by JaysonJax
As he glided over the cool water, he looked up at the palm fronds swaying gracefully in the Caribbean breeze. It was so peaceful in moments like this, and he could almost imagine himself here forever.
And as soon as his mind went in that direction, he reminded himself that he was a prisoner. Every move he made was being watched. Others had played voyeur, watching as Ma’tic took him time and time again. This was no way to live.
He knew it was time to go, before he let himself grow any more attached to his caveman.
Tonight. I leave tonight.
* * * *
Carter had stayed awake into the night, though it had been hard. Ma’tic hadn’t spoken to him the rest of the day, yet the caveman had still cared for him. After their trip to the waterfall, Ma’tic had gathered some root vegetables and roasted those to have along with the smoked pork.
Once they’d eaten, Ma’tic hadn’t touched him.
Carter was accustomed to sharing the caveman’s bed every night, but found himself sleeping on other furs alone. He found he didn’t care for it, but knew it was for the best.
He’d lain there, almost hoping Ma’tic would pull him close so they could have one last farewell in one another’s arms. Later, when he’d heard the idaltu man snoring softly, he knew that wouldn’t be. It truly was for the best, though. Now he wouldn’t have to try to untangle himself from the big man’s arms and legs to sneak away.
Once he was sure Ma’tic slept, he crept over to the bag that, as far as he knew, still held his clothing. After pulling on what was left of his pants and tying them into some fashion to cover himself, he added his shoes and headed for the cave’s opening. After one last longing glance Ma’tic’s way, he faced the great wide open.
And then he felt a sting to his neck.
Lifting a hand, he felt something metal against his skin a few seconds before he fell to his knees. He pulled the metal away and looked at his palm. A dart of some type, he supposed as dark spots swam in his vision. Carter turned to Ma’tic, opening his mouth to yell out a warning, but no words would come.
He watched as two darts hit Ma’tic before the darkness claimed him.
* * * *
When he reopened his eyes, there was a huge light above his body. Doctors worked over him and when he lifted his hands, he realized they were bound.
“Stay still, Mr. Burke. We’re almost done with our examination,” one of them murmured. They all wore masks over their faces, and with the light so bright, he had no idea where the voice had come from.
“What examination?” he demanded.
No one answered him. He felt something prodding him around his abdomen as fingers swiped his anus.
“Stop!” he cried, trying to wrench himself away.
“Stay still,” one of the doctors commanded. “We need to see how far along you are.”
How far along? “What are you talking about?”
“The baby,” another voice said.
“You’re out of your mind,” Carter cried. “I’m a man. I can’t get pregnant.”
“Oh, you can,” the voice said. “And you are. About three months along, from what I can tell. Must’ve happened on one of those first nights with the caveman.”
Suddenly, he heard a rapid swooshing sound.
“The heart is strong,” one of the voices murmured.
Carter suddenly heard a screaming sound off in the distance. The sound of shattering glass and roars happened before he heard gunfire. More roaring sounded, and some of the doctors scattered.
“What’s happening?” he asked.
Again, no one answered.
As the sounds grew louder, the rest of the doctors raced out of the room, leaving him there, bound to the examination table.
More roars and bullets sounded, and his heart sped faster. The sounds were coming closer. Carter tugged at the restraints at his wrists, but he didn’t have the strength to break free.
A door to the room opened, and three Neanderthal males rushed into the room, shrieking loudly. Carter screamed, terrified. They quieted and moved closer to the table, curious looks on their faces.
Carter tried to squirm higher on the table, but it was no use. With his hands bound, he was an easy victim for whatever came next. All three approached, heated looks in their eyes. He was naked… and they eyed him with lusty glances. The first reached out and caressed his shin. Carter kicked his hand away. The Neanderthal grasped his ankle in a steely grip before roaring at him.
Another roar sounded at the door.
Carter looked up and saw Ma’tic in the doorway.
