Justine just emerged from the restroom, the pregnancy test stashed deep at the bottom of her purse.
Walking to the booth, she nearly collapsed sitting down, tossing her bags to the side. Kaycee was still scanning the menu, her cup of coffee steaming in front of her. Smiling, circles under her eyes, she glanced up at Justine and smirked.
"Man on man, as good as the grub was at your dad's, this stuff looks bomb."
Staring across at her, suddnely everything in the last few months came boiling up, causing a complete mental breakdown. Lowering her head, eyes snapping shut, she began to sob. Flashes of that horrible village overcame her as her breath came out in giant gasps. Reaching across, Kaycee stared at her worried.
"Dude what's wrong?"
But none of those things happened…
Lars reached up to take hold of Justine and Daniel's hands when Alejandro grabbed the dart. Just in time Justine's large green eyes saw this. Reacting fast she reached down, grabbing hold of Lars' arm when Alajandro jammed the dart straight into Lars' side.
"NO!"
Justine grabbed onto him, nearly falling as Daniel helped her. Together both fought as they dragged him upwards. Dead weight, both dragged him from under the arms as he laid down against the bamboo, out cold. Daniel glared down at Alajandro who stared up at them.
"I'll fucking kill you!"
"Good luck getting him out now."
Justine held onto him, struggling before looking at Daniel completely helpless.
"We can't leave him."
Daniel scanned the huts at all the villagers, his eyes darting back and forth. Grabbing Lars, he helped Justine drag him to the edge before motioning with his hand.
"Climb down quick, I'm going to try and lower him."
Justine scrambled from the top of the cage, gripping the bars as she climbed down. Terrified, she waited any second for one of the men to come at her, instead they all seemed occupied, or sleeping in the tall growing grass. Reaching up, hands shaking she waited as Daniel pulled Lars down, while keeping an eye on Alajandro. Justine took hold of Lars the best she could before being unable to hold onto him as she nearly toppled backwards. Climbing down, Daniel dropped lars just a foot or so down as Justine gasped and kneeled down and stared down at him. His pale face stared up at her, eyelids a purplish blue, with circles underneath. Holding onto him, he urged Justine to help put Lars' arms around them. Justine took hold onto him the best she could before looking over her shoulder at Alajandro who stared at them. Together the two worked together, struggling as they dragged him through the jungle, fighting against the dead weight. Once they were within a mile in the jungle, fighting over roots and rocks, they heard the river nearby. Panting, Daniel told her to stop for a second. Together the two carefully laid Lars down against a tree. His unconscious pale face slumped to the side, purplish blue circles underneath his closed eyelids. Justine knelt down, gently touching his stubble cheek. Just a few mere hours ago he had risked his life to have sex with her so these people wouldn't touch her. Still sore, Justine remembered the look in his face as he pressed his forehead against hers, trying to make her believe it was truly just the two of them. Thinking of Alajandro her blood boiled.
"We can't go much further with him, he's slowing us down…"
Daniel muttered. Glancing up with her wide eyes, she couldn't believe it.
"I'm not leaving him…"
"We won't, but it will at least be a few hours until he comes around. These people will notice sooner or later we escaped and go after us. We need to find the GPS and make as much distance between the village and ourselves. We can hide him, come back and send help for him later."
"NO!"
"Justine please, you have to understand. He's my friend too, but we gotta get moving…"
"I'm staying then…"
Daniel shook his head. "
Please, we have to go. We'll hide him the best we can, please…"
Staring at Lars, she felt completely helpless. Knowing there was no time to waist, Justine stood up and motioned to an area of thick bushes. "There, we'll lay him down and cover him up with as much canopy leafs as possible, We'll take his jumpsuit as well." Daniel nodded acting fast, leaning down and dragging Lars into the underbrush. Quickly Justine made sure no tracks were made, scuffing her boots against the dirt before they dragged Lars completely under. Laying him down, both unbuttoned his jumpsuit, pulling it down, leaving him in just his T-shirt and boxer briefs. Bundling up the jumpsuit, they grabbed as many larger leafs and branches, covering him. Desperate, Justine wished there was some way she could let Lars know they didn't leave him, that he needed to stay put. Feeling her stomach in knots, she stared down hating herself. Leaning down, she took his limp hand and gave it a squeeze, praying to God these natives wouldn't find him. Taking her shoulder, Daniel nodded.
"Come on."
Wiping her face, Justine nodded, taking Lars jumpsuit and followed. Once they were fifteen or so feet away they turned and looked to see if Lars could be seen, The underbrush covered up completely and as long as you weren't practically on top of him you wouldn't see. Feeling torn on leaving him, she stood there before Daniel took her arm, urging her to follow, heading towards the river. Fifteen minuets later they found the river and Justine nearly drowned. After Daniel helped her, she collapsed in his arms breaking down completely.
