The native that was carrying me stared down at me, a hard look on his face. I bit my lip, not wanting to make anymore noise that would anger him. My mind drifted back to when I was getting my second tattoo. It was on my left shoulder blade and whatever they just put on my was on my right. The tattoo barely hurt. In fact when they were filling it in, I nearly fell asleep. And like the first time, the tattoo artist was greatly amused and proceeded to tell dirty jokes to keep me awake. I remembered he called me Red. I’m not sure if it was because of my personality, my formerly reddish hair, or what.

God this hurt though. I was barely aware of the tears that were streaming down my face. It didn’t seem to matter how I struggled, the natives had pinned me down and I was totally helpless. Right before they pinned me I stole a glance towards Nick and saw that they were dragging him to the fire as well. I think that might have been when I started screaming. I was scared now, I didn’t know where Nick was or if he was okay.

“You awake. You walk.” The native snapped and dumped me out of his arms.

I hit the ground hard and my tears became sobs. I felt so weak and the pain of the branding was coursing through my whole body. I heard the native curse and I knew there were others that were walking with us. They all stopped now and I tried to curl up.

“You are needed in here!” A native called from a short distance and I looked up. The tears had blurred my vision, but I made out a large form and a smaller one. I thought I recognized the smaller one.

“Lizz?!”

“AJ.” I choked out, my voice barely above a whisper.
He ran to me and dropped down beside me. “What the hell’s going on?”

I felt his hand move across my charred skin and I screamed. He jerked back, his eyes wide.

“Shut up!” The native that still stood above me shouted, giving me a kick.

AJ glared up at him and gently turned me so he could see what was causing me such pain. I heard him gasp and I ducked my head, shamefully. If the pain wasn’t bad enough, the humiliation of being marked like an animal and treated like a nothing was. More tears fell.

“Fuck.” He breathed. I immediately recognized the look in his eyes as he glared up at the native that towered over me.

“NO, AJ! Don’t make him more angry!” I gasped.

He carefully pulled me to my feet, steadying me. I was grateful because I probably would have collapsed otherwise. “Brian’s really bad, Lizz.” AJ whispered, leading me back to the hut. I finally recognized it as Brian’s.

“What do you mean ‘really bad‘?” I whispered back to AJ.

“He wants to die.”

I stopped cold, my heart skipping a beat. “No.” I choked out. He couldn’t die. He couldn’t. Who was going to keep Nick and I in line? My heart fluttered again when I thought of if Nick knew and how to even tell him. This would kill him.

I pulled away from AJ’s support and pushed through the flap of the hut. The other natives that were accompanying me and that were already here glared at me, but I ignored them.

Lelani turned around sharply when she heard me come in. Her look of concern changed to a look of gloating and her eyes turned to ice. “I said that you would learn, did I not? How does it feel to be nothing? To have the mark of a slave?” She said, a cutting tone in her voice.

I glared at her. “Bitch.”

Lelani evidently knew what that meant and her eyes flashed. She stepped closer. “This is only the beginning of how you will suffer.” She laughed unexpectedly. “I am actually surprised that you continue with such insolence, but Fighter, it will only cause you more pain.”

I shut my eyes. The sounds of the pain in Nick’s voice kept haunting me, not to mention my own shoulder still burned. “Why did you bring me here?” I said, trying to stay calm.

“Brian is going to die.” I looked up sharply when she said that. “I do not know what else to do for him. I can tell that you care something for him, so you must suffer as he does. You will stay with him, watch him die. I cannot.”

My jaw dropped at her words. Something strange caught my eye though; the look in hers. As much as I didn’t doubt that she wanted me to suffer, it seemed like she was distraught for Brian. “Let me see him.” I said, my voice choked.

Lelani glared at me, but stepped back. She turned towards AJ and the other two natives that occupied the small hut. “Out. Now.” I watched, mildly surprised as everyone filed out of the hut. Slowly, I walked over and knelt down by the edge of the bed. A lump formed in my throat as I gazed at my friend. He didn’t even look this bad back when Agnes poisoned him with that medicine. I rewet the cloth on his forehead and straightened his blankets. He moaned and stirred restlessly. I wondered if he even knew I was here.

“Brian?” I said hoarsely.

He moaned again and opened his eyes. He looked at me a moment, seemingly confused. Maybe even a little scared too. My heart ached something fierce and the tears I hadn’t realized stopped, started all over again.

“Let...me...die.”

I laced a hand through one of his. “Brian, I know, this hurts. I can’t even imagine what you must be going through, but please fight this. You can’t give up. I need you. God, think of Nick. You know it would tear him apart to lose you. It would kill him. Lelani is letting me stay with you and I am not going to let you give up okay? I know you are strong. You are one of the strongest guys I know and you have been though so much. Don’t let this win. You have helped me so many times and encouraged me not to give up when I thought I was at the end of my limit. And Nick, he wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you. We need you. And Kevin and Howie and AJ, they are all waiting for you to get better. Have faith, you always tell me that and it always helps. You can get through this. Please, please don’t give up Brian.” My words came out rushed and desperate. I leaned my head forward on the edge of the bed. After a minute or two, I felt a weak squeeze on my hand.

My head shot up and I locked eyes with Brian. He squeezed my hand again and my eyes teared up yet again. I knew that look. It was a look of determination.

“M--, meds...”

I nodded and scanned the small hut. On the floor towards the side of the hut, it looked like someone had kicked all of our pill bottles. I let go of Brian’s hand a minute and crawled over to them. I clenched my jaw fiercely as the sudden movement sent pain through my back and right arm. I breathed a quick prayer of thanks that Brian was too out of it to notice what they had done to me. It would only upset him.

