He looked back at him. “This was a good idea. Dining here with this huge fire.”
“Yeah… but now I have other plans.”
Their eyes shone as Gabe parted his lips for a kiss. Damian obliged, but then held his jaw softly. “Not in the fucking sand?”
Next morning, Damian walked to him. “I’ll go and see what’s in the nets today.”
Gabe just nodded, busy cleaning that area around their hut. “Ok. I’m busy here. I’ll cook breakfast.”
A quick kiss, and Damian walked away, at ease, down that path he knew by heart, his bag on his back, a slight breeze drifting from the beach in that pouring sunshine. A perfect day, again. Smiling lightly, lost in his thoughts, at utter ease with his surroundings, the soft shush of trees, the roar of the waves closer. Finally, the end of the path, he knew, so he raised his eyes to take in that familiar view he could not get enough of, stepping out on that blinding sand, for a minute closing his eyes to let that warmth lick his skin, the scent of the ocean thick in the air.
“Hey!”
His eyes flew open, his mind struggling to process what he was seeing as a rush of ice ran down his body. Watching those humans on the beach, standing, their eyes wide. Damian blinked, his breath shallow to try to calm down as his fear grew in his shock. Military clothing, guns. Their faces painted green, brown, and black.
One of them spoke. “Hey… Stay where you are!”
But Damian couldn’t hear him, his blood drumming in his ears as his body reacted to those humans who had been lost to him forever. Doing the only thing he had learnt in that thick jungle filled with danger.Run.He turned and disappeared, running up that path with ease, silent, but in full panic, he knew, cold sweat running down his back as he heard the shouting behind him. A shot fired, loud in that quiet sun. Birds flying off, frantic. He ran, his mind sharper, focused on only one thing.Gabe. Get to Gabe.
Gabe raised his head at that deafening noise. What…?Putting his broom down, his eyes went to the sky, littered with birds screeching and flying. His eyes back to the path, wide, watching Damian emerge, running like a shadow. He didn’t have time to ask anything. Damian slammed his palm on his mouth and dragged him behind one of the pillar trees of their hut. Feeling his chest heave, but he breathed in silence. Gabe tried to look at him, but he was holding him too tight, his palm wedged on his mouth.What…His eyes going wide at the human voices.
“Fucking hell… what the fuck is this?”
“Some sort of hut? Hey! Come out! We won’t hurt you!”
Shuffling, something falling to the ground. “Shit… what a pile of junk…”
“You think somebody survived here?”
“We saw him, idiot.”
“Could have been indigenous.”
Gabe breathed harder, and his hand went to Damian’s wrist, pulling softly, but he didn’t let go.
“Hey! Come out! Look! A pig! He’s big… quick, let’s shoot him! He might be vicious.”
Gabe felt Damian let go and step away, so fast, he almost fell. Watching with wide eyes as he stepped in front of Walter, putting his palm on the pig’s head. Walter stopped, looking up at him. A human standing in front of Damian, holding his rifle.
“Well, well… your pig…? You speak English?” The others behind him holding their guns, their fingers close to the trigger.
Watching that man with his wild hair and hard eyes stand with that animal, silent. Facing them off. Damian couldn’t speak, his caution bigger than whatever he felt at the moment when his world got invaded. Gabe walked behind him and looked at the man standing closest, his heart racing.
“Two of you? Are there more? Do you speak English?” He said it slowly, almost mocking.
Gabe licked his lips, dead scared. “Yes… we do…” Watching Damian stiffen, but he didn’t turn.
The soldier’s eyebrows shot up. “American? You’re Americans?”
Gabe nodded. “Yes…”
Another man stepped close. “Your friend is mute?”
“No…” Gabe felt like floating.People. People. Here. Watching them like mirages, he swayed a bit and caught Damian’s hand, who closed his fingers on it, holding him tight.
The soldier’s lips curled up as he took his radio. “Alright… I see… Names, please? Who are you, and how long have you been here?”
The other one smirked. “Tell your friend if he doesn’t speak, we won’t be this nice. One would think he’s lost his mind.”
