Chapter 28: Chapter 28

Avril stared at Paolo like she couldn't comprehend what he was saying. He did not see Dakar? And his men did not shoot anyone? Then how did he get hit? She knew what she saw was real. He got shot and began to bleed through his mouth. She started to cry beside him, right before she felt the dart in her neck.

“Avril? Are you sure you were with someone on that island?” Paolo asked and Avril sighed.

“I'm sorry, I was lying. Nobody was with me on the island. I was alone and struggled to survive on my own,” she lied. She knew something was amiss if Paolo and his men truly didn't see Dakar. Maybe she was the only one who could see him physically. Maybe he accidentally got hit by a stray bullet even while invisible to the other people. But why would the bullet be pure silver? What kind of expensive bullet is that?

“You are wearing a shirt,trousers and boots. How did you get them?” he asked and she looked at her body.

“A helicopter crash. There was a crash somewhere in the forest. A long time ago I think, because only skeletons are there. I took clothes from a bag in the heli,” she lied again. She wondered where she got those skills from. Or did Dakar teach her how to lie too?

“Nobody survived the crash?”

“I don't think so. I only saw three skeletons. One belonged to a lady. She must have been the owner of the bagI took”.

Paolo went on and on with questions, and Avril answered back to back. Most of the answers were cooked up lies. But she seemed to have convinced Paolo, despite the fact he wanted to catch her in a lie. As he stood up to finally leave, Avril decided to ask her own questions.

“Why is Freddie not here?” she asked.

“Because he is doing some other business in Mexico,” he answered.

“What are my friends doing in Mexico? Where did you take them?”

“I don't know what they are doing there. But if there are lucky, they'll be just sex slaves. If they're not lucky, then they might be doing drugs for their masters. If they're doing drugs, there's a huge probability they are already dead,” Paolo stated and Avril gasped. She felt cold immediately. How stupid she was to think they were safe if they made it off the ship safely.

“Don't worry, you will not be madeto push drugs. There is a client who wants exactly your type. He will pay huge sum and take care of you,” he said with a smirk. Something told Avril he was ironically speaking when he said the man will take care of her. These guys might be selling her into a hellhouse.

Chapter 35

Dakar opened his eyes slowly as the sun rays blocked his full vision. He sat up on the sand and looked around him. Everything was still, just like it used to be. The oceanwaves roared towards the shore as usual, the sand was white and smooth with only his footsteps on it. His arrow basket and bow were afar off and he wondered why it was only his that was there. He also noticed too well that her footsteps were gone, alongside that of the men from the ship. He got up and wiped off the sand from his arms and back. How long had he passed out that everything looked so different already? Had he been lying there for days?

He walked back, tracing his footsteps to his arrows and bow. Truly, it was just his. But Avril's arrows and bow were also there. She had dropped them when he got shot.

Wait, he got shot? Why wasn't he feeling any pain?

He touched his chest and it was as smooth and soft like that of a new born baby. Where was the wound? He heals very quickly but not from a silver wound. What was happening to him? He looked behind him for the bodies of the men he killed and no sign of them. Something was wrong somewhere.

He picked his basket of arrows and bow, then ran back to the spot they were training. To his bewilderment, no tree was marked red, no arrow puncture was in any of them, not even a slight change was in the sight. He ran to the mountain house using his wolf speed. Something was very strange about the house. He went to the kitchen, the last place they were before leaving; still same result. He went to his room, where she had come to pick up his own bow and arrows; same result. Finally, he went to her room. The place she slept every night and where she got dressed up for the training; same thing. Avril's scent had completely disappeared from the mountain house. Dakar could scent a person who had been in a place as far as a month ago, but he couldn't scent Avril. It was as if she was never there.

“No, it can't be. Avril was in my life. I know it,” he assured himself as he looked around her room. It was the exact way it was before she arrived. The dress he made hung on the wall, and the bed had that same look. Her new boxes and clothes were gone. The swords and other weapons he ordered had disappeared. Her books, her coffee, her candy; everything was gone. He couldn't even scent the rabbit.

For the first time ever, Dakar crouched down and cried for Avril's sake. He was quick to realize that she had been ripped away from him forever.