It took me a minute to sort through them all. I gathered all of Brian’s bottles and crawled back to Brian. I picked up a cup of water and proceeded to give him the pills, one by one, holding the cup to his mouth. Just that little bit of effort exhausted him and he slipped back into unconsciousness within minutes. I kept one of my hands wrapped in his and leaned forward against the bed again. My thoughts immediately went to Nick. I tried not to picture him being branded, but the image of them dragging him to the fire wouldn’t go away. That was all I really saw because I felt the hot metal in my skin and that was all I was aware of until I passed out. I turned my ahead against the edge of the bed until I was gazing at all the pill bottles. My heart lurched when I realized that it had been too long since Nick had taken any. I hadn’t either for that matter, but I was more concerned about Nick. He needed to get them. I started thinking furiously for a way to get them to him.

Then it hit. If this worked, it would serve several purposes. I stood up, wincing again, and eased my hand out of Brian’s. He was sleeping restlessly and I was afraid to leave him. I had to though. I leaned down and kissed his cheek. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Stay strong for me okay?”

With that I slipped out the flap and looked around. A native immediately noticed me and strode over in front of me. “What are you doing out of the hut?” He demanded.

I took a quick glance around. “I need Nick. I think it would make a difference in whether Brian will be able to pull through this. They are very close and I think that seeing Nick will really help Brian.”

The native looked skeptical. “I don’t know...”

“You know that Lelani...” I stopped when I felt his hand connect with the side of my face. I nearly tumbled to the ground, but I managed to regain my balance, hand on my cheek.

“You are not to refer to her by name Slave.” He said coldly.

I nodded, slightly shaking. I was going to get myself killed if I kept it up. “I’m sorry.” I said, ducking my head. What the hell was I supposed to call her?

“Continue.”

“It would displease her greatly if Brian died.” I whispered.

The native sighed. “Find him, and bring him back. Do not try to escape.”

Escape? Right, sure. Dumbass. “I won’t. Thank you.” Before he could change his mind I started running. Running probably wasn’t my smartest move, but I didn’t have much time. I wasn’t sure where to go, but I had a good idea. It was late at night so I didn’t see any other natives, thankfully. Finally I saw some lights ahead that looked like it might have been where the campfire thing was. I stopped to catch my breath. The torches kept it bright enough that I could see some movement a little ways down a worn path. When I got further down it I saw a large pit. The closer I got the more all the lumps became clear. The lumps were rocks.

“Lizz?!”

I jumped a mile, but let my breath out when I saw that it was Kevin. I threw my arms around him tightly. “Are you okay?”

When he returned the hug I couldn’t help but cry out when he hit it. He drew back instantly, his eyes wide. “Shit, they got you too?” His voice was full of dismay.

I nodded, gasping.

“Are you okay?” He returned my question.

I shook my head, to shake off the dizziness that had been with me on and off since it happened. “Not really, but I don’t care about that now. Brian is in trouble.”

Kevin frowned. “I thought they were healing him.”

“The little healer girl said that she couldn’t help him anymore. They only just found all the meds and I just gave him some, but I don’t know if it’s too late. He said he wants to die.” I choked up.

Kevin’s voice visibly paled.

“I thought if he could see Nick, it might help. If he doesn’t start turning around, he won’t make it. I’m so scared for him. Not to mention Nick needs his meds. I thought it was also a good way to get him some.” I rushed on.

Kevin nodded quickly. “Last I knew he was on the other side of the bridge. How are you here without getting in trouble??”

“One of the natives let me go. I don’t have any clue where Howie and AJ are. AJ was with Brian, but they made him leave. That was about an hour ago, I dunno maybe more.” I looked nervously at the native that was watching us.

Kevin eyed him too. “I can’t go with you. Just follow this path to the bridge. You should run into him. Be careful!”

I nodded, before turning and jogging down the path. I thought of Kevin’s words and looked for a bridge. I needn’t have looked. Straight ahead of me was the beginning of a rope bridge. My mind immediately flashed back to Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. This rope bridge looked almost exactly like it. My heart started beating really fast and my stomach clenched up fiercely.

I had no problem with heights, none at all. Skydiving, any day. Parasailing in Hawaii, sky coaster many times, bungeed head first off a platform barely big enough for both of my feet. This bridge was another story. My fear came with the unstableness. I could climb the highest mountain if I had a secure rope around me. Give me a tall ladder to climb that was a little wobbly and see me break out in a sweat. This bridge was definitely unstable. And they were making Nick cross this thing?! I pushed my fear back and started to walk hesitantly across. I knew I shouldn’t have, but I looked down. Empty cavernous nothing. Hundreds, maybe thousands of feet. The bridge wobbled and my knees nearly buckled. I’m sure my knuckles were white as I gripped the sides. I could see movement just a little further down the bridge.

“Nick?” I called out, hopefully.

“Lizz?!” The surprised voice returned.

I let my breath out in a whoosh and started to move towards him.

“Lizz? I don’t feel right.” Nick called, a new tone to his voice.

“Oh god.” I whispered. “Hold on hun, I’m coming.” I picked up the pace, but I didn’t reach him in time. I saw his body start to tremble and he started to fall towards the rope edge.

“NO!” I screamed, launching myself at him. I grabbed him before he pitched over the edge, yanking with all my might. My shoulder cried out at me from the strain. We both fell against the crude wooden bridge floor. The seizure was already over, but he was barely conscious.

Before I could even move I heard a sickening crack. Sort of a splintering sound that made me freeze. The sound was followed by several more and I saw immediately knew what was happening.

I strengthened my hold on Nick, my panic building. “Nick! Nick, please wake up! Oh God! KEVIN!!” I screamed.