Much longer chapter today. Once again thank you for the reviews. :D
No rest and continuance walking was wearing between them making Arnold believe if they did cut loose their captors that their spaghetti legs would make it difficult for them to get away. Glancing over to Helga she was obviously hot, but she looked to be in fairly good shape. He had an idea this wasn't gonna be an easy trek but continued to remain optimistic as he sugar coated his daydreams of finding his parents, having this happy reunion, before they all headed home where his grandparents will whoop and holler at seeing them again.
"Sorry about this, Helga." He whispered.
Helga wanted to shrug but was too tired to do that as she tried to do a shrugging movement with her own lips. "Just think what we can tell our future children one day." She tried to quip, but it was serious sounding.
Even though it was far too soon to think of things like that, Arnold did feel in his heart and mind that she is the one. "I like that thought actually. The children part. Not the captive part."
"Well of course. You aren't into S and M mister."
"Quiet you twos!" Earl ordered. "The both of you won't be having any future together after this."
Both their stomachs dropped thinking of what they were planning on doing to them. They were still hoping for divine intervention to burst upon the scene to rescue them both even to the point of hearing a waterfall. Arnold kept repeating the thoughts in his head praying for a miracle even as their captors pushed them even more heavily now the second the sound of rushing water was coming closer and closer and they spotted some men out in the bushes studying them as one of them whistled.
Going through the brush they went through one heavily dense part before spotting a river boat with some men coming off and on it with supplies. Helga looked all around to see any sight of his parents. She studied that picture for days in his room just to get their images plastered into her head, but seeing nothing, she then spotted an older mean looking old dude approaching them laughing almost happily.
"Doesn't take much to know who this young man is." Giving Arnold a closer inspection his smile was full of glee. "Seen your image enough." Looks to Helga. "Hmm I'm not blind to know who you are, my dear." He cooed about to touch her chin.
"Where are my parents?!" Arnold demanded angrily.
Smirking at him the man laughed. "Dead or alive. Who knows? I just know they are both stubborn creatures. My name is La Sombra, and you are Arnold, and your name, my dear?"
"Get bent." Helga hissed.
Scanning her, La Sombra grabbed her chin. "I'll do a body search of you. Do you wish it?"
"Helga. La Asshole." She snarled out.
Not insulted in the least, La Sombra ordered Earl to put them on the boat so they can be off. He looked at his newest hostages pleased with himself, as they all got on the boat to head off to his secret encampment.
It would be more than an hour possibly, when they were forcibly yanked up to their feet, before they were making their way across some unsteady boards towards their camp. Both Helga and Arnold spotted a tiny building with bars in the front of it making them wonder if his parents were there, but as they neared the center, La Sombra made Helga stand in one spot as his men and himself forced Arnold away.
"No, what are you going to do to Helga?" Arnold halted in his footsteps.
The look in La Sombra's eyes told him way too much. "Just like you, she is destined. She is worshiped by the Green Eyes. Oh I've seen that temple too. I'm not blind when I saw her. I may of not known much a long time ago, but I've grown in so many ways with knowledge." Looks towards an angered and distressed Helga. "Even I can sniff out someone pure and she will make a great sacrifice."
Anger overtook him as he instantly went to kick him, before kicking the guy behind him before running at, Helga who quickly had a knife at her neck. Arnold stopped close near her. "Don't." His eyes boring into her own. Arnold loved her far too much and kept begging God for help. Helga didn't deserve this. "Please. I don't want to ever lose her."
"You won't. She'll be given to the Gods in the sky. Gods you'll see soon too." La Sombra was far too calm in his attitude as he stood on either side of them both. "Helga's will be the ultimate sacrifice."
"Take me and spare her." Arnold begged. His eyes never wavered from those blue depths. "She deserves it."
Mocking soft laughter was heard as he placed his hand on his stomach. "Young love is so annoying."
"Arnold."
Hearing her sound so vulnerable tore him apart. Arnold wanted to reach out and hold her in his arms like they did at night. He wanted to feel his perfect Helga against him again. "Helga."
The vision he was seeing inside her depths frightened him. Arnold saw her past in them. Saw Bob beating his own daughter up. She had been through so much and since living at the boarding house things were slowly getting so much better for her. Ignoring La Sombra mocking them both still. He had to say something to her.
"Please I must kiss my Angel." Arnold hated begging.
Watching the knife being pulled away from her neck, Arnold was brought closer to her. He kissed her before he whispered into her ear. "My Swan, your Football Head loves you and I know we'll win. I know you're scared because I'm scared too." Kissing her again he touched her nose with his. "Do you trust me?"
"A-always." She replied as a tear slid down her cheek. "I love you."
Feeling himself quickly yanked back and hauled away, Arnold's heart and stomach kept lurching at hearing her call out to him. He heard her crying. "I love you too, Helga. Remember. Remember!"