A half an hour later they found wreckage of the plane, and finally the crash site. What they saw there would haunt Justine for the rest of her life. Quickly scrambling to find the only working phone, they were soon captured and brought back to the village. When Justine awoke, she was strapped down in one of the huts, legs spread, terrified as she heard the sounds of Daniel screaming. Coming this close to getting what caused her entire interest in hoping to make a difference here. As she laid there, covered in war paint, shaking, as that terrible woman came closer and closer with the sharpened rock she knew that they still wanted her. That even though she wasn't a virgin anymore, this horrible woman still was fascinated with her and wanted to cut her. Her legs wide open she screamed, praying for rescue. That this horrible nightmare would end.
Why? Why did they still want to do this? Lars had sex with her, she wasn't pure. Why did they still want to do this? No, please no, don't let this happen. Please...
Then, the sound of the bulldozers came. Thanks to the little boy, she was able to escape the hut and attempt to free Daniel who was badly hurt. Begging her to kill him, Justine watched helpless as the little boy gave him a mercy killing. Barefoot, painted, and exposed she began being led out of the village when she heard Alajandro screaming.
"JUSTINE! LET ME OUT OF HERE JUSTINE!"
Justine froze, staring at him. Remembering all of the terrible things he had done and said. How he had tried to keep Lars with him by stabbing him in the leg. Lars, for all she knew who was dead. Everyone, every single one of them were dead because of him. Glaring, she ignored his screams for help and ran into the jungle as fast as she could. The child led her out of the jungle and she gave him her necklace, knowing if it hand't been for him she very well could have still be held captive here or bleeding to death. She hurried as fast as she could, badly damaging her feet as she hurried through the jungle, over sharp rocks and branches. With a few of the natives on her trail, she was able to cross the river watching the wild jungle cat before crossing. She knew she needed to follow the river as best as she could. She had mentally tried remembering where they had left Lars, and wondered if he was awake, or moving yet. She knew she couldn't go anywhere until she found him. Walking carefully, trying to hurry she couldn't for the life of her remember where they had left him. Her heart racing fast, she continued walking as quickly as possible before she faintly heard the sounds of gunshots.
Holding the dead cell phone, she swore hoping to maybe just maybe find a signal.
"JUSTINE!"
Justine froze and saw Lars, he was limping badly and was fifty or so feet away. He had cuts on his bare legs and hurried over to her. Justine never thought she was happier to ever see anyone before in her entire life. Her heart leapt in her throat as she cried out his name and hurried over. The two met halfway, before she wrapped her weak painted arms around him. Lars swayed, holding onto her as tight as he could. Holding onto each other, Justine pulled back and broke down into tears. Instantly Lars tried and concerned face stared at her.
"What happened?"
"Alajandro fucking stabbed you with one of those darts, we pulled you out…"
"Where's Daniel?"
"He's…"
Justine began crying again, shaking all over. Lars held her tight before Justine looked at him, tears cutting through the white and red paint. "
They captured us after we hid you, they tried to…cut me…and…"
Lars gripped onto her arms and instantly his entire face changed as he stared down at her.
"Did they? Did they hurt you?"
"No, one of the children helped me escape but…Daniel's dead…oh God!"
She broke down crying again before the sound of gunfire rang through the air. Instantly Lars and Justine looked up like two frightened children. Grabbing onto the collar of his stained T-shirt.
"Lars come on!"
Together they hurried before breaking through the tree line, where both saw the gunmen firing away massacring the natives. It was a complete bloodbath. Both stood together before they heard a weak call below. Looking down, they saw that terrible man in the black and yellow war paint. He stared up at them, curved bone still in his nose as his wide eyes stared up at their two frightened faces in disbelief. He began to say something when a stray bullet hit him, killing him instantly. Lars and Justine jumped back, holding onto each other before Justine saw the gunmen approaching and threw her hands up in the air.
"DON'T SHOT WE'RE AMERICAN! DON'T SHOOT!"
The gunmen paused as Justine and Lars walked out together. Lars' hands up as well.
"DON'T SHOOT PLEASE!"
He begged. That's when Justine remembered the camera in her hand. Walking forward she held the phone out.
"Camera! Camera! Filmo! Internet!"
Lars looked at her as if she was crazy but Justine continued walking forward, holding the camera up as if it was still working on the phone.
"United Nations! You! You! You! Remember me asshole! Smile you're on camera now!"
Lars stuck to her side walking as she continued holding the phone out, knowing this was their only chance of getting out alive. The head man, the same one who days earlier held a gun to Justine's frightened face, stepped forward glaring. He muttered something in Spanish before Justine glared back and tossed the phone down, knowing he could never know it didn't work to begin with. The camera smashed, and both Lars and her stood together silent waiting.
