*
Ashley had lived on this island since he was young— more precisely, before being moved to the mansion, he had stayed in another area where the children lived. There, when they reached their teens, they were sorted: some sent to security, others to factory work, soldiers, or entertainment. He knew he didn't have the privilege to pass the test, so he had accepted his fate to end up here.
And in all the time he had lived and breathed on this island, this was the first time Ashley had seen Martha in such a state.
Crouching by the pool, staring at the water, Ashley suddenly caught sight of Martha running toward him in the distance. Her face was ghostly pale, almost blue, sweat soaking her as if she'd been sprinting for ages— probably searching for him. The flicker of relief that crossed her face when their eyes met only confirmed it. Ashley raised an eyebrow, a bad feeling twisting in his gut. Martha, known for her calm demeanor, wearing an expression like that?