Helga felt her throat constricting more as she watched him being dragged away towards that cell. She ignored the laughing all around them as she focused on him. She survived Bob. She'll have to survive this. They both will. She found someone who loves her. Her first crush remained perfect over the years. He loves her as much as she loves him. God can't be this cruel. He can't. He had a plan to help them both. He must.
Helga watched as Arnold was soon thrown into the cell after they took his bindings off. Soon there was hope. Arnold was smart. She could even feel her own mother speaking to her to tell her to remain strong because help is on the way. "You are nothing but an evil prick." She spat out to La Sombra. "I swear you are like my father's evil ass twin you fucking bastard."
La Sombra looked impressed at the sudden fight in the girl in front of him. "Perhaps you are a fire goddess."
"She certainly is a pretty young thing, boss." The male said behind her in a leering way.
Angry at his subordinate, La Sombra could only snarl. "If you dare do anything more to this young lady that I deem inexcusable, I will flay you to an inch of your life."
Hearing the mumbled apology from the male behind her, Helga at least found herself a little grateful that only killing was on the menu instead of the added horror.
In the dim lighting where he was being held, Arnold was looking out of his cell when he was aware he wasn't alone forcing him to look away from Helga to spot two forms propped up against one another against the wall. One male. One female. Feeling his throat go dry and glancing towards where Helga was he then moved towards the couple. The lighting was dim and Arnold could make them out clearly as he got nearer before his legs gave out dropping him to his knees. They were alive!
"Mom? Dad?" Arnold softly bade them to wake up as he drew nearer till he felt his father launch an attack on him pining him to the ground.
"Ha ha! You honestly thought you can get one over on us?" Miles hissed out. "If you don't let us out of here I'm warning you now that I know a thousand ways of killing someone quickly."
"Dad it's me. It's Arnold. Please." He begged.
"You think you can fool me? I know my son is in Hillwood and not here. You know, I should punish you now for trying to trick us." Miles was about to say more till, Stella broke him away from Arnold. "Stella? What do you think your doing?"
Ignoring her husband, Stella helped Arnold up to bring him more towards the light so she can study him. Touching his face gingerly, Stella was in awe at the young man standing before her as a smile broke out on her face before wrapping him up in a firm but loving embrace.
"Uh... Stella?" Miles was absolutely perplexed to why his wife was hugging this intruder.
"My beautiful baby boy is all grown up." Tears streaming down her face she pulled back to look at him some more. "Arnold." She breathed out. "Miles, it's our baby boy."
Moving behind his wife, Miles mouth slowly started gaping as recognition took over. "My son." Moving quickly over he hugged his son. "What are you doing here? Oh I thought we'd never see you again."
Arnold felt at a loss. It was like their picture was suddenly speaking to him. "I came here to find you. My girlfriend and I..."
"Girlfriend? You have a girlfriend?" Stella knew she missed so much of her son's life and here he was with a girlfriend. As questions ranged originally to how they met and how long were they together quickly shifted to: "Where is your girlfriend?"
Moving past them, Arnold went to the door to see that Helga was now on the ground resting on her knees still looking in his direction. "They have her captive. They are threatening to sacrifice her."
"Because they need your corporation?" Miles was cautious in how he hoped for a tiny sign of something.
Arnold wished she could read his thoughts right now as he continued keeping her gaze. "My image isn't the only thing at the temple where I was born."
Stella gasped as she came forth to have her eyes resting on who her son was staring at. His girlfriend had blonde hair and large eyes if she can see them quite clearly from there. She also noted how uniquely beautiful she is. She also knew if her image is in that temple then it meant one thing. "He still doesn't know where La Corazon is or the Green Eyes. Once he finds La Corazon he will sacrifice her."
Looking over both of them, Miles watched, La Sombra speak to her. "She is a destined one too. Worshiped like a god." He felt anger. More anger than he had before. "What is your girlfriend's name?"
Arnold said her name almost like he was reciting poetry. "Helga G. Pataki. She lives in the boarding house. She is simply the most amazing person that has entered my life and I will not have her out of it." Taking a deep breath in, he continued. "We silenced the volcano when we confessed our love in that temple and the Green Eyes found us."
"How long have you both been together?" Miles was formulating an escape in his mind while they spoke.
Blushing, Arnold answered, "Since yesterday, but we've known one another since the start of high school. I did meet her briefly in pre-school before she was forced to move away. Each time I see her she is always like this light in my life that I can't get enough of."
Spotting someone heading up towards them, Stella pulled them away from the door. "They are coming for one of us to demand where the La Corazon is."
Hearing a demand for them to get on the ground they all did unhappily as the door opened before Miles was told to come with them. Miles had to hope this was their chance since now seeing his son again he will make damn sure to get his son home safe with his girlfriend. He just hoped it would work as he was brought down there by gun point and placed immediately in front of Helga. By the look in her eyes she recognized him as they studied each another.