AN: So a huge thank you to DarkUnderworld for helping me Beta. She's amazing!
This was originally written for Shortaki Week 2016 but I didn't finish it in time. So I'll be posting once a week, or thereabout, until I'm caught up and the story is completed...probably still just 8 chapters. This is the shortest chapter.
I hope you enjoy it!
The rain poured down upon her head, sliding down her cheeks and mixing with the tears Helga hadn't even realized were steaming from her eyes. She waivered for a moment, blinded by the pain that throbbed behind her eyes and she choked back the sob of grief that bubbled up from within her, nearly causing her to stumble and lose her footing.
But she couldn't let her self into the dangerous temptation to curl into a ball of wretchedness and weep until she had no more tears left, they were close, so close behind her and she had zero time to think about anything except that she had to get the hell out of there.
Lightning lit up the jungle, thunder booming only seconds later. She kept running, blinded by the foliage and rain and tears. She had to get out of this. She had to find shelter. They were right behind her. She could feel it.
Lighting struck again a short distance away. Her heartbeat quickened at the sound as her feet almost tripped over an exposed root.
Keep going. She had to keep going. Find them.
Then, like a bright beacon in the darkness, she saw a light green light. She stopped, hesitating only for a moment, wondering if what she was seeing was nothing more than a figment of her overwrought imagination. But no. It seemed too real. She ran faster towards it, hoping that whoever the light belonged to was friendly. She couldn't think much more beyond that as the rain intensified, soaking her through her ratty clothes and to the bone.
She burst through the thick foliage and fought back the terror of losing sight of the light.
Where did it go? It should be here!
A quick turn to her right and she saw it. There! Up in the temple they had passed a couple of days ago. She pushed her faltering leg muscles even faster because even though she could no longer hear the pirates screaming after her, the urgency to put as much distance between her and them was overwhelming.
Reaching the temple, she scrambled up the stone steps, which were slick with water that had puddled in the ancient groves, and she almost slipped twice. Hell, she may have if the sharp ache in her knee was any indication. But she only felt it when she finally reached the top and collapsed, panting heavily on the stones somewhere inside. She could feel her heart beating frantically inside her chest as she desperately tried to regain her lost breath.
It hurt to breathe and she didn't want to move but she had to. She couldn't rest yet; she couldn't allow herself to break and fall apart yet.
She didn't know how long she laid there, tears continuing to slip down her cold, damp cheeks, but her breathing finally leveled out and she was able to stand.
Her skin still crawled with adrenalin and her heart still beat with unbridled terror, but she tried to calm herself enough and push away her dark, swirling, agonizing emotions because she needed to think straight in order to survive.
As she wavered on unsteady legs, Helga began to prioritize her movements and actions. She shucked her top layer, knowing that she had to get out of the wet clothes. It may be warm now, but night was coming and who knew how long the storm would last. And even though the pirates were still out there, hunting her, there was no way anyone would survive for long out in that weather without catching something. Or falling and breaking their necks.
Lightning lit up the interior of the chamber she had taken cover in and she started in fright, her frozen hands shaking while she squeezed out as much water from her hair as possible. She hated thunder and the adrenalin that had been pumping through her veins for the last two hours was starting to wane.
Peering further into the darkened chamber, she could see water puddling on the floor and focused on removing the water from her top while attempting to walk at the same time, heavily relying on the wall for support.
When they had passed by this place yesterday with her wrists tied together, it didn't appear to be very big. Inside, however, with the little light that was left, it looked a lot bigger than she initially thought. But now was not the time to investigate the darkened hole that spread out before her. She was unable to see, hesitant to explore without something to light her way and if she was honest, she was barely holding herself upright, resisting the strong urge to slide to the floor and allow her agonized emotions consume her.
Wait.
Hadn't she seen a light up here earlier? That's how she was even able to find this place, right?
Her battered heart clenched in terror as she froze, listening for any voices or anything to indicate that she was not alone.
But there was nothing, only the sound of the water dripping off of her and the storm raging outside.
Cautiously, she turned around towards the entrance, straining her eyes to make out any sign that there was anything or anyone out there.
Still, nothing.
She rubbed her eyes and face as she forced her tense, aching muscles to relax, dropping her top and satchel. It had to be paranoia, making her see things that weren't there.
Obviously her primal need for survival had recognized the area and led her right to this temple. Frankly, she was too exhausted, both emotionally, and physically to think about it.
Her eyes burned from the rain and tears, her heart felt like weighted lead, her clothes were heavy, and she had to get out of her boots. Bending over, she untied them, kicking them off along with her socks.
Her tired, agonized brain fought against a total and complete shutdown as she shoved away the black tendrils of guilt and sorrow and focused her waning energy on a plan of action. She would wait out the storm here, have one of her snack bars to keep up her energy, and then she would leave as soon as she could. She had to get back to town by tomorrow. Even though it was a two-day hike back, she needed to make it in time; she had to warn them.
She stood up, her over-tired body too restless and anxious to just sit. Darkness suddenly enveloped her and the storm intensified. Her arms wrapped around her damp shoulders, fighting off her violent shivers as she let her eyes adjust to the dim light. To help, she closed them.
And that's when she saw him, in her mind's eye, sitting in the middle of the makeshift tent, arms tied behind his back around a post. The look of panic on his dirt-smudge face would be forever etched in her memory, and coward that she was she had just left him there after her escape.
Her heart clenched as a sob wracked her body, but only once before she swallowed the rest. She could not break down or give into her heart-wrenching misery. She would not. It would only waste energy that she didn't have and she couldn't dwell on the what-ifs. The only thing she could do was focus on the present. Unfortunately there were too many factors and unknowns, but she could control her actions right now and all she could do was rest and get her ass moving at first light.
Her heart throbbed, but she squared her shoulders as she moved away from the wall just enough to roll them back, making some sort of an attempt to relieve the tension. She needed to prepare herself for a hard night on the floor, and the monumental task of falling asleep, even though every time she closed her eyes, all she could see was Arnold's agonized face.
Her breath froze in her lungs when, out of nowhere, she something hard was jabbed into the center of her back. A sound that was too much like the cocking gun echoed around the room.
"No te muevas." His voice was deep and sounded dry, but there was no mistaking the thickly laced threat. Her heart leapt into her throat, not daring to move, just as she was ordered, as panic seized her. Dammit! Why did she have to take off her boots? Just when she thought that she had been free of these-
"Por favor," her voice cracked and she licked her surprisingly dry lips. The barrel of the gun pressed harder into her back. She could get out of this, exhausted or not. She cleared her throat and swallowed thickly, trying to keep her voice from trembling. Hopefully he was alone and she could overtake him, using the darkness as her ally. "Miras la tempestad. Yo solo estoy escondi-" She stopped when a hand roughly grabbed her upper arm and spun her around.
Her eyes widened, heart pumping harder. She was going to die. She knew it. She waited too long to try and fight him and now (all) hope was lost. Helga closed her eyes, trying to get her bearings (straight). No, she would not die. Focus.
She had to make it. She would make it! She had to get to town and let everyone know where they had been taken, where the pirates were. She had to. Who else would be the one to tell Arnold's grandparents their grandson was dead?