Chapter 5

By dint of having swum, Daphne has moved a long way from the place where she arrived. However, at one point, while she is standing in the water, she sees a pleasant corner in which to spend the night. It is a square covered with grass located five hundred meters from the beach. Approaching it, she finds that the place suits her perfectly. All she has to do is find something to eat when, as she thinks, something suddenly catches her eye: the silhouette of a person lying in the water. Recognizing one of the finalists by her bikini, Daphne rushes towards the sea and, when she arrives, she discovers Anne-Sophie's body floating with her head underwater. Assuming she's been in this position for quite a while, Daphne is already expecting the worst. Taking her out of the water by her shoulders and placing her on the beach, she can only see her dead.

- How sad. You were far too young to die that way, she soliloquizes. We didn't say much to each other, but I never wanted such a thing to happen to you. You still had so much to live for… It's really a shame. Is this how I will find the others?

Daphne is demoralized. All she wants right now is some company, but it doesn't seem like it will be right away, which saddens her a bit. Sitting on the sand, she is lost in thought when, moments later, she jumps when she hears someone cough. Looking around, she sees no one. Intrigued, the young lady walks towards where she thinks the sound is coming from, but she sees nothing but large volcanic rocks on which waves are crashing. Assuming that her mind is playing tricks on her, the young lady is about to go back to her seat when she hears coughing once more. Now certain that someone is there, she climbs onto one of the rocks before starting to search meticulously when, to her surprise, she sees Gabriella.

Exhausted and weak, Gabriella draws on her reserves to keep her head above water. However, since the tide continues to rise, the young lady with a brown complexion is almost covered by the sea level and she begins to choke. Realizing that time is running out, Daphne descends quickly and, having reached Gabriella, she passes her hands under the armpits of the young lady before pulling her out of the water. As soon as she puts her on the beach, Daphne realizes that the other survivor is no longer breathing. Not wasting a second, she gives him mouth-to-mouth, followed by a cardiac massage, even if she does not know how to do it correctly. Nevertheless, it pays off because, after a few unsuccessful attempts, Gabriella regurgitates the water she swallowed before opening her eyes.

- "Thank God… She's coming back to herself…" How are you feeling? Daphne asks him, helping him to sit down.

- Where are we?

- I don't know. However, we are not at home. Nothing looks like it. I woke up on the shore of a swamp and, as far as I know, there is none in Heartland. Before finding you, I walked a lot without seeing the slightest sign of life. I have the impression that this island is completely deserted... Unless here it's not a public beach.

- It's not possible, says Gabriella when she doesn't like it. "Why does this have to happen to us? »

- It's an ironic story. We are loners, but we don't want to be alone here.

- The others are not with you?

- No, I have no idea where they could be... So far, I have only seen Anne-Sophie but, unfortunately, she is dead. She drowned. She's only a few feet away if you ever want to see her. If I had arrived a few moments later, you would have been dead too.

- Thank you for saving my life, Gabriella told him immediately, hardly realizing what happened to them.

- Don't thank me, Daphne replies immediately. I wasn't going to let you die after all! I would have come to the aid of anyone who found themselves in this situation anyway.

- Even in Amber? After all she did to you? immediately connects the pretty brunette.

- "What does she mean?" What did Amber do to me that made me go so far as to let her die? Daphne wonders. Can you be clearer please? What did Amber do to me?

- "Oops! I thought she knew about me! Everyone was talking about it on the yacht. I'm surprised no one told you. It was Amber who sabotaged your bikini.

- "So, like that, she's the one who humiliated me!" I don't know why, but this news doesn't surprise me. Besides, nothing surprises me coming from her. She would even be able to urinate on us if she had the chance. She thinks she's so superior to us.

- It's true that she can.

- How did you know it was her?

- Jennifer heard Aurore talking about it on the boat and, apparently, this damn group was bragging about it. Me, I heard it when Jennifer told it to Brooklyn and Noemi. It pained me a great deal to learn it; I thought it was an accident.

- Did any of you at least intend to tell me one day?

- Don't blame me, but to avoid getting in trouble, I would never have told you about it. You know very well how Amber is and, if I dared to say anything about it, it is sure that she would have made me live like a martyr.

- At least you're honest... launches Daphne, disgusted. Finally, it would be better for her that she was dead because, otherwise, it is I who will kill her. How can such a thing be done? Can you go that far to win a contest?

- In my opinion, it was purely gratuitous wickedness.

- I even wonder why I took part in this competition... If my mother hadn't convinced me, I wouldn't have accompanied you on this yacht... she confides to him as tears flow down her throat on his cheeks.

- "It's sad that Amber hurt her so much. How can you be so mean? Gabriella wonders before quickly coming to. Seeing what's happening to us, it would have been better if you hadn't come. Well, it would be better if we stop talking about this subject. Now is not the time to think about sad things. Anyway, the final will not take place. What time do you think it is?

- I have no idea, Daphne answers him while she wipes her tears.

- Do you think we'll have time to find the others?

- Certainly not today. The island seems small, but I walked for a very long time before I found you. Besides, don't forget that you were dead a few moments ago. It would be safer for us to spend the night here. I don't really want you to get tired today. Can I tell you something?

- Of course, you can...

- Before coming to the dock, my mother and I had a conversation and she told me that instead of being alone, I could make friends with you since you seem like a good person.

- How can she know that I'm a good person? Gabriella wonders.

- Because it's the portrait I drew of you...

- Ah! That's nice, said the brunette, touched. Then why didn't you come talk to me?

- I often saw you apart. I was afraid that you would push me away...

Being still close to the sea, Daphne helps Gabriella to get up and they advance towards the piece of land covered with grass that she had spotted earlier. As soon as they get there, they lie down to regain their senses. Then, since it is still relatively early, they take the opportunity to get to know each other since they have never had the opportunity to speak.

Gabriella is a beautiful young lady with a very nice body. Twenty years old, she has a dark complexion, long silky wavy brown hair and light brown eyes. Having been drawn to the Miss Heartland pageant since the age of six, she was entered by her mother without her knowing it and her surprise was great when she was called and selected. Having always had a gentle character, he is a person who is very appreciated in his entourage. The young lady has always been the lonely type and, since she was dumped a few months ago, she has become even more withdrawn. She considers that it is better to be alone than in bad company. Academically, she was always top of the class. This was positive in his life because his good results allowed him to skip a few classes, obtaining his baccalaureate at sixteen. She is now a nurse in the largest hospital in Heartland and she loves her job.