TW: Domestic Violence, Attempted SA, and implied CSA. I did make this story rated M for a reason.
On the beach of the island that was to be their new home - hopefully a temporary arrangement, Grace paced back and forth, anxiously awaiting any word from Jesse's group. How could she let this happen? Her daughter, the only person in this world she truly cared for was missing, and she was waiting uselessly back at their makeshift camp.
Carlos looks up from where he was dragging a piece of metal off the beach, to make room, before turning to Dana. Carlos gave Dana a knowing look, as the woman took a breath. Dana walked up to Grace, giving a kind smile - one she had to force.
"Grace, was it?" Dana asked her, as Grace paused, turning to face the woman, "I'm certain they'll find your daughter, no problem."
Grace shook her head lightly, before speaking, "It's not that... It's just..." She trailed off, as if unable to find words suitable to convey how she was feeling in this moment.
"Just what?" Dana asked her, watching the slightly older woman with genuine concern. "Is she sick? Should they worry about her?"
Grace shook her head quickly, "Sick? Physically, no. Mentally? Maybe. She has a lot of issues; I'm just worried they won't be able to get her to trust them - Jesse included."
"Issues?" Dana repeated, the way that word hung in the air, the way Grace looked upon saying it, it worried her. "Are Jake and the others in danger?"
Grace just looked at Dana, before looking out toward the jungle, "I hope not." Was all she said.
:: ::
Six months ago...
It started slow, as all things like this usually do. A temper here, a punched wall there. That was a year ago, when it began. But Gregory... Sophie's father, and Grace's husband, he had fallen back into the bottle. Grace had tried her best to shield Sophie from his rampage, from his abuse. Sending her out to hang with her friends, or Grace's sister, especially when he would drink. Today, it was no different. Sophie had been visiting a friend, while Grace prepared dinner.
The sound of the crappy, rundown old pickup, caused her to jump as her heart began to beat in her chest. The noise, and the thump of her heart resonated in her ear. The fear she felt, the anxiety... Just knowing he was nearby, about to barge in. Not knowing what mood he'd be in, after working all day. That waiting... Waiting for the pain, the neglect, it was almost worse than the actual abuse she was bound to sustain.
As the front door slammed shut, and the sound of heavy feet resonated in the small apartment, it was clear what day it was to be. Then a voice came, like one from her nightmares, barking at her, causing her to jump once more.
"Grace!" His voice boomed, almost echoing, deep and hoarse. He had already begun drinking. She couldn't respond before she felt his hand on her back, causing her to shiver. She had once been attracted to him - the most attractive man she had ever met. Now? Now she was repulsed by his every sound, every action. Guess it's true what they say... It's easy to fall in love, it's another thing to stay in love.
"Hey, dear..." Grace responded, once regaining her composure. "Dinner will be ready soon."
"Good, but I want more right now." He whispered in her ear, causing sweat to run down her back, as she felt his hand push its away lower, toward her rear end. Grace instinctively grabbed his wrist, to stop him... Immediately realizing the grave error she had made. Gregory wasn't used to being told no, and it always backfired on Grace or Sophie.
Gregory reacted by smacking Grace across the face with a sickening sound, as she held her cheek, tears threatening to escape from the sheer pain and fear. She couldn't even stutter out a pain-filled apology, before she was backed into the kitchen counter, his hand around her throat. He wasn't squeezing, he was smart enough to avoid marks that couldn't be easily hidden - smacking her was a mistake, in that instance. An act of rage, he wasn't thinking about. Grabbing her throat was an act of dominance - to scare her, deeply, nothing more. She couldn't even speak - no words could escape. She could only pray he'd be quick with his sick desires before Sophie got home in a few hours.
She felt his hand push its way up her shirt, to touch her breasts, his hand cold... It took everything in her not to grab him again. She wanted to throw up. This man gave her Sophie. What kind of desperate was she? Sophie was the only good thing that came from this retched marriage. Her Sophie... her angel.
:: ::
In the present...
In the jungles of the island, Jake and Jade slowed down, to allow Jesse to kneel by fresh tracks. Jesse placed a finger in the mud, before looking up.
"Maybe ten minutes. Two sets - one small." Jesse says.
"That must be Sophie. The other should be Lyra." Jade said, looking at Jake, "We will find her."
"Hopefully." Jake says, cynical as ever.
Jesse got up, pulling his bag close as he looked at his two compatriots, "No time to waste, they need us."
As Jesse got up, his pant leg moved, revealing the ankle tracker he wore. Jade was the one to spot it, ever the keen eye. Jade knelt down, before looking up at Jesse.
"Is that a damn ankle monitor?" Jade asks, her voice accusatory. Jesse looked down at her, before pushing his pant leg back down. "Are you a criminal?"
