Monsters & Demons
Rated M
Genre: Drama & Adventure
Summary:
When Tori arrived at Hollywood Arts, she knew things wouldn't be the same. Little did she know that she and her friends would find themselves wound into more than teenage drama. Jade thought all she had to worry about was her status being threatened. Does Trina finally have a true friend? A trio of newcomers shows up, bringing along more than the gang bargained for. Homework and plays don't sound so bad anymore.
A/N:
Chapter 14: A Brief Moment and a Saving Grace
"Keep going! Don't look back!"
Those words motivated Jade to push through the pain shooting through her body. Running through the thickets of vines and leaves to escape their pursuers, the teens had few other options to fall on at the moment. Their lungs burned with each step but, it would be nothing compared to the fate of being caught; a little pain makes you stronger right? Still, with the stuffy and hot air practically suffocating the pair, it was a wonder how much longer they could last.
They cut around a massive tree and ducked behind it just in time as a rather massive man and equally buff woman arrived, hoping to spot their prey. It was the law of the land and they were at its mercy. Ever since they arrived in the jungle, Liam and Jade had very little time to concentrate as they encountered their first major obstacle in their current stalkers. They'd barely been in this hell for even an hour before being noticed by the beefy characters.
"I... Hate. This..." Jade wheezed, clutching her chest. "How did we wind up in this mess?"
"The more important question is how did those guys find us so quickly? There's no way that anyone should've found us as fast as they did."
"What are you saying?"
"It's too early to call, but I think we may be marked in this death game."
"Marked?"
Liam nodded, careful to keep an eye out for the two. No doubt about it, he was more than certain that he and Jade were primary targets. He noticed that possibility from the moment they arrived at the facility. While he was Jade were the only ones in the shower area, and later in the cafeteria, it was made crystal clear when they arrived at the briefing area, just before being taken to their starting point.
This was the reason he had such a cold approach earlier; he'd been preparing for this malicious reality and now, it was becoming evident that he was correct in doing so. Meanwhile, Jade had leaned against the tree, finally gaining a decent amount of oxygen. He knew that she needed the rest so he wouldn't trouble her for the time being.
They'll be circling back soon... he thought to himself. We'll have to get moving soon if we hope to lose them.
"Jade. Empty the bag quickly..." he said, never taking his eyes off of the spot he was watching. Though she was confused, Jade complied with his instructions. Tossing everything out of the bag. Several rations and other survival tools fell from the pack, leaving her to wonder just what he was thinking. "Okay, leave behind anything too big to carry on us or in our pockets."
"What? Why would we do that?"
"Call me paranoid, but we can travel a lot quicker if we aren't burdened with that heavy bag." he finally turned to her, only to grab several of the intact mini-bombs along with the bow and arrows. "Sadly, we may have to leave behind the rations too. Otherwise, we may attract natural predators as well."
At this point, Jade wanted nothing more than to call him an idiot or a moron but, she had to confess that he was making some valid points. It wouldn't make any sense to carry extra food just for the sake of carrying it.
"What if we take some of it with us? We can eat it along the way so that it doesn't go to waste."
He considered her counter-offer and smiled. "That sounds like a good idea to me."
They swiftly gathered that last of their essentials and took off. They made good time as only a few minutes later, the same two brutes had indeed come back only to find the scattered remains and the empty bag itself.
Coal-black eyes glared at the surrounding area, obviously enraged that he missed his prey.
Meanwhile, with enough distance between them and their pursuers, Liam and Jade continued to wander through the uncharted land, finally able to take in the area around them. The sounds of the various creatures. The lush plant life. It was very beautiful when they thought about it. There was so much to take in and enjoy if they weren't putting their lives on the line in some demented game.
That ruined the experience.
They trekked onward, careful to keep their eyes peeled for any sign of danger. Side by side they walked, covering each other from any potential ambush that could come. Jade kept her knife at the ready while Liam continued to keep an arrow at the ready. They were caught off guard the first time and they weren't going to let that happen a second, not when the stakes were so high.
"Everything's quiet here..."
"I know..." he cut his gaze toward a nearby bush only to find a small monkey hop out. "That's what's troubling me."
"Don't start with that 'it's too quiet' schtick..." she playfully scolded. "No cliches"
"Fine..."
"Besides, I think I hear water up ahead."
