CHAPTER 287

Elijah’s POV

The small boat cut silently through the dark waters, its loud engine seeming like a whisper against the backdrop of the crashing waves. I guided it carefully to the shore of Montbriant Island, the dense, moonlit forest coming into view in the distance. It was just past three hours after midnight, and I hoped the darkness would work in my favor.

I pulled the boat up onto the beach and quickly disembarked, careful not to make any noise. My backpack felt heavy on my shoulders, packed with tools and supplies, including a gun hidden in my belt and a knife concealed in the lower part of my pants. The last thing I wanted was to be caught unprepared.

The dense forest stretched out before me, just as we’d hoped. We had guessed right—this part of the island seemed to be unguarded. I moved quickly but cautiously, my eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of movement or surveillance.

Once I reached the cover of the trees, I stopped to catch my breath. I pulled out the map we ha