So this chapter is short, but it is a first person view into our main character, Kira. You'll get to see her from the inside, and I hope she is what you all wanted. If not, don't despair, someone else is in the picture. This is AU, so there are things in this chapter you will not recognize from the game, that's because my story is AU. It's all part of a plan ;)

Annathemermaid: thank you for the kind words:) I'm glad to return your soul, hahaha!

Sickmonkey89: hahaha glad to be back with you, faithful friend! GAH, I must go read your fic again! Please continue it, it was so damn good:) But thank you, and I'll be reviewing on yours soon!

Xeres Malfoy: Thanks! and no it will not be only Vaas' POV. There will be three POVs in this fic, you'll just have to stick through to figure them out!

Anthracite77: here it is!

Naurika: if you feel more comfortable reviewing in french, please do so. My first language is french. I'm from Quebec, Canada! But thank you for the kind words. I will try to make it as long as the last story!

Enjoy!

Chapter 2: Bête Noire

I would not blame myself for it. It wasn't me who had the stupid idea to go on a boat when a huge storm was coming. That was all Matthew's fault. And now we were kneeling in front of a dozen guns with a mad man strolling in front of us. I had been forced to give up the others' location when Peter was shot in the leg. Just watching him wither in his own blood, groaning in pain, made my stomach lurch and my heart ache. Vaas, I think that was his name, was quicker than me. He threatened me in whispered acrimony and bore his brown/green eyes into mine. To be honest, his eyes scared the living hell out of me. In fact, all of Vaas scared me. Even though he was only roughly around 5'9, he was intimidating and loud, like he wanted all eyes on him.

As I knelt back in the sand, my head heavy and low, I heard voices coming from the jungle. I cringed, wrapping my arms around myself as I slowly looked up, the ocean breeze washing in my hair. But it wasn't Nova, or Sara or Kate, it was another woman. A woman I had never seen before; tall, lean with her silky black hair tied in a tight pony tail, reflective sunglasses, army pants and a white tank top. Strapped over her shoulder was an intimidating gun, something much like the ones you see when your brother plays video games. She strolled towards us, and something in her step screamed confidence and fearlessness. I noticed a knife strapped to her thigh and a belt armed with various arsenal.

"Vaas!" Her voice was thick and accented with something European. I frowned, looking at my brother, who was curled up in a ball on the damp sand. His blood ran in ringlets around his leg and I forced back a gag. "Don't you listen when I talk?" The woman's voice brought all our attention to her.

Vaas frowned comically. "I'm lost, princess," he answered, crossing his arms over his chest. I watched carefully as the woman took off her glasses and took a dangerous step towards Vaas. Her eyes were of a streaking blue, very popping and attention grabbing.

"I told you that if seven strangers wash up on this piece of shit island, that they were mine," she growled, thick lips curling back over sparkling white teeth.

"You never said-" Vaas started to protest.

"I had informed Doug to bring me seven, and here they are," she counter-attacked. There was a silence, until Vaas rose his brow and pointed at the line of us. I quickly looked down, avoiding both their intimidating stares.

"Looks like you can't count, Bo," his voice sneered. I looked up from under my lashes and spotted the said Bo with her eyes on Vaas.

"Looks like your walkie isn't on, Vaas," Bo growled. I winced at the venomous edge to her voice. "I got a call that your boys found three women, so if you don't mind," she said, turning to the line of us, "tag them, treat them, and send them to me as soon as possible."

Vaas groaned and when I looked at him, he was boiling from the inside. I tried not to imagine what such a mad man could do to a human being. I tried not to imagine what he could do to me or the ones I loved. Instead I tried to imagine my escape from this place. What were the things I had to plan? First was to get my brother back in shape, and get everyone with me to cooperate. But no one would listen to me. I was not a leader, my brother was. He could gather a crowd of clueless people and talk them into taking over a country. And I was only a follower, always proud of my brother.

Bo left and vanished in the foliage. When her presence wasn't felt anymore, a rough hand grabbed my bicep and hauled me onto my feet. When I looked up, I saw Vaas' face hovering over mine. His brows were pulled together and his lips were pinched in a tight line. "Get them to the Jeeps," he ordered in a dark, monotone voice. I shivered when his hot breath fanned my neck and his hand squeezed tighter around my arm.

Two men went for my brother, while the rest took care of Matthew and Jackson. I was urged through the sand and into the humid jungle, where the night sky had forced dragonflies to come out and light our way through the green. I could hear Peter's pained groans and silent screams as we marched in silence, and I tried not to cry, not to let my despair get the better of me. It was hard for when Vaas pushed me into the back of the Jeep, I saw Peter's face; white and stony, sweat trickling from his dark hair. Jackson was hauled into the same Jeep as me, his body pressed against mine so that two of Vaas' men could fit with us too.

"Are you hurt?" Jack whispered in my ear. I shook my head, words unable to pass through the lump in my throat. "It's going to be fine, we'll get out of here."

"Quiet back there!" Vaas yelled from the driver's seat as he started the engine and reversed out of the jungle and onto the dirt path.

I tried to find comfort in the familiarity of Jackson's shape and warmth, but he was trembling and his breath was coming out in wretched puffs. When I looked up, his eyes were the color of charcoal and they were wide, like a deer caught in headlights. His parched lips trembled, his teeth chattering despite the humid weather. He was of no comfort to me. I would have preferred my brother's company, but he was in the jeep behind me with Matt. I could see the driver through the shoulders of the men in our jeep. He was of Hispanic origin with a red bandanna around his neck and pitch black sunglasses. I realized with alarmed precaution, that all the men wore red tank tops. I thought maybe a sect, but sects wore dresses and suits.

My head hit the side of the jeep as the vehicle hit a pretty nasty pothole. I winced, checking with my hand if there was any blood. Jack's eyes found mine and I nodded, giving him the least bit less to worry about. He nodded back and went back to looking at the island that zoomed by us.

Just as we emerged from a very dense jungle and onto another dirt path, a river, emptying into the ocean, glistened before my eyes. The smell of salt and marine life tickled my nostrils and I couldn't help but feel calm. The sound of seagulls and waves crashing onto rocks rocked me like a lullaby. The rogue swaying of the car served as my pram, despite the smell of sweat, death and something rotten. I couldn't design a comfortable and safe world inside my head, even with my eyes closed, because Jack's trembling and the sound of the jeep's motor brought me back to reality. It opened the curtain to something bloody and horrific, and it made my heart race. It scared me.

Just as I was beginning to get used to the view of the river, the sight of jungle leaves and green underbrush blocked my view from the only thing keeping me from despairing. I turned to look ahead, Vaas' shoulder obscuring half the view of the upcoming village. I could see wooden, rundown huts, crates, bone fire arrangements, bamboo cages, and a lot of men in red tanks with AKs in their hands. I gulped down my fear, curling into a ball and returning my eyes to the trees. It wasn't long until we passed the village and we were back onto the infinite dirt path.

Hope you enjoyed! You can leave some feedback and tell me about Kira, because to be honest I'm a bit uncertain of her. She's kinda wishy washy, but she's got her secrets, don't you worry!

Thank you again to those who reviewed, favorited and followed!