RAIN

Chapter sixteen

He lit the candle with a wide grin of pride drawn across his sweaty face. The flame blinked and then became steady. He dropped the box of matches on the dresser and smiled at Rain.

"I told you we'd find some useful stuff up here."

Rain smiled as he passed a hand behind his neck. Jet stood behind him and started to massage his shoulders. He resisted just briefly before his body melted in Jet's hands.

"Thank you." His words breezed out his mouth.

"You're welcome." Jet smiled. "It's pretty hot up here. You can take your shirt off if you want to."

A laugh flew from Rain's mouth. He tugged away and looked at Jet with a chiding stare.

"Why don't you take off your pants too? Make yourself comfortable. You can run around the jungle in your underwear when they find us."

"You have such a gift for painting the grimmest scenes. I just wanted you to make yourself comfortable." Jet huffed, his nostrils flaring.

"I am as comfortable as I can be."

"Sure?"

He nodded, and Jet smiled loudly. Rain started to walk away, his schemish way of avoiding Jet. Jet chuckled, refusing to lose this time. He grabbed him around the waist and pulled him close.

"Let go of me!"

"You don't sound very convincing."

Jet kissed his neck. Rain's body jerked as ripples of laughter flowed from him. He gripped Jet's hands wrapped around him like chains. Even in the humidity, Jet welcomed his warmth. His blood rushed through his veins, stirring him to life. Suddenly, he was no longer in this decrepit place. Everything around them vanished.

Jet clenched Rain's flesh between his teeth. He threw his head back against Jet's shoulder, stifling a moan by pressing his lips. His hands were vice grips, and his body shook like he was suffering from fever. Jet could feel the effects he was having on Rain, but he greedily wanted to see it, too. He pressed his body against Rain's, kissing his throat, feeling his flat stomach quiver as Jet provoked his most intimate desires to life.

He let go of him and stepped back, his breathing ragged. Rain slowly turned, and his eyes stared at Jet with disappointment and confusion.

Jet stepped back. The image of what he had seen in the storage room haunted every corner of his mind. The confusion that warped his reality was beginning to play tricks on him.

"Do you not want to be with me?" Rain asked.

Jet couldn't respond. Of course, he wanted Rain. He yearned to have him, to hold him, to become a part of him, but his mind would not stop tormenting him.

"Rain, please tell me that you're real. And this place isn't really inhabited by ghosts and demons. That you're not one of them? I want you. I don't understand why I feel so attracted to you, maybe even in love with you. But I don't know what I saw down there or why it looked so much like you. I'm afraid. I'm afraid that you're doing this to me, toying with me, enjoying my suffering."

"Jet, I am standing right here. How can I be a ghost or demon? I don't know what you saw, but it wasn't me."

He pulled in a deep breath and exhaled. He felt like screaming until his lungs burst. The calm voice in his head convinced him that he was wrong. Rain was not a metaphysical being. He was real.

"Maybe it was just a coincidence. Maybe that person just happened to be wearing clothes like yours. I don't know anymore. I really don't."

"Jet, I don't know what else to tell you that would make you feel better. If you want to be with me, then this is your chance. Because after this is all over, maybe we will never see each other again. Perhaps there will be no more opportunities to meet, and I am fine with that outcome. If I never get to see you again, I want you to know that in all my life experiences, you've been the best thing that has ever happened to me. You are a light, and no darkness can ever destroy you. I want you to get out of here. I promise that you are going to get out of here. I hope you have a long and wonderful life. You get married and have many children and grandchildren. I hope that you'll maybe tell them about me someday, tell them about our weird adventure. I promise you that you're going home to your family."