Salvation

AN: This is a lengthy chapter to make up for all the times I left you all hanging! Enjoy! :)

2 hours ago

"You can't be serious." Dominique's eyes widen like saucers. Anika sharpens her knife, her face grim in the moonlight.

"It needs to be done."

"Anika, this isn't the movies. There's no way this is going to work!"

"Trust me, I know what I'm doing."

Dominique puts her knees to her chest and rocks herself. This island is making everyone crazy; she's starting to be the only one with sense.

Vaas is in the room before them, talking in a language they can barely decipher. He's hallucinating, it seems; did someone slip him a hallucinogen? An Amanaki mushroom, perhaps? No one truly knows.

Could they do it? Could they truly hold a trial that could hold Vaas' fate in their hands? They were supposed to get off this island once they had Vaas and Kingston under their control. The boat is locked and loaded, ready for them to chuck up the deuces and get the hell out of here. And yet, here they are, deciding to play hero once more and thrust themselves into more danger.

It's common sense; this has nothing to do with them, so why get in it? Mike is injured, Carmen is suffering from PTSD, and all of them need to go back home to their normal lives and let their families know they're still breathing. How long had they been out here? Days? Weeks? Months? How long has it been before their parents notice they're missing and give up hope looking for them? How will Dominique respond when she comes home and she sees her family having a candlelight vigil and mourning over her supposed death?

It makes her heart heavy thinking about it.

"We need to go home," she hisses at Anika. She grabs her by the lapels of her shirt. "Back to our families, our friends, our loved ones. There's absolutely nothing for us here." She snarls at her.

"We got no business trying to play God. We need to get on that boat, sail to the nearest civilization with a hospital, get Mike better, call an Embassy, and get the fuck back home where this is nothing more than a story we tell when we're drunk or on our deathbed."

"In case you haven't been paying attention, that isn't going to happen." Anika pushes her aside.

"If we leave this instant, there would be days, weeks, before we reach civilization and the state that Mike is in he would die before he hits the shore. He's in no condition to leave and we obviously can't leave him behind."

"Are you fucking serious?"

"You think I'm joking?"

"Why can't we just go to the other side of the island? Why do we need to get involved?"

"We started this shit, we're finishing it."

"What is this going to come to?"

"If Vaas is guilty, he'll be killed."

"Killed…are you…you can't…"

"You said so yourself; he's a threat to the island and others."

"He's helped us fight against Kingston and…"

"We've captured all of them. Their trials will begin after his."

"Anika, what happens if he's not guilty?"

"That decision is up to you, Dominique. You'll be defending him."

She's stunned. She has to defend Vaas' life? When did everyone all of a sudden appoint her as Vaas' keeper?

"You've been around him the longest, you know his character. If you can prove his methods of redemption, then his punishment or sentence will be doled out by you by which you see fit."

"So now I'm his executioner? What punishment seems the most fair to a man who needs a few nights in the psych ward?"

"Counseling, community service," Anika sniffs, "rehab?"

"Fitting choices for a man who's killed several people."

"You did say he needs a few nights in the psych ward."

"Anika, I don't know if we should do this. This plan is going to blow up in our faces."

"You don't have much of a choice. Either you defend him, possibly save his life and keep watch over him until he proves he's competent enough to look after himself, or you let him die. It's really that easy."

"It doesn't sound easy. I can't live with myself if someone dies because of me…"

"Didn't you tell him he wouldn't be missed when he dies?"

"…Were you eavesdropping on our conversation…?"

"The holding hut's walls are extremely thin. Anyone within 5 miles could hear you. Now answer the question."

"…Yes," Dominique grits her teeth, "I did say that, but I was talking shit because I was upset with him and he was defenseless."

"Can I ask you a serious question, Dom?"

"Shoot."

"Did you two ever…fuck?"

"Jesus, Anika…"

"Answer the question. Did you two fuck?"

"No."

"Do you want to fuck him?"

Heat roars in her gut, spreading to her inner thighs before creeping up to her cheeks. Memories of that night play in her head, fantasies of what could've been flashing before her eyes.

"Oh, my God, Dominique. Your face says it all!" Anika hisses, eyebrows knit, her eyes wide, her lips twist in disgust.

"I can't believe you want to fuck the enemy!"

"Now isn't the time to be judging me! It's just sexual tension. A few cold showers and a few dates with my hand will have me right as rain."

"Is this going to cloud your judgment with the trial?"

"I'm 23, not 13. I can weigh the facts and not let his dick cloud my judgment."

"You sure…?"

"Anika, you've known me since Junior High. You know my character."

"True. Let's get this trial started."

Dominique's stomach does backflips, heat pooling at the bottom. Vaas stands beside her, bound and with a blank expression. His usual mouthy self is silent and it unnerves her.

"Whew, lovely weather out here," she says under her breath, hoping it'd peak some snippy remark or so much as a smirk. Nothing. Instead, Vaas looks out into the river, a calm smile etched on his face.

He's calm and…happy.

She's officially fearing for her safety.

"Alright, people of Rakyat. Today we will decide whether Vaas Montenegro is worthy of life or death as we weigh his sins against the island. I am Anika, the doctor and judge of this island. The accused will be defended by none other than Dominique, the spy, cook, and hairstylist for this island. All rise!"

Every woman and child stands, many of them staring at Vaas with looks that kill. This is going to be harder to defend him than she thought.

"We have a witness to Vaas' descent into decadence. High Priestess Vera. Vera, come forward."

The crowd splits in two to make way for an elderly woman with a cane, long gray hair, and multiple tribal markings on her face and body. Her head is adorned in feathers, flowers, and bones, her ears wide with pierced ears. She stands before Dominique and Vaas, her blue eyes freezing her to the spot. Even though Vaas is the guilty one, Dominique feels persecuted.

