Dreams~Shadows of the Night

by Olivia Claire High

  “I’m not excusing her, but it doesn’t help with what’s happened to Josh.”

  “You’re right. I’m not being fair to her and I’m intruding. I shouldn’t have come.”

  “Yes you should,” he protested. “Josh would have wanted you to be here.”

  “I don’t know how you can say that when I obviously wasn’t important enough to have him so much as mention my name to his family. I wanted, needed Josh in my life, but it’s becoming more and more apparent that while I was putting down roots in our relationship, he was barely skimming the surface. I assumed too much from him and coming here has made me feel like a fool.”

  “Josh is the fool for leaving. He wouldn’t be in this mess if he’d listened to us.”

  “I know, for all the good it does, but we shouldn’t be criticizing him considering what’s happened.”

  “We’re not criticizing, we’re venting. That’s what friends are for.” He stopped by a door. “Take this room. I’ll be next door if you need me in case you have a nightmare.”

  She squeezed the doorknob. “God, I hope not. I can’t change the fact that Josh has been kidnapped, but the last thing I need is to be adding more bad dreams to the mix.”

  “You dreamed something was going to happen to him before he left, didn’t you?”

  “Yes and I tried to tell him, but he didn’t believe me.”

  He swore under his breath.

  “The stubborn idiot.”

  “Don’t be too hard on him. You didn’t believe me, either. It’s hard to convince anyone what goes on in my dreams when I don’t understand why it happens myself.”

  “That would make it difficult. So can you predict the future? Is it always bad?”

  “Not the way you’d think. My dreams are subjective. They only concern the people I’m very close to and no they’re not always bad. Hopefully tonight will be okay.”

  But she wasn’t to be spared so easily. Despite her determination not to dream, her thoughts hurled her into another nightmare leading her down a torturous path filled with gore and blood and the sound of someone crying out in agony. She jerked awake and covered her ears. She struggled to clear the mists from her brain and when she did she knew that someone was Josh – and he was covered with blood.

  >>>>dreams<<<<

  Josh was engrossed in his own, more pleasant dreams. He lay on a bed of pristine sheets caressing Catherine, sensitizing her skin to his touch. He kissed her, savoring the sweetness before pressing his hard body against her silky skin. A groan of desire escaped him seconds before the dream was abruptly shattered by a hard kick to his buttocks.

  He instinctively rolled away from the pain and his eyes popped open. Orlando had returned. Heart hammering, Josh felt queasy as anxiety washed over him – crawling across his skin like a meandering stream of icy water. Insides knotting with dread, he instantly looked for Marie and saw her crouched on the floor cowering like a cornered animal.

  He scrambled to his feet intending to go to her, but two men jerked him back.

  He watched with mounting fury, as Orlando seized Marie by the hair dragging her to her feet. She shrieked in terror and her eyes locked with Josh’s begging him to help her.

  He went ballistic. The need to tear into Orlando burned like acid.

  “Damn your cold, black heart. Can’t you see she’s had enough? Leave her alone!” He twisted his body straining against his captors, tugging at the hands that held him back. His defiance awarded him a couple of vicious punches to his midsection robbing him of breath and sending him to his knees, gasping for air. Vibrating with rage and a glare of pure evil, Orlando snarled orders to his men before turning back to a sobbing Marie.

  The men dragged Josh past solemn natives and slammed him against a tree trunk.

  He struggled to catch his breath as they yanked his arms behind the tree and tied them with a heavy cord. Two men pummeled him with their fists then one of them tore the front of his shirt open seconds before the other began to whip him with a slender switch.

  Each razor sharp lash flayed Josh’s skin sending shock wave after shock wave of fiery agony throughout his body. White hot pain exploded, burning all the way to his nerve endings like streaks of lightening, searing and intense. The burly man’s sweaty face gleamed with wicked pleasure, as the makeshift whip whistled through the air cutting into bare flesh while Josh writhed trying in vain to avoid the terrible punishment.

