Annihilate Me 2: Omnibus (Complete Vols. 1-3, Annihilate Me 2)

by Christina Ross

  “Did they treat you with drugs?”

  “No, but they have drugs. I heard some of the women say that they should shoot me up with penicillin, but the men weren’t having any of that. They didn’t want to waste it on me. Instead, they chose the agar. They wrapped the plant around the cut on my leg. They cleaned my leg and changed my dressing each day with fresh leaves. They poured alcohol on it to help kill the infection. But it was all for not. My leg is in bad shape. I can feel it. I can smell it. And I can tell you this—it’s not healing.”

  “We’ll get you well.”

  “It’s too late. With each day that passes, I feel as if I’m slipping away.”

  “Alex and I will take you over to the hut. I’ll examine your leg, and we’ll go forward from there. What I need you to do is to focus on your health, and pull through for all of us. I need you to fight this, Cutter. I looked everywhere for you. None of us is about to lose you now.”

  “I don’t know if that’s a choice, buddy. It’s not good.”

  “We’ll see about that.” He looked up at Alex. “Grab his legs. I’ll take him by the shoulders. We need to get him back to the hut and expose the wound, so we can see what we’re dealing with before we go forward with any treatment.”

  “Is there any penicillin left?” Lisa asked.

  “Some. We’ll use what’s left of it, and then we’ll see what the jungle has to offer. The key is to kill whatever infection has taken hold of him. But we’ll succeed. Do you hear me, Cutter—we’ll succeed. I promise you that we will.”

  “I appreciate that,” he said. “But I think you should save your supplies. I know what I’m feeling, Tank. I know what it means from our training. I’m a lost cause. Save the penicillin for yourselves should you need it.” When Tank was about to speak, Cutter reached out and gripped his arm. “I need you to listen to me now. No bullshit, OK? We’ve never done bullshit. We’ve always spoken the truth. I know that I’ll die from this. I won’t be here much longer. All I ask is that you keep me comfortable, that you stay by my side, and—if you do get off this island—that you take my body with you. For my parents’ sake.”

  “You’re not leaving any of us,” Tank said. “So, get yourself together. Fight this. Alex, grab his feet. Let’s go. We don’t have long until the sun goes down, and there’s plenty to do while we still have light.”

  CHAPTER FORTY

  When Alex and Tank got Cutter back to the hut, Tank immediately revealed the wound on Cutter’s left calf. While he assessed it, he kept his features neutral even though it was clear to all of us that Cutter’s leg was severely infected.

  The cut was deep, and a yellowish fluid was seeping out of it. The skin around the gash was red and swollen, and there appeared to be red streaks spidering out from it, as if they wanted to claim his leg for their own.

  Even I knew that what I saw wasn’t a good sign. In fact, it was a dire sign. From growing up on a farm, I knew enough to know that the wound I was looking at had likely affected his lymphatic system, which meant that the situation was indeed severe. Cutter needed whatever penicillin we had left, but from what I was seeing?

  Even that wouldn’t be enough.

  While Tank tended to him, I took Alexa aside.

  “We have four shots of penicillin left,” I said. “But from what I’m seeing on Cutter’s leg, that’s not going to be nearly enough. What’s in this jungle that can help him now?”

  “Agar is very good as a topical treatment,” she said. “And I’ve seen plenty of it right around our hut, so there’s that. Believe it or not, kelp also can help, and that’s everywhere on the shore. The trick is to get it when it’s as fresh as possible, just as the tide is going out, as it is now.”

  “What else?”

  “If we can find it, thyme can be used as a disinfectant. But St. John’s wort is perhaps the most powerful armor we can find. It’s strong in situations such as this, and I’m fairly certain that it grows here. That said, rose petals also are powerful against infection, if you can believe that. And so is echinacea, which is plentiful on this island. And then there is peppermint, which also should be applied topically. I’ve seen that here as well.”

  “Then we need to go in search of all of those. Are you up for that?”

