Chapter 27. Under The Moonlight

"We have to cross this... Are you ok?" Robert turned his head back.
"Oh...Don't mind me..." I muttered. "Keep going, please..."
"Alright. Let's do this."
I rolled my eyes open. We were in the middle of a boundless field. All around, tall, dry grass waved back and forth in the warm tropical wind. The air was balmy, and my sweat had completely dried out. The moon had long replaced its fiery counterpart. A million stars blinked in the night's dark blue canvas reminding me of home.
Nova Aria and the farm. They felt like a lifetime ago.
My body moved up and down with the rhythm of Robert's steps. The coarse blades of grass tickled my bottom and legs, making me giggle.
"Having fun up there?" Robert chuckled along.
"Not really..." I cleared my throat, "How long have I been out?"
"Not long. We're almost there." Robert squeezed my legs.
His answer didn't offer any clarity. I didn't know where "there" was. The itch on my neck still lingered but was at a much more manageable level now. I absentmindedly scratched it, then realized that I couldn't.
"You can let me down, you know? I can walk," I told Robert.
"It's ok, Lou... Save your strength. We're almost there," Robert repeated.
"But it itches! And I can't feel a damn thing from my waist down!" I straightened my back and swung my legs. "They're like logs!"
"Alright, alright! Calm down."
Robert slowly lowered me to the ground. As soon as my feet touched it, I wanted to stand up and run, but the sharp sensation shooting up my spinal cord disagreed.
"Take it easy," Robert untied my hands around his neck and turned around slowly while holding them, "You've been staying in the same position forever, remember? Plus, you lost a lot of blood. Don't do anything rash. Take your time... You got it?"
"Yeah, yeah, I got it," I frowned while rubbing my wrist and neck.
Not too far away, Dad and Vince stopped in their tracks and looked back at us. I could barely make out their expressions. Robert let go of me completely, and I stumbled. My stomach growled as if I had not eaten in years.
"Hang in there," Robert's eyes twinkled as he laughed, "Hopefully, Charlie will bring us something to chew on."
His hand was warm on mine. I sighed inwardly and looked down at them without saying anything.
"Years ago," Robert turned to the line of trees and inhaled the new gust of wind blowing at us. "Charlie and I landed on this island by accident. Can you believe this is our only way out now?... Anyway, I don't know if you remember that day, but I was gone for the whole day and night-"
"How could I forget?" I scoffed, "I called you like a million times! Went crazy thinking something might happen to you. I even went to the police and reported you missing-"
"I'm sorry, Lou. Truly, for everything."
His apology was a cold pail of water to my bubbling anger. I deflated, "It was a long time ago... No need to mention something that happened a million years in the past..."
"Don't keep saying that, Lou! Don't keep saying 'The past'!"
We were both taken aback by his outburst. Robert seemed even more so. We stared at each other until he eventually wiped his face and backed up from me.
"If I could do anything to change it, I would. Believe me," he chuckled dryly, "Those words always pain me.... And the stupid lies I told you. Why did I even do that? I was so stupid. If I could go back, seven years ago, I would kick myself in the nuts just for uttering them to you. But I can't. No one can go back in time."
I looked through Robert. My mind traveled hundreds of thousands of miles away, past the ocean, back to the tree where I had first seen him. I felt like that little girl again, struggling to find my voice.
"We're in this situation, Robert... And it's not anyone's fault. Not mine, or yours... I don't blame you. Not anymore. I wished things could be different too, but it is what it is. It's too late for us now."
"Please, don't say that."
"You know it's true. We had many chances throughout the years to fix things, but neither of us lifted a finger to do so, and you had a reason to, but still...You're smart, Robert. Smarter than both of me and Vince combined. Maybe that's why you always think that you're in control. That you can do everything on your own, but at some point, it shows a lack of trust. I thought I had done enough for you to trust me..."
"I trust you, Lou."
"Obviously, not enough! And it hurts. It really does, Robert. Look where we are now! Running like criminals and I can't even look at you! I wish you were not here. I feel bad that you're stuck with us..."
"Well, don't. I don't regret a thing being here with you, so I don't need you to feel bad for me."