  The tendons in his arms swelled and his muscles quivered when he strained against his bonds. His body jerked in reflex each time the switch landed against his bloodied chest, forcing out hoarse moans to mingle with Marie’s pleading screams that ricocheted around the camp in a piteous duet of shared suffering.

  Orlando called a halt to the flogging after several more excruciating lashes. Josh’s legs buckled beneath him and his body hung helplessly, adding more strain to his burdened muscles. His head fell forward onto his mutilated chest while his breath heaved in and out in hoarse gasps. Orlando gripped Josh by the hair, forced his head back, and spit in his face. Despite his pain, Josh instinctively jerked away and hissed out a protest. Orlando laughed and sauntered away leaving him tied to the tree.

  Some of the natives immediately rushed forward in an effort to help him, but were ordered back by the threat of rifles aimed at them. But even with the reprieve from his human torturers, Josh’s suffering hadn’t ended. He was left to endure the agony of voracious insects attacking his bloodied wounds, tormenting him anew as they fed off his torn flesh.

  He lay in a crumpled heap while the merciless sun beat down on his unprotected body making sweat seep from every pore creating salty drops that burned into his wounds. He turned his head as if he could move away from the misery, but the pain wove a scorching path throughout his body consuming with relentless greed. Time crept by and as his agony increased, his body weakened, until he slid into blessed unconsciousness.

  >>>>dreams<<<<

  Josh awoke under the protection of the hut’s roof with Sad Eyes leaning over him.

  At least, he thought it was Sad Eyes. Pain and prolonged exposure to the sun had made him delusional. An image of Tom swam before him wagging a finger, insisting he not leave. Catherine appeared next, pleading and warning of danger. He felt her tears dribble onto his face, or possibly they were his own. He could not be sure.

  A sudden spasm of pain made his body jolt forcing out a guttural groan. His face, bruised and cut from the men’s pounding fists throbbed, and his throat felt raw. Sad Eyes lifted his head to trickle water between his torn lips. Somewhere in the dim recesses of his mind, Josh realized Orlando must have allowed her to take care of him because of the ransom money. Engulfed by excruciating pain, another groan escaped him before his swollen eyelids drifted closed, dragging him back into darkness.

  Several hours elapsed before Josh managed to rouse himself again. The midday sun sent searing warmth through the air spearing the ground with spikes of heat. He assumed Sad Eyes must have retreated to her hammock for the midday siesta. Woozy with pain, he turned his head and saw a cup of water sitting on the ground next to him.

  Gripped by nausea, he balanced carefully on one elbow and lifted the cup to his mouth with a trembling hand. He drank in small measured sips forcing back the bile that rose in his throat, as his muscles quivered from the raw wounds crisscrossing his chest.

  He eased himself down taking shallow breaths in an effort to minimize the sting. The realization that his grand adventure had turned into an excursion into hell made his body throb as though all the physical and emotional misery in the universe centered on him. But it was too late for regrets. He closed his eyes. Although the air shimmered with heat, Josh felt cold inside. Surrounded by a jungle teeming with life, he thought of death.

  He drifted in and out of sleep until thoughts of Marie brought his focus back to his surroundings. He spotted her in a far corner lying on her side curled into a tight ball with her back to him. Violent tremors shook her body and her breath came in
ragged gasps. Josh thought he heard what sounded like teeth chattering. Either that or someone was playing castanets inside his head.

  “Marie, are you okay?” he asked in a voice that reminded him of a croaking frog.

  She didn’t answer, but he wasn’t sure if she’d heard his raspy request. He lay quietly, trying to focus beyond his body’s throbbing sting while he calculated his limited stamina. When finally realizing his legs wouldn’t support his sagging weight, he gritted his teeth and began to drag himself toward her in an arduous journey through a world dominated by pain.

  He touched her cheek. She was burning up. His own flesh felt overly hot. He spoke her name with more urgency. She stared at him, but there was no sign of recognition in her feverishly bright eyes.

  >>>>dreams<<<<

  Douglas stood at the row of windows in his office outlined by a nimbus of gray light when a knock sounded at the door.

