Malcolm’s heart skipped a beat.
Victoria was lying lifelessly on the ground not twenty
feet in front of him. Her face was stuck in the mud and he feared she would drown if she hadn’t already. His team of volunteer rescue workers and paramedics were behind him in the dark.
“Over here!” he cried out. “I found her.”
The people scrambled toward Victoria and hushed voices sounded in the dark. Malcolm couldn’t exactly make them out, but he understood what they meant. Victoria was probably dead. It took all his will to shove that doubt from his mind as he ran toward her body.
A strange, catlike hiss stopped him in his tracks. He looked down and saw a cat that resembled a leopard standing guard near Victoria like a sentry. Everyone that approached was met with hisses and threatening growls. Malcolm growled at the feline. He understood and appreciated the cat protecting Victoria, but he didn’t have the luxury of time to deal with the animal. He studied Victoria’s body a little more and saw a subtle rising and falling of her chest.
She was alive.
“Don’t let some fur ball get in your way. Help her!”” Malcolm demanded.
“What do you suggest, senor?” a paramedic asked. “That’s a kodkod. They are protected.”
Malcolm shot the man a look of disgust and shook his head. “If she dies because of this, I will personally see to it that every last one of them is wiped out.”
The paramedic’s tan skin blanched considerably. “Perhaps if you distracted it for us,” he said timidly.
Malcolm grumbled and nodded. “I’ll take care of the little beast.” He knew that he should not be so harsh with the little animal. It only thought it was protecting Victoria, not getting in the way.
He took a step closer to Victoria, and the motion caught the kodkod’s attention. It turned to hiss at Malcolm and scratched at the air, warning him to stay away.
“Calm down,” he said as soothingly as he could. “That’s my girlfriend and you’re not helping!” he felt foolish arguing with an animal but there wasn’t much else he could do.
The cat looked at him with narrowed, uncaring eyes. It hissed and scratched again.
Malcolm rolled up his sleeves and reached down to grab at the animal. It screeched and clawed at Malcolm in defiance. He grunted as he felt claws sink into his skin, leaving small welts that bled all down his arm.
“Damn bloody cat,” he cursed as he held it tightly.
The cat clearly did not like being held. However, it was necessary to give the paramedics the time they needed to get help to Victoria. They turned her over onto her back and ran some field tests. One of them radioed in a helicopter to airlift her out.
Malcolm felt so much relief upon hearing the measurements of her vitals, that he cared less about the angry cat having torn apart his arm. It amused him that the little beast had managed to inflict more damage on him than being plummeted from the sky in thousands of pounds of metal at breakneck speeds. He did his best to soothe the distraught animal, petting it gently and cooing. It calmed slightly and began to purr, its intelligent eyes watching the paramedics help Victoria.
“See? We’re the good guys,” he said, feeling sheepish for justifying himself to a cat. He set the cat down and it immediately sauntered over to Victoria.
Watching it gently lick at Victoria’s face made Malcolm smile. He felt all his irritation and anger toward the animal disappear, replaced by appreciation. “How long until the helicopter arrives?”
“Just a little longer, senor,” the paramedic replied. His jaw was set in a grave expression.
“What’s wrong with her? Exposure? Infection?” Malcolm asked with more harshness in his voice than he intended.
“Infection,” he said seriously. “The source is a deep cut on her thigh and the bacteria is spreading to her blood.”
Malcolm knew what that meant and how little time they had left. “Give me a moment with her,” he said softly.
The paramedics nodded and stepped out of the way as Malcolm approached. He knelt beside her and placed a hand on her forehead. She was sweltering hot to the touch. His lips pulled into a worried frown and he leaned forward to press his lips against hers.
“Just hold on, Victoria,” he said gently.
The little cat curled up on her stomach and snuggled next to her. Malcolm smiled at the affectionate creature and reached out to hold Victoria’s hand. The beating sound of the helicopter could be heard in the distance. For the second time in a week, Malcolm was thankful for that sound.
Victoria stirred slightly in her sleep. Malcolm forgot how to breathe for a moment as he watched her, wondering if she would wake up. She shifted again, but fell back into her deep sleep. Malcolm exhaled and held her close to him, wishing the helicopter would arrive faster.
The kodkod’s head lifted up and it let out a low growl as the helicopter began to land. Paramedics jumped out with a stretcher and quickly helped Victoria’s limp body onto it. The cat leapt up onto her body and, despite the best efforts of the paramedics, could not be scared off.
“Just leave it alone and get Victoria to the hospital!” Malcolm ordered them in annoyance.
They looked dubious but decided to go along with it as they lifted her up into the helicopter. Malcolm was right behind them, swiftly taking a seat in the back, and intent on holding Victoria’s hand the entire trip. Pull though this, Victoria. You have to.
The trip seemed to last an eternity to Malcolm as he sat there, unable to do anything to help her. In the back of his mind he wondered if doctors in this county were competent enough to save her life but he had to dismiss his fear. When the helicopter finally did land, there was a flourish of activity again. Malcolm took the cat in his arms as Victoria was unloaded, and was pleased to see that it allowed him to do so.
