Page 23 of Corrupted Torment

I lead her to a patch of mint leaves. A specific herb I planted long ago at the edge of camp. A trick I’d learned, through whispers of the women. One’s who gave up long ago having been here the longest. Surrounding the purple and white flowers in front of us are large mint leaves to be eaten. It helps blunt the mind if the right quantity is ingested.

Of course, I’d tested the theory, making sure they weren’t just bullshitting me before digging the plant up and replanting it near to camp. Thankfully, it had flourished. I now make certain it’s something I advise all the newcomers to use, even when the flower isn’t in bloom. Picking several of the leaves, I pass them to her.

“Chew them thoroughly or it won’t work. It will help numb your mind to what’s going on. I’m so sorry. I need to go, but can I do anything before then?” She pulls me towards her, hugging me briefly in a tight embrace, before pushing me away. Sob catching in her throat, tears already falling, she's not ready, but she has to be.

“I’ll be okay, go.” Her words are a lie, but one I have to let myself believe. As I turn and run to the dense woods, I hear her echoing thanks twisting around the air, entangling into the siren's call. I try not to let the guilt linger when I don’t turn back. At least I gave her all the preparations I could before the inevitable.

She would survive this.

CHAPTER10

SOLOMON

Age Seventeen

I am done.

Gathering my things together, I fume at once again having Huck treating me as a glorified bodyguard to his precious Dario. I am sick and fucking tired of it, and I won’t take it anymore. I rip my bag open, throwing a couple of cans into my pack. They crash loudly together, and I curse, hoping the ring-pulls remain intact as I stuff more of my belongings inside.

“He didn’t mean it.”

I startle, looking up at Dario across the fire, his voice echoing around the cave. Only a year younger than me, his frame is so much smaller. Slender and short, you could mistake him for a child rather than the teenager he is. In fact, when I’d first met him, clutching Huck’s hand so tightly, I had thought just that. A kid. Well, except for his eyes, I could tell those green orbs had already seen so much.

I huff a non-response back, returning to my packing. Too angry to reply to anything either of my companions has to say. I was a waste of resources if I didn’t help Huck. He had made that perfectly clear. I have always been happy to help with any task put forward to me. Problem is, that the only thing he ever asks me to do is guard Dar. Not that I mind his company, but it’s not a life I wanted.

So when Huck said I was useless, he had meant it. Purely because I had asked to do something else with my time. If I even suggest a plan on how to get off this island, he gets himself into a little hissy fit. Telling me how dangerous it would be, how futile. Well, I’m sorry if I want to try—not to cower in fear.

I cannot deal a moment longer in this cutesy little love nest with Dario and Huck. The two of them are completely infatuated with one another, but also in complete denial. Hell, maybe they really don’t realise it. If they don’t, they are the only ones, and I am sick and tired of being their buffer. Their safety blanket stopping them from crossing some unknown boundary.

“You’re really going then?” Huck snipes at me as he walks in, his eyes flaring with undisguised fury.

“Nothing for me here, is there? It’s not like you give a shit about me, is it?” I look over to Dario, my dig obviously hitting its mark as he flinches. Sorrow covers his face, and I try to ignore the guilt gnawing at me. It’s not his fault.

It’s hard. Part of me knows I’m being unreasonable. It’s not such a big deal keeping an eye out for the smaller boy. The problem is, I’m used to doing things for myself. I’ve done it for so long that it’s become second nature to me. Now, doing this, helping others. Being involved in that group dynamic is so foreign to me it’s become unbearable. Never getting to have that time on my own, to refocus my mind and thoughts.

It's intolerable.

“You’re so selfish,” Huck barks at me as I storm past him, smashing my shoulder into his as I pass. I just want him to shut up. To leave me alone for just one damn minute, but he never does. Always baiting me, flicking the flint to spark that flame of anger inside me. I ignore their harsh whispered voices echoing behind me as I hurry down the unlit tunnel.

“Sol, wait a minute,” Dario’s voice calls out as I step outside into the early morning sunlight. His footfalls slapping on the ground beneath him. I blink away the spots dancing in my vision as I decide on what to do. I sigh, knowing that I can’t deny him the chance to at least speak before I leave.

“What do you want?” I try to keep the growling anger from my tone as he catches up to me.

“Let me help you find another cave. You don’t need to go outside of the group completely. Just find your own space,” he says, his face almost pleading. His eyes were wide, innocent, and filled with hope. Damn, he’s perfected the puppy dog eyes.

Looking across the rocky landscape of our home, I can’t see a single reason to say no. From the past year on this insane island, I know there’s no other safe haven. Well, unless I want to become one of them. Those savages are hardly human.

I’ve gotten myself into a couple of scrapes with the men on the other side of the island since I first arrived. The ones who cut lines into their flesh. I can’t help the crawling shudder that takes over my body. I’ve been lucky, but to survive out on my own would be difficult.

That’s not even considering the ones that inject us. I’ve yet to find their hiding spot.

“Don’t think he’s coming in with me. I’m not dealing with this one’s trouble like you do.” I glower at Peter as he steps closer from his own cave entrance where he’s clearly been lurking. The blonde boy eavesdropping on things that don’t concern him, as per usual. This guy has been a thorn in my side ever since I arrived, always putting me down, being a little sneak and telling tales.

“He said my own cave. Not share one, so don’t worry your pretty little head.” I smile at him sardonically, hoping to get him off my case.

“Just making sure you understand. It’s not like your intelligence is likely to win any awards. Well, unless it’s for stupidity and getting into situations requiring rescue. How many times has Huck needed to get you out of shit?”

I ignore Peter’s taunting question. So what if a couple of times was under-exaggerating? No one got hurt while I tried to find ways off this island. I just got caught up with the crazies once in a while. It’s not like I asked Huck to help me either. He just always seemed to know.

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