As soon as I am in view, my eyes fall on a large very familiar ship. Oh. Shit. I frantically let my eyes travel to the deck of that ship, where I see a familiar face. Drake. His eyes widen when he sees me, and he yells something. I can’t go back with them, even though they’re likely the only chance I have at avoiding life in jail. I can’t risk being sold after everything I went through. I just can’t. Panic swells in my chest, and the reality of the situation hits me like a brick. I killed a man.
Oh God.
I am a murderer.
I turn quickly, and I run.
“Indi, stop,” Drake yells.
I charge back toward the trees, and glance back just as I reach them, only to see Hendrix literally leap over the side of the ship. The bastard lands on his feet, and charges toward me. Oh, fuck. I pick up my pace, shoving back through the thick trees. I reach a giant tree stump on the ground, and I go to leap over it, only to land face-first in a muddy puddle. I cry out, and push myself to my hands and knees, scurrying forward, but moments later, a body flattens me back into that puddle. I squirm and kick, screaming and fighting.
“Indigo, stop!” Hendrix yells into my ear as he pins me down.
“No, no, no, no,” I cry.
“Enough,” he orders, lifting himself off the ground and taking me with him. Then I’m up and over his shoulder before I get the chance to fight harder.
I pummel my fists into his back, screaming and squirming, as he carries me back out and toward the trees.
“Get the ship out, we move now,” he bellows.
“Let me go, no, please, Hendrix, please.”
“Hush,” he barks.
He carries me to the ladder, and shoves me up. Drake leans down, gripping my shoulders and lifting me effortlessly. He wraps his big arms around me, holding me tight even though I’m screaming and clawing. Hendrix appears moments later, and I clench my eyes shut, refusing to look at him.
“She’s bleeding, get her below deck.”
“No, please, no!” I scream.
Drake literally drags me below deck, kicking and screaming, and when we get into Hendrix’s room, and they’re both in he lets me go. I charge toward the door, but Hendrix has me in a second, pinning me to him. His big arms curl around my body and he holds me so tightly I can hardly breathe. My head spins, and I feel like I’m about to hyperventilate. I am shaking, and my teeth are clattering with shock.
“Enough. If you don’t stop I’ll get Jess to sedate you.”
“I don’t want to be on here, please don’t do this to me. Please, I have to go. Don’t sell me. Hendrix, please. I don’t want it. I hate you. I fucking hate you, because I love you. I hate you. Let me go. Please. Let me go. I have to run. I killed him. I have to run. Don’t sell me.”
My babbling is frantic, my mind is spinning, and I feel like I’m about to explode with emotion. My chest is tight with panic and I can’t breathe.
“You…what did you say?” he rasps into my ear.
“Cap, she’s in shock. She’s panicking. You need to calm her down.”
“Get Jess,” Hendrix orders.
Drake leaves the room, and Hendrix wrestles me over to the bed. He drops me down onto it before planting his body over mine.
“Look at me, Indigo.”
“Let me go,” I wail, shaking my head from side to side. “Let me go, Hendrix please.”
“Stop it,” he says calmly. “Baby, stop.”
“Let me go. Hate you. Love you. Killed him.”
My babbling is out of control, and my head is spinning so much I feel sick. I begin to dry retch, and Hendrix curses. Moments later, I hear more familiar voices.
“She’s panicking and rambling, I think she’s in shock.” I hear Hendrix say.
“Hold her still, I’ll inject her with this to calm her.”
Jess.
“Jess!” I cry, feeling my hands grasp at nothing.
“I’m here baby, it’s okay, you’re okay. Just hold still for me.”
I feel someone grip my arm, and then I feel a sting of pain.
A moment later, my world spins, and I’m swallowed back into the darkness.
Boatswain!
I flicker my eyes open, and all I see for a moment is blurred light. I blink once, twice, and slowly reality dawns on me. I’m on Hendrix’s ship again. How the hell did I do such a 360 in a few short days? How did he even know I was on that island? Oh, who am I kidding, our faces were plastered all over the news. Kane managed to find me in a day. Thinking of Kane has me shuddering and wrapping my arms around myself.
One thing at a time.
I can’t stay on this ship. I haven’t fought this hard to go backwards.
I slowly rise, and peer around the room. He’s not in here, thank God. I slide my feet off the bed, and my leg aches. I stare down at it to see it’s been bandaged. I bet Jess did that. My mind is hazy about what happened after I found Hendrix. I was so panicked it’s just a blur to me. I lift my fingers to feel my swelling cheek, and sigh. I can’t think about Kane right now. I can’t. I just…can’t. I find myself a pair of clothes and pull them on before walking to the door and peering out.
The halls are empty.
I step out and walk toward the deck. I’ll take the risk; I’ll get in that damned lifeboat and take the risk. I am beyond pretending, and I won’t let myself be sold. When I step up on the deck I see Hendrix and Drake standing at the end of the ship, talking quietly between themselves. When they notice me, both men stop talking. I back up. Drake looks at Hendrix, but his eyes are burning into mine.