Page 7 of Red Fire

“Why not?”

“You’re in the middle of the jungle.”

Tell me something I don’t know.

“I’m fit. I can hike out of here.” I chew on my lower lip for a second. “Perhaps you can point me in the right direction. Please tell me there’s somewhere half-civilized on this island. Somewhere I can go to get some help.”

“There is a city.” He nods.

I huff out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. “Oh, thank god!”

“It’s on the other side of the island, though; at least four days’ hike away. For someone small and weak like you, it might take as many as six or seven days to reach. You’d have to cross a river, not to mention the climb over the mountains. Going around them would decrease your journey by a day or two, but you’d be easily spotted on the beach, so I don’t recommend it.” He narrows his eyes in thought.

Shit!

Easily spotted by whom?

Those men trying to find me?

I decide not to ask.

“That’s fine. I can do it.” I nod. “If you’ll show me the way, I’ll—”

“Not to mention the eighty or ninety feral males in this jungle. All of them want a mate. They are all looking for you rightnow, as we speak.” His eyes dart to the door like someone might burst in at any second.

“A mate?” I frown. “Feral males?” I frown even harder, cocking my head as my mind works. That’s an odd way of speaking. What does he mean? Then I nod. “Oh, you mean wild mountain men looking for wives?”

He looks at me strangely for a few seconds before schooling his emotions. “Yep. That’s it exactly,” he says. “You’re in danger, Octavia.”

“Not from you.” I’m not sure if it’s a statement or a question.

“No, I wouldn’t hurt you, but I can’t say the same for the others.”

“Why would they hurt me? I don’t understand what is going on here.”

“How did you end up crashing your helicopter on our island?” he asks, folding his arms across his wide and very muscular chest.

“I’m a trainee helicopter pilot. I thought after ten lessons that I would be able to fly on my own, but it turned out that I was very wrong. This wind came out of nowhere and took me off course. I ended up in a whole lot of fog and I couldn’t see for shit. Then I was flying over this island. I had two choices: crash into the cliffs or put her down. I chose to put her down, and here I am. The helicopter didn’t fare as well.”

“Did you come from Draig Island?”

I nod.

“Are you a Tribute?”

“No. I refuse to be a Tribute. It’s all a bunch of utter crap.”

His eyes narrow on mine. “What is?”

“Are you kidding? All of it.” I roll my eyes. “Dragons don’t exist. You can’t tell me you believe in that nonsense? That you’ve seen a dragon.” I don’t wait for him to answer because I know that it can’t be true. “I refuse to believe it. I’m not sure whatthey wanted from us in the first place. What is clear to me is that they are brainwashing people over there. I have no idea why the Mainland has to keep sending people to that island year after year, but I’m willing to bet cold hard cash that itisn’tto communicate with bloodthirsty dragons through telepathy.” I touch my temples for a moment. “It’s all far-fetched bullshit. Sky Wardens, my ass.” I laugh. It’s shrill with nerves.

“Shhhhh.” His eyes seem to darken as they flash back to the door and then to the ceiling above us before locking with mine. “You need to keep very quiet, Octavia. If one of the mountain men hears you…” He sighs. “What the hell am I going to do with you?” He shakes his head.

5

Creed

This is worse than I suspected. A human female has crashed on our island. On the completely wrong side of the island, at that, and she doesn’t believe in the existence of dragons. What do they do with the Tributes at Draig? It is clear that they’re not inducting them like they should be. She doesn’t believe in dragons. Hah! I want to laugh at that notion, but I don’t. This is certainly no laughing matter.

---