by Allison West
Slowly, it raised and she jumped the rising gate.
James stopped, and by the time Aria turned around, she knew it was too late. He was trapped.
"Run. Get out of here," he said.
"No!" She wouldn't do it. Aria refused to leave. Her bottom lip trembled. They'd kill him! There must be something she could do to help. She dropped to the ground, gathering whatever stones she could, shoving them at James through the fence grate. "Take it. Use it as a weapon," she said. It was his only chance to fight back.
He grasped a stone in each hand, keeping them by his side, unwilling to show them he had anything to defend himself. It was better to catch them off-guard.
Sienna led the pack, her guards at her side, and just behind her, the elite with their bows, guns, and spears. They were armed and ready to kill.
"Run," James whispered to Aria one final time.
She wouldn't leave him, though she knew she wasn't safe here. "We live together; we die together."
"Do you give up?" Sienna asked. She approached him, no weapon in hand. He could take the shot, toss a rock at her head. Maybe it would cause damage, but it likely wouldn't kill her. James, however, would be overpowered by the elite.
He exhaled a breath and held up his hands, letting the rocks tumble to the ground. He was out of moves. "You have me. Aria won her freedom."
He walked toward Sienna, arms raised in the air in surrender. What was he doing?
Would she spare his life? An arrow whizzed through the gate, grazing Aria's arm. A smear of blood coated her skin. She backed up from the gate, not trusting the tribe wouldn't kill her too.
James lunged toward the guard with the necklace, to unlock the gate. His hand ripped the silver chain. Unclasping the lid, he pressed the red button, taking it with him as he ran toward Aria.
"Stop him!" Sienna's eyes widened, likely horrified by the implication that James had played her at her own game.
The gate slowly lowered.
"Run!" James screamed at Aria.
Aria backed up a few strides, preparing to take off once she knew James was safe. They would be chased down, probably beaten or shot to death. As he approached the gate, it lowered but not enough to let him through. The elite were gaining on him, weapons drawn and shooting arrows and bullets. Their aim was abysmal, lucky for James. It seemed Sienna had been the only one who knew how to shoot. Aria wanted to help James, but she didn't know how.
The gate lowered, though not all the way to the ground yet. He needed a running start at the current height, but that wasn't an option. Another second, and he gripped the metal, tossing himself up and over the fence as the daggers from below struck at his legs. He didn't make a sound, though Aria knew he must be scraped up and possibly bleeding. James pressed the button, forcing the gate to freeze and then rise back up toward the sky.
With the remote in hand, they took off together, running farther from Sienna and her people. Gunfire and arrows peppered the night sky. Aria couldn't see where they landed, but she could hear a few whizzing by her head, until they were no longer within view. "Do you think they have another remote to lower the gate?" she asked, gasping for breath.
"Maybe one hidden away. If they had it on them, they'd still be chasing us."
They grew closer to the shore. Aria could hear waves crashing onto the beach. Continuing to run from the tribe, the forest cleared to sand. The sky grew dark, sprinkled with stars. The moonlight reflected over the ocean.
"How long until you think they lower the fence?" Aria asked. Their only escape off the island was a boat. They had arrived on a small one with a motor, but she couldn't even guess where it was now.
"Maybe an hour," James said. "There's maybe an override back at camp."
She knew he was probably right, but she still hoped they were free. Sienna and her empty promises told her that the longer they stayed on Amity Island, the less chance they had of surviving.
"We could swim," she said, walking out toward the water. The ocean was warm, and the waves lapped at her feet. She needed a bath, and the idea of sinking her body into the water didn't sound so bad.
"No," James said. "We don't know how far the nearest island is or if it's as hostile."
"What do you suggest?" She felt out of ideas.
"Our ship that we took across the Pacific has to be out there. We take that."
"And leave the rest of the crew and passengers for Sienna?" Her stomach flopped. Neither of them knew how to steer a boat. They'd end up lost at sea, without enough fuel and eating the last of their food.
She loosened the ribbon gown and wandered into the ocean, diving between the waves. The water felt refreshing. She couldn't remember the last time she had bathed.
James removed his tiny piece of cloth and stalked out into the ocean, slinking into the water. "This feels good," he said.
"I know." Aria dipped her head back, letting the dirt wash away. "Maybe we could find reinforcements? If we're on an island, then it's not unrealistic to think there is still an inhabited mainland. Sienna's been lying to us all along. Maybe the mainland still has people who are alive and well."
"Why would they help us?" James asked. "Countries often don't interfere in others' politics."
"They're keeping people against their will," Aria said.
"Are they?" James asked. "None of them have asked to leave."
"Come on." Aria splashed water at James. "Do you think Sawyer wants to stick around?"
James was quiet, contemplating her answer. "Maybe he'll change things around. He stood up to the commander once. He could easily do so again."
"For how long?" She couldn't willingly let these people be subjected to Sienna's games, as if they were her playthings.
"Maybe Sawyer can turn this place around. If he had been forced to kill her and succeeded, he may have ended up the new leader."
