"Chris! Kain!" Karen's urgent voice pierced through the air, jolting me from my daze as I turned to face her, my eyes widening with alarm. Dusty sand was already being scattered over the remnants of our previous encounter, an instinctual response to cover our tracks, as Karen hurried toward us.
"Chris, your shirt!" I hissed, grabbing it from beside us and tossing it to him.
"Not a word of this... to anyone!" Chris whispered sharply, hastily pulling the shirt over his head to conceal the evidence.
"No shit!" I replied, my agreement punctuated with a mix of relief and anxiety.
Karen arrived breathless, her face flushed with exertion, her urgency evident. "Have either of you seen Joel out here?" she asked, her gaze darting around in search of him.
My heart sank as I realised the potential consequences of our hasty actions. I hadn't even considered the possibility of someone else stumbling upon our forbidden encounter.
"No," Chris responded, shaking his head. "It's just been Kain and I since you left us earlier."
I ransacked my memory, trying to recall the last time I had seen Joel. "I don't think I've seen him since dinner last night," I replied, a knot of fear and concern tightening in my stomach. "Is everything okay?" I winced as the weight of my question settled in, realising the absurdity of seeking reassurance in a desolate wasteland, haunted by eerie creatures and plagued by a relentless, unsettling voice in my head. Of course, everything is far from okay, but it seemed futile to voice that realisation.
"It appears that Joel is missing," Karen revealed, her voice tinged with worry. She reached out to steady me as I stumbled on my injured leg.
A furrow formed on my brow, mirroring the mounting unease within me. Everything is definitely not okay, I reminded myself, accepting Karen's support, though the uncertainty of our situation loomed large.
"How is your leg doing?" Karen inquired, her concern etched across her face.
"It's still really painful," I replied, wincing as I attempted to take another step forward, my wounded leg protesting.
"Come on," Karen urged, her gaze darting around nervously. "Let's get back to camp. Paul's requested that everyone gather at the campfire."
Chris appeared puzzled, questioning the urgency of the situation. "Why the rush?" he asked, seeking clarification.
"Just come on," Karen replied, her hand gesturing for us to start moving. "We need to find Joel."
Despite the pain that surged through my leg with each hobbling step, I pressed forward, realising that the urgency in Karen's voice left no room for hesitation.
"Help Kain, would you," Karen scolded her husband, her tone revealing her impatience.
Chris cast a nervous glance in my direction, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. I averted my gaze, unable to meet his questioning stare, focusing instead on the pain that radiated from my leg, the sharp reminder of my current predicament.
As Chris moved beside me, I gingerly wrapped my arm around his shoulder, allowing him to bear the brunt of my weight. "It's fine," I assured Karen, waving her away as she moved to my other side, knowing that her towering height would only complicate matters. Despite the desire for more support, I resigned myself to the reality of the situation. My slight stature made Chris an ideal support, and I had no choice but to make the best of it.
We were still battling the first dune when a loud bark caught our attention, sending a terrifying shiver down my spine. It was all too familiar. Turning back to the lagoon, Lois stood at the edge, growling at the water between barks.
"I didn't know Lois was here too," Karen remarked, her voice tinged with surprise.
"Me neither," Chris responded, his confusion echoing mine.
"I wonder what she's found?" Karen pondered aloud, taking a few hesitant steps toward the lagoon, her curiosity piqued.
"I think we should keep moving," I interjected, uninterested in uncovering any further mysteries this place held.
Karen glanced over her shoulder, considering my words before replying. "You two keep moving. I'll go and see what the problem is."
Taking another step forward, a jolt of pain shot through my leg as Chris hesitated, causing me to wince involuntarily.
"Karen, please be careful. We don't need you going missing too," Chris cautioned, his voice laced with concern.
An uncomfortable shudder ran through me, my mind consumed by the harrowing possibility of all of us disappearing without a trace.
"I'm sure it's nothing," Karen reassured us, her tone attempting to mask the unease that flickered in her eyes, before briskly making her way toward the lagoon.
Sighing heavily, Chris redirected his attention to me. "Come on, then," he urged, determination shining through his gaze.
"Lois!" Karen's voice rang out from behind us.
Neither of us turned back, focused solely on moving toward the camp. The further we ventured, with no sign of Lois or Karen's return, my unease intensified, gnawing at the edges of my consciousness. I tried to reassure Chris multiple times, assuring him that his wife and Lois would rejoin us shortly.
