He doesn’t stop me.
I’m sure that hurts more.
Why is it that we, as humans, always hope that something will change, even when we know the answer? We’re walking away, broken, ripped to pieces and yet we’re still hoping that something will happen to make it all go away. Fact is, nothing can take away the harsh pain of cruel words. Nothing. I hobble down the beach, and I let the tears flow. I was a fool, and that’s on me.
I get to the north end of the island where Jess told me Eric would be, and I collapse against a tree. My head spins, and my body aches. It throbs in the worst way, and in the best. I can smell Hendrix on me—I can feel the ache between my legs that equally matches the ache in my heart. It’s a pain I’m almost sure I’ll never forget. A mix of betrayal, and desperation, and something else I can’t name, or maybe I’m just too scared to face it.
I hear the sound of rustling leaves, and I turn to see Eric and Jess appear. Right now, I’m as grateful as anyone can be for Jess. She’s saving my life, even if she doesn’t know it. Eric sees me, and his face softens and he walks over, pulling me into his arms.
I let him, because I need him.
Jess grips my hand, and I press my cheek to Eric’s chest. He’s gotten skinnier; I can feel the bones in his chest pressing into my face. He pulls back, and stares down at me, stroking a piece of hair from my face.
“We’re going home, it’s all going to be over soon.”
“I am only guessing the time, but they should be here in a bit,” Jess says, scanning the horizon.
“I can’t thank you enough for this, Jess,” I rasp.
She takes me from Eric’s arms, and holds me tight. “I see something in you, and I can’t let you be given to a rogue pirate because of a debt Hendrix created for himself.”
“He told me I mean nothing,” I whisper, trembling.
“I don’t believe him, but I’m also not willing to put my money on it. You need your freedom back. I never got a choice, and I’ll regret that forever, but you have a choice, Indi. I couldn’t just sit back and let that be taken from you, knowing that you had a chance at escape…”
Tears burn under my eyelids as I squeeze her close. “I’ll be forever grateful.”
We all sit in silence for about twenty minutes. What is there to say? We’re all thinking different things, and we’re all terrified.
“Ladies…is that…a ship?” Eric says suddenly.
We both lift our heads to see a small ship in the distance nearing closer to the island. My heart thumps, and I get to my feet. This is it. I shove any thoughts of Hendrix from my head. I have to. I can’t…I just can’t…I have to protect myself, and my friend. Hendrix will fade; he’ll fade. I tell myself this, over and over as we walk toward the ocean. Jess lifts her hands, and she does some sort of signal. The small ship nears us.
“They won’t be able to stop, you’re going to have to swim out,” she says.
“B…b…but…”
“It’s the only way,” she says frantically.
“We’re going to be okay,” Eric says, grabbing my hand and tugging me toward the water.
I turn, tears tumbling down my cheeks. I hold out my arms and Jess comes to me, wrapping me in a hug. “I’ll never forget this, Jess, never.”
“Be safe, and find the life you deserve.”
I hug her harder, and then let her go, taking Eric’s hand. He squeezes it tight, and we take our first step into the water, our first step to freedom. The cool water washes up my leg, and I tremble. My entire body is prickling, my heart is pounding, and my head is spinning. Adrenalin fills my veins. One moment, it’s all we need, and yet anything could change it so easily.
When we’re waist deep, and the ship is in clear view, my heart begins to speed up, until I can hardly breathe through the pounding. I can see the men in white suits standing, waving us closer. Freedom. It’s so close. This is what I’ve been fighting for since I got captured, so why the hell does it feel so damned wrong? Why is my heart aching? Why am I struggling to breathe?
We begin swimming, no longer able to walk, and that’s when everything changes. The man closest to us, who is standing, leaning over and encouraging us forward, suddenly jerks, and blood splatters from his head as he slides forward and drops into the water. A strangled scream escapes my throat, and my legs turn to jelly. I struggle to keep swimming as I turn my eyes to the shore. I see Hendrix, holding up a gun. He has Drake beside him, who is also holding a gun.
Another shot rings out.
Another man drops.
Blood fills the ocean swirling and surrounding us, and the bodies slowly begin sinking, lives wasted. Oh, God. Eric grips me, forcing me forward, kicking with all his might.
“Keep swimming, Indi!”
“Th-th-they’re dead,” I wail.
“Get back here, Indigo, or I keep killing them. You’re mine, goddammit, don’t make me force you back!” Hendrix roars, and it sounds like a far off hum.
“Don’t listen to him, Indi, keep swimming.”
Another shot fires, from the ship this time. I turn my head frantically, but see everyone on the shore is still standing.
“Fuck it, Indi, get back here, you’re mine,” Hendrix bellows.
You’re mine.
He doesn’t mean that.
He doesn’t.
“Don’t you listen,” Eric cries, tugging me closer.