Chapter 39

“Not bad. But a bit sloppy. What were you going to do if they showed back up at camp?” Kennedy drops Lieutenant Tallmaul and Kael limp bodies to the ground.

Ivan, who she had in her other hand, is still conscious. He’s kicking and screaming in his usual annoying matter.

Kennedy narrows her eyes as she says, “Always clean up your messes Em.”

“Did you follow us?”

“Of course I did. Do you think I orchestrated all this just to wait back at the camp to see if you live?”

Wow. She just admitted to almost getting us killed. I guess that's the least surprising thing that happened today. Me winning that fight with Jay is still number one.

“Glad to see you're alive,” she chirps, and you know what, I think she means that.

“Thank you?”

“Was that fun? Watching us almost die?” My mouth falls open at both the question and tone that Koa uses. His brother's expression is similar to mine.

Kennedy turns her head towards Koa with an unreadable gaze. “It was.”

Deciding to intervene for the sake of Koa’s life, I change the topic. “Why did you help?”

My tone isn't accusing and I'm not angry like Koa. It's simply beyond me to understand why Kennedy would step in and prevent them from running into camp screaming about what we did.

In the end of the day, three of them were royals, and Lieutenant Tallmaul was, whatever he was. There's no way that this benefits Kennedy.

“Because at this moment, I think you’re worth keeping around. And I don't like when people try to touch my things without permission.”

Ivan calls out Kennedy's name telling her that we're not getting away with this. I nearly forgot about him.

“Oh, thanks for the reminder,” Kennedy says in a playful tone. “I bought this one back for you conscious in case you want to clear the air. It seemed that out of all three of them, this one got under your skin the most.”

Kennedy drops Ivan in front of me. And though I'm still exhausted and my wounds haven't fully healed, I have more than enough strength to deal with him.

He tries to stand, but I take my hand to the side of his head and slam him down. I get close enough to where he's the only one that can hear me. “You killed him for his clothes? How dare you.”

Ivans eyes grow wide as I squeeze his head tighter. Even after seeing Jay's body, it seems that Ivan has realized that his life is on the line right now. Not until he looked in my eyes. Or maybe it's the blood that's still covering my face.

“Take it off.”

“What?”

“That bodysuit doesn't belong to you. Take-it-off.” I don't yell at him when I give him my orders. I just say each word as clearly and precise as I can to make sure he understands that he doesn't have a choice.

When we were dragged out into this forest, it took everything I had in me to hold myself back when I saw what Ivan was wearing the bodysuit. It was the one thing that Onda tried to protect with his life, though I wish he hadn't. I wish he would have just given them the bodysuit and asked me to make another one.

But wishes are useless when someone's already dead. So, the best that I can do is give it back to him.

I release Ivan, allowing him to stand up. He turns around to run, but Kennedy's blocking his path. He really doesn’t know when to give up, does he?

With nothing else to do his trembling hands reach up and pull apart the back of the fabric forcing the fibers to release. When he steps out of the body suit, all he's standing in is his underwear that he tries to cover with his hands.

“You'll pay for this,” he threatens.

“You first,” I purr.

Picking up the bodysuit, I tuck it under my arm and spin to face Kennedy. “So, did you have a particular plan to clean this up or should I just toss them in the fire?”

Behind us, the tree that used to house the mallatees is still burning. Around it are a few of the creatures that are still alive with considerably less energy. They're hiding under the bodies of their fallen comrades to shield themselves from the light.

“No need. When mallatees lose their home, they make one with the nearest available resource.” Kennedy shoots a look down at Kael and Lieutenant Tallmaul who are both still knocked out. “Generally, they'll pick one that has a food source that they can bury themselves inside until nightfall.”

Understanding what she's saying I kick out Ivan legs from under him and send him sprawling out on the ground.

“Stay.” In response to my order, red mist gathers around Ivan's body pinning him to the ground.

Earlier I told Jay that I chose to save the twins because I wanted to keep my humanity. If this were any other situation, leaving a man to be ripped apart by the creatures behind us would be something I could never even consider. But, you get what you give.

He didn't have any mercy when he beat Onda to death. Why should he expect any now?

Kennedy steps closer to me. At first, I think that she's going to kill Ivan, but when I see Koa scrambling back from her, I realize that everybody but me is on her list.

“Kennedy.” I hold out my hand stopping her approach.

Her gaze is calculating. She’s likely wondering if you should just kill me too for trying to stop her.

My voice is steady when I say, “I almost died saving them. Please let me have this.”

It's not a demand, and it's also not me begging for her to spare their lives. I know Kennedy wouldn't respond well to either. It's a request where she has the power to refuse, but I'm hoping she'll agree.

“What did I say about clean up your mess? They'll rat you out the moment you get back.”

“They won't. He was their friend first.”

Kennedy doesn't look impressed by my reasoning. To her it's likely hollow and destined to fall apart. So, I follow up with a logical response that I know she'll understand.

“And if they do, so what? You can just kill them before it becomes a problem.”

Kennedy considers my words as she examines Koa who's still on the ground. She's completely ignoring his brother who's a few feet away, still too hurt to do much but clutch his wounds.

He's lost too much blood. We need to hurry up and get him back to camp as soon as possible.

“Fine. Don't make me regret this.” With that final warning, Kennedy walks off into the forest leaving us alone.

Only after she's gone do I reach my hand down too Koa as an offer to help him stand. He stares at my outstretched hand, but he doesn't take it. “What’s your plan Em? Did you just save us to kill us?”

Not having the energy to play on act anymore, I sit on the ground absolutely exhausted. “If I wanted you dead, why would I go through all that huh?” I point to Jay's body as I raise my voice.

“What if Kennedy changes her mind and wants to kill us then?” Koa asks still not fully trusting me.

“Obviously, we run. Now are you going to stay down there and argue with me or can we leave?”

Koa scoffs and I scoff right back.

“What?!” I snap.

“Nothing.”

I'm about to lose my temper with Koa, but his brother speaks up. “Koa, since Em seems to only have been promoted to pet status in Kennedy's eyes, I don't think was in any position to give her orders. We’re alive, which is the most important thing. Also, can we please get moving? They're getting closer.”

Just as he said, the mallatees have been slowly but steadily approaching us. They're staring at the corpse and unconscious bodies on the ground, but they're also watching every person that's alive.

“Yes please.” I mutter as I drag myself to my feet and hold my hand out for Koa once more. This time, he takes it.

When we make into the tree line, Ivan's still begging for us to help him, but I tune him out. If he truly wants, he can beg for Onda’s forgiveness when he sees him.