“Good boy,” he said, petting it behind his ears.
“You can’t bring that into a hospital,” a doctor said, speaking surprisingly good English.
Malcolm’s lips tightened into a thin smile. “It’s easier this way. The cat just won’t leave her side. I’ll make it worth your while if you just bend the rules and save her life.”
The doctor sighed and nodded his agreement before turning on his heel to follow Victoria into the hospital. Malcolm hurried behind him with the little cat tucked into his arms. The frustrating worry nagged at his mind. Infections going on this long were serious and Malcolm wished he had never roped Victoria into working for him. The chances of her survival were all up to the skills of the doctors, which Malcolm didn’t entirely trust.
He was made to wait outside in a waiting room while Victoria was being attended to in an ICU. He had to wait there for hours while the doctors did their work. The kodkod sensed his worry and purred lightly in Malcolm’s arms and didn’t fuss even once. He was thankful for the company and was beginning to realize just how special the animal really was.
“Thanks for looking after my treasure,” he said to the animal lightly. He pet behind its ears and held it in his arms gently.
A doctor came to greet him finally. There was a thin sheen of sweat on his brow but his lips were in a small smile. “Mr. Cage?” he asked politely.
Malcolm nodded. “That’s me. What’s the news?”
The doctor’s smile broadened. “She’s going to make a full recovery. You found her just in time. We’ve given her a high dose of broad spectrum antibiotics along with something to numb her pain. She’ll keep her leg and should be okay to go within the next few days.”
Malcolm stood up and while holding the kodkod in one hand, extended the other to shake the doctor’s. “Thank you so much. When can I see her?”
“She’s in recovery right now. Just let the nurse know I cleared you to see her,” he said kindly.
Malcolm gave his thanks again before walking away toward Victoria’s room. He set the animal down once inside and it sprung away from him, jumping onto the bed next to Victoria and curling up beside her. The cat purred softly in happiness at being reunited with his friend. Malcolm took a chair and pulled it up beside her bed. He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it, pleased to find her fever had broken.
“I love you, Victoria,” he said softly to her unconscious form.
Malcolm watched the little cat as it slept beside Victoria in her hospital bed. It had been almost six hours since he was told
she would make a full recovery, and she still hadn’t showed any signs of waking. He couldn’t put the image of finding Victoria alone in the forest nearly dead in the mud out of his mind. The strange cat had attacked anyone who got too close, until Malcolm managed to subdue the tiny ball of fury. He was thankful to the strange creature the locals called a kodkod. It had stayed with Victoria and provided her companionship when he could not.
He sat and waited as the heart monitors beeped in an irregular and disconcerting pattern. The infection in Victoria’s leg had spread to her blood, causing myriad problems within her body. They had found her with moments to spare before she was beyond normal recovery. It was a reality that Malcolm was not ready to face, and he anxiously waited for her to wake up. Only then he would know the nightmare was over.
“I’m never letting you out of my sight again,” he said softly as he stroked her arm.
The little cat stirred from its nap and looked at Malcolm with curious eyes. It softly padded over to him and nuzzled its face against Malcolm’s in a gesture of comfort. He was now convinced the animal was somehow able to sense the pain and hurt within him. What a remarkable little guy, he thought as his lips turned into a smile. He reached to pet the cat and it responded by purring softly.
“Thank you, mighty one, for keeping her safe,” he said with a light smile touching his lips.
The cat seemed to appreciate the words and purred deeper. Victoria began to stir in her sleep, her eyelids fluttering open. Malcolm watched her as she awakened and waited with bated breath for her to regain consciousness.
The heart monitor began to beat more rapidly as Victoria strained against her drug induced haze. Her eyes opened and she shifted in her bed.
“Am I dead?” she asked in a shaky voice.
“Not at all, love,” Malcolm said, touching her knee gently. “You are very much alive.”
“It doesn’t feel like it,” she said with a groan. “Malcolm!” she exclaimed, quickly sitting up despite her exhaustion. Tears began to form in the corner of her eyes and she reached a quivering hand out to touch him. “You’re alive. How?”
Malcolm softly took her hand into his, stroking it gently with his thumb. “It will take a lot more than a plane crash to bring me down, love,” he said soothingly.
“How did you find me?” she asked, on the verge of sobbing.
“Your signal fire. It seems no one bothered to look there for you and I had my own people search. We found you unconscious and starving with a badly infected thigh. You’re lucky you didn’t lose it,” Malcolm said more harshly than he intended. “This little guy protected you though. I had to calm him down for the paramedics to get to you.”
“What?” she asked as she became aware of the tiny cat lying next to her. “I can’t believe he stayed with me the whole time.” She reached out to pet the kodkod gently. “He kept my spirits up. After scaring the crap out of me anyway.”
“Oh? How’d he manage to do that?” Malcolm asked with a soft laugh threatening to escape.
“I thought he was a leopard or a panther or something. He came out at night and all I saw were his eyes. I was so scared,” she admitted shyly. “Then he turned out to be the most adorable thing ever. Don’t think that makes up for what you did!” she pointed at the cat with an accusing finger.
