he said this, "As long as you're inside this circle, it can't harm you." He held her face with both hands, wiped her tears with his thumbs, and stroked her cheeks. She nodded, closed her eyes, and rested her head on his hand. Richard kissed the top of her head, reassuringly, before stepping out of the circle to survey the tree line. She was taken aback by this gesture, and a smile slipped through her fear.
Aqua sat inside the ash circle for the next hour and a half. The sky had turned gray again, so Richard rushed into the water to fish and then towards the fire to cook.
"Are you ever coming out of there?" he quipped while he handed her the food, trying to lighten the mood.
"You'll have to drag me out," Aqua rolled her eyes at him and giggled. She couldn't believe Richard could make her forget about the murderous smoke monster, but he did.
The rain started not long after they had finished eating. Richard told her that they'd be safe and dry inside the tent, if they could only let aside the fact that it was so small. She made him assure her three times that they'd really be safe from the monster inside it, and she forced him to double up the ash circle before stepping into the tent.
It was indeed very small, designed for one soldier only. They were extremely close, and Richard had to crouch in order to fit. Aqua's face felt hot and tingly, and her heart was beating so hard she was sure Richard could hear it. She was so nervous about being in such a confined space with him and even more about the fact that they'd be sleeping just a couple of inches away from each other.
To make everything less awkward, they immediately lay down to sleep, with their backs to each other. Richard was the first one to fall asleep, snoring intermittently. Aqua stayed awake a little longer, thinking about the monster. Where had it come from? Why had it attacked them? What was it? She dwelled on these questions until the thunder, the rain, the waves, and Richard's deep breathing lullabied her to sleep.
It was around midnight when the whispers came back. Aqua had been dreaming about her sisters when she heard them; it was still raining and thundering, but they were unmistakable. Richard was still asleep beside her, unaware of the voices. Aqua stared at the tent's wall unblinkingly and almost holding her breath, hoping that the eerie sound would disappear if she pretended not to had heard it. They didn't leave but instead brought something else. Thunder roared and seconds later, lightning illuminated the sky, revealing the silhouette of a man standing right outside the tent. Aqua screeched in horror, waking Richard up as the silhouette disappeared.
"What is it? What happened?" Richard asked in a groggy, alarmed voice.
"There's a man outside," Aqua let out in a panicked whisper. Richard didn't hesitate and immediately grabbed the rifle and exited the tent. He was out for a minute or two, but it was an eternity for Aqua. When he came back he was a little agitated but tried his best to reassure her.
"He's gone now, okay? He won't come near you anymore," he said.
"Who was he? Did you kill him?" Aqua asked, crying, and she somehow knew that the silhouette had something to do with the smoke creature.
"Just… try to go back to sleep, alright? We'll keep moving in the morning," Richard was trying to stay calm for Aqua's sake, and he made her lie down again, this time facing him. He changed his wet shirt, and Aqua couldn't help catching a glimpse of his bare chest. With eyes closed, letting the tears fall, she felt him lay next to her, and without looking at him, she clung to his shirt again.
Richard let her. Embracing her with both arms, he moved her closer to him and kissed her head as she nuzzled against his chest. In the dark of the night, with the storm raging outside, Richard and Aqua slept in the little tent, intertwined, hearts beating as one.