Part 89: Kindred Spirits

Mia wandered along the beach. She had been thinking a lot last night, mostly about John. She wondered how much he truly cared for her. They had created such a great bond but they had yet to explore it. The Lakota girl was worried that maybe he was holding back because she was just 20 years old and he was a good 13 years her senior. But she had heard of relationships that had an even longer yearly span. It was only the love that mattered. She had to know how he felt. She had to be sure.

She walked over to the medical tent to speak with him. However, he wasn’t there. Marita placed some twigs into the fire. Tony was wrapping McKay’s bandage on his arm by touch. When he was done, he held out his hand to Eddie who slowly placed three Advil into. The blind doctor then handed them to the Australian who quickly swallowed them in one gulp. “Hey, Tony,” Mia responded.

“Mia?” Tony smiled, turning his head toward the sound of her voice, “How are you today?”

“I’m fine, thank you. I was just wanting to know if you’ve seen John.”

Mia then clapped her hands over her mouth. “OH, MY GOD!” she screamed, “When I asked if you’ve SEEN John, I meant did you SEE him in the metaphorical sense, I didn’t mean that you ACTUALLY seen him, I just-“

“Mia, Mia, calm down,” Tony cracked up laughing, “I am not going to get angry at your for a figure of speech.”

Mia giggled, calming down, “Thanks, Tony.”

“To answer your question, I haven’t seen John.” Tony smiled, “He’s been gone for about thirty minutes now.”

“Gone? Gone where?”

“He went into the woods, luv.” McKay smiled, “He’s chopping wood. He managed to find a piece of the wreckage that wound up with a sharp edge.”

“Which way?”

McKay turned and pointed toward another area of the jungle. Mia thanked them and began walking back toward the jungle. Marita smirked at McKay. The Australian just smirked at guiding the Lakota girl toward his archer friend. Even Tony smiled, knowing full well that those two might be able to get their chance.

John might find the moment he was looking for.


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John slammed the giant axe like piece of metal down on the fallen wood. It smashed it into two pieces. It wasn’t a clean break but it was close enough. John had managed to find some electrical tape and utilitized that to cover the long piece of the wreckage, creating himself a handle. To make it easier to grip, he also wrapped torn cloth against the wreckage first, then covered it in the tape. John slammed the axe down again and cut himself another wood chuck. He leaned it back up, licking at the edge. Licking his thumb, he ran it across the edge, feeling how sharp it was. “Dayum, “he laughed to himself, “I can improvise.”

“I should say so,” a female voice said near him.

John turned and saw the sleek form of Natasha leaning against a tree. She had tired her long hair back, while she was wearing a light blue men’s dress shirt and a blue denim miniskirt. The archer wiped his sweat on the back of his hand and smiled at her. “You know something, Natasha?” he grinned, “If we had fashion awards on this island, I’d have to vote for you.”

“Thank you,” she smiled, “I accept all compliments from handsome men.”

John then held his axe aloft, ready to continue his work, “So, what brings you out this far?”

“You.” She whispered.

John flung his axe down and missed. He blinked and looked back at her. “Me?” he asked puzzled.

She then started to approach him, slowly unbuttoning the shirt she was wearing. John stared at her hands, sweat dripping from his nose. The sight of her emerging cleavage could give any man pause, he thought to himself. “I was wondering when we might stop playing games with each other,” she said in a sultry tone.

“Oh, really?” John said, breathing heavier, “I was under the impression you liked games.”

“Oh, I do. But I’m tired of playing. Aren’t you, John?”

“Actually, I was just starting to have fun.” He said, slowly backing away from her.

“I can show you a new kind of fun.”

Natasha then grabbed him and kissed him. John dropped his axe feeling the brunettes tongue invade his mouth.


Mia walked through the jungle. She thought for a second that she had gotten lost. Then she head voices. She turned to her right and maneuvered through the bushes. She walked through a grouping of foliage and then froze at the sight she saw. John was kissing Natasha! Mia then covered her mouth with her hand and twisted around, hiding behind a tree.

She squinted her face, trying not to cry. Her through felt like it had an apple shoved into it. It was getting difficult to breathe. She gripped her shirt around her chest. She failed. She missed him. The opportunity was there and she blew it. The thought of losing John nearly made her collapse onto her knees.

Natasha and John finally broke from her kiss. The archer had his eyes closed the whole time, and then slowly opened him. Natasha licked her lips and stroked his cheek. “What did you think?” she asked.

“Very nice, “ he had to admit the truth.

“So where do we go from here?” she asked.

“We don’t go anywhere, Natasha,”

“Excuse me?” she said, insulted.

Mia opened her eyes and immediately stopped crying. What did he say??

“Natasha, don’t get me wrong, “ John said, holding her arms, “I like you. I like you a lot. But you and me . . .I don’t think this will work out.”

“Why the hell not?” Natasha screamed.

Mia held her mouth, trying not to giggle.

“Cause I don’t think I am the man for you.” John said sternly.

“John, of course you are the man for me,” she said, rubbing his sweaty chest, “Why would you think otherwise?”

“Because I understand what type of woman you are. I don’t think I am able to provide what you need. I don’t normally date women that are high maintience.”

“What are you saying, John?” Natasha backed off, “What type of man do you think I date?”

“Don’t make me say it. Don’t make me shatter what you and I have.”

