Without a clue as to where I was going, I needled my way across tree roots and leaf litter that intersected an otherwise smooth path. At the famous fork, I deviated and headed into uncharted territory. A new picture emerged of strewn huts that one would almost call a village but not quite. More a collection of thatched shelters constructed carelessly amongst exotic shrubbery.
So this is where everyone lives. I was beginning to wonder if they had all crawled out of caves, although judging by some of these dwellings it’s not too far from the truth.
The huts were the same as mine but with more hand crafted furniture and belongings.
Faces looked up at me as I passed. Women wove baskets while a few men sharpened their primitive tools and others sat idly chatting.
I smiled and waved at a few of them, expecting nothing in return, but surprisingly a couple of people nodded and waved. It was more than I had ever received before.
Some children were even playing together, chasing and tagging each other through the trees, which made me sigh in relief to see such normalcy when in my head I believed that these people were worlds away from me in their everyday lives.
Moving further into the unknown, the small village started to thin out as the bushes started to swallow me up again.
Eyeing each tree I passed for something that resembled fruit or berries, I came up empty-handed. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could go without food before I started feeling faint. There had to be something nearby.
A muffled sound broke the quiet up ahead. I was going to try and communicate with someone and ask for food. I couldn’t take it any longer. If they could at least point me in the direction of a banana tree, I’d be able to pick some anytime I was hungry in between meals. It would serve in their favor, making me less reliant.
The voices got louder, bringing me into a small clearing with another hut. A man’s voice blasted out and I recognized it instantly, stopping me cold as I peered through the splayed leaves into the open dwelling.
What the hell? Son of a bitch!
The chilling sight sent tremors down my spine. My whole body was rigid with surprise.
In the middle of the hut was Daniel’s father, standing over him as the boy cringed on the floor. The monster had found him and it didn’t look good.
Sausage fingers forced the boy upright, shaking him violently, Daniel’s head, rocking backwards. His gigantic frame eclipsed his son’s miniature body as he slapped the boy’s face so hard it knocked the youngster onto the bed. The maniac was shouting in his native dialect and it sounded very, very, frightening.
Where was Jasmine? Did this go on only when she was absent? Did she really know the extent of her husband’s disciplinary failings?
I reeled with rage. My heart cracked as it hardened like concrete. Something in me snapped. I had to stop this! Tears were flowing down the boy’s cheeks as the cowardly brute prepared to have another go. He picked Daniel up by the hair, nearly taking the scalp off the kid, making him stand at attention to take his punishment like a man. I’d never seen such castigation towards a child. It all happened in slow motion. It was as if I was standing looking at myself from afar and every finger that stabbed at Daniel’s face, every threatening obscenity arrowed at his heart, mirrored me with John.
A rush of hatred spilled from my heart and surged through my bloodstream. The wall that had been constructed to encase emotions I thought I’d dealt with crumbled. Fear. Anger. Powerlessness. Bitterness. Resentment. They were all still there. They had nowhere to go but out. Every moment of abuse I’d endured barreled out like a giant volcano erupting molten lava onto everything in its path. There was nothing that could be done to stop my impulsive actions.
In a bold attempt to stop this hell for Daniel, I discovered a well of strength that enabled me to rocket forward through the bushes and into the hut. Thank heavens there were no walls to contend with! The deep, insane voice was not my own as it spewed forth. It belonged to pain.
“Get away from that child, you sick fuck! How dare you put your own child through this?”
My eyes were venomous slits, the muscles in my neck taut as I clenched the crutches fiercely. I knew he could only hear gibberish but the anger in my voice and my sudden appearance made him twist around in shock, giving Daniel the window he needed to retreat under the bed. His poor excuse for a father didn’t know where to turn, but it didn’t matter. He’d surely see the fire in my eyes and back away, but he hid his alarm well. His face was stoic.