***

Avril stood at the deck of the ship, holding the railing and looking over the vast blue color that surrounded them on all sides. There had been traveling for more than a week already, and each day she thought about only him. She worried about him, was nervous because of him. She wanted to act strong because that was what he would have wanted her to do, but the fact that the men couldn't see him worried her. What if he didn't even exist at all? What if it was her mind that was playing with her all along?

“For six whole months? No, I doubt that,” she mumbled.

The oceanic breeze were having no mercy as her hair danced violently around her face. Even her dress was almost torn off her body. Well, it wasn't even her dress. It belonged to Betty, who was forced to give some of her clothes and shoes to Avril. Speaking of the devil, Betty showed up behind Avril.

“I would have pushed you off this ship if I didn't have two reasons not to,” she said, announcing her presence to Avril. Avril looked back at her.

“Yeah? What are they?” she asked. Betty stood beside her and clasped her hands on the railing too.

“If I should push you, Paolo wouldpush me in too. He could even push himself if,” she stated and Avril smirked. She however wondered why they took her that important. It couldn't totally be because she was Freddie's favorite.

“And, it's not the first time you've been thrown overboard. You'll just come back again,” Betty said.

“It's not as easy as that. I was just lucky,” said Avril.

“Luck, you seem to have plenty of that,” Betty stated and looked at the left side, away from Avril who was at her right. Avril looked at her face, which still had signs of the beating she received.

“How did you get on this ship? Because you're Paolo's woman?” Avril asked. Yes, Betty was Paolo's woman. That was why she had or claimed so much authority on the ship.

“Partially. I had no where else to run to. So, I begged him to let me come. He agreed, only on the condition that I become his woman.”

“And, you agreed? He's way older than you.”

“I had no choice. I was running away from someone who was way older than Paolo. Though, he was Italian too,” Betty concluded. Avril needn't ask who and why she was running from this way older man. With the things she had heard on the ship for the past one week, she knew the kind of life Betty ran away from.

“From what I heard from Paolo, you might be taken to somewhere worse. I do hope some of that your luck shines on you. Because, the Mexicothey're taking you,isn't for the weak,” Betty stated.

Avril looked at her charm bracelet and smiled. Now she realized why Dakar thought her how to fight. She had asked if there was going to be a war and he said you never know. Life itself was war.

“How did you survive? Alone on that island?” Betty asked.

“Survival of the fittest. I faced the unimaginable. I had to fit myself in with him,” Avril answered and shrugged.

“Him?” asked Betty.

“Sorry, I meant 'it'. The island itself. I am tired, I have to go and rest,” she said and turned to go.

“I'm sorry. The way I treated you that day. I apologise,” Betty said. Avril did not look back at her, she just sighed and started walking back into the ship.

***

That week without Avril was the worst and longest week of his life. Dojo kept laughing in his head, he kept getting angry and breaking stuff, he hardly ate and was staring into space for hours. Something strange, however happened one day. He went inside his room and checked his box for a pin he needed to stitch. He saw a paper and he couldn't believe it. It didn't disappear, the letter Avril wrote for him. He read it again and again and again. He finally felt alive again. This was proof that she wasn't his imagination and that she was real. He folded the paper neatly andclutched it tightly in his palm. Suddenly, his eyes felt drowsy and he couldn't stand anymore. He felt himself falling into nothingness. It felt like an eternity until he finally opened his eyes. He was lying down on a hard and wet surface, still clutching the letter in his hand. Water was splashing on his face and he realized it was raining. He heard voices,then saw a bright light flashed over him and he closed his eyes.

A loud and close voice now shouted excitedly, “It's Prince Dakar! Everyone, run here. Prince Dakar is back!”

Chapter 36

“Prince Dakar is back”

Those were the words on every lips throughout the whole day. Everyone claimed a different story of what really happened. Some said he fell from the sky during the night storm. Others said he came before the storm decided to announce his arrival. The worst story was, he fell as rain and formed back into human form. The truest of the stories was that Prince Dakar was found during the terrible night storm. Some men heard loud rumblings close to the borders of the kingdom. They alerted the guards on duty and they went there, thinking some Intruders had found a way into their kingdom. They flashed their lights all around and found nothing. As they were about to go back, one of them noticed a body lying on the floor, totally drenched by the rain. He flashed his light against the body and found out it was their long lost prince.

