Welcome to the Jungle

Chapter 16: Save me 'cause I'm fallin'

Chapter WARNING: Graphic description of violence

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Mike practically dragged Kara all the way back to where he had left his motorcycle. He then saw that only one Raptor out of the two was by him.

"Rufio? Where's Nibs?" He asked and quickly looked around, not having the time for this.

His eyes drifted back in the rocky field where Alex was trying to move in order to take refuge behind a boulder. There, Mike saw the missing Raptor, Nibs, following the injured woman like a shadow and then nudging under her arm with his head, offering to help her walk easier by supporting her weight on his long neck. The brunette flinched away at first, thinking the Raptor meant harm, but soon realized what the animal was offering and gladly threw her arm around Nibs' strong body, letting him help her.

For a moment even Kara stopped her constant thrashings to watch the scene. They were both flabbergasted.

Mike blinked a few times and reminded himself that they needed to leave instantly. Since Kara wasn't trying to run anymore, he let go of her arm for a moment to get on the bike.

"Come on, Kara." He called her and she was still staring at Alex. Shoulders slumped and shaking.

"I can't leave her." Her broken voice was barely above a whisper. It made his heart ache.

"She's made her decision, Kara and she made it to give you a chance at survival. Now if you don't want her sacrifice –"

"I DON'T WANT ANYONE ELSE TO DIE FOR ME!"

Mike gasped at her explosive response and was perplexed in the face the fire burning in her teary eyes when she turned to pierce him with them. "Kara –"

"You'll never get it Mike! I only got Alex in this world!" Her wet gaze dropped low, as did her voice. Teardrops fell one by one from her eyes, hitting the ground.

"Kara please, I- I can't lose you. I know we've only known each other for a few days, but the idea of losing is just too painful to me and I - " Mike felt tears welling up in his own eyes and his voice cracking. He now had all Kara's attention. She was staring at him with a look of sheer bafflement. "I've never felt this way about anyone in my life. I didn't even know there were this many feelings to be had... and- and I get that you don't care about me but please, PLEASE, I beg you, let me take you away from here." He almost choked on the last words as his throat was closing up.

Mike's quivering hand rose hesitantly for her face and stroked gently with his thumb to brush a stray tear that had been staining cheekbone. He watched her staring back at him with her lips ajar. He caught her eyes flickering down to his lips and promptly felt out of breath and overwhelmed. It was as though time had halted. What he would give to taste her lips just one last time. However, the urgency of the situation they were in broke the hypnotic tension abruptly and Mike dropped his hand, disappointed at himself for letting his emotions get in the way.

"I do care about you." Kara blurted out.

Mike's mind went blank for a second, wondering if she actually meant it the way he so badly hoped. He was about to ask her but then Rufio started growling nervously, his eyes pinned to something they couldn't see and his nostrils flaring. The action made Mike push aside all irrelevant thoughts and jumped on the bike.

"Look, Alex has Nibs and he will protect her until we get to safety and find help. We'll come back and save her. Now, please will you come with me?" He spoke fast and offered Kara his hand instead of trying to force her this time.

"You promise we come for Alex as soon as we find help?" She questioned.

"You have my word." He vowed in absolute honesty without breaking eye contact to let her know how serious he was.