Alright new chapter is here! Hope you like it. Thanks for the reviews Magic Monster, Stronger Than A Moose, herexwithxme, and FanGurl13. Anyway, on with the update ^o^
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Howard was feeling pretty bad about just leaving Vince with Kodiak, even if it was for photos of a yeti. And he had told Vince he would protect him. So Instead of venturing further into the forest, and getting captured by the yetis, he turned back and figured that even if he didn't get any good pictures, at least he could spend a nice weekend with his friend.
Howard walked up to the cabin just as Naboo and Bollo appeared through the trees, so they entered together.
"I guess Vince must have gone to sleep-" Howard had been about to suggest they do the same when he heard whimpering.
"Vince?" Howard asked walking closer to where he heard the whimpers.
That's when Howard saw him, curled up in a little ball surrounded by what was once his clothes and a puddle of blood and what Howard horrifyingly identified as semen.
"What are you staring at you-" Naboo stopped short, and Bollo gasped. All three of them just stood there, so shocked they couldn't move.
"H'ward" It was Vince's weak cry that got Howard back into action, and he ran to Vince.
"Vince I'm here!" That's when Vince began to sob, so despite the mess his friend was covered in, Howard pulled Vince to him in a hug, covering him with the leopard print coat he'd been wearing earlier.
"Why, did this happen Howard, where did you go! I thought you were going to protect me." Vince sobbed.
"I'm sorry Vince, I'm so sorry." But Howard knew this was entirely his fault, and that what he had done was unforgiveable.
Vince continued to cry as Howard held him, constantly asking why he didn't save him, until eventually he fell asleep.
Naboo and Bollo had simply watched the entire scene of events, not having a clue what to do.
Once Vince was asleep though, Naboo sets about fixing him up, doing a bit of shaman magic to clean and heal his wounds, it was a simple procedure and was done in about a minute, and afterwards he had Bollo put Vince to bed.
"Howard, I need a word." Naboo said indicating he would like to speak outside. And Howard follows after making sure Vince is comfortable.
"Oh god Naboo, this is all my fault!" Howard cries as soon as the door is shut.
"Why do you say that? You can't always protect him you know."
Bollo had come outside as well, now that Vince was sleeping.
"I did this to him."
"You raped Vince? Cause I don't think-"
"NO!" Howard yelled, he could never do that to anyone, let alone Vince. But what he did was probably worse.
"Then how is this your fault!" Naboo lisped slightly irritated.
"Because Naboo! I basically sold him to Kodiak Jack for a map!" Howard yelled, he was horrified that he had been the cause of Vince's pain, and saying out loud made it all the more real.
"You did WHAT!" Naboo couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"I… God I… Vince… for a map" Howard was no longer speaking in full sentences, the magnitude of what had happened simply because he wanted to be on the cover of a magazine only now really hitting him.
Naboo could feel himself shaking with shock and anger, he saw Bollo reaching out to strangle Howard, while he was thinking of all the curses he knew, and which one was horrible enough for this particular occasion.
But then they heard a yell from inside the cabin. Vince was calling for Howard, and quick as a flash Howard was back by his side holding him while he again burst into tears.
Naboo and Bollo just glared, there was nothing they could do, if they hurt Howard, Vince would hate them, and if they told Vince the truth, it would destroy him.
So instead they set about locating this Kodiak Jack and taking out all their anger on him.
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It was late when Bollo and Naboo arrived back at the cabin. Still angry, but satisfied that Kodiak Jack wouldn't be hurting anyone anytime soon, in fact, he probably wouldn't be doing much of anything ever again, what with being turned into a rock an all (after a good beating of course). So they decided it was best to leave in the morning, and put this place behind them.
When they entered the cabin Naboo wasn't sure what would be waiting for them, last time he'd been inside, Vince was in a corner covered in blood and someone else's bodily fluids. What would be next? Luckily for Naboo and Bollo, they didn't have to deal with anymore horrible surprises. Howard and Vince were simple asleep, but they were definitely far from peaceful.
Howard was leaning up against the wall (farthest from the scene of the crime) with a frown on his face, and Vince was basically in his lap (now in a set of clean clothes) whimpering every so often. Naboo was still furious at Howard, but in a way he pitied him. How must it feel to be responsible for your best friend getting raped by a crazy mountain man?
"I suppose we should catch some Zs as well." Naboo suggested laying himself down on a sleeping bag after relocating it nearer to Vince and Howard. He had no desire to be close to that area either. Bollo followed his lead and sat in the corner closest to the group. Both were sleeping within minutes.
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It was around 4am when the nightmare started. Vince was thrashing around, and startled Howard from his sleep.
"Vince?"
"P-please s-stop!" Vince cried, and Howard realized he was having a nightmare. Vince didn't have nightmares, his dreams were filled with rainbows and unicorns and Top Shop. But now he was being plagued by the memories of what happened to him, reliving them, and Howard couldn't stand it.
"Vince, wake up" Howard tried, shaking Vince slightly. All he managed to do though was wake Naboo and Bollo, and apparently scare Vince even more.
"S-stop! Leave me alone!" Vince cried, followed by a quieter, "Howard, help me." And Howard's heart broke, Vince had needed him and he wasn't there, but he was here now, and he was going to do all he could to help Vince.
"Vince please wake up! You're safe now, I'm here!"
"H-Howard?" Vince stuttered, finally waking from his nightmare.
"Yeah Vince, It's me." Howard said softly, trying to calm Vince down a bit. But once Vince clarified it really was Howard, and not some elaborate trap, he burst into tears, throwing his arms around Howard and burying his face into Howard's chest sobbing uncontrollably. It was awhile till Howard was able to calm him down enough to fall back asleep. Naboo and Bollo just watched sadly from their spots on the floor until everything was settled.
After a quick debate Howard and Naboo decide that they should just start packing now, the sooner they left this place the better. Howard laid Vince down gently and set about gathering up all their belongings, while making sure to stay as far away from that dreadful corner as possible.
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By 7am the van was loaded and they were ready to go, Naboo and Bollo seated comfortably in the back. All that was left was for Howard to go back inside and wake Vince.
Howard was glad this was the last time he would ever have to be in this cabin, and as he stepped inside he looked to the sleeping form of Vince, or he would have if he was there. Howard was just about to freak out, when he looked around the cabin and spotted Vince. He was standing right in front of where it all happened, looking down and not moving. And it worried Howard immensely. Vince shouldn't be over there, he shouldn't even still be in this cabin. He needed to get Vince and they needed to leave right now!
Vince's silence was scaring Howard more than he'd care to admit, and even as he moved closer to him, Vince made no sound or movement, it was like he was frozen, and Howard didn't like it.
"Vince?" Howard said cautiously and for a moment he thought maybe Vince hadn't heard him, he was about to repeat himself when Vince turned around.
"Alright Howard?" Vince grinned and for one beautiful second Howard forgot that anything was wrong in the world; Vince's smile could do that to you. But then he looked down at the floor and saw the tattered remains of Vince's clothes.
"Vince… are you alright?" Howard asked, prepared for Vince to break down again, but Vince just kept smiling, like nothing had ever happened.
"A'course Howard, why wouldn't I be?" And just like that he walked out the door, leaving a confused Howard inside.
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And that's the end of the chapter! More will come soon, but while you're waiting, you can read my other story, and of course, reviews would be lovely.