***

Avril watched as Betty made meatballs for dinner. She did not join in the cooking because she didn't want to. Cooking would remind her too much of Dakar.

“Do you know how Paolo got his burn? The one on his hand?” Betty asked, as she was rolling the meatballs in her palm.

“No, it's a burn, isn't it?” Avril asked.

“Yep. He survived an explosion that he created. He wanted to kill some men who he was supposed to deliver drugs to. He wanted to receive the money and run away with the drugs to sell off again. Too bad, the grenade took off while he was still throwing it,” she explained and Avril laughed.

“Why does he have bad luck with his own accomplices? He wanted to cut me with the same knife I used against him,” Avril said and Betty laughed.

“He's just a man who life dislikes. He's nasty,” she mused and turned to the pasta boiling on the stove.

“How long before we reach Mexico?” Avril asked.

“Uhm, not more than a week. It's really close by now.”

“All right.”

“Avril, why are you eager to go to Mexico? I hope you're not harboring plans of escaping when we get there,” Betty asked with a Stern face. Avril shook her head.

“I'm not going to run away from what life is offering. Maybe I was created for this,” she answered.

“Created for what exactly? A sex slave? Trust me, Avril, that's not a life to live. These so called men can do whatever they want to you. It's like they own you. If they want a public display of sex, you cannot refuse. If they want three men to strip you publicly and deal with you right there, you have no choice but to oblige,” Betty revealed and Avril's spine turned cold immediately. She had not even thought about that. She did not think she would be a sex slave. All she saw was a thug life and running dangerous errands.

“I–I didn't think about that,” she stuttered and looked at her wrist where the charm bracelet glistened.

“What were you thinking all these while, then? That you were going to be a cute princess in Mexico? Don't you know what these guy's businesses are? They trade women as sex slaves, drug pushers or worse, errand girls.”

“Why is errand girls worse?”

“Oh, those ones? Their lives are always on the line. They disguise themselves and run errands to other drug lords. Mostly to spy on them or seduce and kill them. If they're caught, it's bye bye without a second thought.”

“What a life.”

“Terrible life. Do you see why I chose to lie underneath a stinking old man every night and live everyday without having much fears?”

“A stinking old man?” Paolo's voice rang into the kitchen. Betty's hand slipped on the counter and she almost fell face down into the pot on fire. Avril had to pull her at the last minute and they both fell on the floor.

“Both of you, meet me outside,” Paolo ordered and left the kitchen, glaring particularly at Betty.

“Are you okay?” asked Avril.

“Yes. Thank you for pulling me,” she answered.

“You are welcome,” Avril said. They both went to see Paolo who was looking quite happy compared to how angry he looked when he heard Betty's little compliment about him.

“What is it?” Avril asked and crossed her arms.

“Hey, you, watch your tone with me,” he said to her and she rolled her eyes.

“What is it, Paolo?” Betty asked.

“We arrive Mexico in three days. Freddie just called and he said the buyer has struck a deal again. Huge money, hahaha. Avril, you are precious. Ha ha ha,” he laughed, showing his mushy yellow teeth.

“Wow, I can't believe I just got sold like a piece of furniture,” she drawled sarcastically.

“Guess what, if we see another buyer when we land, and he is willing to pay higher amount, we give you to him. He will deal with you in a way that you won't survive. And guess what, Freddie will not save you,” he mocked and laughed again. Betty glared at him.

“Why do you seem to be enjoying this?” she asked.

“Because I dislike her. I hate her, in fact. But I have figured out you don't anymore. Why? Did she charm you too?” he asked and she scoffed and held Avril's arm.

“Let's go back inside,” she said and pulled Avril along.

***

The Kingdom of Remus was thrown into jubilation at Prince Dakar's return. It had been fifty four years since he was last sighted. No one knew why he disappeared because the secret was just between him, his best friend and his parents. No one even knew he was responsible for theQueen's death. All they knew was they were attacked during their journey by a large army of vampires who killed the Queen. And, caused the Prince to disappear to an unknown location. That story was cooked up by Camper, and somehow, everybody believed it.