Chapter seven:

[Aramina’s POV]

I’d been watching Colt sit on the edge of the dock for the last few hours. He looked disturbed and seemed to be taking it out on the ocean. He was giving the water a serious staring down while he propped a knee up. I had a feeling it was something serious and even though I checked the area out there was no immediate signs of danger. Maybe he was man PMS-ing I joked to myself.

I started walking towards him and the ‘click click click’ of the old wooden boards from the dock groaned. He looked back and did a double take he saw that it was me. His face was a transformation from the sullen and brooding looking Colt, to the cheery happy Colt. I sighed, making him smile shouldn’t make me feel this happy.

“Hey gorgeous, I’m so happy you decided to come today” he yelled out walking towards me.

“But of course! A woman’s got to show a man how to fish properly!” I joked, he chuckled and shook his head.

“Maybe we should make a little bet? Whoever catches the most fish wins and the loser owes him dinner.”

“You mean ‘whoever catches the most fish wins and the loser owes HER dinner’” I laughed and hit him across the shoulder. His laughter mixed with mine, the perfect mix of soprano and baritone.

“Come on cheeky let’s get started” he held his elbow out for me and I happily took it. We walked over to this beautiful speed boat. It wasn’t small but not too big and looked like it was built for speed. He helped me into the boat and soon enough we were speeding away.

The wind mixed with the sea salt and sprayed my face as we sped away. It felt so exhilarating and with the boat jumping into the air from time to time it felt like you were flying. I took a look behind me to Colt and he had the face of a man with no problems or cares. This life suited him and I wondered if he did this often.

When we were a few miles out from the coast we slowed the boat and soon cut the engine then lower the anchor. I looked around at the ocean surrounding us. It was a beautiful dark blue and so deep you couldn’t see very far below. It was the perfect day for fishing as well; clear skies with just a few wisps of white clouds streaking the skies and the sun beaming down.

“Would you like some sunblock?” I heard Colt say behind me. I looked at him and he was holding out the little bottle to me. I nodded.

“Yes please. I didn’t put any on” I said sheepishly. I was wearing a black tube top with my bikini underneath and white short shorts with a pair of flip flops, keeping my look casual and comfy.

He sat behind me with his legs either side of me and started squirting the sunblock onto his hand before dipping his finger into and swirling it around my back above my tube top. I laughed when I realized he was spelling his name on my back.

“You better rub that in! I’m not having your name tanned into my skin” I laughed. He began laughing and started rubbing it in. His hands felt amazing! I took the bottle and began rubbing it on my chest and arms and legs then my face just to keep my mind from straying.

“Hang on” I told Colt. I leaned forward and pulled my top off leaving me in my black bikini top and shorts. I began rubbing more sunblock on my stomach and I felt his fingers trailing on my lower back rubbing more onto it. I took deep breaths trying to fight my body’s reaction to his hands on me. You’re just friends Aramina, stop it! I scolded myself.

“Ok, your turn! Turn.” I instructed him breathing heavily. He smirked and in one swoop he pulled his shirt over and was half naked in front of me. Hot damn I missed his body. I craved to trace my fingers over his sculpted chest and his chiseled abs. Yum-my! Snap out of it woman! I cleared my throat and spun my finger around instructing him to turn around.

While he rubbed the sunblock everywhere else, much to my disappointment and relief, I rubbed his back. He really did have a sexy back. Wide smooth shoulders that tapered down to a narrow waist with muscles that rippled when he moved. I slyly wrote ‘Mina’ on his back and smiled when he didn’t say anything and did an evil laugh on the inside. Sucker!

We began fishing and nothing was biting. We were both content to fish in silence and I began wondering again why he was looking sullen earlier.

“So Colt, earlier before you even saw me, you looked a little disturbed. Is everything ok?” I asked him acting as though it was nothing.

“It was nothing.” He told me. Obviously not true though.

“I thought we were friends? Don’t friends tell each other everything?” I offered him a smile when he looked into my eyes searching for something.

“I had a bad sleep. Nightmares you know.”

“What did you dream of?” I asked curiously.

“My brother.” I was a little shocked. I didn’t know he had a brother? I didn’t look through his file much and thought it best to ask him the questions in case I let something slip that he hadn’t told me. When he didn’t elaborate I urged him to continue. He sighed.

“My brother’s dead, he was murdered. He was only 22 years old, he was so young and had so much to live for.” he trailed off and began brooding.

“I’m sorry Colt, I didn’t know. I wouldn’t have asked otherwise.” I was curious as to how he was killed but it seemed too intimate of a conversation for such a sore topic.

I didn’t know what else to say and the silence became a little tense. A tugging of the line startled me and I gasped. I had a fish!

“Oh my God! I got one!” I yelled and stood up trying to reel it in. I switched between pulling then reeling in and repeated it, damn this guy was a heavy one! Colt was laughing and stood next to me encouraging me yet telling me to drop the fish so he can win the bet.

“Ah! I got it!” I pulled the fish up and it was a pretty silver colour with a tinge of blue. It was a fat fish and I held the line bringing it over the edge of the boat. “Yeah and that’s how it’s done!” I taunted Colt laughing.