Liam smiled and followed her direction, keeping his head on a swivel to ensure their safety. He didn't want to lose her, not after all they'd been through thus far. After their last night in that cell, it was clear that there was a spark between them. He wanted nothing more than to see whether it would light a fire, fizzle out, or downright explode but, none of that would be possible if they didn't get out of this situation.
She was precious to him, even before their trip to Yerba, and now? Jade West was far past irreplaceable.
This must be how soldiers feel when they go off to war.
He allowed a ghost of a smirk to crack his armor for only a split second before focusing on the task at hand. There'd be time for that after it all. For the time being, he could hear the sounds of crashing water growing louder, tearing him from his musings.
"Liam, look at this!" He twisted his body, his weapon still at the ready, finding something that he'd never expected to find in this wartorn country. He saw one of the most beautiful views he had ever had the privilege of witnessing. They were standing on the edge of a waterfall looking out at the earth's natural beauty, untouched by man.
"Wow..." he felt his jaw drop.
It was all he could get out as his eyes observed the sight before him. Jade stood next to him, grinning at the boy's reaction. It was unexpected but pleasantly so as she took in his face. He was in awe at the scene but, she knew that they couldn't spend too much time there. They did have a mission. Tapping his shoulder, she resisted the urge to laugh when his mouth opened and closed like a fish.
"It is beautiful. Just another surprise for us, huh?"
"Y-yeah... I guess that should be the norm for us by now."
"I can't say that I blame you..." Jade agreed, sighing softly at the sunlit territory. "Now, if I were the one gawking at all of this, I suggest you call a doctor. Anyway, we should get out of here while there's plenty of daylight left."
Liam nodded slowly.
"Yeah. Besides, we also need to find someplace for shelter-!"
He stopped abruptly as something sharp grazed his shoulder. Jade froze where she stood, looking on in horror at the boy clutching the wound only to turn and see the attackers. It was those same two who'd been hunting them down earlier; apparently, they never gave up their search. Now they were sitting ducks as blood began to flow freely down his arm. He dropped to one knee, gritting his teeth at the approaching duo.
"Bastards!"
Glaring at their emotionless faces, both teens couldn't be judged for believing the inside rumor to be true at this point as the woman grabbed another arrow. With expert speed and precision, she pulled back on the twine, this time aiming for none other than Jade herself while the male brute watched on with sickening glee. It was like a bad action movie now as the female warrior released the bolt.
Bracing for the pain that was sure to come, teal orbs watched crimson fly in the air.
Strangely, she still felt fine physically, but that would be replaced by a different form of hurting when she realized why she hadn't experienced any bodily harm. Before her laid the body of the boy she'd not only grown up with but also the young man she'd come to care for deeply stumbling backward with an arrow cleanly sitting on his shoulder.
More blood began to pour from the wound but from there, she came to an even grimmer reality; they were on the edge of the waterfall. The intense pain of having an arrow shaft planted in his flesh was beginning to make him dizzy. Sure, he'd been in fights and pain was nothing new, but, there was something about this sensation coursing through his body that made him feel off.
"Liam!" Jade cried out while he tried to shake off the poisonous influence.
"Nightshade poison..." the goth heard the dark-hued woman brag in a calculative tone. "...he'll be out of commission for a while. Let's kill the girl and get back to finding one of those artifacts."
The male grunted with a disgusting grin as he eyed the unnerved girl and discombobulated boy. With little time to think, Jade looked on in horror as the man-beast charged at them without hesitation.
Everything around her stood still as the out-of-control man lifted his arms to take a swipe at them. She closed her eyes, and in that moment of finality, she turned and tackled Liam over the edge of the falls, allowing themselves to miss the massive arm that tried to grab them.
Falling.
No longer in control of their bodies, Jade gave into the clutches of gravity. There was no use in resistance. She accepted their fate; What more could be done with one of them nearing death's door and the other in over her head? Whether to the hard ground or unforgiving waters below, Jade surrendered her fate, her mind chuckling at the final thought that would've been ludicrous to consider.
Is there a god?
Above them, the triumphant duo smirked with sickening glee when the two bodies disappeared into the white waters below.
"Now that they're gone, let's go. We have other targets to take out before this game ends." the woman ordered before stepping away, her partner following behind without so much as a word. "Even if that boy does survive, his mind will never be the same."
"Ow... my head..."