He pulled me closer, and I yanked away. He did it again. This time, with a force that made me slam into his chest.
"You're hurting me, Robert!" My whole body throbbed with anger as I screamed, "You want to kill me now? You never stopped for a second to discuss anything with me or anyone! You've never considered how I felt! You acted as if you were a freaking lone wolf! Now, look at you! Want to act pitiful and crawl your way back after knocking someone up! You wouldn't tell me that too, would you? Hide it from me like everything else! You have some fucking nerve! Well, fuck you, Robert! Fuck you!"
I kicked his shin, trying to break free, but no matter how hard I tried, it was no use. Our height and weight differences worked in his favor.
"Lou, stop! You're hurting yourself! I know I've been an asshole, but you can't-"
"Fuck! Let me go!"
"Hey, what's with you guys again?"
Dad and Vince ran over. The sight fueled my anger like nothing else.
"Well! Here comes the chivalry!"
I laughed before chomping down on Robert's arm. It was a last-minute decision. My teeth first got his outer shirt and slipped off. I could feel the impact echo through my jaw to the back of my head. I let go and bit down again. This time, bullseye.
Robert flinched as I clenched my teeth to inflict the most pain on him. I needed him to feel what I felt, or at least, part of it.
"Lou! Robert! Stop!" Vince yelled bloody murder as Robert pinned his whole body's weight on me, and we both fell forward to the ground.
"God! Stop! Both of you!... You! You get off her!"
My dad stomped his slippers dangerously close to my face, kicking up a storm of sand and grass. At some point, he must have jumped on Robert's back. I was not sure. My nose itched. My mouth tasted like metal. I could barely open my eyes, but the last thing I wanted to do was let go of Robert's forearm.
"Lou! Stop! I know you're mad but, please, stop biting!" Robert gritted his teeth.
I laughed deep in my throat and pressed my teeth together. With all my strength. Then I spat his arm out.
"Now, we're way past the point of being mad, aren't we? If we get out of this alive, Robert, promise me that we'll never see each other again."
We both panted like animals. Somehow, caked in dirt and barely made it back from the physical exertion, I felt great. I felt better than I had in years. Freer. More alive. Robert started rocking me from side to side in weird, soothing movements. Heat vibrated from him. The smell of grass washed over me in waves, in sync with the ocean. Near and far, everything gave me a sense of false peace.
"You can hate me, Lou," Robert whispered. "We can fight. But I'm not going anywhere. I won't make the same mistake twice."
"That's really dumb." I pressed my elbow to his ribs, enough to hurt, but his arms only tightened around me.
"Wow, don't hold back, guys. Let it out. Let it all out."
I had totally forgotten about the other two men in my life. Vince's face came closer, bigger than the moon above. He sat flat down next to us and exhaled. His face had a wistful expression. My dad stood not too far away with his hands on his waist. His eyebrows knotted into a disapproval scowl. Safe to say, Dad was more than done with our shenanigans. His dirty hospital gown fluttered in the wind, creating a bizarre picture amidst the wilderness.
At least, he had his pants on.
I groaned and pushed on Robert to get up. The moment had passed, and I wished nothing more than to carry on with our journey.
"Well, we did," I dusted my hands. "We have to. Or when can we even do that? Tell me, dear brother. When can we do that?"
"I don't know," Vince shrugged. "I'm not against 'talking things out'. All I'm saying is seize the moment, guys, no matter how nauseous it is because something might jump out and eat us all in the end."
His eyes dashed around, making him look a little nuttier than usual.
"Something like what? Crabs?" I scoffed.
As proven time and time again, my luck wasn't the best. The moment I closed my big mouth, roars of rotors cut through the island's moist air, shattering every ounce of silence and peace we thought we had.
"Oh shit! Oh, shit!" Vince jumped to his feet.
We dashed to the line of trees with our eyes peeled to the sky. By some miracle, five helicopters with their giant searchlights flew right past us. The whole forest was jolted awake. Birds cried and flew up from branches in a frenzy.
"They can't see us from here," my dad whispered, more to himself than anyone, "They can't. We've got to move. Now! Robert, lead the way."
"At least they're not on the ground yet... "
Loud barks answered Vince's statement. My brother once again outdid me.
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