Not caring what the consequences were, my body rose with anger. Apprehension vanished, making me feel invincible. I wasn’t thinking. Nothing could hurt me anymore. I would rise to the occasion and retaliate if necessary. My chest thumped, blood flooding my vital organs. It was my time to stand up and fight, whatever the cost. It felt like I was protecting my own child as much as myself, and I would do anything necessary, even with my limited mobility. Thinking before acting didn’t come into play. Thinking would kill me. I didn’t doubt this man’s ability to erase me with one punch from his massive hand, yet here I was taking on the beast, eyeballing him with twin pointed lasers, ready to make the first move.
At my last observation, Daniel was curled up tightly, waiting for it all to be over. His eyes squeezed shut as he held both hands over his ears. I didn’t dare look away from my opponent to check on him.
When the big man had steadied himself after being taken off guard, he came marching over to me. No amount of fear was going to have me back down this time. I held his gaze, hoping he wouldn’t smell the dread. He towered over me, using his height to intimidate me, bellowing with gnarled teeth.
Holding his fiery stare, I waited for him to finish in order to have my turn. I was going to have my say this time. There was a child’s sanity and wellbeing at stake and it mattered more than my own life.
When he paused for a breath of air, I began, holding nothing back, taking the man by surprise, matching his belligerence.
“You are a demented, pathetic pig who doesn’t deserve that beautiful child. How could you be so disgusting? I knew there was something going on here the moment I arrived on the island but I couldn’t pinpoint it. Well, I’m not going to let it continue for another second. If your wife doesn’t know about this, then she will shortly, because I intend to tell her everything. I hate you! You don’t deserve to be a parent. You’re nothing but a bully. I’m taking Daniel away so you can’t find him. I’ve been through this myself.” Sobs hitched in my throat. “I know how it can destroy a person to the very core of their being. You will never harm your child ever again.” I was on a roll.
As if pulling a weapon from its holster, I raised a crutch and rammed it into his groin, not once, but twice, just for good luck, hopping on one foot to steady myself. He instantly doubled over, folding to half his massive size. I caught Daniel’s wide eyes as he looked up, hearing his father moan and clutch himself. There was not a second to waste. My head motioned left for Daniel to escape. To run away. Far away. He didn’t falter. In a flash he was gone, leaving me to finish what I had started. I angled sideways, balancing on my left leg, gouging a crutch down onto his spine, sending him crashing to his knees. It felt amazing to see him drop in front of me. I’d actually brought a grown man to his knees with nothing more than bamboo. Waiting to see if he would get up, standing guard above him with the crutch raised to strike again if he moved, I tried to stay steady.
“If you ever touch Daniel again, I’ll kill you. I swear it. Stay away from him!” I meant every word. I was on fire and I wanted the man before me to burn.
Turning to hobble out, triumphant with the win, I hesitated and then turned back. Remembering one last little loose end I needed to tie up, I sniffed and coughed up a throat full of phlegm, balled it on my tongue, and hurled it at him just as he had done to me the day before. An eye for an eye! It landed on his sweaty, oily mess of hair, soaking into his scalp.
“That’s for yesterday!”
A guttural roar failed to scare me as
I left him to lick his wounds. I was high on adrenalin, riding the wave that I knew would crash, using its power to get me the hell out of there.
I didn’t go back to my hut because I knew he would come looking for me. A man like that didn’t let a jab at his private parts stop him. No way. He’d be after me to eliminate the nosy, snooping, meddling white woman. I was sure of it. It was game on. Hiding would be my only option. But first, Daniel had to be found. Together we would set up camp on our own and await the supply helicopter. I was taking him off the island with me. No ifs, ands, or buts.
Chapter Eleven
Dakota
I began sobbing as the adrenalin subsided and the enormity of what had transpired caught up with me.
Wow! I think I just started a war. Now I really am scared. I’ll need eyes in the back of my head and my wits about me. How will I be able to hide? Correction, how will we hide? This island isn’t big enough.