Liam slowly dragged his sore form into a seated position before taking notice of his surroundings. The dark cavern was evidence of his unfamiliarity. He felt like his head was about to explode but, there was little he could do about that right now.
At the moment, the most important thing to him was figuring out just where in the hell he was. Looking around, he saw nothing but darkness all around him and nothing else.
Well, almost nothing...
"Where am I?" he massaged his aching forehead.
"You're finally awake..." his eyes shot open at the sound of a voice so sultry and mature.
Looking around, he noticed his blurry vision finally starting to clear up. He took in the faint glow of a small fire illuminating the darkroom. It was enough for him to see the entirety of the cave, not that there was much to look at in the first place.
"Where am I?" he groaned, dazed.
"You're safe for now..." the sweet voice answered. "It's actually beneath the waterfall that you and your friend fell into. You're lucky we found you or you would've drowned." Liam clutched his throbbing head listening to the voice of the unknown person.
As she appeared from the shadows, Liam was surprised to find a dark-skin full-figured woman with long black hair tied in a braid. Her eyes were like flaming amber, dazzling and enchanting in the way they pierced into his soul.
"T-thank you..." he nervously turned in his spot, suddenly feeling the sharp pain in his shoulder.
"Easy! You're going to reaggravate the wound if you're not careful!"
As he shifted slowly this time, the woman quickly approached him, taking a long look at the purplish wound from behind the wrappings. Thankfully, they were fading away, leaving only a few splotches here and there. She
"Relax. You're not in any danger, I assure you."
"Really? Tell that to the two psychopaths that shot me," He stared warily at the attractive woman, keeping his guard up just in case.
The woman laughed softly, an unexpected reaction in the eyes of the young man.
He expected her to at least look as if she was offended and yet, she flashed a gentle motherly smile. It was both unnerving and yet, he felt a strange sense of peace when she leaned in to apply some black goo onto his shoulder. Anticipating some measure of pain, Liam was instead met with an intense cooling feeling rushing down his right arm.
"Not everyone here is a murderous monster..." she whispered, still concentrating on treating the wounded teen. "Some of us are actually civilized once you get to know us."
Now he felt ashamed, averting his gaze guiltily at her calm reprimanding. Her fiery gaze rested on the peccant boy upon fulfillment of the care.
"I'm sorry..."
"Think nothing of it! But, you'll be wise to not judge a book by its cover." She winked playfully before getting up.
"Thank you... umm..."
"Katalaya. It's a pleasure..."
"I'm Liam. I'm grateful to you Katalaya! Um... you wouldn't happen to know where my..."
"Your girlfriend? She's a little further down with Garou gathering some things for us to eat."
Upon hearing the word 'girlfriend', Liam couldn't stop his heart from racing.
Sure, it was established that the two had a strong connection romantically, but neither he nor Jade would dare cross that line; at least... not now. She was technically still with Beck. Until that was handled, there was no chance of him ever calling her his significant other, even if such a bond was true. He had to shake off the idea of them going out and sharing intimate moments in between classes to remind himself of the current situation.
In his eyes, there would be time to figure out the nature of their... complicated relationship after they managed to survive this hell. He'd tucked those thoughts away just in time as Jade and a relatively fit man stepped into view.
His skin was as black as coal and his eyes matched Katalaya's, like dark flames, burning with intensity even though his gaze was soft. His head was completely shaven and he was chiseled from the neck down. Both he and Jade arrived at the makeshift campfire with chuckles as they discussed something that was just out of his line of hearing.
This must be that Garou guy, she was talking about. he surmised from his spot nearby.
"There's no one near the area." his deep voice resonated throughout the rocky corridor. "We should be safe to rest until tomorrow."
Katalaya nodded her acceptance with a courteous smirk that mirrored Jade's own grin.
"That's good. Our other guest has finally woken up in time for dinner."
The two turned to the recovering Liam, a sight that caused Jade to scramble over to him. She wasn't foolhardy though, evading his damaged shoulder as she wrapped slender arms around his neck. Feeling her fervency, he gingerly reciprocated the act. Her body shook under his touch, causing him to feel unnerved.
Once again he could practically feel the pang of her woes slithering around him, suffocating him in its grip.
"You're okay!" she strangled back tears.
"Yeah... Sorry if I scared you."
Jade just shook her head, smearing fresh tears along his chest in incredulity.