Aria wasn't sure she believed it would have gone that far. Wouldn't Sienna's second in command fight back? "I think I may know how to rescue our people," she said, swimming toward the shore. "It'll be dangerous, but if it works, we'll all be free."
Chapter 7
Aria and James didn't have much time. Their plan took into account that Sienna wouldn't expect them to return. Was it stupid and reckless, yes, but what other option was there? James kept the necklace to grant access into the tribe secured in his fist.
The moonlight scattered through the trees. It was their only bit of light illuminating the trail made from their chase. Approaching the gate, James lowered the fence. Aria watched with hesitation. The metal whistled in the wind. They were unarmed, and there were two of them against the entire tribe. This had to work, or else they were dead.
"Do you remember where to go?" she asked, keeping her voice barely above a whisper. Now that they were within the community, the tribe members would be sleeping in hammocks, surrounding them.
James gave Aria a quick nod and gestured for her to follow him.
He had a good memory. Everything looked the same to Aria. Trees, grass, stones. She couldn't tell one spot from the next. James led her toward a grassy path and small hill.
"There's no door handle." Aria remembered it was intended to be opened one way.
"I've got it covered," James said. "Rather than go around, I think we can force open the lock." He found a broken branch that was thick and used it to wedge the bottom of the door and another for the side that was thinner, popping the lock free.
When they pulled open the door, their people were lying asleep. Leaving the door open, James and Aria were quietly tiptoeing through the room, gently shaking the crew and passengers awake and gesturing to be quiet.
One by one, they woke everyone but the elites, sneaking them out the way Aria and James had come in. James shut the door as quietly as possible.
"We have to run," he said to the crew and passengers of the ship. "They're keeping us here for their own pleasure. We'll never be free again if we stay."
"What about the virus and the mainlanders?" Sawye
r asked.
"They've been lying to us. The only other people on the island are the pirates, and they're part of the Knight Tribe. We need to move, now." Aria's answer was firm and direct. It was all they needed to know, and they accepted it without question. They were quick through the forest, and though they attempted to be quiet, they were breaking branches and stomping through brush that was loud and likely to wake anyone nearby.
Aria wanted to tell their people to be quiet, but she was concerned that raising her voice would only alert Sienna that they were back. They had to move fast. Aria skirted the group, hating that James was in back. She found her way to the front, directing them closer to the fence. It was still lowered, since they had slipped through. No one noticed, or else Sienna would have blown her horn, alerting the entire tribe of their recent betrayal. Unless they already knew and were waiting for them.
Aria couldn't hesitate. With one foot in front of the other, she walked over the lowered fence. It was buried beneath the grass, but she knew where it rested, even without knowing the forest that well. There was something about the electrical hum, the voltage beneath the earth that told her it was right here.
The longer it took, the greater chance of getting caught. Aria moved quickly, trying to usher everyone through before the gate rose again.
The longer they walked, her legs tired. They were heading uphill, and without the sun to guide them west, she was lost. She hadn't seen any hills from the community, but the canopy of trees may have distorted the view.
"How much longer?" a whisper behind her asked.
She wished she had an answer. At least, they were away from the tribe, and if they were heading in a different direction, perhaps they'd throw Sienna's group off their trail.
Each step grew harder; the path was steep.
"Get us lost yet?" James asked, moving up through the group to the front with Aria.
In the distance, a horn sounded. Kali or one of the other elites must have realized their people had escaped. "Did you raise the gate?" Aria asked.
"Yes," James said. "Can't promise they won't figure out how to lower it."
"I may have gotten us turned around after we went through the gate," she said.
"Keep heading uphill. When the sun rises, we'll get a better vantage point of where we are and what's surrounding us. Plus, we might be able to find our boat or even the cruise ship we arrived on."
James was right. The fact that the pirates were part of Sienna's crew meant that their ship shouldn't be too far. It gave Aria hope that they might find a way off this island.
Their people did a decent job of keeping up with James and Aria. The longer they traveled, there were questions and whispers of uncertainty, but they continued following.
The sun was peeking out to the east. Aria realized they'd been up all night, walking and escaping again and again. Now they may actually find their freedom. Though, to where and what next, she didn't know.
Cresting the top of the mountain, Aria gasped, feeling out of breath.
"I see it!" a voice said, pointing toward the open sea. "That's our ship."
"Which one?" Aria asked. On the eastern side of the mountain, a half-dozen large vessels sat in the water, anchored. Far in the distance, there were other islands visible, but she couldn't know whether they were inhabited or if Sienna was aligned with them as well.
"Third from the left. I captained that baby; I'd know her anywhere," a gentleman behind her said.
Aria glanced at James. There was only one thing left to do. They walked down the mountainside, hoping that the pirates wouldn't move the vessel before they made it to the ship.
"How are we going to get onto the boat?" Aria asked.
"It looks like the lifeboat tender we took is on the beach. We can ride that back to the ship."
Aria glanced at James. It was a good idea to bring the crew with them. They knew how to sail them from Amity Island and perhaps knew where to go.