I ventured deeper towards the heart of the island, trying to ignore my hunger pains. Lunch was a memory and dinner was on its way. The rescue mission hadn’t been thought out very well so I was unprepared to tackle a search satisfactorily, but soldiered on without so much as a grumble, unable to stop until Daniel had been found.
Where is he? I must find him and tell him that it’s not his fault. I know this to be true, better than anyone.
“Daniel! Where are you? It’s me, Dakota! It’s okay to come out. I’m not mad at you. It’s not your fault. I want to help you.”
Exasperating silence met my heartfelt pleas. The thick growth smacked me in the face as I trudged forwards. My raspy, heaving breaths were all that could be heard.
Coming up against another dead end, I defiantly slammed one of my crutches into the trunk of a palm tree. This was hopeless. With no water or food, I was limited. I wouldn’t be able to keep moving for long before I dropped. A risky detour for supplies was the only option.
The heat was ruthless. There was just no respite. The island needed rain to cool things down but that was as likely as snow in Jamaica. Even some cloud cover would drop the temperature. I wasn’t thrilled with the idea of having to return to steal some food and water but there was no choice. My energy had all but gone.
Cutting inland, I headed west with a picture in my head of the eating enclosure. I was charting new ground but figured as long as I was heading in the general direction I would make it back.
I wasn’t too far off course when I arrived, furtively hiding behind a tree to make sure I wasn’t seen. Not a soul was around and for that I was appreciative while I nabbed two pieces of fruit still sitting in a basket from the lunch that I’d missed, and then I downed three coconut shells full of liquid, hoping it would be enough to keep me going until Daniel was found. The small pocket tucked into the side of my dress bulged with a banana and an orange. The banana would give me some much needed energy and the orange would provide liquid in the form of juice. My senses were on high alert as I listened for anyone approaching. The last thing I needed was Jasmine or her caveman husband finding me. He’d probably already told her about our little spat and no doubt bent to truth to suit himself. Not that it mattered. I didn’t care what they thought of me. When I escaped this God-forsaken place, I’d never have to see them ever again.
Setting out again after a few minutes pause to rest, I retraced my steps and found a steady rhythm. It was tough going. Seriously tough! The track began to incline, slowing my momentum. I felt like I was walking up a downward moving escalator. Damn! At this rate it would be dark before a mile of the island had been covered.
I stopped every so often to ease the ache in my arms and hands, letting my heart rate settle, disregarding the hollow feeling in my stomach. I wanted to cover some more ground while there was light.
As the day wore on, my pleas to Daniel were met with a numbing silence.
The very bold efforts so far had been in vain. Daniel could be anywhere.
Maybe I’m trying too hard. He’s probably gone to a place that isn’t obvious to me.
Feeling almost defeated mentally and physically, I limped my way through a clearing to reach the coastline.
The scenery was diverse. Bulky rocks dotted some of the shore, small pools filling with water as the waves pounded in. I was at the end of my tether as far as the search was concerned. My body felt like it had circumnavigated the globe on foot in an afternoon.
My cries were stolen by the breakers. “Daniel. It’s Dakota. I need to talk to you. Can you hear me?”
My heart danced with relief when something moved far off down the beach, but it was just a couple of seagulls fighting over a piece of food on the sand.
Where on earth could he be?
It worried me to think of him out there somewhere. His little heart would be ripped to shreds. He would feel so alone. I knew that feeling well. It was a horrible darkness. At least I’d had my parents to comfort me. Daniel didn’t even have that.
There was no choice but to give up for the day and continue tomorrow. I needed to rest and recharge.
Gingerly descending the bank, I perched on a rock, making light work of the banana and saving the orange for later. The rations were meager to say the least, but it was better than nothing.
I scoped the site for a place to hunker down and settled for a chiseled out piece of embankment that would act as a burrow.
Sitting was nothing short of heaven. My arms quivered weakly and my working leg was about to go out in sympathy with the other. The palms of my hands had blisters that had popped and bled. The underside of each foot had hardened into pitted leather.
