𝑅𝐸𝑀𝐸𝑀𝐵𝐸𝑅 𝑀𝐸 | druig

𝑒𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉

Nita laid in her cot, her eyes wide staring up into the darkness as she went over their plan countless times in her head: when the last light in the village went off and everyone was asleep, Nita and Andres would meet by the rivers edge. They would take one of the boats and paddle it far enough to where the engine wouldn't be heard before starting it up and driving it as far as the river would allow them to and then walk north to the nearest village or town. They would get away and live the rest of their lives together, travelling the world.

Nita and Andres, Andres and Nita. As it always was and as it always would be.

Nita was scared but not as much as she was thrilled. A part of her did feel guilty for leaving her family but she knew they'd be okay. They were meant to be there whereas she knew from a young age that she was not. She wanted more out of her life. She yearned for more. She needed more.

When it was time, she carefully listened and accounted for the snores of each member of her family before very quietly climbing out of her cot, gathering her bag and making way out of the hut. She stopped briefly beside her sister's cot, leaning down and giving her a very light kiss on her forehead. .Evita stirred but didn't wake as she just turned over. Nita smiled down at her sadly and then walked out that threshold one last time.

Before it disappeared from view completely, Nita turned to look at the village one last time,, a single tear escaping her hazel eye. "Goodbye," she whispered. Not just to her family, but to the whole village. The place that raised her. A light breeze then brushed past her, as if the village itself was saying it's farewell right back. With that, she turned on her heel and headed to their meeting point.

As agreed, Andres stood by the boats, his own pack slung over his shoulder as he waited for his friend. When their eyes met, smiles rose on both of their faces.

"Are we sure about this?" Andres asked her and she could hear the slightest bit of hesitation in his voice. She knew it pained him just as much as it did her for leaving his brother as Andres was the only remaining family Diego had. But, like her family would, Diego would move on, too. He'd find a wife and eventually have a family of his own. That's what Nita had to say a few times the night before to fully convince Andres to leave with her. Even though he offered to take her away that day in the hut, she knew he only said that in a moment of lovestruck desperation.

In response to his question, Nita took his face in her hands and planted a hard kiss on his lips. "We don't belong here anymore, Andres," she said in a hushed tone. "We belong out there." She pointed to the world awaiting beyond.

"Wherever you go, I go," he said and with that, they tossed their packs into the smaller of the three boats and prepared themselves for their departure.

As they untied the ropes holding the boat to the shore, Nita remembered what these boats were used for the other day and remembered how Diego was also a part of the crew.

"Did Diego say anything about what they brought back yesterday?" She asked Andres as they began pushing the boat down toward the river as quietly as they could.

Andres shook his head. "I didn't ask him but he did say to be more careful in the jungle and to be back in the hut by curfew," he said then they gave another big push, sweat starting to break above their brows. "He seemed a little on edge which was weird but I didn't question it." And now here he ways, going directly against Diego's words, for her.

Nita frowned a little as her mind started to race. She understood why her father wouldn't tell her but for Diego not to tell his brother when she knew those two never kept any secrets from each other--that was a little alarming.

Was Druig preparing for something? Was the village in danger? Maybe she shouldn't have been leaving if that was the case. Leaving her family to face whatever threat it was that was coming, alone.

"You alright?" Andres asked her as they paused to catch their breaths. Nita nodded, pushing away the grave thoughts. Nothing was going to stray her away from her mission. Nothing.

"Yeah. Let's get it all the way down before someone hears," she said and so they did. Digging their feet into the sand and pushing their shoulders into the bow of the boat, they managed to get it into the water in no time with barely any noise, save for the sound of the aluminum brushing along the soft sand..

Andres hopped into the boat first and took Nita's hand as he helped her climb in after. They then went to either side of the boat, each taking the oars that lay underneath the sides in the case of emergency, and began their paddle.

With the tide low, the river wasn't raging down as it usually was during the day but it was flowing just enough that they only really needed oars to guide the boat as the current did the rest.

The boat went down and down, winding along with the snake-like river. When they passed around the first bend, the village no longer in view, they turned to each other with beaming smiles.

"I can't believe we're doing this," Andres said over the splashing water.

"I know," Nita said, closing her eyes and taking in a deep breath of freedom, her body pumping pure adrenaline through her veins.. "It feels good."

Andres reached across the boat, taking her hand in his as they had a small break from steering. "Nita I--"

The boat was suddenly flying, a force coming up from beneath the bow, sending it up and back into the air.

One second Nita's hand was clutched in Andres', and the next she was watching him fly back and into the water, disappearing when she hit the surface and sank deeper and deeper, the current forcing her down. The salt water stung her throat as it forced itself down then burned in her lungs. Her eyes were open but stinging and all she saw was black.

Eternal darkness.

She couldn't think, she couldn't breathe, she couldn't control herself as she squirmed in the water in absolute panic. She didn't know where the surface was. She didn't know where the boat was, where Andres was or the shore. She wanted to scream but her body was failing her. She wanted to breathe but if she let any more water down her throat, she'd be dead.

Where's Andres? Were the only words repeating in her head.

Where's Andres?

Where's Andres?

Where's Andres?

Her lungs ached badly as her body thrashed for any little bit of air. But it was pointless, she was drowning in a pit of darkness, nothing to guide her out.

Nita couldn't help herself then as she opened her mouth and inhaled.