The Perfect Combination

3 - The Pull

"Jynx... Jynx... What are you doing..." I heard a voice call. Is this the end? It doesn't look all that great. It's really dark. Isn't there supposed to be some form of light. "oh my gosh are you alright?." A hand touched my shoulder. I shuddered, how can I still feel. "Jynx!" they said alarmed. I moved a little before opening my eyes. My brother immediately hit me "oh my gosh don't scare me like that!" I blinked. Did he just hit me? I sat up a little looking from side to side. The river was on my right and the tree under which my brother was sleeping was a few meters to the left of my position.

I began to speak but only nonsense came out, "but... Die... River.... Down, and down... And." As I said this I stood and began to run downstream. "And... And fell," I continued spouting nonsense. But I needed to find what had floated down the river.

I'm fine... Nothing floated down the river! What could possibly be down there.

"Jyn... Where are you going... What the hell is going on?" my brother called out as he ran after me. He stopped suddenly but continued to call, "this isn't a good idea!"

I couldn't stop now. I moved faster then finally stopped and looked into the river. There was a large tree that had fallen across it. Next to it there was lots of rubbish and leaves. Among them just beneath the surface I saw ragged clothes. I had to look twice before I noticed it... I gasped. I looked again just to sure, and I was correct. The ragged clothes that I assumed at first to be clothes that had floated down the river and got caught on the tree, contained a dead body.

"what's going on!?" my brother shouted. But there was no stopping me now. My curiosity got the better of me and I began to move along the tree until I reached the point of the body. I knelt. Reaching into the river I grabbed hold of its arms in order to pull it closer. It obviously hadn't been there long, metamorphosis hadn't even begun. And well I'm not an expert or anything but I would have given it about a week or so. I was quite surprised really that the body was so close to the surface providing that it should be on the bottom of the river. But looking closer I could see it had been caught on one of the branch's of the tree. I pulled at the body to try and loosen the clothes firm hold on the branch. I pulled harder so I could pull the body out to examine it. It wasn't working very well. From what I could see there were abrasions around his neck... But I needed a closer look. I pulled once again only to hear my brother's muffled scream, "Jy..!" my head shot up and in the process I managed to pull the body free. How I had managed to get so unfocused... I had no idea, because to my right about a meter away stood a large broad shouldered and muscular man. He was dark in skin colour and lacked, just like my brother, a shirt. His torso was marked with scars and in his hand he held a long rope.

In seconds I was on my stomach hands tied to my waist behind my back. After a few more seconds the soaked body I was trying to pull out was laying next to me and the rope was tied around him also. The colour in my face drained. What the heck was going on?

I was then unceremoniously thrust over the mans shoulder and the dead guy was likewise on his other. I screamed and struggled which managed to make us rock a bit. But other than that I was having no effect on this guy. He navigated his way off the tree without stumbling and I gave up. If he didn't fall before he most definitely was not going to fall now.

He stood a few meters from the river. Soon enough we were greeted by two looming male figures, a third walked from among the trees carrying my brother. Immediately my heart sunk.

My brother and I had always been close. After seeing my brother's condition the fight left me. There was no point on even screaming. I lost all hopefulness and relaxed against the body beneath me even though I was in a uncomfortable position.

The man carrying me handed over the dead guy to one of the other two after unwrapping the rope from around him.

We walked for what seemed like a day which was actually closer to half an hour before stopping at the edge of a town. The man carrying the body gently placed it on the ground. My brother was then passed from the man carrying him to the one who had walked the whole way carrying nothing. I was happy at least that they were gentle with my brother. He did look strange though being cradled in the mans arms, in his defense he was knocked out. I hoped he would wake soon. Half an hour was much too long, if everything goes well he won't have any lasting injuries. I honestly didn't know how I was acting so calm. They weren't being as gentle with me as they were with my brother. I had to keep lifting my head because all my blood was rushing to it. I really doubt there was much I could do at this point. Maybe a simple question wouldn't hurt, "Where are we going?" I was answered with silence. Great. It was worth a try.

They walked through the streets with me slung over their shoulders. Many looked at us from the sidewalks and houses whispering quietly while pointing at us. I had hoped that someone would see the way I was slung over them and try to help me but no one came near us. They didn't even seem to be fazed they seemed more amazed and humbled or just ignored us completely. What kind of people were they?

We went past one house in particular that seemed to stand out. For a start it was almost entirely white and the little parts that weren't were coated in gold... Or at least I hoped it was coated. One of the men then turned and walked to the door. I didn't get to see much as we once again turned before entering a large house which I soon found must be the police station as I was thrust into a cell aside my brother.

The day ended and the night wore on in silence. That was apart from the ringing that had started in my ears. I sat silently on the cold metal chair until eventually I drifted to sleep.