  “Come!” He didn’t bother turning when Hamilton stepped inside. “Let’s have it.”

  “The rescue team has been assembled and they’ve started their trek into the jungle from the point where the kidnapping took place.”

  “It’s about damn time,” he growled before turning to face Hamilton.

  “Mr. Marsh, we’ve hired the best men we could find, but I’m sure you’re aware of the difficulty they face given the density of the territory. There’s always the possibility they won’t be able to pick up the trail. At least not right away,” he rushed to clarify.

  Douglas’s eyes pierced like points of steel.

  “I don’t want excuses; I want results.”

  He faced the windows again, fists clenched with burning rage barely contained.

  Chapter Seven

  Tom’s eyes felt gritty from lack of sleep. Flipping back the covers, he rolled out of bed and pulled on his jeans before opening the bedroom door. The scent of pine cleaner and floor polish filled the hallway. Oak floorboards protested beneath his bare feet, as he hurried to the bathroom. Anxious to check on Catherine, he took a quick shower, but decided not to shave, unknowingly making the stubble give his features a more masculine appearance.

  He knocked on Catherine’s door as soon as he’d finished dressing. The lavender tint that stained the delicate skin beneath her eyes told him sleep had eluded her, too.

  “Looks like I’m not the only one that didn’t get much sleep. More bad dreams about Josh for you?”

  She nodded and stepped from the room, closing the door quietly behind her.

  “Would it help if you talked about them? I’m a pretty good listener.”

  “I’d rather not, but he’d better be found soon,” she said through trembling lips.

  He didn’t miss the look of concern in her eyes and felt his heart jerk.

  “Oh, jeez.”

  >>>>dreams<<<<

  John walked in as they entered the kitchen saving them having to be alone with Ivy. He sank onto one of the wooden chairs and looked around the room.

  “I just got off the phone with the CEO, Douglas Marsh. There’s no mistaking his concern.”

  Ivy’s eyes glinted with fierce anger.

  “If anything happens to my son, I won’t rest until I make those responsible pay. We should go there to be in on the negotiations.”

  “There aren’t any negotiations. The man demanded a million dollar ransom and disappeared. A rescue team has been sent to try and find Josh.” He fixed his eyes on Tom. “Did you know that a woman had been kidnapped with Josh?”

  Tom turned away from Catherine’s startled look.

  “Yes, she’s part of the team.”

  Ivy didn’t spare any sympathy for Marie.

  “A woman has no business being in a jungle. It’s probably her fault Josh was taken. Does this Marsh expect us to do nothing?”

  “I told you Ivy, there isn’t anything we can do at this point but wait. Mr. Marsh promised to keep us informed as soon as he hears anything new.”

  She started to protest, but Jerry arrived at that moment. John shared the phone call while Ivy slammed around the kitchen preparing breakfast. Catherine left Tom finalizing their departure plans and felt relief flood through her to finally escape Ivy’s angry scowls. But when she came out of her room she saw them together at the end of the hallway. She waited for Ivy to leave before approaching him.

  “I saw Ivy talking to you. It looked like she was bawling you out. I hope I’m not responsible for driving a wedge between you two.”

  “She feels I didn’t try hard enough to keep Josh from taking the damn job.”

  “Blaming us isn’t going to bring him back.”

  “Try telling that to Ivy. Let’s get our stuff and get the hell away from here.”

  >>>>dreams<<<<

  The hours crawled by for Josh. He watched Marie move in and out of periods of coherency and delirium, as he fought against his own body’s growing weakness. Orlando and his group had left camp again. As near as Josh could understand he had been in a violent mood because no one had shown up with news about the ransom. He lay on the ground with his hand on Marie’s arm hoping the contact might help to assure her of his presence. He closed his eyes and drifted into a kinder world.

  He awoke, aware that something was different. His hand had slipped away from Marie while he slept. She was quiet – too quiet after hours of labored breathing. Her skin was chalky white. Heart pounding, Josh touched one pallid cheek. Flesh that had been burning with fever now felt icy cold.

