There were too many of them, and these were no random tribe pillagers. Unless a miracle occurred -- and by her past track record, that was unlikely- she was in big trouble.
Lux flew through the trees, springing over obstacles, barely aware of the burn in her thighs and the pound of her heart -- she was used to this, it was her forte -- speed, stealth, survival.
She knew the forests of this island, and several others close by, like the back of her hand. Better. You don't need to know the back of your hand to avoid rape, torture and death.
'This time, though, it might be game over..,' the grim little voice of reality in her head muttered.
She slipped behind a tree, hoping to throw them off, instinctively tuning acutely into the forest around her...every snap of a twig...rustle of a leaf...
No fast footfalls.
They had stopped running when she had, so they were close. They were also very, very quiet -- as good as her. Trained. Well practised.
To her left, she felt, rather than heard, the rush of air as he pounced, and she snapped round.
Her arm deflected his, her knee came up to his groin, but he blocked. She was faster; but he was stronger, and one false move would leave her out cold...For a second all her concentration was aimed at this masked attacker, all her training rising up as she blocked and struck... too late, she heard a movement behind her.
Shit.
Almost as soon as she registered the noise, she felt the stinging jab of the hypodermic pierce through her leather suit and embed in her arm.
"Gotcha!" Hissed a voice behind her, as the forest blurred, and her legs gave way beneath her.
***
Her head throbbed. She kept her eyes closed, as noises and sensations slowly filtered into her foggy consciousness. Her wrists hurt...she wriggled one very subtly, and realized it was clamped down with steel, as were her ankles. She was manacled to some hard, flat surface... Her back hurt where her shoulder blades were forced down.
She reined in the panic she automatically felt at being restrained.
'Ok girl, focus. Where are you, who are they...' she thought, survival instinct kicking in.
It was loud...feet pounded above her head, male voices laughed, though she couldn't make out words. The hum of an engine. She could hear her own breathing in the dead space, only hers...
'I'm alone, in the cabin of a speedboat,' she realized suddenly, 'so we're leaving the island.'
That wasn't too surprising, most of the islands were connected by enough water to require a boat if you wanted to cross between them at any speed. She had no idea how long she'd been unconscious though, so she couldn't even guess at the distance -- from the hum of the engine they were going at some speed, so she supposed they were traveling some way. Not one of the local islands. Probably further than she'd ever been in her life.
'None of this helps you much though...' The little grim mental voice chipped in, 'except the speed boat means money. And there's only really one tribe you know of with enough money, who might send out men who can fight with that stealth and agility...'
She shuddered. The Panthera.
She supposed they were bound to get hold of her eventually, since their men seemed to be roaming a greater area on the islands than ever...She just hoped they hadn't clocked the tattoo.
'As long as they haven't,' she thought, 'I'm not instantly dead. Which is a start.'
The clank of the cabin door being opened, followed by footsteps on the stairs, interrupted her thoughts. She opted for 'playing dead' and kept her breathing regular and heavy. If they didn't suspect she'd come round, they might let something slip...
Someone sat down heavily on a bench to her right, another followed suit to her left. Presuming a man was still steering the boat, three altogether then?
The one to her left let out a low whistle. "Well man, looks like a productive night to me...this has got to be the best we've caught yet, right?"
The second guy chuckled. "Yep, she's a stunner. Should make them happy back at the city."
Lux groaned internally. Great, a trip to the Panthera city...heart of the frying pan.
Guy number one was moving, she felt his knees hit the floor to her side. Suddenly, she felt the zip of her leather suit being pulled.
Shit.
"Whoa, watch how you go, you know she's probably set for higher circle..." The second guy started, though he sounded more amused than worried.
Guy number one had her suit unzipped to below her navel. She wore nothing under the leather, it was fairly rigid and very streamlined -- there was no point. That was one reason...also, her way of life left little room or opportunity for high fashion and silk lingerie.
Lux fought to stay relaxed...oh, how she'd like to kick these guy's asses straight to hell. No chance trussed up like this though... She reminded herself that she was less fun to them unconscious, and prayed they just wanted a good perv. She could deal with that.
'You can, and have, dealt with much more than that...'her inner voice reminded her. She was hoping she wasn't going to have to relive any of her fun past, but this was dangerous territory. She also had no idea what the 'higher circle' was, but she knew how the Panthera worked -- and it wasn't in women's favour.
She felt cool air hit her breasts, and her traitorous nipples tighten in response. Guy number one groaned.
"Look at that man....She gets better and better...."
Guy number two started to sound a bit stressed.