Defying Fate: The Unstoppable Eileen



The disappearance of the celebrity guest was no small matter.

Everyone was up and at 'em.

The assistant director called over the night shift crew, who was just as bewildered.

Since all the guests were supposed to be asleep, the staff had likely dozed off too, after all.

Confronted by the assistant director, the worker hastily switched the camera feeds and lo and behold, the four guests had vanished into thin air.

No sign of them on any camera. Rewinding the footage, they discovered the guests had snuck out of the production's watchful eye at 4 a.m.

"Search! Get all the drones up, scour the entire island!"

In no time, ten drones were buzzing across the island.

It was a medium-sized island-big enough to hide on but too vast to be considered small.

The drones flew different routes for nearly an hour before they had covered the whole area.

But shockingly, there was no trace of Eileen and her crew!

The director arrived, learning they were still at large, and he put on his boss hat, laying into his subordinate, "This is on you!"

The assistant director retorted, "How's this my fault?"

The director shot back, irate, "Because you wouldn't let her play with the helicopter!"

The assistant director stood his ground, "We can't just let her-there are rules to this-"

"Found them!" The assistant director was cut off by a crew member pointing at a monitor, "Over here! Right here!"

Both directors rushed over to see. The screen showed a stretch of blue sea, and there the four guests were, paddling a boat across the waves.

The director was gobsmacked, asking, "Is Eileen bolting with the others?"

The assistant director was speechless.

Amidst the vast ocean, a drone followed an old wooden dinghy, relentless in pursuit.

Sylvia heard the buzzing overhead and spotted the drone.

"About time they found us," she muttered.

Eileen glanced up then returned to her rowing without a word.

The drone hovered in front of them, the assistant director's anxious voice coming through, "Folks, what in the world are you doing?"

Hobson, still rowing, innocently replied, "Ms. Lopez said she wanted to see the world, and if she couldn't have the helicopter, she'd row there. No one can stop a traveler's spirit."

"Since when did she become an explorer!" The assistant director was nearly hysterical, "Island adventures aren't meant to go off the grid!"

Shrugging, Hobson said, "Telling me won't help; I'm just the oar guy here."

The drone hesitated, then approached Egbert, "Mr. Reed, you..."

Egbert replied coolly, "Happy wife, happy life."noveldrama

"Ouch!" Eileen smacked him on the back as soon as he finished his sentence.

Finally, the drone faced Eileen, circling her pleadingly, "Ms. Lopez, can't we talk this out?"

Eileen huffed, ignoring it completely. Seeing her reaction, the assistant director turned to the crew, "Why on earth is there a boat on the island?"

A crew member explained, "It's always been there, but broken, buried in the sand. Who knew they'd dig it out and fix it!"

The assistant director blurted out, "Ms. Lopez, you need to come back. That boat's not steady, the waves might toss you over."

Sylvia chimed in, "We've got it all secured, it won't break apart."

"And with what did you secure it? Stop messing around; you don't even have a nail to your name."

Hobson interjected, "We do, actually. Plenty of nails in the boat itself. A little sanding, a touch of rust removal, and voila. As Ms. Lopez says, 'Even a leaky boat's got its nails.""

The assistant director was speechless. Cultured rebels, he thought.

Eileen then sighed dramatically, "Life's tough, you know. Here I am, fixing up my own getaway boat. Good thing I'm handy, or you'd have really had me."

The assistant director felt like crying, "Ms. Lopez..."

Eileen pointed ahead, instructing the others, "See that island over there? Let's head that way."

The trio adjusted course toward the island.

The assistant director knew that island was inhabited. If they made it there, they might borrow some transport and be back on the mainland in no time, and the shoot would be truly ruined.

The executive producer reprimanded the assistant director again, "I told you to let her have a go in the chopper. Now she's taking the whole crew on a runaway!"

The assistant director could never have imagined Eileen's way of protesting would be so direct. He thought keeping her on an isolated island would quell her discontent, forcing her to comply and keep filming.

Instead, she dropped the act and made her move. Her influence was undeniable; Sylvia and Hobson depended on her. The moment she called for action, they were ready to follow.

And Egbert, well, he was a lost cause a man in love, blindly following Eileen's lead.

Desperate, the assistant director watched them nearing the island, conceding, "Alright, alright, I give in. The helicopter's yours. Just please come back-I'm begging you."

Eileen looked at the drone, a smug hum escaping her lips as she raised her chin, "But now, the price has changed."

The assistant director, close to tears, asked, "What do you want now?"

Eileen threw up both hands, showing ten fingers, and declared, "I want ten rides!"

The assistant director was speechless.

In the end, after much negotiation and concessions, Eileen was coaxed back to the deserted island.

The helicopter would take some time to arrive.

Eileen, thrilled, bounced around the beach.

Egbert pulled her aside to sit down, asking in exasperation, "Why the obsession with helicopters?"

Sylvia piped up, "Oh, helicopters are so romantic. I saw a movie where the guy proposes in one, up in the sky-it just melted my heart." Egbert looked at Eileen, a new understanding dawning on him.

Eileen seemed to be in her own little world, completely oblivious to his words, her mind fixated on the helicopter that was supposed to arrive. When noon rolled around, the chopper finally made its appearance.

The cabin was cramped, with room for just three passengers. Eileen noticed the pilot had already settled into the cockpit, the co-pilot's seat was invitingly empty, and a co-pilot was strapped in the back.

Eileen pouted, "I want to fly this bird!"

The assistant director replied, "But you don't have a license. Let the pilot handle it, and you can sit by his side for the thrill."

Eileen wasn't having any of it, she stomped her foot and insisted, "I can fly it, just let me!"

The assistant director was taken aback, "You know how to fly?"

Eileen confidently claimed, "Of course, I do!"

And indeed, she did know how to fly; she even had a license to prove it, thanks to her mentor's teachings—in a past life, that is.

Eileen hopped around on the beach, chanting, "Let me do it, let me do it! I want to take Egbert for a spin!"

At that moment, Egbert stood up and walked over, taking Eileen's hand. He turned to the assistant director and said earnestly, "Give her a chance. She wants to whisk me away-probably to pop the question. I've decided to let her have this opportunity."