“What are we gonna do now?” Natalia whispered and hugged herself closer as the rain poured down heavily on them.
Arian stood still, thinking of what to do. He pushed his long hair away because they were starting to stick to his face.
“If we try finding our way back to camp now, we might run into danger again. So we need to find somewhere safe to crash the night and then tomorrow, we’ll retrace our steps and luckily find our way.” He yelled close to her ears because of the loud noise the storm made.
Natalia nodded weakly. Arian took off his sweatshirt and placed it securely around her, using the hoodie to cover her head. Then he took her hand as they stumbled around, looking for a safe place.
Thankfully, they found an old cottage after wandering a bit. They respectfully knocked repeatedly but got no response, so they stepped in. The entire house was dark and dusty. Arian took out his phone from Natalia’s bag and switched on the flashlight. He was grateful to his mother for forcing him to take that particular one because it was waterproof.
The cabin was similar to his back at camp. It seemed like the owner recently moved out. Arian walked further inside and found a fireplace. After working on it, the house lit up. He smiled and turned to see Natalia sitting close by, clutching his jacket and shivering badly.
Arian panicked.
He walked over and pulled her closer to the fire. Her hands were freezing cold and she looked really pale. He walked around and found a couple of blankets folded neatly, a nice bed, a desk, a couple of pillows, water and even some fruits.
Hell no! Arian wasn’t gonna touch it. What if they were poisoned or something??
He ‘borrowed’ a blanket and walked back to Natalia. He removed his wet jacket from her and replaced it with the blanket. The warmth inside was starting to build because the windows and doors were shut and Arian was grateful.
He took off his shoes and did the same for Natalia. Then he placed them beside the fire to dry. His phone beeped and he noticed the battery was running low. There was about three thousand messages from everyone! Rick, Jeff, Mom, Tom, Selena, Damon, Nicky, Elva, the teachers and even from students he didn’t know!
Woah!
.
.
How did they even get his contact??
As he was about to reply them, his phone ran out of battery and shut down.
Arian groaned out in frustration.
How could they find them now?? The tracker could only be activated when his phone was on!
Arian dropped his phone on a table and went back to Natalia who was still freezing. He felt her forehead and touched her palms. She was block ice!
Arian knew it was hypothermia. He carried her and gently laid her on the soft bed. He took off the wet blanket on her too. (Hypothermia occurs when the body temperature abnormally drops 35° lower.) And Natalia’s wet clothes only made it worse.
Arian looked her over. Sky blue shirt over matching cotton shorts. Heck no!
There was no way he was taking them off!!
He could already imagine his death at her hands the following morning!…
(Fast Forward.)
Natalia wakes up the next morning to find herself almost nude under a large blanket with Arian at the other end. She becomes frightened and slips outta bed quietly. Taking a kitchen knife on the cabinet, she creeps back over to where he lays and stabs him repeatedly!, screaming out her lungs…
” Die you rapist!”
(Back To Present.)
The young French shook his head repeatedly to stop the nightmare and looked at the fragile girl on the bed.
She couldn’t be that cold hearted right??
He wondered as another mirage passed through his head…
(Fast Forward.)
Natalia wakes up and finds herself almost nude under a large blanket with Arian at the other end. False realisation creeps in and she slips outta bed quietly, walks to his trainers and removes the laces. And with the speed of a wild cat, she strangles him with the ropes, screaming!
“Die you pig!!”
His dying figure wakes up and screams for help… but being lost in the heart of a jungle had it advantages ? ;
No one to come to your rescue.
So the crazed girl goes scot free after burying his dead body in a hole filled with rattle snakes, scorpions and worms!
(Back To Present.)
Arian jerked away from the sleeping female and shuddered at the memory!
Would Natalia be as psychopathic as that?!
He needed to stop being paranoid!
.
.
Right?
“Stop being such a wimp!” He scolded himself. “Why couldn’t she just wake up and we make endless passionate love instead of turning my rare generosity into my funeral!” His lips twitched as he hid everything dangerous enough to commit a murder crime.
