Chapter Nine
Randy's eyes were as wide. His heart pounding with fear in his chest. He was so confused. No one had ever mentioned a thing to him about any rebels. Especially ones that would ambush him in the night.
But he wasn't surprised that no one had told him. Cody had lied to him about so many things from the beginning and omitted even more. Still though he looked at Chris and told him who he was, just his name and nothing more. Chris wasn't pleased. The blonde's eyes darkened in the moon light, his lips curling into a toothy snarl; a warning. "Who are you with, Randy?"
Randy shook his head, careful to keep an eye on not only the stranger but also the growing figures in the shadows. He hated being ambushed but his training had prepared him for it, he just didn't know if he had it in him. "I'm not with anyone. It's just me." He said and Chris knew he was lying before he even finished. "Try again." Chris warned. "Where's your friend that was here earlier? Where's he hiding?"
Randy wanted to protect Justin and didn't want to answer Chris but after noticing a solid 6ft'5in strong shadow of a man approach Chris's side and come stand there with its own threatening stare he realized refusing to answer just wasn't an option. "He's not hiding. He went home. He lives here."
"Impossible." Chris scoffed and the man beside him shook his head. "No one lives outside the village but us."
"Yeah well, you might want to double check that." Randy didn't want to give away more than that so he didn't. He had little reason to now but he made the decision and protected Justin and Cody from the rebels for as long as he could and put the attention back solely himself. "I live out here. And I'm not…whatever the hell you people are. I'm just a guy trying to get home-."
"Sure you are." Chris said with a doubtful scowl because he knew there was more to it than that. "And, where did you come from? Why are you here?"
"What's it to you?" Randy stood his ground because he was stubborn and proud, even though he knew he wasn't going to win. Not this time. There were simply too many of them and as his eyes adjusted to the lightening of the moon he caught the familiar outline of a riffle in the taller man's hands. And it was pointing right at Randy, his head.
"This is our fucking island and right now you're an intruder until we decide otherwise. So start talking." The taller man spoke so suddenly it took Randy a second or two to realize the change in voices as he looked back and forth between the two men that had him pressed against the rocks. The bigger one looked down right mean and had a thick English accent Randy could barely understand. But it got the point across.
Thankfully Chris kept the other man in check with a sideways glance and a sharp elbow to his side that shut him up.
"My friend Wade is ready to shoot you so I suggest you answer my questions before his finger slips over the trigger and blows your pretty head to bits." Chris's said as his eyes narrowed to threatening points, penetrating the darkness like a dagger as he leaned towards Randy for answers. "I'll ask you again, where did you come from? And WHY are you HERE?"
Randy wasn't stupid. He answered his questions although he kept his eyes on Wade and the gun still aimed at his head. "I came from over-seas and I'm only here because I haven't been rescued yet-"
"I don't believe you. Are you from Zak's village?"
"No." Randy blurted out quickly but it wasn't enough. He had to explain his story but, he kept it short and told the lie about being a merchant because something told him he'd better continue to keep who he really was a secret. And besides, Chris didn't need to know about his real past because that life was over for Randy now. He gave it all up the second Cody said to kiss him. So why bother mentioning it? He didn't. And he didn't mention Cody either, just Justin. He couldn't even bare to speak his name.
"So you're just some poor sap stuck on this island and your little friend ditched you here after you recovered?" Chris asked and came further into the moonlight with the others when Randy nodded. The wise blonde didn't buy it. There was something about Randy that Chris could see but couldn't quite put his finger on although he noted that he was a tall, strong build that would make a great addition to his people and their cause. But could he trust him? Of course not. It was entirely too early to tell but, Chris liked what he saw and had ever since he first discovered Randy living in the cave a week before they decided to come for him.
Despite Randy's hostility Chris was glad they hadn't waited any longer. Randy was magnificent, even as he recoiled against the rocks like a snake ready to bite he still looked like a walking, talking weapon. He was just what the rebels needed.
"I've been here for weeks. How is it that I've never seen you before?" Randy took the opportunity and asked, scowling because he could see a smile tugging at the corners of Chris's mouth. "We don't like to reveal ourselves to just anyone." Chris said and paused as he looked around and although Randy was focused on the blonde he could see the other shadows give a simultaneous nod of approval out of the corner of his eye. But for what Randy wasn't sure. He didn't have time to guess.
"It's a long story." Chris said. "Come with us and we'll be happy to tell you everything you need to know."
"What do I need to know?" Randy hissed sharply as he realized the men were there for one thing, to take him somewhere else. But where? Why? "I'm stuck on a fucking island with no way home. As far as I'm concerned that's I need to know."
"But there's so much more to learn of, Randy. Please, come with us-"
"Why?" Randy said. He just couldn't make sense of this. It was happening too fast. "What do you want with me? Why can't you just tell me here?"
