Chapter 12
Turncoat
I ran as fast as I could for that camp. I found the beast and it looked up at me.
"I want off this planet."
It tilted its head. I had a feeling it could understand me.
"I will cut you down. You understand me, don't you?"
It growled and I ran forward. I swung my knife and broke the chains. It full to the ground, but when it stood up it grabbed me by the throat. I thought about Esperanza. The beast let me go and I looked up at it. It wasn't going to kill me after all. It started to put on its armor and then looked at its arm. It started pushing buttons and I saw the earth appear. There it was, a blue hologram. I heard the ship start up and I looked towards it.
Esperanza's POV
I was half dragging he doctor now.
"You should leave me."
I shook my head.
"You're not dead yet."
No sooner had I said the words, we were caught in a net. It hauled us off the ground. I tried to use my knife, but the blade broke. This wasn't an ordinary net.
"Oh fuck…"
I looked over and my eyes went wide. I screamed and the beast cut us down. It dragged us away and towards the camp. I was trying to think of a way to break free, but then we were dropped in a hole. We hit the ground hard and I untangled myself from the net and then helped the doctor. I looked around but there was no possible way out.
"Goddamnit!" I shouted.
"Here, maybe I can give you a boost."
I nodded and the doctor cupped his hands. I stepped up and he pushed me up. I managed to hold myself up. I saw two of the beasts fighting each other. The one getting thrown around was clearly the one from the totem. I tried to pull myself up more but I lost my hold. I fell back into the hole.
"They're two of them. He must have succeeded in freeing that thing." I said.
"Well where is he?"
"No se."
I got up and looked at the net. I picked it up and tried to see of there was something I could catch it on.
"Look!"
I looked up and saw the ship flying away.
"No…he wouldn't…"
"He's gone."
I shook my head.
"No. No he's not. He made a promise to me and I trust him." I said.
"He fucking shot you! You still trust him?"
"With my life."
I closed my eyes and prayed he was safe. I felt a sharp pain on my shoulder and I turned. It was the doctor. I started to feel strange, like I couldn't hold myself up anymore. I took my knife and tried to stab him but I fell to the ground instead.
"That's right."
The ship exploded and my eyes went wide. I tried to scream Royce's name but I couldn't even talk anymore.
"Now isn't that a shame."
I looked back at the doctor.
"I was right in front of you guys the whole time. You never saw me. See back home, I'm a murderer….I'm a freak. But here among the monsters, I'm normal. I want to stay."
So stay pendejo!
"I suppose it's a good thing. I'll be putting you out of your misery. Then again, the tough guy never really had a heart did he."
I glared at him and continually tried to move. It was getting worse but I kept fighting. He came towards me with the scalpel and I tried to scream. He stopped very suddenly and slowly turned.
Royce! You came back!
"You came back."
"Yeah. Went to the wrong gate."
If I could laugh I probably would've.
Stop being a smartass and run!
"Thank god. Help us get out of here."
"She comes up first."
"Yeah I figured that."
"Put her in the net."
The doctor put me in the net and Royce pulled me up. Then he pulled the doctor up and I tried even harder to move.
"You didn't think I was gonna leave you did you?"
I managed a small smile and he stroked the side of my face.
"I'm getting you out of here. I promise."
I wanted to kiss him. But right now I wanted him to run. I saw the doctor behind him and tried to move even harder.
Run! Please Royce run!
"You know I didn't think you'd come back. But Esperanza…well she never gave up hope."
Royce smiled a bit.
"Her name means hope."
"True enough. I guess I owe you an apology. You're a good man after all."
He was getting closer and raising the scalpel.
ROYCE!
"No…"
He swung around and shoved the scalpel right under the doctor's chin.
"But I'm fast! And I'll kill anyone who tried to take her from me!"
I'd never heard his voice so vicious before. He dragged the doctor away and I took a deep breath.
Come on Esperanza! Move!
I could move my fingers and my shoulders. Royce came back and picked me up. I tried to say his name but the only sound that came out was the sound of the 'r'.
"Shh-hhh. Don't try to talk yet."
He set me down against a tree.
"I'm gonna go kill that fucking thing. I'm gonna end this."
I managed to grab his hand. He looked at me. I tried to tell him I wanted to help, but all I could manage was his name.
"Royce…"
"It's gonna be alright. I'm gonna put my plan to good use. Just stay here and don't make a sound. I'll be back."
He kissed me and then ran off.
Goddamnit!
Royce's POV
A very small part of me was a little glad she was paralyzed. This way she wouldn't be able to do anything stupid. I covered myself with mud and waited. When I saw the grenades go off I watched the beast fly threw the air. Only problem was, the explosion didn't kill it, it didn't even appear to be hurt by it.
Fuck!
I grabbed my torch and watched it stand up.
"Come on! I'm right here!"
It looked at me but it didn't do anything.
"Come on kill me! Kill me!"
I threw the torch down and the fire started. I ran as fast as I could, the fire coming up around me. I felt like I was burning alive! I stopped behind a tree and tried to catch my breath. My heart was pounding in my chest. It didn't help when I looked over and saw that Esperanza was gone!
Is there nothing that can keep the woman still!?
I saw the red lasers.
"Oh shit!"
I jumped forward and hit the ground as it fired. I landed hard on my leg and landed on something hard and rather sharp. The beast was coming towards me. It grabbed me and threw me through the air. I hit the ground again and dislocated my shoulder.
"Fuck!"
It picked my up by my throat and let loose a blade.
"Oiye! Feo!"
I closed my eyes.
