“What?”
“Listen.” Nick whispered.
I fell silent and strained to hear what he was talking about. Sure enough, in the distance there was a faint commotion. It was steadily growing louder and I jumped up. I started to peel back the heavy cloth that served as a door to the hut, but Nick pulled me back. He peeked his head through.
“Shit! Fuck!” He hissed. He turned around to face me. “Well, here comes our rescuers.”
I pushed around him and looked towards a bunch of moving torches. Sure enough, in the center of a group of natives was Howie, Kevin and AJ. Two of them were walking with Kevin, one had ahold of each arm. “Shit. What’s their deal with Kevin?”
“I don’t know. They probably have their eye on him too. Maybe they can tell he is related to Brian.” Nick suggested grimly.
The natives marched the guys right past our hut and over to the same place in front of the same stone throne where the chief sat before. I squinted in the darkness and recognized the chief as he approached his throne. Kevin started to yell and all three guys were pushed down to their knees like Nick and I were. Kevin kept yelling and one of them struck him, causing my stomach to wince with him. The arguing continued, but I couldn’t make out any words. Suddenly several heads shot in Nick and I’s direction.
“Oh, that can’t be good.” I muttered, backing away from the flap. Nick stood upright too and backed up with me. I started to get beside him, but he pushed me behind him again.
“Lizz stay behind me.” Nick ordered.
Normally I would have argued, but a wave of fear washed over me as I heard the angry voices grow closer. Suddenly it didn’t seem so fake anymore and I started to shake. That sole factor alone unnerved me even more. I never shook, ever. Unless of course it had to do with that bond Nick and I shared. I remembered talking about it with Brian one day and I sort of discovered that I never ever shook. I could be on the brink of total hysteria and I still didn’t shake. Except now, when it had to do with Nick, I shook. I had a death grip on the back of his shirt now, backing up and pulling him with me. Like that was going to do any good. Right, Lizz, keep dreaming.
The natives burst through, grabbing ahold of Nick and prying me away. I screamed and threw a fist out, panicking. It connected somewhere and one of them started yelling, probably swearing in Fijian. There was just enough light to barely see the fist coming and I tried to dart away. The blow landed just below my collar bone and I dropped like a fly. Rough hands picked me up and hauled me out of the tent. I heard Nick struggling against them too and we were dragged before the chief. Both of us were thrown to the ground, again. Did they enjoy that? I was almost beyond the pain from fear now as I stared up at the angry face of the chief.
“YOU DECIDE NOW!”
Brian blinked, sure that he was hallucinating. “Nick?” He asked again.
“Yeah, it’s me.” Nick said softly, a lump forming in his throat. Brian still didn’t look very good, but Nick had to trust that the natives would keep their word and pull Brian through this. “How are ya feeling buddy?”
Brian managed a small smile for Nick’s benefit. “I’ve been better. What’s going on?”
Nick hesitated. He knew full well that Brian wouldn’t like the decision that he made, but he wanted to be the one to tell him, not some native.
Brian immediately picked up on Nick’s hesitation. “Nick, what did you do??”
Nick sighed. “I, uh...” He stopped and took a deep breath. “I traded myself for everyone else. I’m going to be their breeder or slave in exchange for your lives.”
Brian opened his eyes wider and tried to sit up. “Nick you didn’t!”
Nick gently pushed Brian back down onto the blanket. “There was no other choice. Don’t worry, I’m working on figuring something out.”
Lelani watched as the two men talked quietly, their words no longer audible. She was absolutely seething at the new change in plan. She wanted so bad to be the one that would get to mate with Brian. And now this other man had ruined it! The more she thought about it, the more her blood boiled. She would have to make him pay for taking her Brian away. Lelani thought furiously for ideas. This “Nick” obviously didn’t care that much about himself since he just sacrificed himself. Causing him physical pain wouldn’t be the most effective, although satisfying. His weakness appeared to be his friends. He cared too much and was willing to destroy his life over them. Something that could easily be exploited. Lelani noticed immediately that he was very close to her Brian. Of course she would never hurt her Brian just to get top Nick. Then her eyes lit up as she remembered the young woman that was with Nick. He was quite protective over her. In fact, this other girl was supposed to have been part of the deal and somehow Nick had managed to save her. Lelani smiled. This was a weakness of his that could be exploited much more easily than causing harm to her Brian.
Nick jumped when a young girl appeared out of the shadows of the tent. She gave him a hard look before turning to the natives that were accompanying Nick. She said something to them in a rather harsh tone. Nick observed, with mild shock, that they immediately obeyed her words. She must hold an important role in the tribe. Before Nick could resist, they grabbed him and started to pull him out of the tent.
“NO! Wait, I wasn’t ready yet!” He struggled against them. Brian also voiced his protests from inside the tent.
The girl stepped out of the tent and stopped in front of Nick, glaring at him coldly. Nick stopped his struggles and looked at her expectantly.
“Know your place slave. You will pay for your decision.” She told him, her voice low.
Her words chilled Nick even though he didn’t what she meant. Although, he figured he would find out soon enough. The men that were restraining him began to drag him away and just before they rounded a corner, he saw her head towards the chief and where the rest of his friends were. It gave him a sinking feeling in his stomach. Not even ten seconds later he heard Lizz scream for him, followed by more yelling. He tried to turn around, but the natives increased their grip, forcing Nick further away.