It was as we climbed the final hill that Lois ran past us. Quickly coming back, she circled us several times, stopping twice to shake the water from her saturated fur.
Karen wasn't far behind and we paused to wait for her to reach us.
"What was the problem?" Chris asked Karen.
"It was nothing," replied Karen, quickly shaking her head.
Taking my eyes away from Lois, I cast a glance at Karen, and caught her sending a warning glare to Chris. Clearly it was something, I told myself, gulping dryly. But Karen and Lois both appear to be uninjured, I continued silently. "Let's keep moving," I told them.
Resuming our journey, we continued toward the camp, aided by the support we offered each other. The anticipation grew as we neared our destination, Lois bounding into the camp and finding solace in Glenda's welcoming embrace. Paul and Charity stood nearby, their presence a reminder of the communal gathering that awaited us.
A broad smile graced my face as I witnessed the reunion, momentarily forgetting the trials that plagued us. "The feeling has returned in my uninjured leg," I informed Glenda, gratitude evident in my voice.
"Well, that's a relief," she replied, rising to her feet. "And the other leg?" Glenda inquired, her concern reflecting in her eyes.
"Seems to be quite the miracle," Karen chimed in, joining our conversation as we gathered near the campfire.
Nodding appreciatively, I acknowledged Glenda's advice. "I'll be sure to give it plenty of rest," I assured her, fully aware of the need for caution and recovery.
Chris interjected, his eyes lighting up with an idea. "We can make you some crutches," he suggested, contemplating the practicality of the solution.
Karen scoffed, dismissing the notion. "Forget making crutches," she exclaimed, her tone brimming with determination. "Just have Luke bring us some real ones," she instructed Paul, her words carrying an air of practicality and efficiency.
"That's a much better idea," Glenda agreed, her attention momentarily diverted towards the tents.
Intrigued by her sudden shift in focus, I followed her gaze, spotting Beatrix and Uncle Jamie emerging from around the canvas walls. A sense of foreboding washed over me as they approached, Uncle Jamie cradling a bundle in his arms, the stained sheet concealing a weighty secret. My heart sank, and unspoken questions echoed within me. What... or who... lay beneath that soiled shroud? Unable to voice my concerns, I awaited their arrival with a heavy, uneasy silence hanging in the air.
Paul straightened his back, stepping forward with a determined air. "Jamie," he began, his voice cracking slightly with emotion. "I know things are painful right now, but we need to know when you last saw Joel."
Uncle Jamie halted abruptly, a heavy silence hanging in the air as he wrestled with his words. Ignoring the searing pain that shot through my leg, my gaze swept across the group, desperately seeking answers. Recognition dawned on me as a realisation struck like a lightning bolt. "Duke," I gasped softly, the pieces falling into place. Aside from Joel, the spirited dog was the only other member of the camp who remained unaccounted for. My eyes narrowed at the bundled sheet cradled in Jamie's arms. It's the right size, my mind calculated, a shiver coursing down my spine. A burning fire ignited behind my eyes, mingling with a cocktail of pain and dread.
Uncle Jamie's voice held a weighty burden as he replied, his tone low and somber. "It was just before the attack last night," he confessed, his shoulders sinking. "He was in bed in the tent when I took off after Duke."
Paul pressed on with his questioning. "And when you returned?" he prodded, determined to uncover the truth.
Uncle Jamie's face fell, his silence a painful admission.
Glenda folded her arms nervously across her chest, her anxiety palpable. "Then it's settled," she interjected, her voice tinged with unease. "Joel is missing."
And what of Duke? I wanted to voice the question, but the words caught in my throat, trapped by a knot of fear and despair.
Charity broke away from the campfire, her confidence radiating as she addressed the group. "I am certain that Joel has been taken by the Portal Pirate. I will hunt him down and bring Joel back," she declared with unwavering determination.
"What the actual fuck?" I muttered, the shock and disbelief seeping through in a hushed whisper.
"I'm coming with you," Uncle Jamie blurted out, his voice filled with a mix of desperation and resolve.
My eyes widened, silently protesting the idea. No! You can't leave me here, I pleaded internally, my mind scrambling for a way to intervene.
Charity nodded, her agreement unyielding. "Prepare your things. We leave immediately."
Watching the terror that gripped my uncle's eyes, my heart felt as though it was being torn in two.