  “Marie! Marie!” He gathered her lifeless body in his arms and began to rock back and forth, constantly moaning her name.

  Sad Eyes touched him on the shoulder. She pointed at Marie and then to the ground. Josh ignored her, refusing to let go of his precious burden. But she became more insistent until common sense finally penetrated his grief and he knew what had to be done.

  Although the native men came forth to indicate they would help him, Josh refused their offer. This was something he wanted to do by himself. It would be his last act of compassion for the woman who had asked for so little, but suffered so much.

  He buried Marie and slumped to the ground panting from the exertion. Sad Eyes appeared by his side again. She pointed to him and to Orlando's hut before gesturing toward the jungle. Josh understood she wanted to get him away before his tormentor returned, but he hesitated. Leaving now could jeopardize his chances of being rescued.

  But then he realized if the people looking for him didn't come, and he remained, Orlando was going to be furious when he discovered Marie had died. Given the man's penchant for inflicting pain and his vile temper, he’d look for someone to vent all that anger on and, ransom money or not, Josh had a sick feeling he'd be the likely target.

  He struggled to his feet and stared at the mound of dirt. He thought of why Marie had come. He hated Orlando anew for destroying her hopes --hated the senselessness of Marie's death, the waste. He touched the grave, and felt grief shutter through him.

  Sad eyes tugged on his arm drawing his attention. Unable to deny her urgency any longer, Josh turned to follow her through an opening in the thick jungle growth and within seconds it was as if the small encampment had never existed.

  He had little conception of time. The only thing he could be sure of was the dark nights. Sad Eyes stopped before blackness spread its inky cape over everything. They slept on carpets of fallen leaves at the base of thick trees amid the sounds of jungle nightlife. Each night he fell asleep, too tired to think about any danger that may be lurking nearby. He had no idea where Sad Eyes was leading him and the fact that neither of them could speak each other’s language kept their communication to a series of gestures. All he could do was try to keep up, but Josh felt his fatigue increase with each passing hour.

  He awoke early one morning in a pool of sweat. Too weary to bother swiping at the insects swarming around his exposed skin, he lay there listlessly staring up at the different strata towering above his head. Josh knew some plants and animals flourished there that never touched t
he forest floor. Each layer of life depended on the others in a unique and complex ecosystem.

  He recalled Marie’s enthusiasm when she’d talked about the undiscovered indigenous plants that might hold the key to unlock cures for diseases. She had wanted to give life to the dying, but in the end hadn’t been able to save herself. Sad Eyes nudged him, pulling him away from his mind’s wanderings. Josh grunted and crawled to his feet.

  He braced a hand against a tree trunk when a sudden attack of dizziness hit him. His body wobbled, as he waited for the scenery to stop spinning. He pressed a hand to his head trying to still the deafening roar that filled his ears. Clenching his jaw, he pushed himself away from the tree. It was vital that he keep going. If Sad Eyes was leading him to someone who could help, he had to let them know about Marie.

  >>>>dreams<<<<

  Douglas stood waiting, his body rigid.

  Hamilton stared at the floor for a moment before looking up.

  “They found the encampment,” he said quietly.

  “And?” Douglas stood pressing both hands on his desk steadying himself.

  “The leader escaped, but his henchmen are in custody. The natives said Josh Dallas disappeared into the jungle with one of their women.”

  “What about Marie?” Douglas had the look of a man who knew what he was about to hear would be almost too painful to bear.

  “She didn’t make it. I’m sorry, sir.”

  “Dead?” The word was torn from Douglas in a hoarse whisper.

  “Yes. I’m sorry.”

  He slumped back onto his chair, swallowed by his grief. “I should have gone with the rescue team. I might have had a chance to see her before she . . .” He couldn’t finish.

  “She was already gone, and I don’t mean to sound unkind, but you probably would have slowed the team down.” Hamilton hesitated. “I know this has been a terrible shock.”