The caveman rushed in and shoved the Neanderthal away. He pushed between them and Carter before growling. “Carter mine.”
The three Neanderthals growled at Ma’tic, but slowly backed away a few steps.
Ma’tic roared again, and the three raced from the room. His caveman spun and began pulling at the bounds at his wrists. Ma’tic had never encountered cuffs before. He struggled to get the first apart, until Carter explained what to do.
“What’s happening?”
“They take Carter,” Ma’tic said. “Carter mine.”
Once the first cuff was off, Ma’tic repeated the instructions for the second one before he somehow got both cuffs off the exam table and into his bag.
Had the man come to save him? No one had ever risked their life for him… not that he’d ever been in a life and death situation before. For some reason, the fact this man had done so… it struck him straight in the chest.
“We have to figure out a way off the island,” Carter said, realizing he wanted Ma’tic to come with him.
But then he paused. Ma’tic didn’t belong in a world off this island. Carter didn’t belong there. He had a life, family, friends… everything waiting for him back home.
Yet the thought of giving up his caveman didn’t sit well, either.
“Come on,” he said, grabbing Ma’tic’s arm. They’d figure it out once they were safe.
They raced through a maze of corridors, hearing the sounds of fighting all around them. The few times they found humans, they were already fighting packs of prehistoric men and women. Several Neanderthals, including two that had been in the room with him, were later found dead, shot to death, but they found many, many more humans.
Carter finally found a door that led to the outside and pulled Ma’tic out with him. They raced toward the beach, the night air washing over their bodies the closer they got to the water. Once at the water’s edge, Carter turned to see one of the massive buildings on fire. Bullets still sounded in the distance, but they were few and far between now.
He scouted the shoreline and saw a pier in the distance and what appeared to be a boat. “This way,” he said to Ma’tic, tugging the caveman’s hand.
They raced towards the pier and saw two boats there, one larger than the other. He had no idea how to drive a boat, but could it be all that much different than driving a car? They kept running. Carter slowed once they got to the deck and climbed aboard the larger boat. He turned to Ma’tic. “Come on, let’s go.”
Ma’tic shook his head. “No.”
Carter frowned and reached out a hand. “You can’t stay here. Come with me.”
Ma’tic shook his head again. “Go. Ma’tic belong here.”
Carter stood there, knowing he couldn’t leave his caveman behind. “Ma’tic belongs with Carter.”
Ma’tic met his stare. “Carter no love Ma’tic.”
“We really don’t have time for this conversation right now,” Carter said, staring off in the distance. An eruption happened at the building that was on fire, sending out a plume of fire and smoke. “We need to go.”
Ma’tic shook his head. “Carter go. Esss-cape.”
Carter knew this was his chance. He needed to go. He should go. But he couldn’t. “Please,” he cried. “Come with me.”
The caveman shook his head. “Ma’tic belong here. Carter belong away. Esss-cape, Carter.”
Carter knew the
idaltu man wouldn’t survive outside this island. Some government entity would likely cage him up again to test him and put him under a microscope… and that was if they let him survive. Their only chance together was here on this island, and even that chance was slim.
He stared down at his feet aboard the swaying boat a moment before stepping off. Carter met Ma’tic’s questioning expression.
“Carter loves Ma’tic.”
Ma’tic stood their silently a moment before shaking his head. He gathered Carter in his arms, hugging him tightly. His caveman lifted him off his feet… and when they came back down, Carter was again aboard the boat. Ma’tic gathered Carter’s face in his hands. “Ma’tic loves Carter, too.” He shook his head. “Carter no belong here.”
“I don’t care!” Carter cried. “I love you.”
Ma’tic closed his eyes before resting his forehead on Carter’s. “I love you, too.”
“Get your hands up!” a voice shouted from the pier.
Carter looked over and saw two humans, one of them carrying a rifle in his hands. Both of them wore the same types of overalls Carter had seen some of the employees wearing the day he’d arrived.
