The Queen Who Fights Back (by Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 179

Chapter 179

As dinner drew to a close, darkness crept in, swallowing the last traces of daylight.

The sky hung heavy and oppressive, as if bracing for some impending catastrophe.

The entire heavens brimmed with gloom and a sense of foreboding.

“It’s getting dark… The sun’s really gone now… Hey, uh, everyone–listen up!

“Once you’re done eating, meet up at the open area. We’re kicking off the shoot soon!

“Camera crew, lights–everyone, be ready!”

The director of “Thriller: Unpopulated Isle” was a middle–aged guy with a beer gut you couldn’t miss and a scalp so shiny it almost reflected the moonlight.

Standing dead center in the open area, he patted his belly–so huge he looked like he’d just swallowed a beach ball–then barked orders through his megaphone for everyone to hustle up.

With the director barking orders into the night, the camera crew, lighting team, and everyone working behind the scenes quickly got into position, primed and ready for action.

After chilling the whole afternoon, the celebs–each flanked by their manager and assistant–finally strutted onto the open field, all glammed up and ready to steal the spotlight.

“Alright, everyone–look at our celebs! They’re all dressed up and ready out on the field, and we’re about to get started!

“Tonight kicks off our thrilling midnight expedition on the deserted island!”

The host, speaking to the camera with infectious enthusiasm, hyped up the start of the show.

It was a signal that filming was about to begin.

Nova stood at the edge of the crowd, making sure to stay out of the camera’s line of sight.

She made a rough guess.

There were probably fifty or sixty crew members in total, with at least ten of them handling the cameras.

As for the celebs, there were exactly twenty–two of them.

By now, night had wrapped everything in pitch–black darkness.

With the director leading the way, a big crowd headed straight into the depths of Red Butterfly Isle.

Nova walked shoulder to shoulder with Eric, Mavis, and Vivian, wearing a black mask the entire time and saying almost nothing.

“Hi there, Miss. I heard you’re one of tonight’s guests. Would you mind joining us for the walk?”

As they made their way through the island, the camera crew kept their lenses trained on the big–name stars up front.

Darren–who’d chatted with Yoro earlier–walked over to Nova, adopting a gentlemanly and modest tone as he spoke.

After hearing Yoro’s stories about Nova and getting a glimpse into her background, Darren couldn’t help but grow intrigued, wanting to see what made her different.

Darren wanted to get to the bottom of why Nova had been so icy toward Yoro, so he made his way over to ask her himself.

Who could’ve guessed he’d get shut down without her even sparing him a glance. Nova didn’t even look up. “Can’t, she said coldly.

“Uh… I see,” Darren muttered, scratching his head, clearly thrown off by her blunt rejection.

He was one of Zoria’s leading men, a heartthrob who lived rent–free in the dreams of countless teenage girls.

Not that he was trying to brag–literally everyone in Zoria knew his name, young or old, male or female,

Darren was left wondering, ‘Is she seriously not interested in me?‘

“Darren, are you trying to learn how to flirt from big sis Yoro now?”

Just as Darren was scratching his head in confusion, a teasing voice chinted in from the sidelines.

It was a crew–cut guy whose features were so pretty you’d mistake him for a girl at first glance–seriously, gender was anyone’s guess.

Patrick from the P.S.T boy band–a Zoria–Yoria mix with flawless looks–was easily as famous as Darren back home, maybe

even more so.

Patrick shot Darren a teasing look. “With Yoro around, it doesn’t matter if you’re some A–lister or what–she’s got both the guys and girls hooked! Let’s be real, no one’s paying attention to you when Yoro’s on the scene.

“All eyes are on her, man!”

“You mean Yoro, right?”

Standing next to Yoro was a woman named Shana, a rising idol and new face in the biz.

Because Yoro had really gone out of her way for her, Shana genuinely respected her.

As all the stars strolled together, there wasn’t a trace of diva attitude–just gossiping and joking around like regular folks.

And honestly, it was mostly thanks to Yoro.

Yoro let the group’s banter wash over her, then turned to Nova with a gentle, almost delicate look.

