VICIOUS (II) : peter pan ouat

How to Find a Girl

The shove me to the ground in front of the tall man, who barks something. I notice a man come over with a long spear.

They are going to kill me.

I turn to Alex, whose eyes burn back into me. At least now he looks mildly inconvenienced.

Inali backs up into a teepee, that's practically destroyed. The fabric is shredded, and dyed a fluorescent blue.

They lower the spear up against my neck, and I watch as the man lifts it up into the air.

His hands fly down, and I roll out of the way. The spear embeds itself deep into the earth.

"Wait!" I shout, standing up. "Who did that?"

The man grabs me by my hair, tugging me up into his face. He yells at me before shoving me against the ground.

"Who broke into your teepee?" I demand. "Is that your med tent?"

He doesn't answer, as shouting erupts around me. He lowers the spear again and when I roll out of the way, the spear goes further into the ground. I move back to it, slicing the rope away with my hands.

He shouts at me again, as more people move in grabbing hold of me.

"Was it Lost Boys?" I ask. "Is that where Walela lives?"

When they don't answer I look to Inali, who stares back in shock.

"That blue stuff, what is it?" I demand. "What does it do? Is it poison? I know where it grows."

They bring me down to my knees again, and this time, someone holds my head into the dirt as another person holds my back. The taste of the soil fills my mouth, as I try to make room for me to breathe and shout to Inali.

"I know where Walela is!" I shout out.

The rough grunt of the tall man is let out, as he moves the spear down.

I flinch.

I hear shouting above me when the spear fails to lodge itself into my neck.

When the hands loosen, I feel myself ripped up off of the ground. Inali looks at me, as two woman hold my arms fully behind my back.

"Where is she?" Inali asks.

"Listen, you're a reasonable guy," I begin.

He crosses his arms. "That doesn't answer my question."

I purse my lips together. "First I need some information. That blue stuff, what is it?"

He barks something out in his language, and the woman let me go. The tall man steps in, and begins to shout at Inali. Inali's voice is calm as he answers, and though he is much smaller than the other man he keeps a level head.

The tall man, begrudgingly, turns his back, stalking away.

"He'll let me take you to Walela." Inali offers.

"Tell him I don't go without Alex." I say, turning my head back to the boy.

Alex rolls his eyes. "Just leave. Don't need you to help me. I'd rather have Devin."

That stings, but I roll my eyes back. "Whatever, I'll be back for you later."

Inali steps forward, before waiting for me to follow after him. I turn to look at the people behind me, who all glare as they let me go off with Inali.

"Your people trust you enough to walk with me on your own?" I ask. "Aren't they worried I could take you?"

He shrugs. "They trust my judgement. Besides, with Alex as leverage they don't think you'll fight. Girls are sentimental."