“You’re going to get off that boat and let us pass… and get the fuck off this crazy island.”
“They’re all dead,” the other one muttered, shaking his head. The man was shaken, it was obvious he was suffering from shock. He rocked slightly, forward and back, his arms crossed over his chest. “They’re allll dead.”
“Shut up,” the first guy spat over his shoulder. He lifted the rifle to the middle of Ma’tic’s chest. “I hate to ruin your faggy little lovefest over here, but get the fuck off that boat.”
Ma’tic helped Carter off the boat and back onto the pier as the two men crossed before them. Suddenly Ma’tic lashed out and grabbed the gun. It erupted, a bullet whizzing past Carter. Another shot fired, and the second human fell to the pier, his gaze glassy.
The caveman wrenched the rifle from the man’s hands before cocking him in the forehead with the barrel. Out cold, the man stilled.
“We need to tie him up somehow,” Carter said.
Ma’tic was silent a moment before pulling at his bag. He fished out the two cuffs and began placing one of them on the man’s wrist. It still shocked him how much his caveman seemed to understand—even if he didn’t seem quite capable of expressing himself completely yet. Carter knelt and wrapped the man’s other wrist with the other cuff, slipping it through the first one before locking them together.
“Very good,” Ma’tic said before rising to his feet. He hefted the man and tossed him over one shoulder before eyeing Carter. “Dead one said all dead. Ma’tic and Carter… we… go see.”
Carter nodded before following Ma’tic back toward the compound. As they went, they found dozens of dead humans scattered around. Like I said… Jurassic Park… this is just how they all end.
The building that had erupted into flames appeared to already be burning itself out. It was far enough from the other buildings not to have seemed to spread. As they moved closer to the main house, they saw a band of males running across the main lawn.
They all had a look very much like Ma’tic.
One of the men stopped a few feet from them. “Ma’tic?”
He nodded, stepping closer and speaking in a foreign language. In all the time he’d spent with Carter, he’d never shared his own language… not that Carter had bothered to ask. How could he have forgotten to share the learning in that regard?
After they’d spoken several minutes, Ma’tic turned to Carter. “Carter’s people… all no dead. Ma’tic people… tied up.”
“Where?” Carter asked.
Ma’tic turned and asked a question. The one he’d been speaking with looked to Carter with a dislike to his stare, but he seemed to answer. Ma’tic turned to him. “Come.”
Carter followed them back into the house and down the same hidden passage he’d first arrived in. It was now blasted open, the library in shambles. When he got to the control room, it was empty, but for two primordial ape-men hanging from the lights. One large window that had a view of Ma’tic’s space was shattered and open to the outside.
Ma’tic pulled him down another hall behind his friend, and they opened a door another idaltu man was guarding… with a gun in his hands. Inside were a handful of humans. One of them was a wounded Sir Ian.
Carter moved closer, but Ma’tic held him back slightly.
One of the men there was in scrubs and held some cloth against Sir Ian’s abdomen.
He could tell the older man was seriously wounded. He scanned the faces of the four other men seated there before focusing on the man in scrubs. “Are you a doctor?”
“I’m a medic,” he answered.
“If we get you to a clinic, can you save him?” Carter asked.
“I’m too far gone for a medic to save me,” Sir Ian said softly.
“He has to live,” Carter said. “He has to make things right for these creatures.” He turned to the medic. “Can you save him?”
The man shrugged. “I can try, but I can’t make any promises. At worst, I can make him comfortable before he goes.”
“I could care less about his comfort,” Carter said. He turned to Ma’tic. “There’s a place here… where you found me. They can heal him.”
Ma’tic spoke to the other idaltu male who’d led them there. The other prehistoric male spat something back angrily. They seemed to argue a bit before the other male turned his back, anger tensing his frame.
His caveman pointed to Sir Ian and the medic. “Two. No others.”