Jesse looked at them, as he saw Jake's body go rigid - like he was ready to fight. Was he willing to throw down with the man tracking his sister, if it meant protecting her?
Jesse looked between them; would they even believe the truth? That he was working with the FBI and Interpol? Maybe. Or maybe they already believe he's hiding something. Would the truth really set him free? It couldn't hurt to try.
"I was working with the FBI, as a confidential informant." Jesse explained. "I've made mistakes, yes, but I was working to make amends. I was given a second chance, and I was earning it every minute I was free. If you don't believe me, that's on you. But those girls need us. Will you let my past stop us from finding them? Or will they be two more bodies to add to the pile."
Jake and Jade exchanged uncertain looks, before he took a breath, "Fine." Jake said, looking at Jesse. "I believe you. For now. But we should keep this between us, don't want anyone else thinking wrongly of you."
Jade raised a hand, "Did you hear that?"
The boys stopped, closing their eyes as to listen closely... before they, too heard it. Screaming, yelling.
"Sophie!" Lyra's voice echoed through the jungle, as Jake looked around. "In here!"
"They're together." Jade remarked, looking at Jake... as he took off into the jungle.
"Jake!" Jesse called after him. "He's going to get himself killed. Who knows what beasts inhabit this island?"
"Dragons? A velociraptor?" Jade asked Jesse, with a playful smirk, before taking off after Jake.
"Not funny!" Jesse called after her, before taking a breath. "Great... This will be so much fun."
:: ::
Back on the beach, Tyler was helping Rhea set up a makeshift camp. Gerald was sitting on the beach, watching them... keeping his eyes on Rhea. He didn't trust her - how did she know him so intimately?
"Have you seen Tyler?" Hope walked up to Carlos, who was working with Dana to build a large fire.
"I think I saw him talking to that Rhea girl." Carlos responded, before pointing to where they saw Rhea laugh, and touch his arm.
"Oh boy..." Dana whispered, seeing the jealousy and rage seethe inside Hope.
"Wait- Hope!" Carlos called after her, as she begun to storm toward the pair. "I think we just inadvertently caused a murder... or two."
"We? I didn't rat out Loverboy. You did." Dana responded, earning an annoyed sigh from Carlos.
Gerald looked up, as he saw Hope storming up to the pair, the rage radiating off her was nearly palpable.
"Ah-hem!" Hope coughed, crossing her arms as she watched the two.
"Oh, hey!" Rhea says, giving Hope a smile. "You must be... Hope?"
"Yeah. I am." Hope responded, her glare focused solely on Tyler, who looked like he wished he was a turtle so he could hide in his shell. "We crash for a few hours, and you already find a new bitch to fall over?"
"Bitch?" Rhea asked, giving her a frown - a look so pathetic, anyone with a soul would feel their heart break. Like a puppy that just got kicked. "He was just helping me fix up this tent, I swear. Nothing more."
"Was I talking to you? Did I give you permission to talk to me?" Hope asked her, her glare only growing fiercer by Tylers silence.
"Hope..." Tyler finally managed to say. "Please. Not now. Don't do this now."
"Oh, so it's my fault you're falling over this... this slut." Hope asked, shaking her head, "Should've known better than to date someone so beneath me."
Hope began to storm off, toward the jungle as Tyler sighs, "I'm so sorry, Rhea." He says, before taking off after his enraged other half. To beg forgiveness.
:: ::
A month ago...
Grace arrives home from the store, to see the living room destroyed, holes in the wall, empty beer bottles littering the floor, even the TV had a hole in it. She looks down, seeing Sophie's school bag and shoes by her feet, freezing... Sophie was home. Alone. With Gregory.
"Sophie!?" Grace called out, no longer caring if her husband was home to punish her for making noise. She ran through the house, calling her name, as crying was heard from Sophies room. Grace tried to open it but found something blocking it. "Sophie... Baby, it's your mom, please. He's gone. Let me in."
"No!" Sophie yelled out, at her. "No! You'll just... You'll just do what he did!"
Grace froze... No. He couldn't have. To his own daughter? To sweet, innocent little Sophie? She shook her head, not believing it. No. He's a sick bastard, but even he has limits he won't cross.
"Sophie... I promise you, I'll never hurt you." Grace whispered, letting her tears fall, as she pressed her forehead against the wooden doorframe. "Please... Open the door."
The sobbing on the other side continued, until it slowed down to silent whimpers, and the sound of a dresser being painfully dragged across hardwood floors was heard, followed by the click of the door unlocking. Sophies face had a bruise on her cheek, her face flushed from crying, and streaks remaining from her tears. She looked up to her mom, sniffling before hugging her. Grace froze, seeing her daughter in such a state, before pulling her close, and picking her up.