With determined strides, Charity closed the distance between her and Uncle Jamie, her firm hand cradling his chin, urging him to meet her gaze. "If you want any chance of finding Joel alive, we must leave immediately," she pressed, her voice carrying the weight of urgency.
Unable to bear witness to my uncle's torment any longer, I averted my gaze, my eyes landing on a gruesome sight. A black panther-like creature lay motionless in the dust near the campfire, dried blood marring its mouth and dribbling through the surrounding soil.
"I need to say farewell to Duke first," Uncle Jamie pleaded, his voice quivering with a mix of anguish and resolve.
Charity's response was cold and decisive. "Life is full of decisions and consequences. You need to make a choice, Joel or Duke."
A gag rose in my throat, stifled by the palm of my hand. Feeling a sense of despair closing in, I glanced back at my uncle, his expression etched with agony.
"Duke knows you love him, Jamie," Beatrix interjected, stepping in front of Uncle Jamie and gently prying Duke from his arms. "He won't ever forget that."
Leaning in, Uncle Jamie placed a tender kiss on Duke's wrapped head. "I'm so sorry, Duke," he whimpered. Taking a deep breath, he straightened his back, standing tall. "I'll grab my things."
I'm going too! I desperately called out inwardly, the words refusing to find a voice.
But your injured leg, the eerie voice of Clivilius returned, sending a shockwave of terror rippling through my entire body. You would only be a burden if you go.
Uncle Jamie suddenly paused, his footsteps halting. Casting a glance over his shoulder, he spoke with a tremor in his voice, "Take good care of Henri for me," he requested.
Paul stepped forward, scooping the plump dog into his arms. "We'll keep him safe, Jamie. You have my word."
Without uttering another word, Uncle Jamie retreated into his tent, Charity trailing close behind.
I'm not a burden, I seethed silently, distancing myself from Chris and Karen as a symbol of renewed independence.
"Clivilius!" Glenda's piercing scream shattered the air, her body collapsing to her knees as she pounded her fists into the ground. Looking up, she clutched at her chest, her face a mix of agony and revelation.
"Glenda?" Paul's voice rang out, a note of concern lacing his words. He approached cautiously, taking measured steps toward her. "Are you alright?"
"My father is alive!" Glenda blurted out, her hands shooting up triumphantly as if possessed by a sudden surge of elation. A trance-like state seemed to consume her, rendering her unresponsive to Chris, who waved his hand in front of her face in vain.
Beatrix, too, broke away from the group, her eyes fixed on a distant horizon as she cradled Duke in her arms.
"Beatrix, where are you going?" Paul called out, his voice tinged with confusion and disbelief.
"Home!" she shouted back, her response curt and resolute.
Seizing the opportunity, I interjected without hesitation. "I'm going with Beatrix," I announced.
"You need to rest," Karen said sternly, reaching for me.
"I need crutches," I retorted, pushing Karen away from me as I struggled to my feet. "If Beatrix brings me some crutches, I can go with my uncle."
"Don't be so foolish," Karen scolded, her voice stern and disapproving.
Ignoring Karen's pleas, I began to follow in Beatrix's footsteps, my bare feet sinking into the soft dust as I moved forward.
Even with crutches, how can you be certain your leg will heal? Clivilius's voice echoed in my mind once again, igniting a fresh wave of fear throughout my body. You will only bring harm upon yourself if you go.
You promised! I silently argued, desperately hoping for some form of reassurance.
Silence.
I've kept my end of the deal, I asserted, frustration and fear intermingling within me as I sought some validation.
Have you, really?
The chill of doubt ran down my spine as I retraced my steps, mentally reviewing the events that had unfolded. Did I miss something? I wracked my brain, convinced that I had fulfilled my end of the bargain. I gave you Chris, I reminded Clivilius, my voice laced with a mixture of desperation and defiance.
Are you absolutely certain?
Vivid memories of the glowing sperm in the lagoon and the tales of Uncle Jamie flooded my mind. My eyes widened with a horrifying realisation—Chris hadn't ejaculated in the water.
I'm not doing that again! I protested vehemently.
What will your child think when they discover that their father lost his leg?
I gasped, fear pricking every fibre of my being. How do you know about the baby? I demanded, a sense of unease creeping in as I realised that even Brianne and I hadn't learned the gender yet.
I am Clive, the voice proclaimed, a chilling affirmation that sent shivers down my spine.