Here Liam was, injured, recovering, and just regaining consciousness yet, he was the one apologizing. He did nothing wrong and yet, he still felt the need to make things right. Either he was just a pushover in a strong man's body, or he was truly just big-hearted.
She opted for the latter option.
"You dork..." she giggled.
"I told you..." the full-body laughter of Garou drew the pair's attention. "They're a couple, Katalaya! You owe me $20 when we get back to the states!"
The states?!
The woman rolled her eyes at the man before approaching the two teens. She set down a makeshift plate with several varieties of picked fruits and meats before returning to the amused male. Though the two were skeptical, the audible growling from their stomachs destroyed any form of resolve they could muster up.
"Eat up. We won't disturb you, love birds. You'll need your strength if you're going to get out of this country..."
Cocking her head to the side, Jade frowned as she tried to comprehend what the woman was talking about.
"What are you saying? If we find one of those artifacts then we'll be free to go, right? That's what the warden told us, anyway."
"If only it were that simple," Garou's grin was replaced with darkness aimed at the ground. "The truth is that this is a death game where only one team survives. The artifacts are just a ruse to convince newcomers to participate. In truth, this whole thing is for the amusement of the chancellor and any other sadistic bastard who finds entertainment in the bloodshed of their fellow man."
Both Jade and Liam stared back at him with horror flashing behind their eyes.
"So, that ambush earlier...?"
"It was all a part of the game. If you were chosen to be here, then that probably means that you are more trouble than they're willing to deal with."
"I knew it..."
"We were marked for death," Liam added in his attempt at processing the brutal truth before them.
"Garou! You're scaring them..." Katalaya popped him lightly, noticing the duo's blank stares. Well, Jade's stare was empty; it was the boy's gaze that truly caught her attention. Burning flames of orange flickered behind his normally emerald pools, a sign of war. He's an interesting one...
Hopelessness and rage swirled around them like a tornado. In their minds, there was no way out of this hell.
Sure, they knew that death was a possibility but, all they had to do was either find some ancient item or at least just had to survive the 72 hours. That's what they were led to believe... Now, they find out that their suspicions were correct about not only the chancellor but also the warden. That grotesque monster set them up to be executed all for the amusement of several sadists.
"I can't believe this..." Liam's voice trembled.
"We're going to die..." Jade wilted next to him.
Katalaya smiled sadly at the two children, feeling the sheer agony of their realization. It was enough to bring a tear to her eyes but, she knew there was no time for that. Right now, she had a job to do and a part of that meant that she needed to remain strong.
"You're not going to die..."
The two looked at the woman as if she'd lost her mind, suddenly remembering a crucial fact. If she and Garou were in this jungle, then they were probably supposed to kill them too.
"How can you be so sure about that? ...and why are you helping us if you're supposed to be in this hell?"
"Who said we're a part of this game?" Garou spoke evenly.
"What?"
The two adults sat down across them with knowing smirks on their faces.
"We're not a part of this. In fact, we're not even Yerbian citizens." Garou noted the narrow eyes pointed at him, prompting him to continue his explanation. "We're both Americans assigned to monitor this country; resources, world affairs, weapons of mass destruction, etc. My point is, we happened to find you both shortly after you were attacked and immediately knew that you weren't from here."
"Was it that obvious?" Liam asked, cocking an eyebrow at the bald man. "What gave us away?"
Garou said nothing, choosing instead to focus his gaze on Jade who blushed in response.
"Point taken..." he rolled his eyes.
"Anyway, we were informed about your arrival here when you were vacationing here and made sure to keep a very close eye on you all given the civil war that's been going on. Needless to say, things quickly out of hand when one of your friends accidentally hit the chancellor in the eye with her shoe, resulting in her going to jail."
"Actually, it was Shapiro electrocuting the chancellor's octopus that got us thrown into prison..." Jade deadpanned.
"Wow... Intel didn't mention that one." Garou rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Either way, after you both were taken back into custody, we were on high alert to get you out of that prison, and thus, here you are. Did you ever wonder why you were taken to the beachfront?"
They pondered the information given to them before their eyes widened in shock once again.
"The guard!" they said in unison.
"Correct. He's undercover and was the one who gave the idea to the warden." the dark-skin woman smirked. "It's all a cover to get you out of this country. Unfortunately, we weren't fast enough to stop you from being attacked. For that, we apologize."
