𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍 • 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐲𝐚𝐦 𝐒𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲

my light¹⁴

chapter fourteen
[ my light ]

it was right in front of Kiri, Tuk, and Nakili's eyes. it was all gunfire and constant explosions that were heard as they were, again, cuffed to that damned rail. but now? it was actually going down. and not like the ship earlier with Payakan.

they watched as Quaritch ran out of ammunition. throwing his gun down, he pulled his knife from his waist. fear consumed his eyes as he watched a soldier get plunged in the chest by Neytiri's arrow.

"it's mom." Tuk recognized the arrows as she tapped on Kiri's arm with her elbow.

"that's right," Kiri started as Quaritch looked over at her. "they're coming for you." Kiri scolded.

Quaritch didn't like the disrespect. he stomped towards Kiri. he broke her cuffs and yanked her from the ground as Kiri could only wince and scoff. "stop, no. don't!" Nakili's voice grew louder as she shouted for the man to return her best friend.

"daddy." Tuk exclaimed, resulting to Nakili turning her head. Jake quickly began to break the cuffs off of Tuk's fragile wrist.

Neteyam appeared from behind his father. "Neteyam. second time today." she laughed as he ripped the cuffs off. he absolutely hated seeing her hurt as he looked at the bruises around her wrist.

"shh." Neteyam looked up at Nakili with his finger to his lips. Nakili nodded and reapplied her straight face.

"where's Kiri? where's your sister?" Jake looked between Nakili and Tuk, concern flushed his eyes.

Nakili didn't hesitate to reply. "Quaritch. he took her." she stated with upturned eyebrows.

"that way." Tuk pointed in a direction that Jake recognized.

"stay behind me." Jake said as he began in the direction Quaritch had took Kiri. once the four had arrived the man, Jake repeated. "children, behind me." Kiri was in Quaritch's grasp. then... they made themselves known.

"you're running out of time Corporal." Quaritch was smiling, they didn't like that. Jake went to attack but the knife only was pressed harder against Kiri's neck. "don't test me." the man tilted his head. Nakili watched as Kiri struggled for breath, scared that if she moved a certain way, her life would be no longer.

"just kill him, dad." Kiri said quietly. Nakili regretted that for her. Nakili mouth a 'no' when Quaritch looked over at Nakili then back at Jake.

Quaritch laughed. "you kill me... this might as well be your child." Quaritch aimed his gun, his finger on the trigger and then...

"Quaritch! not her-" Jake yelled but it was to late.

a bullet pierced right through Nakili's chest. her body jerked back, her body falling back onto a wall as Nakili could only gasp. her hands shaking as she stumbled back, she grasped her chest. Nakili felt her body ache as she winced, tears swelling in her gray eyes and her ears downturned.

"no!" Neteyam yelled as he ran up to her. his hands shook as he heard Kiri behind him yelling for Nakili.

"weapons down." Neteyam turned back as he heard Quaritch speak. Nakili touched her wound as she watched blood pour over her chest. looking down at her hand, covered in blood it was as it shook, she felt a tear drop down her cheek. the only thing she heard was static and a stereo version of Kiri's screams for her.

"Neteyam. get her away. go, son. go." Jake yelled to his son who immediately pulled Nakili under his arm.

"come on, Kili." Neteyam whispered. he was scared. this time, Neteyam felt actually scared, but not for his life, for hers.