Part 294: Day 58

It was in the dead of night now. Most others nights the survivors would be sleeping but now, they were being held hostage by a group of soldiers belonging to the other group they wiped out. The whispers among them had been carried out, up and down the beach. Most were separated into groups but they knew how to send messages along. Being stuck together for two months gave them a feel for how each other could communicate. Even at that moment, it was highly important they kept to themselves about the sensitive information that had come to light. “You really think they have discovered their boat?” Natasha whispered.

“More than likely,” Barbara whispered back, “I know Tony will come for us. We just have to hope it’s not that long.”

“I don’t understand,” Kellye whispered, “if they knew their was going to be a boat here, why didn’t they tell the rest of us?”

“Maybe they didn’t know.” Hurley whispered back.

“But they left, Hurley,” Micheal grunted in a whispered tone, “Does that mean they didn’t trust us with that information?”

“All of you, shut up,” Jenny hissed back at them, “If Jack decided not to tell us about their boat, then he had a good reason. It changes nothing.”

The group immediately shut up when two soldiers walked near them. On of them stopped in front of Joscelyn, having his rifle next to her face. The sight of the weapon made her whimper. The soldier was getting upset, because that wasn’t the first time she made the high pitched sound. “I am getting sick of that crap, “he said, pointing the rifle at her, “You shut the hell up, now!”

All it did was make Joscelyn even more scared, whimpering even louder. She then grabbed Hurley by the shirt and buried her head into his chest. The large man put his arm around her, trying to comfort her. “Dude, get the gun out of her face and she’ll calm down,” Hurley told him.

“You don’t give orders here, lardo,” the soldier hissed back.

“Seriously, dude, you don’t get that rifle out of her face, I am gonna rape you with it.”

The soldier paused for a second, then laughed. He then raised up his rifle, relaxing it on his shoulder. “How colorful,” he smirked, walking away, “Pissing contest goes to you, fat man.”

Hurley winced at the arrogance of the mercenary. He then patted Joscelyn on the back, massaging her arm. “It’s okay, Joe,” he whispered, “They are gone.”

“I’m so scared.” She cried.

“Don’t be, Joe,” Kellye said nearby, “You know me and Hurley aren’t going to let anything happen to you, isn’t that right, Hurley?”

“Of course it is,” the large man embraced her.

Joscelyn calmed down enough to part from Hurley. But she didn’t move far from him; she held onto his hand, squeezing it tightly. The large man just smiled, patting her had for assurance that he wouldn’t go far. Jenny kept her eyes on the soldier in front of her. He had her nunchuks in his back belt line. The blonde girl was amused that the soldiers didn’t think the weapon belonged to her. She just needed the appropriate time to seize them and start taking them out one at a time.

Frakes then started to walk toward Mia. She slowly looked up at him. He then reached down and grabbed her by the arm, hoisting her up. She grunted as he shoved her away from the crowd. “Time’s up, girl,” he hissed, “Where is your leader?”

“I keep telling you, he’s dead.”

Mia then grunted as Frakes sideswiped her across the jaw. The group gasped at the act before them. Mia coughed and then slowly got up, massaging her busted lip. She stared at Frakes with utter contempt. “I warned you about playing me.” The soldier hissed.

“You might as well hit me again, cause I am not changing my story.” She spit back at him.

“No, I can already tell it was going to come to this.” The leader then pulled out his sidearm, “ You don’t tell me where your leader is, then someone is gonna die.”

“Whether you believe me or not, it doesn’t matter. You were planning on killing someone from the beginning and there wasn’t a single thing I could say that would change that.”

“Then pick one.” Frakes grunted.

“What?” Mia gasped.

“PICK ONE!!!” the leader screamed as he pointed to the group.

Mia looked at all of their frightened faces. Clay immediately turned his head to look elsewhere, assuming she would pick him. However, the Lakota girl was not about to sacrifice any of the survivors. “Me.” She whispered.

Frakes then blinked, feeling the anger that was giving him a headache. “What did you just say?” he grunted.

“Me, “ she said, “I choose me.”

Frakes then cocked his gun and put in on Mia’s head. “NO!” Taylor screamed, standing up.

Mia closed her eyes and gritted her teeth. She felt her knees starting to give way upon feeling the pistol’s barrel touch her forehead. She wanted John to appear on the beach. She wanted him to save her; she wanted him to kill every Liberator on the beach just like he did at the Outpost. Then she felt the gun leave her forehead. “No,” Frakes hissed in trembling rage, “You don’t get off that easily.”