Sweat coated Aria's forehead as the sun peaked in the sky. The afternoon heat grew unbearable. All she could think about was getting to the ship. Would their clothes and their belongings still be there? If the pirates were part of Sienna's tribe, then why hadn't they seen any evidence of their belongings? Where was it all? What about all those other ships? Where were their passengers? Had they made up the rest of the elite?
They collected berries on their descent. The forest was lush with fruits and nuts. They only ate those that were most familiar that everyone was certain weren't poisonous.
By late afternoon, the forest thinned as they approached the shoreline. The beach was rockier, and walking on it hurt Aria's feet. She grimaced and followed the captain back to the tender. One at a time, they boarded. After the last passenger was on the tender, the captain revved the engine, sending them free into the open ocean.
Aria watched along the horizon, looking for any sign of the pirates or the Knight Tribe. Her stomach was in knots, her palms sweated. James sat beside her, shifting constantly, always looking anxious. He must have felt the same way she did, that they were so close to escaping, but it wasn't over yet.
One at a time, they boarded the cruise ship. The boat was eerily silent. Everyone agreed to search a floor, and the captain would do a final sweep to ensure the boat was clear. James and Aria took the stairs heading up to the deck on lido. She grabbed the axe, and James grabbed the fire extinguisher. It was better than no weapon.
Searching the deck, lido appeared empty. There was no sound or voices except their own footsteps that echoed against the floorboards.
James and Aria stuck together, wandering around the pool and then back inside, continuing their search for a second time.
A loud scraping sound echoed through the hull. "Did you hear that?" he asked.
Aria wasn't sure whether it came from their deck or down below, but it put her on edge. She nodded, unwilling to say anything aloud. If a pirate was nearby, she didn't want him to know they were here, if they hadn't already seen and heard the tender.
With the axe in hand, her grip was firm, and she raised the blade to her shoulder, prepared to swing at a moment's notice.
Aria rounded the corner and nearly ran into a man dressed in old ripped blue jeans and a t-shirt. The clothes probably belonged to someone on the ship. The man lunged at Aria, throwing her onto her back as he slammed her into the floor. She dropped the axe, attempting to catch her breath.
"Get off our ship!" James shouted at the man as the stranger's hands found Aria's throat, choking her. James swung the fire extinguisher at the man's head, knocking him unconscious. The man fell flat against her. He was dead weight, and she pushed at him, sliding out from beneath him.
"Another pirate?" She struggled to catch her breath as she reached for the axe. She wouldn't be so careless to drop it again. Next time, it could cost Aria her life.
"He was probably left behind to watch the ship," James said.
"What do we do with him?" Aria asked and stood up.
"We drag him back onto the deck and wait to hear back from the captain. He might not be the only intruder."
James and Aria lugged their prisoner to the pool. It was empty, and they dropped him into the empty pit. Not that he couldn't escape, but Aria clung to the axe, and James kept the fire extinguisher handy. The captain did a quick sweep, following up with Aria and James as he communicated with the crew on each floor. The unconscious pirate wasn't the only intruder. Four additional men were rounded up and tossed into an inflatable life raft. Lowering the men onto the raft, they watched as they floated to shore.
The captain blew the horn and lifted the anchor. Aria grabbed James' hand and they walked toward the railing, watching from the deck as they slowly drifted away from Amity Island. Freedom. Maybe staying on the boat for the rest of their lives wouldn't be so bad. How long would they last with fuel and provisions? She leaned on the wooden rail, staring out at the sea. There was no way to know what journey awaited them next, but she knew, with James at her side, they
would face it together.
The Sapphire Sacrifice
His Property - Book Three
Chapter 1
Aria screamed. The air left her lungs, and her cheeks burned red. Sweat trickled down her forehead. Adrenaline pumped through her veins as she fought off their attackers. All four of them were men, a few years older, and they wore black tactical gear. Were they militia? Their eyes were similar, with a deep green, stoic expression. They could all be brothers.
After the genocide of anyone not a sapphire—a person with blue eyes—Aria had taken notice of eye color. They still couldn't get past their differences, not a hundred or even a thousand years later. The world always seemed to be at war over something. Besides, she had never met another person with emerald eyes, and now four of them were attacking James and herself. What the hell was going on?
James kicked at the assailant, trying to gain distance between him and the man attacking them, slamming his fist into the assailant's face. Blood oozed from the man's nose. Who was he? What did he want with them?
One man grabbed Aria, pinning her arms back, keeping her from stopping the attack on James. Why were they doing this? She attempted to shake the man off her, but his grip tightened. "Let me go!" She stomped hard on the man's toe and then used her elbow to attack his chest behind her. Breaking free, she headed for James, wanting to help him any way that she could.
James fought two men, and Aria ran forward, slamming her knee into the groin of a third assailant.
"Run!" James grabbed her hand, and they took off on foot. His hand was wet and gross from the blood caked to his skin. James and Aria were both a mess. Thunder rumbled in the distance, the sky a dark murky gray filled with low-lying clouds.
Aria's heart beat wildly as if it would leap out of her chest. The pain was unbearable, but neither of them slowed. Darting through streets and around broken down vehicles, she knew the men were close. She heard the engine of their vehicle one street over.
