Wellllllll, this story took a bit of a surprise turn for me. I didn't see it coming. But I do have my box of tissues handy... for both my erotic writing and the sad stuff I write too. I will admit to you (my few followers-internet-friends) that I do tend to cry when my fictional characters die. Hey, don't judge. I have a soft heart. It's why I can't read bad reviews on my Ice Era Chronicles, I cry in the shower. LOL.
Anyway, here is another installment of Sloan's adventures.
Be well, my friends.
~M. From C.M. Moore.
***
*Chapter 16*
Octnavin's last fight.
After Sloan woke, he rose and washed his hands and face. He tried to clean his teeth using his finger. After he stripped out of his tattered shirt, he washed the garment in the water hole. He rung out the cotton and then gazed at his once prized band t-shirt. He recalled the clean one in the dream. His shirt looked nothing like the one he remembered. The torn fabric was splattered with so much blood and dirt the logo wasn't visible anymore.
Sighing, Sloan slipped off his pants next. He tried to wash them in the rock basin. He wrinkled his nose at his ripped jeans. Never in his life had he ever been so filthy. Not even after his mom lost their apartment and they were homeless for six months.
A low hum signified the platform was moving. Sloan glanced to where he expected to see Octnavin stepping off the elevator. Normally, the king of the world gave a dismissal to the Folanto if one of the snake girls was escorting him. That dick-move always made Sloan smile. Octnavin's haughtiness was the best.
Sloan squeezed out the water in his jeans as the platform came to the level a few feet above the mud. Octnavin wasn't standing on the platform but collapsed on his side. The Folanto kicked Octnavin's body. The alien rolled to the edge.
Sloan dove for Octnavin and caught his body right before the alien would have struck the ground.
"You are dismissed." The Folanto laughed as she started to ascend.
"Octnavin?" Sloan cradled Octnavin but the alien was like holding a pile of bricks. Total dead weight. "Hey, dick-head. You gotta get up." Struggling, Sloan got Octnavin flat to the mud. Gushes of blue blood washed over Sloan's skin and his panic began to rise. The alien was as still as death.
"Octnavin?"
The alien's eyes were closed. Half of his face was a bloody mess. And that wasn't the only damage. Octnavin's waist look severed in half on the left side. His middle tentacle was missing like a chainsaw cut the limb off and then kept going into the alien's torso. To add to the staggering injuries, part of Octnavin's calf was gone like an animal had taken a bite out of him. Sloan grabbed his jeans and wrapped the fabric around Octnavin's middle. Next, he slipped into the alien's brain looking for information on how to save the ruler of the Dagerstanteens.
Octnavin was losing too much blood, but that was all the info Sloan could get. Octnavin was trying to keep him out of his head so Sloan wouldn't feel the pain. Quickly, Sloan tore what was left of his shirt. With the cleanest part, Sloan wrapped the scrap around Octnavin's leg. He knotted the cloth hard. Octnavin screamed.
"Just hold on." Sloan soothed the alien's mind. "I'll think of something."
Sloan adjusted his jeans tighter around Octnavin's wounded middle and started to twist the legs together. As the fabric tightened, Octnavin screamed again but didn't speak. This was like Sloan's worst nightmare... maybe even more than that.
"Sloan." Octnavin's voice was a mere whisper.
"I know that hurts. Toughen up, okay? We can do this." Sloan wasn't sure if the pressure from his jeans would help with the blood loss, but he had to make some type of tourniquet. Could Octnavin live through this much mutilation? Sloan was afraid to check, but again in entered the alien's brain. The pain was staggering, and Sloan pulled back.
Taking the last of his shirt, Sloan dabbed at Octnavin's face and head. He found a huge gash on the alien's brow above his eye. Sloan pressed the fabric to the gaping laceration. Another wash of indescribably suffering rolled off Octnavin and Sloan gritted his teeth. He had to stay in the ruler's head to monitor his health, but that agony was incredible. Slone might pass out, but he needed more information. He needed to figure out what to do to save Octnavin's life.
"You cannot save me, little pebble." Finally, Octnavin opened his eyes. Sloan swallowed the lump forming in his throat. "But it was an epic battle. Ten against one and I was the victor. My creator would have been proud of me."
"Fuck that. I can save you." Sloan's eyes began to mist. "We'll be fine. We just need to..." He didn't know what to do. He kept his death grip on the jeans and held the fabric to Octnavin's head. "You know what? If you die, then you're an asshole. You can't leave me here. Don't be a dick, okay?" A tear slipped down Sloan's cheek. He held the jeans tighter and twisted again. He had to keep Octnavin's blood in his body. The alien had to live. If only Sloan knew how to fix this.