The man picked up the smashed phone, shook his head and muttered something before two guards stepped forward and hurried Lars and Justine away. The entire time, both didn't let go of each other's hands. An hour later, a chopper was flying down to take them to the embassy. Both had wool blankets around their bodies and they stood together shivering despite the warm heat. One of the guards motioned to the jungle.
"Are you sure it's just you two? There's nobody else?"
Lars looked at Justine as she nodded, beyond exhausted.
"Uh huh, yeah…"
Helping them in, he closed the door as the blades of the chopper began twirling faster and they lifted off. Sitting together, Justine's head on Lars shoulder, they watched the vast jungle unfold as they flew overhead. Justine wouldn't let go of Lars' hand as they continued flying. Both hurt, in shock, and exhausted just sat there staring off into space. Finally, Lars glanced down at her.
"Justine?" He softly said. Justine lifted her eyes staring at him, the red paint smudged around them.
Lars looked at her, lip trembling before he gathered her up into his arms, opening his blanket and allowing her to rest her head against his chest. Gently he stroked her hair before Justine sighed.
"They can never know."
"What?"
"About what happened?"
She lifted her head and stared at him.
"If there's rescue, Alajandro will be saved. I want that bastard to rot in Hell…"
"Justine, but everyone else…"
"They're dead Lars, we can't save them. There were still good people in that tribe…"
Lars stared at her in disbelief, his big brown eyes blinking.
"Are you crazy, after everything that's happened…"
"If it wasn't for that child I would be dead, they did what came natural to them. It isn't the tribes fault. They just didn't understand…"
Lars nervously looked through the plastic window at the men sitting in front of the chopper, unable to hear them and talking with their headsets on. Sighing, he looked at her.
"Justine, you don't know what you're saying. Those people are fucking crazy, they killed our friends and almost killed us…"
"Why did we originally come down here?"
"Justine…"
"Answer the question."
"To save them."
"Let's not have what Alajandro did have all of our friends die in vain. At least something can come out of it," Lars didn't talk for a while, he stared out the window at the jungle before turning his face and staring at her. Finally he nodded.
"All right." "We have to get our stories straight before we land. I think we should stick with how everyone but us died in the plane crash…"
"Justine this is crazy…"
Squeezing his hand, she sat closer, feeling comforted by his warmth.
"I know, but I have the strangest feeling this is going to help us."
"How?"
"I'm not sure yet, but let's talk about what happened. Okay?"
Lars pulled her closer and nodded. Together for the rest of the ride they got their stories straight and stuck with them after they landed and were questioned. They claimed they were the only two that survived in the crash, that they stayed by the fires as long as possible before the natives found them. They fed them, gave them shelter, and led them out of the jungle. That they didn't feel scared or in danger the entire time until the bulldozers came. Both were questioned together, separate, and together again over and over again. Finally, they were given the okay to of to the local hospital on the main land and get looked over. Justine and Lars had scrapes, bumps, and bruises, but besides dehydration, they were perfectly fine. When both were taken into separate hospital rooms, the two suddenly looked frightened, not wanting to be separated even for a few hours.
The kind nurses reassured it would just be for a little while so they could get washed up and get some rest. Justine's father had been contacted, and a private flight was being sent out to collect the two of them. Justine was given some clean scrubs to change into and went into the bathroom to shower. The water pressure wasn't great, but it was warm and as she scrubbed the paint off her, she felt the last three days of pure Hell wash way from her. She had made it, she was alive. Lars and her were alive. After scrubbing her skin until it nearly bled and was bright red, she dried her hair, putting it in a ponytail before going into the room. The nurse offered her something to relax, but Justine wanted to see Lars. Sitting on the bed waiting, she nervously picked at her nails before Lars came in, dressed in scribe himself, his red hair washed and slicked back. The cuts on his face healing, he walked over before sitting beside her. Both looked up at the nurse and said they were fine, they didn't want separate rooms. The nurse nodded, understanding completely before getting two syringes ready. Justine nervously watched as the needles were filled before Lars put his arm around her, telling her they needed to get some sleep. They were safe now. As much as she didn't want to, she watched as Lars received his shot with no protest and got hers as well. Feeling the sting into her arm, she slowly laid back, sharing the hospital bed with Lars as the nurse pulled the blankets over them, telling them in a few hours Justine's father would be arriving, and they would be flown back to the states.
That Lars' family was informed as well and waiting. Shutting the lights off, she left them resting as they laid in each other's arms. Justine's eyes filled with tears as Lars laid there, putting his arms around her in the dark. They had made it, they were going to be okay. Leaning forward, Justine deeply kissed Lars, opening and closing her mouth not knowing what she would have done if he hadn't of survived.