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T he crew had been hiking for nearly an hour when Captain Garrett raised a hand, signaling a halt. The path ahead was barricaded. Thick vines tangled across the trail, and large trees had been deliberately felled.

Vivienne’s apprehension heightened.

"Lewis," she called, "are these the vines that shift their growth patterns?"

Lewis crouched beside the tangled mess. "No, these were cut within the last few hours."

"Enyo," Garrett growled, his grip tightening on his sword. "They’re stalling us."

"How did they know we’d come this way?" Vivienne asked.

"They assumed we’d go after our people," Cirrus muttered, glaring at the barricade. "This is the most direct route."

Commander Thorne drew his sword. "Which means they’ve funneled us into a trap."

A cold dread settled over her. Are they watching us right now?

"We keep moving," Garrett ordered. "Stay alert."

The crew pressed on, navigating the obstacles. Vivienne’s pulse fluttered, scanning the foliage for any sign of movement.

A sudden shout erupted behind them. Then the crash of bodies through the undergrowth.

"AMBUSH!" Thorne bellowed.

Enyo’s men burst from the trees, weapons gleaming. The Zephyrus crew barely had time to loose their weapons before steel clashed, shouts filled the air, and chaos consumed the space.

Vivienne dodged a blade whistling past her ear and slashed wildly with the dagger Florence had given her, slicing one attacker’s arm.

"Get to cover!" Cirrus shoved her aside, blocking an axe strike meant for her.

They were outnumbered.

"Fall back!" Garrett ordered.

The Zephyrus crew retreated into the trees, but Enyo’s men pursued.

"They’re gaining on us!" Lewis shouted.

Then, the screaming started.

Vivienne turned just in time to see a thick vine coil around one of Enyo’s sailors, yanking him off his feet. His terrified shriek cut through the air as the rainforest itself came alive. From the forest floor, a massive, gaping maw with serrated edges rose, hissing and gurgling. The sailor barely had time to claw at the ground before the jaws snapped shut with a sickening crunch.

Vivienne’s stomach lurched. "Oh my gods…"

" Mortivora arbori ," Lewis whispered, his face pale.

The monstrous plants were nothing like the sketches in their field logs. Fifteen feet tall, their massive, fleshy jaws glistened a vivid coral red. Thick, root-like vines slithered across the ground, searching for prey.

A chorus of hissing, gurgling roars filled the air. Vivienne’s eyes went wide with fear. There’s more than one.

"Freeze, Viv," Lewis pleaded, barely breathing. "If they’re anything like their smaller, less murderous cousins, they can sense even the tiniest movement."

The ground trembled as the vines twitched and coiled, seeking another victim. A duet of screams ripped through the narrow clearing. One of Enyo’s men tried to pull another sailor free, only to recoil in horror as the arm came away—its stump sizzling from fast-dissolving acid.

There would be no bodies left to recover.

"NEW PLAN!" Lewis shouted. "RUN!"

Vines lashed out as sailors from both crews bolted in all directions. Vivienne sprinted with Lewis, weaving through the chaos, until something yanked her backward. A vine coiled around her ankle, dragging her toward one of the monstrous plants. She hit the ground hard, gasping as she clawed at the dirt.

"VIVIENNE!" Lewis lunged, grabbing her arms, but the plant was stronger.

A second vine snaked around her hips, pulling her closer to its waiting maw. Her eyes darted frantically, searching for help.

"THORNE!" she screamed.

The commander whirled, eyes wild, and sprinted toward her. He slashed at the vines with his sword, hacking them away. But another wrapped around her chest, tightening and stealing her breath.

The plant’s wet, gurgling jaw yawned open behind her. Closer. Closer.

With a final, desperate swing, the commander severed the vine, and Vivienne collapsed onto the jungle floor. Lewis and Thorne hauled her up, and the three of them ran for their lives.

They ran until their lungs burned, dodging the writhing vines. Screams echoed behind them, muted once the horrifying mouths enveloped their prey. By the time they stumbled into a clearing, they were panting, their clothes torn and bloodied.

Garrett scanned the survivors, his face grim. Only four of the ten sailors had made it out. “We’ve lost them,” he murmured, his voice hollow. “What the everdark were those things?”

" Mortivora arbori ," Lewis said hoarsely. "Like Venus flytraps, but... much bigger. Smarter."

Vivienne barely registered the words. She was still trembling, still feeling the vine’s crushing grip on her ribs, still hearing the awful crunch of bone and flesh behind her.

“Banns! I lost sight of you in the chaos.” Cirrus pulled her into an embrace, his chest rising and falling against hers. "Please tell me you're alright."

She nodded weakly, but he must have felt her shaking.

"What, no hug for me, Cici?" Lewis quipped.

Cirrus shot him a look. "Your intact sense of humor tells me you’re fine."

Vivienne might’ve laughed if her stomach weren’t still twisted in knots. Cirrus finally let go, but his arm stayed around her waist, grounding her.

Commander Thorne clocked the contact between Cirrus and Vivienne, but said nothing. He wiped sweat from his brow. “Captain, do we proceed to Enyo’s camp?”

Garrett turned to him. "What say you, commander?"

Thorne paused before shaking his head. "We regroup. We’re not ready for another fight."

Garrett exhaled. "Agreed. Mr. Theodosia, lead the way back."

As they moved, Vivienne’s fury burned hotter. The king had sent them here knowing what awaited. He had sent Enyo, knowing he’d try to force them into an early grave. They couldn’t afford to lose more of their crew. They couldn’t afford another misstep.

Another wrong move, and this island will consume us all.