“It’s already shattered, John! So why don’t you just tell me!” she said, pointing a finger at him.

John stood there, looking at the woman he had come to like but staring at him in anger. He took a deep breath, ready to admit what he felt. “Lapdogs.” He answered.

Natasha then slapped him. John reeled from the blow and grunted, rubbing his cheek. “I take it I am the first man to talk back to you?” he said, rubbing his jaw.

Mia almost screamed with joy from behind the tree but she held it in. It was best to let this scene play itself out. She leaned her head back and tried to listen to the whole thing.

“You will regret this, John,” Natasha warned.

“What the hell are you talking about?” he asked, rubbing his cheek, “Our friendship is gone. I ALREADY regret it.”

“I don’t need friends, John. I got plenty of friends.”

“On this island, sugar, they are few and far between.”

“So, I take it you’ll run into the arms of the little Pocahontas now, huh?” Natasha grunted.

John then got angry. He was gripping onto the handle, then looking at her. “This is between you and me,” he hissed, “Leave Mia outta this.”

“You are wasting your time, John. You should be with me. A woman with experience, not some little girl.”

John flipped the axe back onto his shoulder, and looked at her. “Well, maybe experience is not what I am looking for, Natasha!”

“There is a word back where I come from for men like you, John! They are called fags!’

Natasha turned around and began to storm back to the beach. “Hey, Natasha!” John called to her.

She stopped and turned around. John glared at her in mild anger. “There is a word back where I come from for women like you,” he whispered, “They are called bitches.”

She screamed in anger and walked away. John exhaled deeply, and then started chopping wood again. He felt upset about how that went down; he liked Natasha, he really did. But what she wanted would have been impossible. Then he stopped when he heard a rustling of the leaves to his right. He looked over and saw Mia staring at him. His eyes went wide when he saw the grin on her face. “Mia, did you . .did you . . did you . .” he repeated over and over.

“Yes, John. I heard everything.” She smiled.

“MIA, THAT WAS NOTHING!” he screamed, “Natasha . .she . .she grabbed me, you see? I didn’t want to be rude, I just---“

“John, it’s okay,” Mia said, walking toward him, “I heard the whole conversation remember? She misjudged you.”

John took a deep breath, realizing his worse fears were unfounded. Mia gave a shy smile and whispered, “I did like the part where you defended me.”

“She was upset with me and her anger should have stayed with me. She never should have brought you into,” John said with conviction.

“Natasha has a lot of issues to work out. In the end, she’ll be the one who regretted parting with you.”

“My friendship with Ramon was based on a lie and Tony helped me through that. I vowed to myself that any friendships I have from this point on wouldn’t involve any lies.”

“Like us?” Mia said, staring up at him with doe eyes.

John flopped down his axe and returned her gaze. “Especially us.” He whispered.

Mia stepped closer. John looked at her, marveling about how the sun peaking through the jungle canopy reflected on her lovely face. She slowly held up her hands and placed them on his chest. The archer’s face twitched at the surge of electricity that shot down his spine at her touch. Mia slowly raised herself on her tippy-toes, letting her breath caress his lips.

The two finally kissed. John was flabbergasted; he didn’t expect her to taste like a peach. Mia felt her knees getting weak as he held onto her. The connection between them had been getting stronger for weeks and at that moment, their bonds was solidly connected. Mia raised her arms, wrapping them around his neck. John held onto her hips, pulling her closer to him. They felt like they could drown in each at any moment.

The two lovers slowly parted from one another. John felt like he had been refreshed; a new infusion into his soul. Mia didn’t know what to think. It was the best kiss she had ever had. She looked up into his eyes; seeing the happiness she had brought him. Then her brain got flooded with possibilities and what might happen between her and him. She was flushed with fear. It made her run away from him. “Mia?” John called confused.

“John, I . .I . .” she repeated as she ran into the jungle.

John immediately dropped his axed and high-tailed it after her. “WAIT A SECOND!” he screamed, “You can’t just kiss me and run away!”

“John, I don’t know what to do about this!” she called.

“OH, I got a few ideas, “he laughed, running after her.

“John, stop!” she giggled.

She was being serious but she found the fact that she was being chased by John was exciting. She ran as hard as she could but he was starting to overtake her. By the time he caught up to her, he grabbed her by the waist and picked her up. She laughed and squeaked at the same time. John brought her down and turned her around. He then kissed her again and she felt herself giving way. Her knees were not working as easily as they were a few seconds ago. As they parted, Mia couldn’t even look at him. She let her head collapse into his chest, trying to catch her breath. John grinned, feeling his heart pounding between his lungs. “I can’t let you go, Mia,” he exhaled, “I just now got you and I won’t let you go.”

“Good,” she whispered,

She finally leaned up and looked at him. John gazed back down to her. “John, I . .I haven’t, . .” she stuttered.

“Shhhhhh,” he said, “No words. Words can come later.”

The two lovers stared at each other. Mia had caught her breath and she was certain that if John wasn’t holding her, she’s collapse. John smiled; having not felt this complete in years. Then Mia jerked as something collided with the back of John’s head.

As the archer fell on his back, Mia looked at their attacker. It was one of the members of Black Faction, holding a very think piece of wood. Before the Lakota could scream, the boy swung the wood chuck at her head.

Then nothing but blackness.