Carter nodded before escorting them back to the clinic. The medic led the knight to the table Carter had been bound to before rushing around the room, pulling out first aid items. “Can I help?”
The medic quickly spat a few instructions, showing him how to keep pressure on the wounds. Carter did what he could to assist, watching as the medic started an IV line with fluid and a blood bag he’d taken out of a refrigerator and warmed.
“What’s your name?” Carter asked the medic.
“Aden,” he murmured as he worked over Sir Ian. “Move your hand here and hold on to the clamp here,” Aden spat.
Carter did as instructed, eyeing Ma’tic hovering in the corner before looking down at Sir Ian’s pale face. He had questions that he wanted answered… and if the man was dying, he had little time to waste. He scarcely knew where to start.
“Why did you do this?” was the only one that came out when he opened his lips.
“Because I could,” Sir Ian said baldly before wincing in pain.
“I have a life out in the world… family… friends… a job. You stole all that from me when you tossed me into that habitat.” His stare lifted, and he realized he’d also gotten something in return.
“Your friends, family, and employer think you’re dead,” Sir Ian muttered. “For all they know, you were lost at sea, the plane going down near Bermuda.”
“Dead?” he whispered. Months had passed, and they’d likely all moved on without him.
“And you were given a once in a lifetime research opportunity,” Sir Ian said.
“Stay still,” Aden spat to the wounded man before looking up to Carter. “If you want him alive, keep him still.”
“Who knows about this island?” Carter pushed, ignoring Aden’s demand.
“Everyone who knew about it… was here tonight,” Sir Ian answered. “When your besotted caveman attacked us.”
Carter glanced at Ma’tic, smiling. “And I’m glad he did.”
His caveman smiled slyly back.
Sir Ian began to say something, but stopped as a fit of coughing hit him.
“No more talking!” Aden growled, still working on the old man.
Carter continued to help, remaining quiet, even as thousands of questions circled his mind. Once Aden had the old knight stable and sleeping, he turned to the medic. “Were you one of the doctors working on me earlier?”
/>
“I’m not a doctor,” Aden said before sighing. “I was in the room, assisting.”
“Is it a lie?”
Aden shook his head. “No. You’re—”
Carter flung his arm out, shutting the medic up. He struggled to get air into his lungs. “How is that possible?”
“Earthworms,” Aden said.
“What?” Carter asked.
“Earthworms. They’re hermaphroditic, having both male and female reproductive organs. Earthworm DNA was used to fill in a few of the basic genetic holes in the chains… and they believe it caused both eggs and sperm to be in his system… as well as the others.”
“Others?” Carter asked.
“He’s not the only one where the DNA was used. There are others… the Neanderthals. Some of the other early relatives of homosapiens.”
“So there might be others like Ma’tic?”
“Might be?” Aden asked. “There are. You’re not the only pregnant male right now.”
Ma’tic approached, taking Carter’s elbow. Carter glanced up into his caveman’s face.
“Babe?” the caveman asked as he spread a palm along Carter’s stomach.
Carter nodded.
A smile grew on Ma’tic’s face, but quickly faded. He turned to Aden. “Heal him.”
Carter frowned. “Heal me?”
“The others died,” Aden said. “The cavemen have a high pain tolerance, and they were in labor a long time before we realized it was happening. By the time we got to them, things had gone too far and the babies died.”
“But how did the cavemen die?”
Aden winced. “Our lead scientist. He cut them open, looking for answers. His research required their… end.”
Carter frowned. “Was that what Sir Ian has planned for me?”
“I can’t say,” Aden answered. “Possibly.”
Carter eyed the medic. “And you helped them do this?”
Aden looked away. “I had no choice.”
“Everyone has a choice.”
Aden met his stare. “I have a medical degree. While in my residency, I got addicted to speed. Someone died under my watch, and I lost everything. Sir Ian gave me a job when no one else would… and now there’s no way back for me after the things I’ve done here.”
