Venture

Chapter 23: One Merciless Team

"Scarlet!" Alex yelled, tripping and stumbling over the dead bodies that spread around the area.

     The second the 'war' ended, she searched for her friends. Scarlet was the only one she could find. She was laying on top of a dead body, clearly showing signs they had fallen from the top of the cave. How the hell did they reach up there, Alex had no idea.

     Scarlet slowly lifted herself off the body with her leader's help. She coughed out blood and spat on the dirt. The leader with intelligent hands wrapped her friend's arm around her shoulder. She carefully pressed her palm against the archer's hip to secure her injured friend. Alex guessed Scarlet had broken an ankle or maybe even a couple of ribs. The curly-haired woman had no clue what to do.

     "Amora? Where is she?" the archer inquired weakly, wincing at the pain. She limped beside her leader as she scoured the trees for her short friend.

     Alex answered calmly, "I have no idea. I haven't seen her after the battle finished. You need to rest, Scar. Let me see your injuries."

     Worry flashed across Scarlet's light brown eyes. As long as they were still on the island's soil, Amora was her first priority. She would put her life on the line for the one she took care of since they'd met. Nothing can happen to the wielder. The murderous archer will not allow it. "No! We look for Amora first."

     The tattooed lady clicked her tongue. They had already lost Esther and now they'd lost Amora. Everyone was injured, starving, thirsty, and exhausted. It was still bright outside. There was no way they'd be able to survive another day or two. Screw the treasure, Alex thought. Her friends' health came first.

     "Help! Hunter, please! Get the damn device!"

     Alex and Scarlet whipped their heads at the sound deep within the jungle's trees. They recognized that voice. The melodic voice with the Australian accent. Why was their friend asking for help? And who the hell was Hunter? Whatever the answers were to their questions, the archer couldn't help the feeling of worry and fear over her friend's pleads. She turned to Alex, nodding her head towards the cry.

     The leader led the way into the trees. She helped Scarlet carefully avert the dead bodies before they could both trip over. Thick blood painted a canvas all over the jungle's soil. The smell of flesh and blood mixed into the atmosphere's scent of dirt and plants. Alex wondered what would happen to the dead bodies. They'd probably stay limp and decay in the future.

     Before they knew it, Alex and Scarlet finally stumbled upon Esther. The curly-haired leader's chocolate brown eyes darkened at the sight. Her friend had her back turned towards the two. Kneeling, the warrior seemed to be holding someone on her thighs. Though Alex and Scarlet couldn't see her face, it was obvious Esther was crying. They both had also noticed someone else. A man, who looked to be around his mid-twenties, was pressing a button on some sort of device. His clothes were in the color black.

     "The helicopter's on its way," he reassured in a deep, chilling tone. Though his voice cracked, clearly in pain and sorrow.

     Esther didn't speak. Instead, she let out another sob, her hands trembling and bloody.

     Alex and Scarlet continued to limp forward. Their leader called out, "Esther!" Though she felt anxious and wanted to fasten her pace, the tattooed lady walked as slow as a snail for Scarlet. "Are you okay?"

     The warrior turned sluggishly with red puffy eyes and trembling lips. A clean, bloody cut was drawn across her right cheek. Her face glistened with sweat and tears. Alex caught sight of a handprint around her bronze-tan neck. She grew even more worried over her friend because once Esther reached their eyes, she sobbed relentlessly. She looked ashamed and frightened.

     "Esther?" Scarlet breathed. She halted her movements, confusing Alex.

     Before the leader could comprehend the archer's actions, her chocolate brown eyes followed her friend's light brown eyes. There, she spotted black and gray military pants and leather combat boots laying limp besides Esther. Right at the foot of the boots was a katana. An incredibly familiar katana. Alex had also noticed a similar sword that stood vertically, as if it's still pierced into someone's flesh. She was clueless as to how she didn't notice it before. She wished she hadn't.

     Scarlet limped faster, pushing Alex away. Her panicked eyes focused on the boots. "Esther? Esther, where's Amora?!"

     "Scar, stop! You'll only hurt yourself," Alex cried out. She caught up with her friend, only to be shoved once more.

     The archer caught up with the sobbing warrior. Letting out a gasp, she couldn't believe the sight. Amora was limp in Esther's arms with a chokuto sword stuck into her chest, piercing into her heart. Her blood had already stained her black shirt and her tan skin no longer showed color. It was clear. Her short friend was gone, but Scarlet didn't want to believe it. She wanted this to be a sick joke. She wanted Amora to wake up and laugh at her face. She wanted Amora to wake up and show she was alive.

     None of that happened and so, Scarlet screamed. She dropped to the ground, no longer being able to hold herself. Throbbing pangs flashed through her ankle, but she didn't care. It was nothing compared to the painful aching in her chest. The murderous archer screamed, shouted, and yelled. She crawled closer, dragging her broken ankle, and took Amora from Esther's lap. She touched her sister-figure's face. There was no warmth.

     "Scarlet." She heard Alex call out to her.

     The woman in the ponytail only shook her head. She wailed as she pulled Amora closer to her chest. She felt her shaking hands grow moist and wet from the blood. It only made her sob even more. "What did you do? What did you do?! Amora! Oh my-" Scarlet repeated Amora's name over and over again, crying and screaming. She had no idea who she was questioning, but she didn't care.

     With those words, Esther continued to cry. She knew the archer deserved an explanation. Therefore, the deep blue-green-eyed woman choked out the dreading words, but her sobs swallowed her sentences. "She saved me. She saved me."

     Alex gaped at the weakened states of her friends with tearful eyes. She didn't want to cry, knowing her friends needed her as a leader and a big sister now more than ever. However, the woman couldn't help it. Droplets of tears rolled down her sweaty cheeks. Muffling in her sobs, Alex turned away from her friends and clenched her fists. She should've kept track of Amora. Why hadn't she noticed her escape? As the leader, Alex should've known. She blamed herself.

     The sound of a helicopter whirled up in the sky. Everyone, except Scarlet, looked up. Alex watched the man put his large hand on Esther's shoulder. He slowly lifted her to her feet, cradling and soothing the hazelnut-haired woman. The tattooed lady was shocked to find Esther accepting the comfort.

     "The helicopter's here," he stated as he turned to face Alex with a sincere and solemn look.

     The leader only nodded, tears filling her dark chocolate brown eyes once more.