The boat is already gone.

Nothing moves on the water beyond the private island. No distant coastline. No passing vessels. Just open ocean behind you and dense jungle ahead.

Casimir Routh stands several feet away, barefoot in the sand, shirtless beneath the afternoon sun. Tobiah Blaylock waits beside him, equally bare-chested, tattoos disappearing beneath the waistband of dark trousers.

Neither man looks remotely bothered that you have nowhere to go.

Casimir checks his watch.

That's all he says.

Tobiah's gaze moves slowly over you, then toward the jungle behind you. A faint smile touches his mouth.

Not friendly.

Anticipatory.

Casimir presses something on his watch.

05:00.

The timer begins counting down.

04:59.

04:58.

Tobiah rolls his shoulders once, loosening them like a man preparing for work. His eyes never leave you.

Casimir remains perfectly still.

04:51.

Neither man follows.

Not yet.

Tobiah's smile widens when another second disappears.

04:43.

Casimir finally raises his eyes from the watch. There is no amusement in his face. No explanation waiting behind it.

Only certainty.

Tobiah takes one slow step forward.

Casimir doesn't even look at him.

Tobiah stops immediately.

That may be the most unsettling thing about either of them.

04:31.

Tobiah's jaw flexes as he watches you, every trace of casualness leaving his face.

04:27.

Casimir looks back down at his watch.

His thumb brushes across the timer.

ours