All tense feeling disappeared as we looked at the fish and he pouted saying I’m damaging his ego. We got the cooler with water and placed the fish in there letting it swim around inside.

“Oh it is so on!” Colt cried as he sat back down and reeled his line back in to check his bait and from then on we were keen to beat the other. The score was 7-5 with me in the lead when something started to feel wrong. Something was off and I scanned the area for whatever was making me edgy.

A speed boat larger than ours was speeding directly at us and didn’t look like it had any intention of slowing down.

“Colt… Colt, we need to get out of here.” I warned Colt, an edge to my voice. Colt noticed it and looked up immediately.

“What’s wrong Aramina?” he replied sternly.

He looked at the speed boat it was quickly getting closer. He squinted and swore under his breath before jumping over the cooler and running to the wheel. As the boat neared us I could see two bulky men on it looking straight at us.

The one at the wheel had dark skin and a buzz cut, tattoos covered his arms and had an open black vest showing off his sculpted torso and the hint of a gun showed when his vest flapped in the wind. The other had a light skin tone and black hair. He was shirtless and his gun was in clear view. Who the hell were these people?!

Then it hit me. Shit! Of course! It was the whole reason why I was even on earth and guarding Colt. These people were from Colt’s ex-gang and obviously they weren’t happy. The question was ‘why?’ but that would have to wait for later.

Their boat was a lot more powerful because in no time they were drawing up closer to our boat and I saw that they had taken out their guns. The shirtless man pointed his gun towards Colt and since Colt was far too focused on trying to evade them he didn’t see.

“Colt!” I screamed. I ran to him jumping to knock him down to the floor just as a gunshot went off. The roaring of both the engines weren’t enough hide the sound.

“F*ck!” Colt yelled. His face was contorted with rage and he looked into my eyes, “Thanks” he managed to yell gruffly before he went to the side and pried a hidden compartment open before grabbing a gun.

“Mina, grab the wheel!” He shouted and I immediately ran to it steering it away from the gang members but ducking down so I wasn’t in the range of fire. Shots were fired and I didn’t know who was shooting. What the f*ck! How am I suppose to guard Colt when they have f*cking guns?! Then the realization swam through me. Of course! I had powers! But how the hell do I use them in this situation?

While I tried to come up with how I should do that, another round of shots were fired and this time a cry filled my ears and a dull thud followed. I looked back and saw Colt on the floor with blood seeping from his side, knocked out on his back and I swore.

That is it! Enough is enough!

I swung the wheel around and the boat make a wide arch turning towards the men. I faintly saw them share a glance at each other before they began trying to shoot at me. It didn’t bother me anymore because I was already dead.

I swung my arm in front of me with my hand wide open facing the shirtless thug, I clenched my hand and motioned just as though I was picking him up and throwing him aside. Faster than I could see he was thrown sideways into the water skipping across the water like a stone before sinking into it.

Next was the guy at the wheel.

He was scared sh*tless at what he had just witnessed. Good.

He began shooting, not at me, but at the boat and I could tell he was trying to get it to explode. A fire had started on the boxes near Colt, what the f*ck? How did that happen? He must’ve hit something that ignited it. This needed to end now.

We were close to an offshore island now. I faced the last man and repeated what I did to his partner and he went flying off the boat skipping away like a ragdoll. I rushed down to Colt.

“Colt! Colt wake up!” he was completely knocked out. His blood was staining the floor and I needed to act fast. The fire started spreading and was fast on its way towards the emergency gas.

“F*ck!” I threw the cooler in the water then lifted Colt up, thank God for my guardian angel strength, and threw ourselves into the water. Colt was heavier in the water and I tried to keep us afloat on the cooler feeling the escaping fish swim away around me.

I watched the boat speed away a few more seconds before it exploded. The heat of the explosion burnt my face and I watched the blue, orange and yellow of the flames ignite the pieces of debris that once was called a boat. The biggest part of the boat was being eaten by the flames and was sinking into the ocean while the debris that were blown into the air were falling into the water either scorched or still on fire.

F*ck.

I started kicking my legs and made my way to the offshore island making sure to keep Colt’s face above water, I noticed his head was bleeding as well and that explained why he was completely knocked out.

[Colt’s POV]

I feel like I’m dying…

Where the hell was I? I opened my eyes and gasped looking around me, it was getting close to sunset. I was on sand, the shore? How did I get here? Oh no, Mina! I tried to get up and groaned at the pain. I’d been through worse back when I was in the gang and was brawling but this still hurt like a mother.

I sat up and looked around, I was definitely on the shore but not the coastline. I couldn’t see Mina anywhere!

I tried to remember what happened and remember her at the wheel while I was trying to shoot those motherf*ckers. I got hit and fell backwards then that’s it. That’s all I could remember. Fear spread through me. Did they take her? Did they kill her? Did she drown? I had no idea!

I forced myself to stand and limp towards the water. Oh God Mina, I’m so sorry. I stared at the smooth ocean and unshed tears welled up in my eyes

“Colt! What the hell are you doing standing up! For f*cks sake sit down! You’ll hurt yourself even more!”

