Author's note: ATTENTION, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. This chapter is rated R (possibly NC-17) because of content. However the rest of the story is only PG-13. So, if you do not feel comfortable reading something extremely disturbing please leave, or skip this chapter. I am sorry, this came up at the last minute and I had to add it in, thanks for understanding. What I wrote is a bit disturbing. Soooo, I am warning you! :) But, otherwise, ENJOY!

Chapter 7: The Attack

Rick, Jonathan, and Evelyn had made themselves into a triangle with Rick the point, facing the enemy. Evie was at an angle behind him directly to his left, while Jonathan was at the same angle and behind to Rick's right. All three of them braced themselves for the imminent attack. A look of sheer determination was set on all of their faces and their body language displayed their will to win. All weapons were held outstretched before each individual as battle stance was assumed.

Rick was the first to afflict any damage. His sweating fingers were miraculously relaxed on the trigger as they squeezed with the ease of a talented fighter. The enemy line staggered before them, and Jonathan followed suit by firing away with the Thompson. All around them the air crackled with the noise of automatic weaponry and their enemies were shot down. Both Rick and Jonathan tried not to target the horse on which the dangerous men rode, but if that was the only way to slow them then so be it. Away the group fired, the shots ringing out into the night as man after man fell before them.

Evelyn was beginning to wonder if she was even needed in this fight by how well it was going. The enemy obviously did not have guns and they were at a severe disadvantage by not having them. There were an awful lot of them though, and Evie knew Rick did not have that much ammunition to last for each man.

The swarm of night intruders began to move steadily forwards as Jonathan and Rick became picky about at whom they were firing. Neither of them noticed the warrior galloping towards Evelyn for he had enhanced his aura with some sort of spell. This allowed him to sneak up on them without attracting any unwanted attention. He snickered as he approached the mother, swooping her up into his arms. She let out a small squeal before she was hit deftly on the back of the head and remained silent for a good while.

Rick turned around and noticing that Evelyn wasn't there anymore screamed into the night. "Evelyn!" His concentration broke for a moment and Jonathan slapped him upside the head to get his focus straight.

"She'll come back Rick, she always does." Came his calm, almost sarcastic reply.

Selim, hearing the pathetic yell let out a yodel and raced on into the night chuckling maliciously to himself. Evelyn was flopping painfully over his lap, her limp body giving freely at any jarring moment. It was then he noticed how supple her breasts looked through her shirt. He began to formulate a nasty thought in his head. He had gotten far enough away from the fight and so he slowed his horse to a stop and untucked her shirt, reaching his hand gingerly up into it taking one breast in his hand and rolling it around gently, feeling it's weight pleasurably. Unhappy that she wasn't responding to him he lifted her off the horse and lay her on her back on the ground. He held the right side of her face in his left hand and smacked the left side hard with his right hand. No response. She was out cold. Good. He thought. He then took her breast in his mouth rolling around the softened nipple, getting angry when it would not harden. He punched her face hard, making her nose and upper lip bleed. She still did not wake. His need was great now so he unbuckled his pants, freeing his erection. Rubbing himself slightly he became more aroused and tore her pants from her hips, thrusting her underwear down to her thighs. He pushed her legs apart and shoved himself in. His thrusts were fast and furious and her body moved up and down roughly in the sand. He raised his head towards the sky, groaning in animal like pleasure. His groans got louder as his climax approached and his eyes squeezed shut. But they popped open as he punched her hard in the face again, and again. He began hitting for each stroke in he gave and then he began to cry gut wrenching gasps. But his cries were silenced as the silver blade of a Scimitar poked through his ribs. He let out a shocked "Ardeth Bey!?" followed by an agonizing sigh and then sank to the sand on top of Evelyn, still inside her. His passion for the night and life was over.

Ardeth too, sank down to the sand and collapsed upon Evelyn crying. Her face was bloody and had already begun to bruise. Quickly getting his bearings Ardeth stood up removed Selim from her in one swift movement and with another castrated him. "Your body will never know pleasure you son of a bitch! You can join all your whores in hell, ya!" And with that Ardeth cut off his head, never before feeling such rage mount inside him. He then, cautiously replaced Evelyn's underwear and pants, not bearing to look at her like she was any longer, buttoned her shirt and poured water over her face, and wiped it with a wet cloth, removing most of the blood but not the swelling. He then gathered her in his arms and whispered "How could I let this happen to you Evelyn? It's all my fault...It's all my fault." His eyes squeezed shut as silver tears flowed out of them. He then retrieved his scimitar, wiped the blood off and mounted his horse, cradling her in his arms, supporting her head. They he rode off into the night to find the others.

* * *

Rick cautiously surveyed the death around them. Quite frankly he was amazed that he and Jonathan has been able to pull off the whole stunt. He gawked at the bodies strewn before him. They had killed them all; not a single one remained breathing. Still amazed he remembered his wife and son. "Evie? Evelyn?" No answer. "Izzy? Alex?"

Far away in the distance a faint "Yes, we are alright," could be heard. Rick breathed a sigh of relief before questioning Jonathan on his wife?

"Jonathan, did you see where she went?"

"No, she just disappeared. She was there and then she wasn't."

"Great, this is just great!" Rick exclaimed sinking to the ground in a heap. Wait, but what was that he heard? The pounding of hooves, his name being called in great heed.

"Rick! Rick come here, something terrible has happened!" It was Ardeth returning with Evelyn.

Rick ran towards Ardeth and his horse seeing the limp form of Evelyn braced against his chest. His mind was screaming 'NO!' while his mouth sought out what had happened. "Ardeth? Ardeth?" His voice wavered. "What happened, is she alright? Will she be ok?"

"She will be fine after a fashion. Rick..." Ardeth's voice trailed off as he watched Rick O'Connell's face start to comprehend the bruising. "Rick you need to listen to me." He snapped in front of Rick's shocked face, noticing the dark streaks liquidating and pouring down his face. "She was raped. Luckily I got there in time, before he finished his dirty work." The 'he' was said with such distaste, such hatred that Rick blinked rapidly in succession, pulling himself back to the present.

"No! No! No!" he repeated over and over again. He collapsed onto her chest his body grieving. "Evelyn, I love you!" He choked, kissing her face lightly. "Don't be sad, don't cry. I love you." He knew she couldn't hear him, but he had to show his affection. Then the full force of Ardeth's words hit him... "She was what!? Raped you say?" Rick just stood there. "Oh my god, how did this happen?"

Ardeth just nodded, and shrugged his shoulders for the last part. He did not know how it happened, or even why men like Selim felt they had the right to touch another woman in such a hateful way, or for that matter, touch anyone with that much anger inside. He needed to think, to calm his emotions. He needed to get away. "Rick, listen to me Rick!" he grabbed his friend by the shoulder. "When she wakes up you must tell her what happened. It is quite possible she will not know, though I imagine she will be quite sore, he was extremely rough with her." Ardeth almost broke down as the vision of Selim thrusting himself into her filled his mind. "Rick, take care of her, do not let your rage drive you away, you must be strong for her and with her. Now I must go."

Evelyn was handed to Rick who received her unknowingly. There he stood, silent, still, dumb, as Ardeth's horse kicked sand in his face and sped off into the night. Rick's knees collapsed underneath him and he looked up to the starry sky, which had been cleared of clouds at last and screamed a heart wrenching "Why!?" into the diminishing darkness.