"Don't let him hurt me again..." Sophie whimpered, hiding her face in Grace's neck, as Grace stroked her back lightly. "Please, mommy..."
Grace's heart was breaking by every word, every syllable that her daughter uttered. After what felt like hours, just holding Sophie as she cried, Grace finally came to terms with a plan. They'd run. As far, as fast as they could. To somewhere he would never find them. Grace gently set Sophie down, kneeling to her level, and moving a strand of hair from her face.
"Pack a bag, sweetie. We're leaving. Now." Grace whispered to her, staring into her tear-filled eyes. "To someplace he will never find us."
Sophie sniffled, wiping tears from her face, "To where?"
Grace stroked her hair back lightly, before answering, "America. I know someone who can help us."
:: ::
In the present...
In the jungle, Jake's group reached a cave, as Jesse knelt by the mud at the entrance, before nodding up to Jake. They had run in there, to hide from something or someone. And, they were alone in that dark, damp hole. Jesse dropped his bag, pulling out flints, as he picked up a tree branch. Jesse ripped his sleeves off his shirt, wrapping it tightly around the branch, proceeding to light it for a makeshift torch.
Jake was the first to enter, the ever-vigilant soldier looking for the only family he has left. Behind him was Jesse, ever the protector of the less fortunate - if by his own guilt, or a natural instinct to safeguard, who could say. Bringing up the rear was Jade, forever living in her father's shadow, now finally proving she doesn't need his name, his lineage, to be something. She was finally able to be who she wanted to be. As the three walk, carefully, quietly, they started hearing voices deeper within.
"Lyra... I'm scared." A young girl's voice echoed in the dampness of the cave.
"It's okay to be scared, Sophie. That means you're alive." Lyra's voice was heard then, "Just stay by my side, I won't let you get hurt."
"Down here." Jesse whispered to his compatriots, before proceeding farther in, where they reach the back of the cave. They saw the two girls seated against the wall, Lyra had her arm around Sophie, holding her close. As the girls heard footsteps, Lyra grabbed a rock that sat nearby, throwing it at the three. Jade had to duck to avoid it, as she then snapped to look at the girls, a mixture of shock and pride in her eyes.
"Whoa, whoa! Watch who you're throwing rocks at!" Jade said.
As Lyra's eyes adjusted to the light from Jesse's torch, her eyes widened, filled with hope. She shakily stood, pulling Sophie with her.
"Jakey?" She breathed, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Ly..." Jake responded, just as the ground begun to shake violently
"Earthquake?! Here!?" Jade exclaimed, grabbing onto the wall for stability.
"That shouldn't be possible!" Jesse says.
:: ::
Back on the beach, as Carlos and Dana finally finished building what would be their beacon, the ground shook violently, causing them to fall to their knees. Victoria barely held onto a tent Carlos had helped her pitch. Rhea looked out into the jungle, a smile on her face, not a care in the world. Gerald looked over to Rhea, grabbing onto a tree for stability, before seeing Jefferson fall. Gerald turned his gaze to focus on Rhea, she seemed unfazed.
In the jungle, Tyler and Hope had been arguing for the past few minutes when the earthquake struck.
"I know what I saw, Tyler, she was all-" Hope barely got her words out, as the ground shook, causing her to fall into Tyler's arms as he caught her. She placed a hand on his chest, looking up at him as everything else - even the earth shaking - seemed to give way around them. To them, they seemed to be the only two people that mattered in this moment, anger, jealousy or not.
:: ::
Back in the cave, rocks started falling from the ceiling, as Jesse looked up. He broke off, running to Sophie and Lyra, the latter of which pulled Sophie into her, to shield her from the falling debris. Jade looked up, before turning to Jake, and shoving him back, away from the girls and Jesse, and jumping back toward Jesse, just as the ceiling seemed to come down between them.
"Cave in..." Jesse breathed, looking back to their now blocked exit. At least he still had the torch... right?
"No... No... No." Jake breathed, trying to pull the rocks, and free his new friends and sister. "Lyra!"
"Jake!" Jade shouted through the rock wall. "Stop! If you pull too hard, if you pull the wrong rock, the whole cave could come down. Go back to the beach, see if anyone knows how to safely help us!"
Jake freezes, pressing his forehead against the wall of rocks between them. On the other side, Lyra pressed her hand against the wall, letting a tear fall.
"It's okay, Jake... Go. I believe in you." She whispered. "I believe you'll help me."
"I'll be back. Jesse, Jade, keep them safe!" Jake says, before the sounds of him retreating echoed, even through the wall.
"That wasn't too smart. Why'd you shove him away, instead of going yourself?" Jesse asked Jade, as he knelt by Sophie, checking her over.
