19: Dead by dawn
1395 Words
*Nathan*
I have my arm around Aurora, as we rumble full speed through the jungle like forest. I wonder if they are scared we will jump off if going slower. I can't believe we have gotten ourselves into another big mess... this is almost too much.. like.. like someone is out to get us, but who ? And why ?
There is no doubt my wife is almost more worried about me, than I am about her and this whole situation. She is scared I will c***k, that it will all come back… the whole Cuba incident. And admittedly, for a moment I feared it myself, but I am okay, and back in control of my mind and body.
But honestly I am still scared, mostly that the others could be harmed, most of all Aurora.. She has already been through so much. I am starting to really regret this adventure, it has turned out to be nothing like we expected.
The air is heavy, both with humidity and our worries. I can see the tension in Elias's body, his shoulders lifted and stiff.
"Donna Lucia". Luna whispers to Aurora, whose eyes go wide, but then she nods.
"Donna Lucia ? What does that mean ?" Elias whispers.
I am listening too, having no idea either, but Luna just shakes her head. "No time to explain. "Nathan, look as snobbish and annoyed as you can… Elias, look scary... or try too… and let me talk".
We are ushered out of the jeep, reddish brown dust rising around our feet, in front of us is a beautiful but a bit too lavish mansion in the middle of the jungle. It seems to be guarded by a small heavily armed army.
"Okay". I mumble, and try to imagine myself as some British Earl or something, annoyed with having his trip interrupted, looking down my nose at everyone, hoping Luna knows what she is doing.
Elias is squinting his eyes, and has a small sneer on his lips, managing to look far more dangerous than I would have expected. His size is no doubt helping him.
"Sorry Elias, I need you to keep in the back". Luna whispers, unwrapping herself from his embrace and taking the lead.
Aurora straightens up, and takes my hand, falling in behind her with the air of a queen, so I just pretend I just smelled something bad and try to look like this is just an annoying bother to me.
Luna walks with the briskness of a tourguide who has been held back by tourists asking dumb questions for way to long. And Elias is walking behind us, arms crossed, but I have no doubt his eyes are on Luna.
We are led onto a huge balcony, where a chubby man in tiny shiny blue speedos is lounging on a sunbed, a cocktail by his side. On the other sun bed is a much younger woman in a bikini that looks like it is made from dental floss and a small handkerchief.
The soldiers placed along the wall all have their eyes on us, as the one leading us, stops, slamming his heels together and clearing his throat. "Sir.. general".
"What ?" The man sits up, then he slides his oversized sunglasses up on his forehead. "Who is this ?"
"Intruders sir… we found them wandering around one of the fields". The man explains.
Luna steps forward, a warm smile on her face as she starts talking rapidly in what I assume is rather fluent spanish... I am only capable of getting a word here and there. I think she is explaining who we are and why we are there.
The general, or whatever he is, lets his eyes run over me and Aurora and I give him a curt nod. Then his eyes move to Elias, but I do not dare turn to see what Elias is doing.
"Turistas ricos". He says thoughtfully, and I swear I can almost see the dollar signs in his eyes as he says something else.
Luna shakes his head, saying something... I get the words more, worth and alive... or I think I do.
The general gets up, and I realise he is not a very tall man, about Luna's height. He walks over, his eyes zooming in on me for some reason, then to my surprise his face splits in a huge grin. "Night life".
"Uhm". I look desperately at Luna, unsure what to say, and she gives me a small nod, so I smile. "Yeah sure… I am the host of ‘Night life’".
"Dead by morning". The guy barks a laugh, mentioning the only movie on my resume. "Good one… funny".
I honestly have no idea how to react, but I hope this is a good thing, even if he found a horror movie funny. "Yeah.. ‘Dead by morning’... it was very very funny".
"And the evil guy...". The man grabs his own throat. "Kill you, dead…also funny".
"Me dying was funny ?" It just flies out. "I mean, sure…funny".
The man chuckles and says a lot in Spanish to Luna, who nods and smiles, but her eyes are not happy when she answers him back.
Then the general walks off and I look at Luna. "Uhm what ?"
"We have been invited to stay till tomorrow and have dinner with him and his family". She explains.
"And what did you say ?" Elias asks, stepping closer. "Hopefully, thanks but no thanks".
Luna glares at him. "I thought you did not want to get shot again.. no I said thank you, the only acceptable answer".
"Oh... I guess you are right". Elias sighs.
A waiter steps up and asks us to follow in spanish.
We are led into the mansion, and down a hallway. Then the waiter stops, pointing at me and Aurora, then at a door. "There".
"Thanks". Aurora says and I open the door, letting my wife in first, following her.
I close the door. "So, what do we do ?"
"What can we do ? There is no way we can all sneak out". She sighs. "We have to try and get through this and keep the general happy".
"I am not liking this". I mumble, letting myself fall down on the bed. "At least this room is rather luxurious".
Aurora looks around. "Yeah, and I am sure the food will be great too".
We kinda just hang around, waiting… but after about twenty minutes there is a knock on the door and when I open a servant hands me two boxes. "Gift".
"Thanks". I say, looking at the boxes as the servant closes the door. Then I look at my wife. "I wonder what this is ?"
"Let's open and see". Aurora says, taking the box on top. "This is kinda heavy".
I watch as she carries it to the bed, putting it down and opening it, she lifts something and breaks down in giggles. "Uhm this is for you my dear".
"What is it ?" I walk over.
My wife, still chuckling, holds up a suit jacket. It has over the top, black and gold, brocade patterns. "Oh wow".
"I have a feeling the general will be offended if you are not wearing this for dinner". She says.
I pull it all out. "Yikes, this is... horrid". I hold up the shoes, they have a bow. "These must be for you… they have a f*****g bow".
"Did you just curse over shoes ? Where is Nathan and who are you ?" She giggles. "Those will look adorable on you".
"I am gonna feel like a clown". I lift the jacket again. "And I hope the dining room has air conditioning, cause this is gonna be hot as s**t".
She looks at me. "What's with the language ?"
"Sorry, I am stressed". I mumble.
"Oh hell no". Aurora exclaims, making me turn, she is holding up a sexy dress. "Leopard print".
I look at the dress, then at her. "It is gonna look adorable on you".
She hisses at me and grumbles. "Sometimes I have no idea why I married you".
"Because...". I grab her, pulling her into my arms. "Because you love me".
She looks up at me. "I do… I can't help it… it's the shoe bows".
I just kiss her, shutting her up effectively.
- Writer