I stilled and turned towards the voice. No, it couldn’t be!

“Aramina! Oh my God you’re alive! But how?” I limped towards her and she dropped the pile of sticks she was carrying on the sand before rushing over to me.

“Colt, please you’re hurt. Sit down! We only have so much medical supplies.” She threw my arm over her neck and helped me onto the sand. Medical supplies? I looked down at my torso and noticed I was bandaged up. Hmm, you’d think I’d notice that before…

I looked her over. She was still in her bikini top and her shorts transparent and damp, her hair was a mess and her face and arms held scrapes but otherwise she was unharmed.

“What the hell happened? Are you ok? Where are the guys who attacked us?” I asked firing question after question. She had a strange look before she started answering.

“Well, uh after they shot you I guess they thought you were dead. They started shooting at the boat and the boxes caught fire then moved over to the emergency gas. Basically the boat blew up and I had to throw you out and jump out myself. We were already close to this island so I used the cooler to keep us afloat and swam over here. I bandaged you up and you were lucky the bullet went straight through.” I gaped at her. She saved my life and wasn’t even running away screaming trying to get the hell away from me.

“Aramina, I am so sorry. So, so sorry! I just-“ I started to apologize, God only knew she deserved more than a million apologies!

“It’s ok Colt, really. I’ve heard worse and what it comes down to is that we’re both safe.” She insisted shrugging her shoulders.

I couldn’t believe this woman. From all the hell I’ve ever gone through in my life, I didn’t deserve this amazing woman to even be anywhere near me! Different emotions began running through my veins.

Rage, when I realized that the boss must have sent the thugs after me, after us, endangering Mina in the process and nearly killing us both.

Embarrassment, that I was knocked unconscious while Mina strived to save both our lives.

Then love. Love for Aramina who, after the hell we’ve gone through, is still sticking by my side.

I only hoped that she was sticking around because she felt something for me too, and not because of doctor protocol or the fact that we were on an island. I could only hope.

“Well I already managed to call the coast guard and they’ll have someone here in the morning, we just have to wait it out.” Mina’s voice interrupted my thoughts. I nodded then frowned.

“How did you manage to call the coast guard?” I asked completely confused. Mina pulled out her cell phone and waved it.

“I used my cell phone. Apparently it wasn’t too water damaged…”

I nodded my head slowly again a little confused. Huh, well either we’re extraordinarily lucky or there’s a guardian angel looking out for us.

[Aramina’s POV]

Christ I can’t believe he’s falling for all of this! He must’ve hit his head a bit harder than I thought.

After I managed to get us to shore he was bleeding fast and I didn’t want any stray sharks thinking he was for dessert. I visualized bandages and stroked across Colt’s abdomen making it appear and wrapped around his gunshot wound successfully stopping the bleeding. Next, I inspected the back of his head and nodded to myself when I saw it would be fine, so I let it be.

I thought at how easy it was to look after him and wished that it was only that easy to have taken care of my patients like this. A swipe of a hand and you’re done. I scoffed, if only it could’ve been that easy then I wouldn’t be dead.

“So what were you doing just before I woke up?” I heard Colt ask. I turned to look at him and smiled.

“I was gathering some sticks for a fire. It’s starting to get dark and it’ll be cold soon too.” I replied shrugging my shoulders. I stood up and dusted the sand from my ass and shivered as the wind picked up a little. I looked around and watched the palm trees lining the shore sway in the wind. The sun was dulling and would soon start its journey into the horizon.

From my memory of a survivor’s guide I read years ago I tried starting a fire.

It was not easy.

“Are you ok Mina? Did you want me to help?” Colt yelled out, concern and humour dancing in his eyes.

“I’m fine Colt, you can help me out by resting and taking it easy.” I shouted back. I sighed roughly and threw the sticks down in the sand. Looking at Colt to see if he was watching, I moved myself so I was blocking the pile of sticks then snapped my fingers.

Flames sprouted from the core of the teepee shape pile of sticks and I grinned. These powers are awesome!

I helped Colt over to our fire and we sat facing the ocean that looked so serene now, but a few hours earlier was threatening to kill us. The fire crackled and sent little burning pieces of ashes floating into the air. He shuffled and bent his knees up then grabbed my hand.

“Come sit here my little miracle saver.” He said softly staring straight into my eyes.

I could see the fire dancing in his eyes; both the physical one in front of us and the deeper emotional one that he kept inside. A smile crept onto my face as I stood up and sat down between his legs with my back against his chest.

He leaned into me and wrapped his warm muscular arms around me making me feel so safe and secure then he settled his chin on my shoulder. Together, with the roaring fire in front of us, we watched the ball of fire in the sky settle lower and lower. The sky was slowly being painted into beautiful hues of purple, pink and orange then was mirrored into the vast ocean.

We watched the sun say its goodbye and the last few rays tucked themselves into the ocean, and then night settled over us.

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A/N

I tried making it longer for all you beautiful readers. It’s about 7 pages on Word so woohoo for me lol.

Vote/comment/fan… please!

Nix <3