Chapter 61: Insincere Apologies

PLEASE Read and Review! Thade182, Beth, Laura, and Layne...I love you!

* * *

Dakota lay on the wet floor of a small boat and looked between the metal bars at the water. The duck tape around his wrists cut the circulation from his hands. His body shook as the cold water splashed his face and he wind pushed against him. He could taste the salt on his lips. The boat rose above the waves at high speed, it seemed that they would leave the ocean and fly to the island where the Council held their meetings. He did not know where they had taken Alex, but he knew they had weaken him even more.

Worry gripped his heart.

The black sky remained his only companion. Xander squatted down and blocked Dakota's view of the ocean. His green eyes searched him with hate.


"Xander," Dakota started. "I'm sorry if I did something to make you hate me, I really didn't..."


Xander cut him short and grabbed his neck. More energy left him and the pain made it's presence known. Xander pulled away. "It's too late for your insincere apologies..."


"They're not insincere," Dakota said weakly.


Xander kicked him in the stomach. "People like you make me sick, you're always so high and mighty, you think you're so good, you self-righteous little freak!"


This time the pain came from within. Self-righteous? He thought. Oh Lord please forgive me. But a voice came to mind; 'Don't listen to what Xander says, don't let him win.' Dakota inhaled and directed his eyes up to Xander's.


Julia's voice rang in his head; "Sometimes people say things because they are hurting and all we can do is to reach out to them. Even if they throw sand in our face in the process."


"The ball's in you court now Xander, I can't think of anything else to say but...I'm sorry," he shrugged.

For a moment, Xander sat and stared at Dakota. A mix of puzzled hatred and frustration lingered in his eyes. Then Dakota saw something else, loneliness, sadness? Sorrow? For once in his life, Dakota felt sorry for Xander. He tried so desperately to find completion in disobedience, cruelty, sex. For the first time, Dakota wanted to help him.


Show me how God, Dakota prayed. Show me how.