The rainstorm doubled in size and lightening razed continuously. Arian walked back to Natalia and saw her unconsciously hugging herself tighter, mumbling incoherent words under her breath. Arian reflexively leaned in closer and caught a few words.
“Mommy?….. mommy come cuddle me….. y… you promised you’ll be back home on time….. mommy… where are you?….. mommy, i’m scared…”
Arian leaned out feeling guilty. His heart lurched in pain as a lonely tear slid down her cheek. He wiped it away softly and pushed stray hairs from her face which was dripping wet. Natalia shivered coldly again.
The young French knew he had to do it!
Exercising a LOT of determination, he gently pulled the blanket aside and laid her properly. Then he took his shaky hands into her top, sliding them further up till they touched her bra and tugged at it. Taking a hand off at a time, he was able to slip it out. Her shirt stuck to her seductive body like glue and Arian forced his eyes away feeling his temperature rise.
He stared down at her shorts and knew that the moment those went off, there’ld be no ‘mercy for the guilty’ tomorrow. But he had to. If he didn’t, her health was gonna get worse by morning or she’ld probably die by midnight.
His hands went to the straps on her waistband and they fell loose with a little tug. His other hand positioned itself on the opposite side and pulled the waistband lower, inch by inch with closed eyes. They slipped off her feet but Arian didn’t open his eyes till he was panting near the fireplace!
It was worse than performing surgery as an amateur doctor! The young French raked his hair and stood up, sweating in the middle of a rainstorm. Arian pulled off his shirt and sluggishly went back to Natalia. He placed a new blanket over her white panties and closed his eyes tighter than the first time as he slowly removed her shirt.
Arian tried to ignore the tingling sensations in his body when their skin grazed and fought for focus instead. He pulled out the previous wet blanket and wrapped the new one over her like a towel before finally opening his eyes.
He breathed out and laid her well before using the largest duvet to cover the whole bed. Arian took off his sweatpants and laid it near the fireplace to dry as well. Wearing only shorts, he climbed into bed making sure to stay at the extreme end. Then stared at her quietly.
Natalia’s lips which used to be a delicious shade of pink was now pale and dull. After making sure her heart was still beating, Arian backed her and tucked himself in, missing his mom already…
***
“Try to rest more! You’re too stubborn.” Leonardo De Luca was breathless as he tried to force Becky O’Neil back on the bed.
“No, I’m fine. Really!” She stood up, trying to exercise her leg.
“Aish! Why are you so adamant? It’ll only get worse!” He impatiently scowled but she grinned, taking a few steps.
“Then you leave me no choice.” He said and carried her back to bed.
“Put me down!” Becky chuckled as he sat her on the bed.
“I might not be a doctor, but I was a darn good boyscout!” He rolled his attractive eyes.
“You do know you won’t stay here the entire night.” She cocked a smug brow.
“Dare me.” He played along and she gasped.
“I’m gonna call security. Obsessed secret admirers are on the rise these days!” She noted and he scoffed.
“How ’bout I call a doctor to give you one mighty sedative?”
She chuckled and hugged him impulsively. Leonardo tensed up but Becky didn’t let go.
“Thanks…” She whispered. “Thank you for being nice by taking care of me.”
It was what Becky wanted to feel. The care of someone she cared for. She smiled more and held him tighter…
***
Nicky and Jeffrey walked back to camp holding hands. They’d stopped fighting earlier and were now cool… But Nicky’s aching heart wished for more.
M. H. S had found the cup and the other students had gathered round them in celebration. It was a happy gathering but not for the friends. Natalia and Arian weren’t back yet and Elva was teary in Ricky’s arms. And as if that wasn’t enough, Damon informed them that Becky got hurt!
Jeffrey didn’t wait to hear half the news before running over to the medical tent. Worried about her new friend, Nicky rushed after him. But when they got there, Jeffrey stood at the entrance for minutes staring at Becky and Leonardo together.
Nicky slowly lifted her eyes and met his expressionless face. But the eyes being the mirror of the body, held that flicker of emotion she was oh too familiar with….. pain.
Chapter 63