"He's a soldier. If anyone knows how to rally the troops... It's him." Jade said. "It was smart strategy, if you think about it, champ."
"What did I tell you about calling me champ?" Jesse asked, before looking down at Sophie. "Are you okay? Do you remember me?"
"You're the nice man from the plane that gave me that book." Sophie whispered, before gently falling into him, her eyes closed.
"Sophie!?" Lyra exclaimed, rushing to her side. "Is she..."
"She's okay. She just passed out - adrenaline, I think. She's probably terrified." Jesse says, looking back to the girls with him.
:: ::
One week ago...
Grace enters a rundown studio in a shady part of town, as she looked around. It smelled of musk, and dirt and grime. She saw a young man sitting at a computer in the corner, as she walked up behind him.
"Cole?" Grace asked. "I need your help."
"Grace?" The man, Cole, turned to face her. "I knew you'd come to accept my offer when your husband became a brute."
"You make the best fake IDs in town, maybe in the world." Grace says. "You once told me... You could give my daughter and I completely new identities and passports to any country we chose. We choose America. And we need them as soon as possible. Took me almost a month to track you down. Avoiding Gregory's notice."
"You know my price, Gracie." Cole says, getting up. He was around twenty-five, with a stocky build, and a full beard. "Ten thousand."
Grace chewed her bottom lip a moment, "I don't have that kind of money. But my husband does. He's not who he says, he doesn't work construction."
"Oh, I know Gregory all too well. He's an enforcer for Darryl." Cole says. "Gets paid pretty handsomely to make Darryls enemies eat through a feeding tube, or simply disappear."
"I know where Gregory hid his money, even from me." Grace says. "Make the passports, the IDs... It's all yours, Cole. Way more than Ten Thousand - maybe even a hundred times that."
Cole took a moment to ponder the decision - was stealing from a gangster like Darryl worth the risk? Even if it could get Cole out of this business for good? He wasn't scared of Darryl; he has even made fake IDs for Darryl on more than one occasion. After a moment, Cole seemed to smile.
"You got yourself a deal, Gracie." Cole says, holding out a hand. "When you get to America, don't forget about your pal Cole."
"Don't think I could if I wanted to." Grace says, shaking his hand. "Thank you, Cole. Thank you so much."
"Don't thank me yet, you very well may die on your way to the airport. Especially if Darryl or Gregory catch wind of your plan." Cole says, turning back to the computer to get to work. "You and your little girl."
"Death is preferable to the Hell Gregory put her through." Grace says, coldly, before turning away. "I'll be back in four days. Thank you, again, Cole."
:: ::
Back in the jungle, as the shaking quieted down, Hope pushed off of Tyler, shaking her head rapidly.
"No! You can't just use your charms to make me forgive you!" She exclaimed.
"Hope..." Tyler breathed.
"No! You don't get to defend yourself!" She says, backing away from him.
"Hope!" Tyler snapped, as he pointed up to the tree above them.
She slowly looked up, as they saw what looked like a briefcase hanging on a branch, the earthquake must've knocked it loose as it came crashing to the ground between them. The force of collision popping the lock as it opened. Out fell dozens... and dozens... of fake ID's, passports. Tyler knelt down, picking up what looked like a Florida driver's license, although no picture was implanted.
"What the hell?" Hope whispered, kneeling beside him. "Why would someone travel with a hundred fake IDs? They have names - some female, some male."
"Someone who doesn't want us to know their true identity. Or they're running from something." Tyler answered, looking over to her. "I'm sorry about Rhea, I really never intended to make it appear more intimate than it was."
"I know." Hope whispered. "And I'm sorry for lashing out - again. But for now... This is more important."
"Do we tell the others?" Tyler asked her, gently touching her hand.
"I think we should. If we don't and someone gets hurt by whoever it is concealing their identity..." Hope began.
"I'd never forgive myself." Tyler finished for her, before putting all the IDs and passports in the briefcase again, and closing it, picking it up. "Who do we trust to tell first?"
"What about that army medic? Or the hunter? They went after those two missing girls, right?" Hope asked.
"And that woman, Jade, went with them." Tyler said. "We'll decide when we get back to the beach."
Hope watched him, before gently taking his hand in hers, "I love you, Tyler."
Tyler looked at Hope, gently kissing her lips, before breaking it, "And I love you, Hope."
The two began their trip back to the beach, Tyler still holding that briefcase. A cave in, four of the survivors trapped, oxygen running out, sooner rather than later, one out cold. A mysterious briefcase filled with fake IDs and passports. Someone concealing who they are - or is it as cut and dry? Is it so simple as a case of hidden identity, or something deeper and darker at play here.