Mars sighed as she picked at the sand grains scattered and then she groaned angrily and yelled. "Richard!!! Get over here!!!"
   "You called?" Richard replied.
   They all stared at each dumbfoundedly and then yelled at the sky. "You were there?!"
   "Survived the plane crash did you kids? Wunderbar. I suppose I'll let the next task begin." Richard said in a playful tone.
   "Next task?!" They exclaimed again.
   "Yes. To get off of the island, you'll have to find the killer." Richard laughed.
Tyler's face became a ghastly white at the thought.
   'A killer?! Finding a killer?! Is that really necessary?!'
   "Yes. A killer. You'll have a death by tomorrow morning. Don't forget to survive!" Richard said innocently.
   "Killer?! A KILLER?!" Ryan shrieked. "Richard!!! Get back here!!!"
Richard didn't reply to another word and Ryan grew more infuriated and threatened to have him sued at court and bribe the court with his money.
   "Sir, calm down sir!" James said as he tried to hold his employer together.
Why would there be a crazed killer among Tyler's friends or what Richard calls, 'teammates'? Even Tyler couldn't tell now could he?
   "Well then, who here has a motive to kill?" Jin asked the other's grumpily.
  "We can't have a murder happening on an island in the middle of nowhere!" Carl exclaimed.
   "I'm just saying." Jin sighed and then brushed his hair out of his face.
   "We have to make a shelter for tonight then. With the ropes from the plane, the parachutes as a cover, assorted sticks here and there... And Selene and Geoffrey probably know about wildlife and the plants." Celeste said.
Everyone looked at her. It wasn't like her to act so smart. But she probably had changed moods because of the plane scenario.
They all agreed to help out with something. Collecting firewood, getting food, setting up the shelter and scanning the area.
   "Remember that clean slate of land earlier?" Tyler asked the others. "We could set up the camp there. It's safer than beside the shores."
And once again, they agreed. The island had tall shady trees with rich, green leaves. The vines that hung on them were tough and sturdy enough to be used as extra rope. They then finally made it to the clearing and began to set up a small tent.
The hut was made from large, thick sticks that were sharpened and then the sharp end was then implanted into the ground. The ropes tied the cloth of the parachute above as a roof over their heads.
And as soon as Mars and Carl came back with firewood, it began to rain. The sound of the rain pattering on the cloth was anything but peaceful.
They didn't dare complain however. Not even Ryan and Chelsea. They had almost died. The least they could do was be thankful.
They only had the grass and leaves they gathered as cushions and one fire to keep all twelve of them warm.
Tyler sighed as he watched the rain and slowly... slowly...
He fell asleep.

***

Tyler heard the sounds of murmurs.
And then a loud clap.
He shot straight up yet the loud sound of that clap continued to ring in his ears. He slowly rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and groaned.
   "What's with all the murmuring...?" Tyler groaned as he woke up.
His head throbbed. It was as if someone struck him from behind. No one did however. He found it painful to sleep on the rocky and wet ground to sleep without tiring himself with the comforting memory of a videogame won...
But at least he were alive. That was something to be grateful for right now...
Because sometimes, people die on the same day and at the same time you wake up.
   "Mars is missing..." Haley muttered scaredly and clasped her hands together.
   "Maybe she got firewood again." Marco sighed.
   "Or the killer is real!!!" Ryan screeched.
A debate then began to form between some of the twelve. Tyler however looked among them and rubbed the back of his neck and sighed.
   "Let's check around then." Celeste sighed.
   Ryan then became more pale and stuttered. "But the killer-"
   "There is no killer here." Jin said firmly. "She could be gathering firewood like Marco said. We can't jump to conclusions because of a voice that appears whenever it's useless!" Jin said angrily.
Soft choruses of murmurs came from the other eleven who were thinking about what Jin said.
   'Did she really get firewood?' Tyler thought.
They then agreed among themselves to search in groups of three to two to look for Mars.
The sun was up. High. It blinded them when they looked up. But the trees that circled their camping plain would provide shade for them...
But finding Mars would be hard in those tall trees... Shadowy spots would be here and there, maybe even quicksand and tar pits, maybe even deadly plants and ravenous animals!
But finding Mars was what counted to them right now. She was one of the toughest ones on thwir group. She couldn't have been killed-
No. She couldn't have been lost first. Yes, that's the right word; lost.
But anything valuable that's been lost, must be found.
But maybe... just maybe...
They didn't want to find her.
Especially the one with the small smirk on their mouth and the glint of success in their piercing eyes.

***

   "Have any of you found her?" Carl asked as the groups met back in the campsite.
   "We haven't. And Ryan barely kept an eye out." Chelsea huffed angrily.
Ryan opened his mouth to protest and Jin gave him a deadly glare. It was a sign for Ryan to shut up.
   "Well... Have you all searched in the right directions?" Marco asked while sighing.
   "We have. But she hasn't been seen." Celeste said.
Haley was awfully silent. It somehow hurt Tyler to see her that way. He could see the small tears about to form in her eyes. But everytime she was close to crying, she quickly blinked those tears away. She was trying to be brave.
   "Should we go and search again?" Chelsea asked as if in annoyance.
   "No. We should get firewood from nearby trees and then sleep. Let's hope she returns tomorrow. She's Mars. She'll make it." Jin said.
   "Geez Marcy... Why'd ya hafta go and get firewood?" Carl sighed. He then walked around the camp while talking. "You would be back with a smile on your face and a lot of laughter! You'd probably have jumped down from the roof of the camp and make us-"

THUMP!

   "Us... U-us..." Carl stuttered.
   "Us what?" Tyler asked Carl as he walked to  his side...
And then Carl screamed loudly. The birds perching on the trees flew up into the cloudy sky. A terrible omen.
Oh yes, by the way,
They found Mars.