GOLDEN REBEL HEART

Chapter 23

New update! Things are moving along, but I'm not going to spoil too much. Anyway, I wanted to thank all of you who have been showing great support to my new story, "sky full of stars.". It really means a lot, and chapter one is coming soon for those who follow it.

Hope you enjoy this part and please let me know what you think in the comments!

Songs to listen to:

Clouds, Before You Exit
Lick The Palm Of The Burning Handshake, Zola Jesus
Come By Fire, Sara Jackson-Holman

Enjoy!

-

Taylor receives an unsettling message from Noor as soon as she finishes her training with Karlie. The leader is the one to warn her of the incoming text, brows knitted and confusion swimming within her jade green eyes.

"Noor just sent you a message,"

The American slips her sweatshirt over her head and stares at her perplexed. "What?" the leader hands her pager to the blonde woman, as she silently reads the short sentence. It says; I desperately need your help, you're the only one I trust. Taylor clears her throat, and under Karlie's expectant and observant eyes she replies with, I'll be there soon. She puts the pager back on the pocket of her jeans, and looks up at the leader, who raises her eyebrows with a question about to slip from her mouth.

"You're still in contact with Noor?" Karlie tries to sound as normal as possible, but there's subtle jealousy and perplexity under her voice.

Taylor fiddles with the hem of her grey hoody and nods. "Yeah, we—," she pauses, and wonders if it is a good idea, telling Karlie about the time she and Noor had fucked. Then realizes that they're friends, and that there is nothing wrong in confiding in the taller woman. "—we actually had sex, like, two months ago," she finishes with a blush. The leader narrows her eyes and nods, lips pursed slightly. "It was shortly after Rue's death, I just—needed an escape."

"I'm not judging you," Karlie lets a chuckle come out of her lips, but it sounds forced and strangled. The leader can't help but imagine their naked bodies tangled under satin sheets, and the vivid image does nothing to calm down the impending jealousy burning inside her stomach. She turns her back to the American, and busies herself with gathering their things and picking them up from the ground. "Having sex is great," the leader laughs, shrugging. They walk towards the car, and Taylor looks at her with a strange look in her face.

"Yeah," she giggles. "But it didn't mean anything. It was just a one-time thing," she explains. Karlie gets behind the wheel and starts the vehicle. She's glad to hear that, and attempts to hide the smile that wants to overcome her face by biting the inside of her cheek. The rest of the ride is spent in silence, as they reach Utkarsh about thirty minutes later. However, as they get off the vehicle and start walking through the deserted streets of the town, they surprisingly stumble upon Noor.

"Noor," Taylor says calmly. "I said that I was going to come to you."

The older woman seems anxious, eyes filled with tears. As soon as she sees the American, she grabs her hands desperately and cries, "I couldn't wait that long. I needed to see you,"

Karlie observes the scene, standing a few feet behind them to give them space. She can't help but feel jealous, seeing how comfortable they are around each other, and how tightly Noor is holding Taylor's hands.

"Hey, calm down. It's okay," the blonde says softly, placing a hand around her shoulder. Karlie swallows. "Tell me what's wrong."

"He—that bastard, Pagan Min, kidnapped my sisters!" Noor exclaims with agony. "I found out through his soldiers that they're—at this little outpost, and they are not the only prisoners there. The hostages are all women, and the soldiers there—they rape them. It's hell, Taylor, and I don't want my sisters to die. You need to save them, please, I trust you!"