Frakes then turned to a blonde-haired bearded soldier standing near him. “Kill one, Viking” he ordered, “I don’t care which.”

The man called Viking then pulled out his side arm and started to walk toward the crowd. He looked around and took notice of all the people. He saw a lot of lovely women that he wouldn’t mind having thirty minutes alone with. For that one hideous reason, he decided to eliminate the people he thought was dead weight. He stopped as he stood near Rose. “Get up.” He ordered.

“NO!” Bernard screamed, as he jumped toward him.

Another soldier then rammed his stock-end of his rifle in the black man’s face, knocking him down. He felt hard, feeling his bloodied nose. Rose then held up her hands, forcing them to stop hurting her husband. Then she slowly turned around and kneeled before her husband. “I’m old, Bernard,” she whispered, “I am ready.”

“Rose,” he whispered, holding his bloodied nose.

“All these beautiful people have a long life ahead of them. As far as I am concerned, it’s a fair trade.”

Bernard started to cry but he didn’t show much of it for his wife. He was both struck with fear and pride in his wife. “You . . .you were always braver than me.” He whispered.

“Keep these children safe, “ she said, kissing his forehead, “We shall all meet by and by.”

Bernard cried as his wife stood up. Mia then started to panic. Rose was about to die for them. The Lakota girl then charged Viking, trying to grab his rifle. He then grunted, and struck her across her head. Mia coughed as she twirled and landed face first into the sand. She slowly looked up and saw Rose staring down at her. “It’s okay, Mia. This is not your fault.” She whispered.

“Rose, no,” Mia whimpered.

“Be strong, Mia and tell them nothing.”

Viking took her by the arm and proceeded to lead her away into the jungle. Mia slowly stood up, gently touching her busted lip with her tongue. She watched as the tall blonde man continued to follow her into the woods. The Lakota girl then heard Rose begin to sing.

I’ll fly away
Oh, Glory,
I’ll fly away, in the morning,
When I die,
Hallelujah by and by
I’ll fly away

Mia slowly closed her mouth as Rose’s singing faded in the distance. Never in her life had she encountered such a brave woman. The survivors slowly turned toward the distance as they couldn’t see anything. Bernard didn’t turn around; he just closed his eyes and proceeded to pray. Natasha gently held his arm trying to comfort him. Mia felt sick; like she was about to puke. Then she jumped from the sound of a gunshot.

Everybody was silent. No one had anything to say. Mia slowly closed her eyes, letting the tears fall down her cheeks. Frakes slowly walked up to her, and crossed his arms. “Brave woman,” he commented, “And thanks to her, I now had a better idea what is happening.”

Mia slowly opened her eyes and looked at him, in utter hatred.

“The cop said for you to tell me nothing. She just said for you to tell me nothing, which means . . .you are hiding something.”

Frakes stood a step closer to get in her face. Mia closed her eyes and looked the other way. “Tell me who is out there.” He hissed.

“Go to Hell.” Mia coughed.

Hal grew even more angry; watching the Liberators abuse Mia and put in her a situation she didn’t want nor desire. He leaned up, as he laid in Libby’s lap. Clay was fidgeting behind Ana-Lucia. “Who is he going to choose next?” the billionaire whimpered.

“Dude, would you shut up?” Dutch grunted.

“To Hell with this,” Clay leaned forward, “I’m telling them before he kills anybody-“

Clay then immediately shut up as Ana-Lucia reached back and grabbed his scrotum. The billionaire grunted and wheezed as she continued to squeeze his privates. Then she pulled her hand away abruptly when Embry started to walk over to them. Clay collapsed, holding his crotch and taking deep breathes. The murderer looked over at the fallen man. “What’s his problem?” he asked.

“PMS.” Ana-Lucia spit back at him.

Embry just chuckled and then turned around to join the others. When he was out of sight, Ana-Lucia then abruptly leaned down and got right in Clay’s face. “You bitch.” He whispered.

“Let’s get one thing straight, Clay,” she hissed, grabbing his cheeks, “You give up Jack and the others, I swear to God the Liberation won’t have to kill you cause I will.”

Viking came back from the woods alone. Bernard slowly looked up at him and the vile soldier returned his gaze with a simple smirk. The black man closed his eyes, as he collapsed into Natasha’s arms. “I’m so sorry, Bernie.” She whispered.

“God will give me justice,” he gritted his teeth, squeezing a section of her shirt.

Jenny looked at the black man, humbled before the loss of his wife. The blonde slowly turned around, letting a small tear drop out of her eye lid. “Jack,” she whispered, “Please . . .hurry.”