6.
For Rachel, if she were to go up against more foe on the island, she'd rather not know anything about them. She didn't want any thoughts about her chances of possible success or failure to enter her mind. Thoughts that she could be going into an unwinnable situation would allow for doubt set in and that would lead her to fight herself in some ways as well as taking on that opponent. Kinda of like beaten before a battle takes place. Knowledge of this Claude fellow, well if she must face him, surely, she'd be done for. Out here, you cannot allow that way of thinking to grab you.
'We could stick together' Rachel suggested, 'for the time being at least anyway.'
This surprised Roland to the point he stuttered a response, 'eh ... y-yeah ...I g-guess we could' while also feeling quite happy about that prospect.
'We have had each other's backs already. Not that I am keeping score or anything, but we are level at one save each so sticking together increases our chances of survival.'
Rachel never thought she could trust anyone ever again, after what her husband had done, so the idea she would trust someone on the island prior to this moment was unthinkable, but she did in a way like Roland. There was something about him and Rachel's suggestion had made him smile. Smiling was definitely something that Roland was not used to. In all likelihood smiling is something he has never done before.
'You know you are not as mean or as tough as you think you are!'
Roland had been finding himself becoming surprised quite a bit since he came to the island. Rachel's latest statement brought the latest episode.
'I am tough ... what are you on about?'
'I am guessing you may have had a lot of anger in your life but believe it or not you do have a soft side.'
'Soft side? Me?'
Rachel had just made Roland smile again. He failed to be able to recall a time in his life that he ever had a reason to smile one time let alone smile two twice in quick succession.
'You actually are quite a nice guy.'
'Me? A nice guy?'
'Stop questioning everything I tell you, will ya?'
Yeah, there is something in them both which may just allow an alliance to take place. Still, how long could such a thing last?
Soon, in another moment that would bring surprise, along with other things, Roland moved closer to Rachel and done the unthinkable. He kissed her. He had never attempted anything like this before. In almost immediate reaction, she slapped him in the face and took a step back. Her anger and shock at this ... clear.
But was her own shock and anger real? The two locked eyes for a moment, and then Rachel took a step forward and kissed Roland right back. After a couple of moments, Rachel suggested that they should move, there may still be wolves, or wolf hybrids, or whatever they were, close by.
Early the next morning, just as daylight was about to show itself, Roland awoke to the sound of movement. He shook Rachel by the shoulder whispering to her to wake up. Her sleeping body barely responded as she lay against him. He shook her again.
'What? What is it?'
'Shush ... we have company.'
Rachel reached for her bow and arrows but couldn't feel them. She turned to look. They were gone.
'Did you move my bow and arrows?' she quietly asked.
'No.'
Roland meant to ask her as to how she came to have them but knew that this was not the time to do so.
Quietly Roland and Rachel got to their feet. They both could hear the movement Roland had warned of, but were unable to see anything. They couldn't even be sure as to where the movement was coming from. It didn't help either when it began to rain. The rain started out falling lightly and soon developed into a thick, heavy down pour. It stung as Roland struggled to keep it out of his eyes. A gap in distance opened up between him and Rachel as they both attempted to discover where the movement they had previously noticed was coming from.
Roland wiped his eyes and forehead just before a moment occurred where he would only be able to do nothing other than watch as Rachel fell to her knees. There had been another whooshing sound, less audible than before because of the rain, still, it had come. She had been a little ahead of him, so he immediately ran up to her.
It is half apparent now as to where the satchel, and all that came with it, had got to. Rachel had been hit from behind with an arrow. In the moment he reaches her, her eyes opened wide, and she begins to struggle to breathe. Roland pulled out the arrow and placed his hand hard up against the wound trying to prevent the blood flow. He tried to keep her upright, but it was useless.
'No, ... no, shit, ... no ...'
What is he to do about this? What can he do? No med kit from any cage could help here, not that he had anything right here to avail of. Blood began to flow from her mouth, time is short, extremely short. In no more than a few short seconds, she falls over to one side. Indeed, there was nothing Roland could do but hold Rachel and watch her die.
He let out a roar. Not the best thing to do as it could make others who may be near, aware of his presence. But of course, this is not a moment of thought. The only though to have is, of vengeance. As if Roland hadn't got cause to kill already. If his own demise is to come then hell, he'll be sure to have sought his vengeance first.
Placing immediate blame for this moment on one man, whether that man was responsible or not Roland would indeed, from here on in seek revenge and swear that he would get it. His prior roar now a battle cry. The heavy downpour had done him one favour, muffling any sound he would make in this moment, and it would yet do him another favour.
Crying was something else which Roland had not experience much of. The rain, quite likely, may have hidden his tears from the cameras but it couldn't hide his emotion. When the rain subsided, he buried Rachel. He would now go after Claude and kill him, either that or be killed trying. This Claude fellow is having himself some fun at the expense of others. Roland was sure of it. For right now, as it is, winning the show that he was a part of, no longer mattered ...
