Chapter Four
Phil stood still, looking down on Charlie's body.
"Did I just...?" He whispered in disbelief.
"Yeah, you did. Charlie deserved it." I muttered.
"But, I've never...I've never actually.."
"Phil. You're a guard, and you're telling me you've never actually killed anyone?"
"No...never." He looked like he was in shock of what he'd just done.
"Listen, Phil. You know that Charlie had it coming. Even if he did bring me back, the king would have probably done it for you."
Phil nodded. Still holding my dagger, he walked over to me, and started to cut the rope that held my wrists together. I moaned when the ropes were removed.
"Owwwhhh" I sighed. My wrists were bloody and bruised.
"Oh Dan," He said, sympathetically, holding out my arms.
"It's fine. I'll, I'll be fine."
I whimpered as his fingers lightly brushed the wounds. I looked up into his eyes. They were so soft and blue, and they shimmered like stars. I suddenly noticed how beautiful he looked under the bright moonlight. We sat there, for possibly hours, just starring at each other. He was still holding my scraped hands, the pain being replaced by something else. It felt good and exciting, sending swirls into my mind. Was it...love? Was I feeling something for him?
"Thank you, for saving my life." I whispered.
Our faces were extremely close now. I'm sure he could feel my breath.
"I wouldn't have let you died. I never will." Phil breathed back.
We were getting closer, and I couldn't stand it anymore. Placing my hand on his cheek and my other around his neck, I leaned in and connected the small space between our lips. He grabbed my back, pulling me in, and we toppled over. The two of us laid on the ground, which had felt hard and painful earlier, now felt like a cloud. I put my hand on his chest. I never wanted to leave. I knew how wrong this was, but I didn't care. I knew what would happen to the both of us if someone walked into the forest, but, again, I didn't care. All that mattered right now was that I was with Phil.
For the entire night, we stayed there, gazing up at the stars, his hand in mine, our fingers enlaced.
I could tell when he had fallen asleep. I turned my head to gaze at him. His eyes were closed and a lock of dark hair swept across one of them. My glance turned to his shoulder, so close to mine. He was a Hious. My brain wouldn't let that go. His kind had captured countless numbers of my tribe. I should hate him. I should reach for my dagger, tie him up and take him to Carrie and her camp. That would be the right thing to do.. but maybe I wanted to be wrong. Maybe this time, I could break my own rules. Maybe this one time, I didn't have to tell Carrie, and Dean, and Hazel, and everyone else the truth. Maybe this one time, lying was acceptable. I felt like I should run. Run away and never see Phil again. But I couldn't do it. I couldn't pull away from his loving hug. I couldn't bear the thought of never seeing him again. Never look into his deep, beautiful eyes that reflected the sea. Reflected the thing that kept us on the same country. The thing that kept us all here. Was this what love felt like? Was this what I wanted love to feel like? Like you shouldn't go on without that person next to you?
I saw the sun beginning to rise over the tall trees that surrounded us. The warmth reached my skin and I bathed in it. We had spent the entire night here. Waiting for someone to find us? How stupid could we be? How stupid could love make us? I looked over to the sleeping figure next to me.
"Phil." I whispered, nudging him. "Phil, wake up. It's morning."
He groaned. "Come on, Phil. We have to go. What would the other guards do if they noticed you were gone?"
"They wouldn't. Over there, I'm weak little Phil, who can't do anything, who would be more useful as a mule." He muttered.
I frowned.
"That can't be true. You're perfect, and I think the fact that you don't want to do what they do makes you even more so." I whispered in his ear, making him smile. "Now come on." I said, standing up. "We don't want anyone to see us."
He groaned again.
"Ughhh. I can't be bothered."
"Fine. You can stay here, but I'm going to go wash off my cuts in the river."
Phil stood up.
"No, don't leave." He placed a light hand on my shoulder.
"I can't spend the entire day here with you. Do you want Carrie and everyone else to worry and come looking for me, like they did last night?"
He sighed. "I'll come along."
"Good."
Arriving at the river, I laid on my stomach, which still ached from the blows delivered to it. Dipping my arms into the cold water felt cool and refreshing. Phil sat down next to me. He started to rub my back.
"About last night.. what..uh.. what does that make us?" He stuttered slightly.
"It doesn't have to make us anything. You could call us, not-enemies-anymore or misunderstood-lovers" I replied.
"Dan, I just, I really -"
"I do too. I shouldn't but I do. And there's nothing I can do about it."
I saw his reflection in the water. He was looking down onto the ground.
He cleared his throat, as if this would remove all the awkwardness.
"Should we get some bandages for your arms?"
"No. I'll be alright."
He helped me stand up.
"I probably should get home now."
"Yeah.. is your tree still standing?"
"It was yesterday morning"
"Mhmm. I'll..uh...I'll see you later." He wrapped his arms around my neck, leaning in for a kiss. Suddenly, footsteps were heard. I ripped myself off of him. Looking to my right I noticed a figure walking towards us in the shadows.
"Punch me." I whispered.
"What? No, I can't-"
"Someone coming. Punch me and run, if it's an Atova, I can pass it off as we were fighting."
He closed his eyes and gave my jaw a whip, not as hard as he could have but enough to make it look believable. He bolted away.
The figure came closer. It was Dean.
I fell to the ground in a fake groan of pain.
"Dan! What are you doing out in these woods!? And who was that? Are you okay?"
"Yeah." I coughed. "Just got in a fight with a guard."
"He roughed you up!" He exclaimed glancing at the marks Charlie had left on me the night before. "Let me take you back to the camp."
"No, it's okay, I can walk to my house."
"I'll help you. If you get in a fight on the way there, you'll be killed for sure."
I nodded, while he picked me up. I used him as a supporter. As I looked behind me, saw those blue eyes watching me from up in a tree, smiling down. I smiled back.