Yo! Enjoyyyy another Max-Mariam twoshot :D
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Part 1: The Lost Island
Max had always loved a good challenge, but this? This was something else entirely.
The warm, salty air whipped against his face as he stood on the edge of the beach, eyes scanning the horizon. The lush greenery of the island stretched out before him, far more daunting than he'd ever expected. He had been here once before, but it hadn't been like this.
The plane ride had been smooth, and the journey seemed like it was going to be a perfect vacation. But then things had taken an unexpected turn. A sudden storm had hit just after they landed on the island, and the local villagers had warned them not to venture deep into the jungle. But of course, that hadn't stopped Max and Mariam.
"Max, I'm telling you this was a bad idea," Mariam said, hands on her hips as she stood beside him. She glanced at the dense jungle ahead, her brow furrowed. "We're not in a movie. There are real dangers out there."
Max flashed her a mischievous grin. "What's life without a little adventure?"
"You really don't think this is dangerous?" she pressed, still unconvinced. "I mean, we're stranded on a remote island with no signal, and the locals—"
"Hey," Max interrupted, giving her a playful nudge. "Don't worry, I'm here. I'll protect you."
She gave him a skeptical look. "Sure you will, hero."
Max chuckled, and though he pretended to act confident, a small part of him was actually feeling the weight of their situation. The storm had knocked out their communication devices, and there was no way to contact anyone for help. It wasn't the beach vacation they had planned.
But before he could say anything more to ease her concerns, there was a rustling sound from the thick underbrush ahead. Both of them immediately went on high alert.
"What was that?" Mariam whispered, taking a step back.
Max clenched his fist. He didn't want to alarm her, but they had to be cautious. "Stay close," he murmured.
Suddenly, from the dense trees, a tall figure emerged—a local man with a weathered face and a spear in his hand. His eyes locked onto them, and for a moment, the tension in the air was thick.
"Who are you?" the man asked in broken English, his voice low and gravelly.
Mariam's gaze shot to Max, and Max stepped forward cautiously, holding up his hands to show he meant no harm. "We're just lost. The storm hit, and our plane... We need help."
The man looked at them for a long moment before nodding slowly. "You should not be here," he said, his voice almost a warning. "The island is cursed."
Mariam's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"
The man didn't respond immediately, instead glancing nervously at the jungle behind him. He finally said, "You should go back to the beach. The jungle... not safe. Not for outsiders."
Max's curiosity was piqued, but he knew Mariam wouldn't like it. "I think we should hear him out, Mariam."
Before she could argue, the man stepped aside, gesturing for them to follow him. Reluctantly, they did, knowing they had little choice but to trust this mysterious stranger. As they walked, the man muttered under his breath, the sound of the jungle overwhelming their senses.
"I'm not liking this," Mariam muttered as they moved deeper into the trees.
Max kept his aqua blue eyes peeled for any signs of danger. "Just stay close to me."
They reached a small clearing, and the man motioned for them to stop. He turned to face them. "There's a temple deeper in the jungle. It's said that something powerful lies there."
Mariam raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by 'powerful'?"
The man didn't answer directly, only shaking his head. "I must leave now. Be careful. The jungle is not kind to those who don't respect it."
With that, the man disappeared into the trees, leaving Max and Mariam standing in the clearing.
Mariam exhaled sharply. "Max... what are we supposed to do now?"
Max took a deep breath, turning toward the jungle's depths. "Well, he mentioned a temple. If there's something powerful there, maybe we can find a way off this island."
Her lips quirked into a grin. "You really never know when to quit, do you?"
Max smiled back at her. "Not when there's an adventure to be had. Let's see what this temple is all about."
With a determined look, he led the way toward the unknown. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the jungle floor as the two of them ventured deeper, unaware of what lay ahead.
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End of Part 1.
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How's that for an adventurous trip around an unknown island? Let me know if you guys enjoyed it or not... Part 2 coming soon