The air around the four became tense, and understandably so.
Here were two teenagers who came to a seemingly exotic country to perform for a powerful leader only to wind up in a dingy prison for trumped-up crimes that were accidental at best. Then, after nearly getting away, Jade & Liam were recaptured and given an impossible choice to make. Now, they're finding out that this curse might've been a blessing in disguise?
It seemed too good to be true...
"We know that you two may have your reservations about two complete strangers claiming to want to help, but, we mean you no harm."
"...and how can we be so sure that you two are telling the truth?" Jade asked.
Garou laughed softly at the girl's inquiry.
"Were we not just having a casual conversation earlier, young lady?" Jade found herself stumped by his rebuttal. "If we were truly out to get you, wouldn't it be smarter to finish off an unconscious boy and troubled girl?"
The two took in his response and saw the logic behind it.
With Liam unable to defend himself and isolated from her, it would've been too easy for them to kill him without effort. She even took into account her situation where Garou could've easily snuffed her out without any problem, given the rules of this 'game'. There was nothing stopping them from taking the pair out and yet, they were sharing dinner with them and even gave Liam makeshift treatment to ensure his health remained intact.
"So... what happens now?" Everyone turned to a wincing Liam clutching his sore shoulder.
Katalaya took a moment to assess, taking a slow and deep breath.
"For now, we'll need you two to rest. We still have two more days before this game is over. Since you two were attacked by one of the competitors, there's a good chance that your deaths will be reported directly to the chancellor. We can use that to our advantage and get you both out of here without alerting the soldiers."
Seeing Liam about to comment, she was relieved when he stopped due to his injury.
"I guess you make a valid point. So, we go out tomorrow morning?"
"Tomorrow night..." Garou answered. "It's much too hot to travel. Plus, the night will give us a head start while the others try to rest. We'll go through this cave which should lead us back to the beach where you two started. Hopefully, our contact will be there waiting."
Seeing nothing else to discuss, Liam allowed his shoulder to relax while he devoured chunks of mango and pineapples. However, something was still troubling to Jade.
"How will all of this work? Do you have radio communication?" she crossed her arms, unconvinced of this plan. "If not, then how are we going to ensure our escape without being tracked or intercepted?"
Both Katalaya and Garou beamed at the impressive query.
"Smart girl..." the former stated. "We've already taken precautions for those issues. We've set some, traps that'll give away our locations when we need them to. It'll signal our contact and get you both out of this land and on your way back home. But, now you two need to rest if we're going to be ready to move tomorrow."
But Jade still had so many questions.
"But..."
"Jade, it'll be fine."
"Liam?" she looked at him with concern. "How can you just trust them without hesitation?"
"Didn't you?"
Remembering her earlier encounter with the two, Jade was once again silenced in her attempts to discredit their saviors.
"Fine... I see your point. But, that doesn't mean that I won't be keeping an eye on them."
Kissing her cheek, Liam smiled at the pale girl as the two adults made their departure.
"I wouldn't have it any other way. For now, let's try and rest."
Jade complied, smiling softly as she felt a sudden chill kiss her body.
It was like a completely different world as the cool air encompassed her. As expected, Liam took her hand, pulling her gently until her body rested atop his own. Given his wound, she finally had the chance to notice his brown skin illuminated by the flames that licked the air. She was grateful that he couldn't see her blush or else he would've poked her burning cheeks.
Like him, Jade had her desires, pondering how things would be once they returned. The entertaining fantasies of them going to the movies, working on homework together, and even unsavory displays of intimacy all crossed her mind throughout their reconciliation, growing stronger by the day.
She wanted nothing more than to indulge herself in him but, they had a deal.
They were to wait until this was all over before letting themselves go any further in this 'relationship'. Still, after the previous night in that cell, it was clear just how much they cared for one another as they found themselves shifting into a more comfortable position in the cave. She snuggled under him, feeling his chin along the top of her head.
For now, she felt safe. Right now, she was where she needed to be and that's all that mattered for the time being. Soon, she felt him wrap an arm around her frame, increasing her comfort. Liam then let out a near-inaudible yawn before leaving the goth with a soft peck on her forehead and drifting off to sleep.
"Goodnight, Jade..."
"Goodnight..." she whispered, resting her head on his chest, allowing Liam's pulse to lull her into a slumber.
