Page 18 of Red Fire
“That’s because I touched it, asshole,” I grunt.
“It scents too much of you for a small touch.”
I roll my eyes. “Paranoid much?” Then I laugh. “I bet I can beat you down there.” I shift in less than a second, hearing the others do the same. Then we are soaring through the sky on our way down. Except, I won’t land down there with them because the human isn’t there. I have a small window of opportunity, one I plan on taking.
Octavia
I’m quite literally between a rock and a hard place. I’m squeezed into this crack in the rock and as deeply as I’ll go. I’m trying hard not to breathe loudly or move in case I get caught. My backpack is at my feet. I don’t think these huge mountain men will be able to get in this deep. Not that it will help me if they find me. I’ll have to come out, eventually. I mustn’t think like that. I have to remain positive, even with the odds mounting against us.
Creed is gone.
My arm isn’t bleeding anymore, but the wound stings. Creed had better have a very good reason for yanking off my top like that. I’m sure he’s using it to make them think I’m in another location. To buy us some time, but I don’t love being shirtless in a jungle full of sex-crazed men.
I’m wearing a lacy white bra. As far as I was concerned, I was getting off the island and going home. I didn’t realize when I snuck away this morning that I would need to prepare for something like this. I didn’t pack a spare shirt or a sweatshirt oranything. In hindsight, it was probably stupid of me. Particularly since I packed a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a spare set of underwear. Why, oh why, did I need more underwear? Then, I have a couple of bottles of water and a few protein bars. I threw a few things in a bag, not expecting to actually need any of them. I didn’t give it too much thought. Right now, I wish I had.
I’m wedged in, trying hard to breathe as softly as I can. Trying hard for the hundredth time since crashing in this godforsaken place not to panic, and I’m failing.
There’s shouting from somewhere down below, which causes me to hold my breath.
“Here!” one man shouts. “This way.”
No!
No!
“Yes! Finally!” another one yells.
“Where is she?” a third shouts.
Crap! They’ve found me.
Please, no! Please!
I expect one of them to appear at the opening, but it doesn’t happen. My whole body prickles with awareness, but nothing happens. The seconds feel like hours, and still nothing happens. Perhaps they didn’t find me after all. They couldn’t have, or they would be here by now. I wait, and then I wait some more.
Where is Creed?
What happened to him?
Please let him be okay. If something happens to him, I’m as good as dead. He’s a little strange, but he’s a nice guy. I can’t believe I told him about that novel I read. I felt like such an idiot. He looked at me like I was crazy. Good thing I didn’t tell him the title of the book:Saved by the Mountain Man. Very fitting for this scenario. Although, in the book, they end up having hot sex and falling in love, which isn’t going to happen with us. There are more important things – like surviving.
The crevice gets darker, and I hear breathing. I’m not sure how, but I know it’s him. It’s Creed. I can hear it from the way he is breathing, but I can also smell it. It sounds weird, but it’s true. He has this woodsy, musky scent with a hint of smoke. I’m sure it’s from the fire back at the cabin, although I’ve never smelled a smokiness quite like this before. It must just be him…what he smells like. It isn’t unpleasant. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that I like it. It’s manly and interesting. Maybe I am weird, which is fine by me. My mother always used to say that being different is good. That there is nothing wrong with it. I embrace that now.
I reach out my hand and touch him on the side of his arm. Since he hasn’t said anything, I’m going to assume he can’t talk. That it might be dangerous. We could get caught. The danger is far from over. I get the feeling it won’t be for a while.
It’s going to take us six or seven days to get to the city. Right now, that feels like forever.
Creed does something unexpected; he takes my hand and squeezes. That small gesture brings tears to my eyes. He’s risking everything to help me, and I couldn’t be more grateful. We stand there for a few moments, our fingers interlaced. Then he tugs on my arm gently, urging me out of the crevice. I shuffle a few small steps and then wriggle down to pick up my backpack. I might not have a shirt in the thing, but we can still use the items inside it.
I shimmy myself all the way out. I can see better out here as the half-moon peeks out from behind the clouds. I look down, my eyes going wide. I think he might be naked, but I don’t try too hard to check for sure. Actually, I don’t want to know. If he is in a state of complete undress, I’m sure he has a good reason for it.
He goes down, turning away and hoisting me onto his back. Then he leaps down from the rocks, landing in a half-crouch. My heart goes straight into my throat. I’m not sure how I manage to hold back a scream. This is insane. How did he jump like thatand keep his balance? He’s the strongest person I’ve ever met. That’s for sure.
Creed starts running. He isn’t as fast as he was before, but he is silent. We’re soon back under the cover of the jungle. I don’t hear anyone following, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there.
Creed stops when there is a loud screeching noise in the distance. The air in my lungs freezes as I strain to identify the terrifying sound. What is it? What kind of animal makes a noise like that? It isn’t one I know. It sounds big and pissed off. A second screech tears through the night, followed by a roar. I want so badly to ask Creed what that is, but I don’t dare.
Then he is running again, moving faster than before, and all I can do is cling to him.