"High Priestess Vera, how long have you known Vaas Montenegro?"

"Since he was a young lad, no older than seven. He was the greatest warrior of the Rakyat; he had to work twice as hard to rise above the ranks because he was a mutt. He would've never earned the ranks the same way a purebred Rakyat would've. He's honorable, that's for sure." She scratches her chin and grins.

"His mother was a remarkable woman. Patient, kind, ruthless and strong. She brought our island glory time and time again when she fought outsiders. And then, she met that…man," she scrunches her face.

"That man was my father, you old bitch." Vaas barked.

"You were never this way! You used to be great! You used to be respectful of your elders! Those outsiders have corrupted you and rotted you from the inside out!"

"I was already corrupted, and you knew. And before I die, I might as well speak the truth. You saw what went on. You saw. Don't you fucking dare stand in front of all these people and lie. I know you're not too old to forget what happened when I left. That little fight me and Citra had. The fight that gave me this fucking scar."

He shows the scar on his head to Vera before looking her back in the eye. People gasp, chatter and hushed whispers becoming deafening to Dominique's ears.

"Those drugs have fried your brain, Vaas. You got polluted by those drugs and lies Hoyt fed you. You chose the outsider way and turned your back on your people!"

"Because our people are fucked up! What people sees a boy getting raped, by his own fucking sister, and looks the other way? What people allows my psycho-bitch sister to rise to power and ruin the island, huh? Tell me!" Vaas' voice booms, making everyone jump. He's breathing hard through his nose, the vein on his neck popping and the red in his face blossoming. All Dominique could do is stare at him, processing the information. He was raped? By his sister? This is all too much…

"Don't you dare talk about Citra that way! You speak blasphemy! Lies!" Vera's in his face now, jamming her cane into his chest.

"Put my hand on the motherfucking Bible and smite me if I am."

"This…" Dominique swallows thickly. "this man is a victim of sexual abuse. By a family member nonetheless. His violent outbursts, his actions against your people, it's all resentment from that traumatic experience. Instead of you guys helping him and giving him support, you did nothing." Her eyebrows narrow.

"You let it happen." Her fists clench.

"It wasn't our place to interfere! What happens with that family stayed with that family…" Vera counters.

"When a child is being sexually abused by a family member, it becomes your place to interfere! I'm not, in any way, justifying the acts he's done. We can all agree this guy is an asshole and a walking danger to human life, but we can't judge him without knowing why he is the way he his. He's not just a victimizer, he's a victim." She looks over at him.

"Killing him isn't the answer; it's not going to bring back the lives lost, reverse the damage, and rewind the years you're never going to get back. Killing him when you've already failed him as a people isn't going to make the situation better. If anything, it'll make it worse. It will create more people like Vaas, more people that thinks the way he thinks and bring mayhem to your island. Instead of eradicating the problem with violence, we should fix the problem by addressing it, counseling it, and making peace with it."

She takes a deep breath.

"Vaas Montenegro is a damaged man, but he has made change. He has proved that he can change for the better. Look at what we've accomplished; he has whipped the women into shape, utilized cooperation, and it's because of him lives are saved and Kingston is in custody. He's not too far gone from the Rakyat warrior you all know."

"He helped us because he didn't want to face the wrath of the Rakyat women," Anika interrupted.

"…He didn't just help us because of the fear. He helped us because, like you said, he is a pragmatist. He thinks with reason once he's sobered up. You all know this."

Voices of disgruntled agreement broke out through the 'jury'. She's doing a good job. Time to finish.

"To conclude, your honor," she juts her chin to Anika, "Vaas is not a monster by choice. He is nothing more than a victim of his environment. Hurt people hurt people; this in no way excuses his crimes, but this does give insight to his mind. He needs help and counseling, not to be thrown in the river. I say, let this man go and give him the help he needs."

More chatter.

"Ladies, what is the fate of Vaas Montenegro?" Anika addresses the Rakyat women.

"We are still processing the information that's been given to us. Sexual abuse is an abominable crime, especially among family members. With a name of Talugmai, if the allegations are true…then Citra Talugmai would have to face the courts had she not been deceased. Her title would be tarnished and she would be a stain in the hearts of our people. If you are lying about our Priestess Citra, Vaas, lying on one's reputation is a very serious offense and a new low-"

"Why would I lie about that, huh? That old bitch saw. She saw what she did to me." He makes eye contact with Vera.

"Don't you dare lie to these people."

"T'is true. Vaas, for once in his miserable life, is telling the truth." Vera acquiesces, glaring at him.

"Then Vaas isn't guilty of his crimes by plea of sexual abuse and insanity." Anika announces.

"His sentence will be—"

BANG.

Static rings in Dominique's ears; everything seems to move in slow motion when Vaas drops to the ground and falls in the river.

"Vaas!"

More gunshots erupt, hitting women and a few children as they flee.

"What's happening? What's happening?" Anika screams over the gunfire; Dominique sees Vaas' sinking body descend even deeper into the water; he'll die if she doesn't do anything…

An explosion erupts not too far from where she stood; she escaped the shrapnel and fallout by diving into the water to retrieve Vaas.

His blank eyes stare up at her as she dives lower, reaching out her arm to grab his. He looks so calm, so still; she fears he's gone. The blood oozes from his chest; the sharks will sniff it out and they need to move quick.

Grabbing him, she pulls him up and they both pop their heads out, Dominique gasping for air. She needs to fight the current but they're too strong; if she grabs on to a piece of wood or a log, she might have leverage to get to the other side to safety.

"Stay with me, Vaas," she pants out, "don't tap out on me, now."