The sand held its warmth from the day so it was a blessing to ease back into the rut and close my eyes. Without notice, the weight of the day’s events overcame me, causing tears to flow. It was useless to try and stop them. What was the point? I cried for the good old days when Friar Tuck wasn’t breathing down my neck, waiting for an invitation to kick my butt to smithereens. A time when my parents and lover weren’t grieving over my death. A time when I wasn’t lame from a plane crash that had almost killed me and there were definitely tears for the old days when my mental ex-husband hadn’t inadvertently caused the whole frigging saga. I missed my family and Kyle. I was over the struggle. I wanted to go home, wherever that was.
Any normal person would have just sacrificed themselves to the shark at sea. In hindsight, it would have been a fair option.
As I curled up, tears drying on my cheeks, my eyes became so heavy, I couldn’t fight the need to sleep.
In the time it took the sun to dip below the horizon, I was out. Knocked into heavenly oblivion, curled into the bosom of the bank.
Chapter Twelve
Dakota
Evil lurked, whether it was in hellish dreams thousands of miles away or closing the gap nearby. The night had brought with it the first hint of rain, altering the seascape to a wishy-washy grey with a splash of white on the caps of water.
Being curled into a ball for a good portion of the night had me feeling like a rusty pocketknife trying to open. My legs and arms resisted the stretch, forcing me to cringe with discomfort as I pried them open. The kink in my neck softened with a couple of good rolls, allowing me to sit up to assess the surrounding conditions.
Cloud cover with possible showers. That would ease the burden of my quest this morning. With no Plan B, it was imperative to find Daniel. I would need to push myself beyond my limits. I groaned at the thought. Yesterday had floored me. I didn’t know how I would do it all again today. My bones ached. I needed a damn hot shower. My teeth were furry. I hated it. And as for deodorant, pfft, let’s just say that I don’t think I’ll ever get used to underarm odor, even if it is mine.
I reached into my pocket and found the warm citrus fruit that was to be breakfast, lunch, and dinner. My mouth watered for the succulent flesh and juice as I peeled and sucked, peeled and sucked. It was as close to heaven as it was going to get today, so I savored every mouthful, enjoying it for as long as possible, thinking th
at if I didn’t find some other source of food soon, I’d have to start eating the bark off the trees.
The sun was low in the sky, having only risen a short time ago, so the early morning, cooler temperatures were advantageous for the search. My plan was to keep heading northbound until the end of the road or until Daniel was found. I was praying that I would stumble across him before then.
What made me think he was out there somewhere and not back at camp? Just a hunch. His eyes were different yesterday, like he was really afraid for his life. I’d only searched them for a flicker of a second but it was a look of “I can’t do this anymore, I’m done.” And well, it was understandable. Everyone had a breaking point. Some people just took longer to reach it than others.
Climbing further, the dense brush of the forest thinned out towards a peak and then disappeared altogether when the track steamrolled out. The vista was stunning. I could see for miles, left and right as far as my eyes could go. If I wasn’t feeling like a renegade on the run, I would have stopped and basked in its splendor. The harsh, ruggedness nature had preserved failed to tempt me as I started the hairy descent towards a long, uninhabitable stretch of beach. Going down was easier than climbing up, although on really steep parts I had to stop myself from somersaulting over the crutches and rolling all the way to the bottom.
I kept stepping on spiky seeds that had fallen off trees, cursing into the breeze, having to stop every time to let the sting fade. My feet were dirty, toenails needing a good cut. I would be in dire need of a pedicure and a good pair of shoes when I got out of this hell-hole!
I was chuffed at my grueling efforts when I reached the bottom, more than ready to park my backside again. Looking up at where I had come from, I couldn’t believe how high up I’d been. And to have made the descent on crutches was not only crazy, it was a miracle I hadn’t fallen to my death. I never would have attempted anything so silly if a child’s life weren’t at stake.
Losing You (Finding You Series Book 2) Page 9