Malcolm chuckled and squeezed her leg softly. “I’m glad he kept you safe. We should name him,” he suggested as he scratched behind the kodkod’s ears.
“It’s not like we can keep him,” Victoria said sadly. “I don’t think U. S. Customs would appreciate a foreign wild animal.”
“Not to mention that his species is protected. But you know me,” Malcolm said suggestively. “I always get what I want.”
Victoria’s face flushed slightly and a smile crept up her cheeks. “I’m aware of that, champ. In that case,” she said softly, her eyes on the kodkod,
“I’ll call him Goliath.”
“Going for irony?” Malcolm asked with a grin on his face.
“No,” Victoria said defensively. “It’s because I had a huge crush on
Goliath when I was a girl.”
Malcolm furrowed his brows in confusion. “You had a crush on the Philistine champion that was killed by David?”
“I forgot you were an old man,” she said with a small laugh. “No. Goliath from Gargoyles. It’s an old TV show. You remind me a lot of the character actually. Tall, dark, handsome and brooding.”
Malcolm’s face twisted into amused irritation and he shook his head. “Since you almost died, I’ll forgive that,” he said teasingly. “I’ll go tell the nurse you’ve woken up and see how long it’ll be before you can be checked out. As soon as you’re able, we’ll start the hunt for Claire and Elizabeth again.”
Victoria nodded her understanding and gathered Goliath in her arms snugly. “I hope they are still even in the country.”
Malcolm shared her concern and nodded. “We do have an advantage at the moment. As far as the media is concerned, we’re both dead. My ex-wife is smart and probably won’t buy that story, but at least no one else is hunting for us. Yet.”
Victoria nodded solemnly. “I can’t believe anyone would try and kill you. Does Brantford hate you so badly?”
Malcolm looked at her for a long moment before answering. “I honestly don’t know. It’s always been a meaningless pissing contest between us. Until now. This is different. He wants my head on a platter.”
“How are you going to respond?” she asked with a hint of fear in her tone.
“In kind.”
Victoria flinched at the words. “I thought you would say that.”
“You thought correctly. Brantford made this about who walks away alive or not. I’m sure as hell not letting him win,” he said harshly.
Victoria hesitated, her eyes glancing around the room as she tried to gather herself. “I can never go back to my life, can I?” she asked sadly.
Malcolm frowned. “I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you can,” he promised fiercely.
“I appreciate you saying that, champ, but I know better,” she said with furrowed brows. Her lips twitched and her eyes narrowed as she gazed at his chiseled face. “You don’t need to stoop to his level. You’re not a murderer. I’ll help you win against Brantford.”
Malcolm was both stunned and angry at the same time. He did not want Victoria involved any more than she already was. He wanted to protect her from Brantford and The Organization, not throw her into their jaws. “You can’t. You’ve done more than enough to help me. Once we find Elizabeth and Claire, I will handle affairs with my former brother-in-law.”
“He nearly killed both of us, Malcolm. I don’t know how to walk in your world, but the two of you have forced me to run in it. I have a right to help myself and I want to help you,” she said with righteous indignation.
“We just can’t kill. There has to be another way. A better way.”
Malcolm set his jaw and struggled to keep his breath under control. “You’re a good person, Victoria. I admire that, but this is the way it must be done. He killed two of my friends already… and I was the murder weapon for one of them.”
Victoria averted her gaze from his and looked out of the hospital window. “I’m sorry, Malcolm. I just don’t want to see anyone else get killed. I’ve already lost you once.”
Malcolm gently cupped her chin in his palm. He understood her fear, and his heart ached to comfort her. She was so strong that he forgot that she was also a normal woman who lived in a much kinder version of the world.
She had not seen what he had or been involved with the darkness.
“I’m sorry, my treasure. I wish that you could help me more, I wish there was another way,” he said sincerely. “I take no pleasure in the idea of killing the man I once called my brother, but it’s either him or me. I will do whatever it takes to protect myself and those close to me.” “You speak about this so casually,” she accused.
“Things are never easy,” he admitted. “Sometimes harsh and ugly measures are required for survival. Good and evil, right or wrong? They don’t matter. What matters is doing the least wrong thing in an impossible situation while still holding on to the good and beauty of the world.” “Never easy,” Victoria agreed with a tired sigh.
“Once you’re well enough, we’re going to the capital,” Malcolm informed her. “I have a nice condo we can use as a safe house while were here in Buenos Aires.”
Victoria nodded and dug her head into the pillows to get more comfortable. “Alright. I’ll get started on hunting down some leads as soon as we arrive then.”
“You will do no such thing. Your job is to recover,” Malcolm said gently.
Victoria shook her head. “No,” she said with an edge in her voice. “My job is to find your daughter. You just survived a plane crash. If anyone should be taking it easy, it’s you, champ.”
Malcolm sighed and dropped the argument. He didn’t want to waste her energy with a fight. “Just don’t do anything reckless. Not until you’re well enough.”
“I never do,” she said sweetly, with a bit of mischief returning to her eyes.