"Because in this case seeing is believing." Chris was happy that Randy was so defiant. It meant he was smart. Chris was right. Randy was wise to put up a fight because if he hadn't then he wouldn't have been the man Chris thought he was. He would have been useless then. But he wasn't and that made Chris fight that much harder to have him. "I give you my word that you won't regret this, Randy. So come with us and see for yourself-"
"Fuck that. I'm not going anywhere with you." Randy pressed himself back to the rocks like before, protecting nothing but looking for something to hold onto as his heart raced with horror. He didn't want to leave. It couldn't possibly be safe. He thought.
"I'm afraid that's not going to work." Chris said and suddenly the shadows began to move, closing in on Randy but slow as Chris put his right hand out to his side. It was a signal that seemed to put everyone at ease.
Everyone but Randy that is. In fact he was considering making a run for it, even though he knew he wouldn't make it far before they either caught up to him or put a few bullets in his back.
"You have a choice here, Randy. You can come with us willingly or by force. It doesn't matter to us either way but since you've already been through a lot we thought we'd give you a break. Don't make us regret that."
"How do you know what I've been through?" Randy asked, clawing his hands into the rocks behind him, desperate to get away even though it was hopeless. He was at their mercy whether he liked it or not.
"We know because we've been watching you."
"For how long?"
"Long enough." Chris assured and hoped it would be enough to convince Randy to come along because he really didn't want to have to fight him. "Now choose. Are you coming with us on your own or do we have to make this harder than it needs to be and drag you?"
As he tried to decide Randy looked around to the many shadows of men of different heights and sizes and knew he was completely fucked on getting away from this, even if he ran. They would catch him. That alone made his shoulders start to slump. He was crushed. How could Cody not tell him about the rebels? If he'd have known he could have done something to protect himself or at least planned for an ambush instead of walking around freely and landing himself into trouble. But he wasn't so lucky. He was fucked.
He looked at Chris. "How do I know I can trust you not to kill me once you have me away from here?"
"You don't." Chris shrugged. "But if you want answers about us and the truth about how you can get off this island then I suggest you willingly come with us."
Randy had to pause. He did want to find out what Chris had to say about the island and about leaving but he hesitated because he hated being cornered and would have lashed out but just didn't have it in him to fight. Not anymore. He still didn't want to make it easy for them though. "Where are you going to take me?"
"You'll see."
"Not good enough. Tell me where and why first. Then I will go with you."
"I'm afraid that's not going to work either, Randy. And I'm sorry but, you're out of time." Chris stepped back and signaled to the others with his hand, "Go ahead, guys. Randy here has made his choice. Tie him up."
"Just tell me what you want with me!" Randy shouted but it was too late. He was surrounded and quickly subdued by five men that had rushed out of the shadows at Chris's command.
Randy tried to fight them but they were too much for him, his shoulder was weak, and someone pressed the barrel of a gun to his temple. The struggle was over in seconds. Randy had no choice. He froze.
"Sorry, friend." Chris said with a sullen expression and a shake of his head. "I know you don't understand now but, you will. And believe it or not one day you will thank us for this."
"Yeah I doubt that." Randy hissed as the gun fell away and struggled against the hands pinning his arms behind his back, fighting a scratchy, thick rope someone was quickly wrapping around his wrists. "God damnit! Let go of me!" He failed. They tied his hands together and forced him to walk away from the cave with a hard shove and the taller man with the gun who had his hand firmly over Randy's shoulder. It worked. Randy took a few steps, glaring hard at Chris who stepped aside with a smile and let him pass.
"You don't have to tie me-" He stopped. He had to. There was a sack being slipped over the top of his head from behind.
Randy jerked back with a furious grunt but it was pointless because the men yanked the bag over his head and even as he thrashed they secured it around his neck, tying it tight. He was trapped. He was fucked.
"We are truly sorry about this, Randy." Chris apologized as gently as he could but it didn't make this any easier. Nothing would. Not until Randy could see for himself what he needed to see. And that was the truth.
Chris joined Wade at Randy's side and put his hand on Randy's other shoulder, pushing him along until Randy let out a howl but not from the pain. He was angry.
With his eyes covered and arms bound behind his back Randy planted his feet on the ground, bending his knees and refusing to move. He couldn't believe it. He was being taken prisoner and for what? Because there was shit he needed to see that he hadn't?
Bullshit. He thought it all a lie and truthfully at the time Randy didn't give a damn about what they had to show him he just didn't want to be taken. But who would after everything he'd been through?
"Let me go!" He roared as he fought the hands struggling to keep a hold on him while he thrashed, jerked, kicked and propelled himself backwards against their grip. It didn't work. Nothing he tried set him free and soon he was out of breath and on his knees with a dozen hands trying to hold him down. And then his head exploded.
Of course it didn't literally burst into pieces but it felt like it. He'd been hit with something hard.
It worked. Pain exploded through his skull as Randy crashed face first into the sand and the last thing he heard before losing consciousness was Chris apologizing. Again.