She asked softly, “Nova, is something wrong? Are you having a hard time?

“Why don’t you want to accept me?”

The subtle furrow between her brows made it clear–she was genuinely troubled over this.

“Plop.”

Nova’s foot landed in a puddle, making her pause abruptly.

“Huh? Is it raining or something? My head feels oddly chilly–like there’s water dripping on it…”

Patrick mumbled, running a hand over his head.

By now, the group had made their way deep into the woods of Red Butterfly Isle, and the only sound was the crunch of leaves underfoot.

“Nova, what’s wrong?” Yoro reached over, her voice laced with worry.

Seeing Nova suddenly stop, Allison hurried to her side, concern flashing across her face.

Right then, Yoro, Darren, Patrick, and Shana all turned to look at Nova.

They watched as she moved quietly to a branch beside a tree, placed her hand on it, and closed her eyes, shutting out the noise and confusion around her. Nova tried to sense the subtle, unusual aura in the air–the feeling that spoke of home.

However, in Yoro and her crew’s idea, what she was doing felt like she had lost her mind.

Finally, Nova spoke up in a calm, almost detached tone, “This is the legendary Amray Island. We should get out of here.

Now.”

“Amray Island? What’s that?” Patrick, confused, scratched his head. He thought he’d seen it all as a star, but Nova had definitely stumped him for the first time.

“Isn’t this Red Butterfly Isle?” he asked, frowning.

For a second, the whole group just stood there like deer in headlights.

“Hey!”

The director’s shout came blasting from up ahead.

“Don’t lag behind! If you fall back, who knows what kind of beast might jump out of the darkness and chomp on you!”

The camera crew instantly whipped their lenses around in this direction.

“Amray Island’s not just famous–it’s the stuff of legends. People call it a man–eater’s paradise,” Nova said coolly, her eyes scanning the shadows.

“There’s thousands of saltwater crocodiles living here, some of them tipping the scales at a ton or more.

“Back in World War II, a group of about 400 R–army soldiers landed in this place. The crocodiles didn’t even give them a chance–they all ended up as crocodile chow.”

Eric was part of the operation team, so his experience was in a whole different league compared to the celebrities. Without missing a beat, he quickly spoke up.

“Something dangerous is getting close. Be ready to fight,” Nova said, her voice calm but unmistakably serious.

Her eyes flashed with a chill as she addressed Eric, Mavis, and Vivian.

For Nova, talking about fighting came as naturally as eating or sleeping–it didn’t even faze her.

But when Yoro and the others heard that, their hearts skipped a beat.

“On it!”

Eric, Mavis, and Vivian didn’t even know when it started, but Nova’s orders had become second nature–they obeyed without thinking.

The three of them responded together–no hesitation, no doubt.

It was almost like…

She’d already become the core of their team.

“Nova…” Yoro murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Yoro’s very first glimpse of Nova at Blake Manor brought a rush of familiarity–like she was seeing a memory come to life.

That was the little girl she’d cradled in her arms and spoiled rotten, kindness shining from her like an angel. Even when the elder kids would roast grasshoppers for fun, little Nova would bravely step up and scold her big brothers and sisters, insisting they respect life.

But now…

She was so changed, it was like I was looking at a complete stranger. Yoro thought to herself.

“Whoosh!”

Ten seconds later.

Just as Nova had warned, a ferocious giant crocodile exploded from the shadows, its gaping maw big enough to bite a person in half–lunging straight for Yoro.

“Ahh!”

Panic exploded everywhere–people were losing their minds, shrieking and stumbling over each other.

Nova’s hand shot up, dagger held in a reverse grip, her eyes icy and ruthless–moving with the attitude of someone born to kill. Right there, in front of Yoro, she plunged the blade straight into the crocodile’s eye, driving it all the way into its brain.

The flash of steel shattered every innocent memory Yoro had of Nova–the sweet little girl was gone, replaced by someone terrifyingly capable of violence. In that instant, even the fantasy that Nova might’ve grown up to be a doctor or lived a normal life was brutally, unmistakably crushed.