  “I’d do anything for Cutter,” she said. “The sky is still bright. Let me grab a bag, and then let’s get to it.”

  * * *

  By the time we were leaving, Tank already had given Cutter his first shot of penicillin.

  “Where are you two going?” he asked.

  “In search of plants that can help Cutter.”

  “Don’t wander far, and don’t be gone long. The sun will set in the next five hours.”

  “It won’t take us that long,” Alexa said. “Since we’ve been here, I’ve already seen most the plants that we need. We just need to find them—starting with what’s right in front of us.” She pointed over at the shore. “The kelp.”

  * * *

  It took us three hours to find what we needed for Cutter, who was in some sort of dream-state when we returned.

  “It’s not good,” Blackwell said when we approached the hut. “His fever is high. Tank gave him Tylenol to keep it in check. But I think he needs more at this point.”

  “Then give him more,” I said, showing her our bag filled with plants. “We’ll also try this. We’re not giving up.”

  “What did you find?”

  “Everything but the thyme. We found kelp, agar, St. John’s wort, echinacea, and rose petals.”

  “Rose petals?”

  “They have antibacterial properties,” Alexa said. “If we use a bit of water to mash all of it together into a thick spread, we can smear it into his wound, and hope that that buys us time. We got plenty of everything, but all of this needs to be reasonably fresh to work efficiently. What we gathered must be applied now, in the morning, and in the afternoon, at which point Jennifer and I will go for more. Along with the penicillin, we might be able to manage this.”

  “What if we can’t?” Daniella said.

  “That’s not a question,” I shot at her. “We’re going to save his life. Understand?”

  Her eyes widened at the sharp tone in my voice. “I only want the best for Cutter,” she said. “You have to know that.”

  “Then be with him,” I said. “Talk with him. If he sleeps, hold his hand and comfort him, just like you did for Alexa when those spiders bit her. Support him. That’s what he needs from all of us right now—our support and our love.”

  “Cutter saved my life on that plane,” Daniella said. “I know what he did for me. I was behaving like an idiot. I regret all of it. And I want all of you to know that I apologize for how I acted. Obviously, I have some growing up to do.”

  “To say the least,” I said to her. “Now prove to all of us that you’re up for that challenge by helping Cutter. Where is Tank?”

  “He went into the jungle not long after you left. He said he’d be back by sundown.”

  That surprised me. “Where did he go?”

  “To look for the boat.”

  “If a boat even exists, how would he know where to look for it?”

  “Cutter told him the general location of their camp. It’s on the other side of the island.”

  “On the other side of the island?”

  “Apparently, the island is narrow. Cutter said that getting to the opposite side of it should take no more than two hours.”

  “Tank went alone?”

  “Alex went with him. Tank has his gun. He gave his knife to Alex.”

  “Jesus Christ,” I said. I turned to Blackwell, who was standing at the hut’s entrance. “What were they thinking? Those people know that Cutter knows where their camp is located. They know that Cutter would share that information with us. Because of that, they’re now on hyper alert, armed and ready if any of us dare to come anywhere near them.”

  “What’s done is done,” she said. “Daniella was their confidante. They
left without saying anything to me.”

  “And how does that sit with you?”

  “Not well.”

  “What are they going to do if they find this boat that may or may not exist? If it does, certainly they will be guarding it. Maybe some people even live on it in an effort to protect it.” I turned to Daniella. “Did Tank or Alex say anything about that?”

  “They didn’t.”

  “Then I don’t see the point of any of this. Are they planning on stealing the boat? They’ll be shot if they do.”

  “I think they want to see for themselves what we’re dealing with,” Blackwell said.

  “Cutter has already told us what we’re dealing with.”

  “Hearing and seeing are two different things. I’m not excusing what they did, but I think they wanted to judge for themselves the enormity of what’s at hand.”

  “They already know from Cutter, who told us that there are hundreds of them on this island. What more do they need to know? I’m sorry if I’m being a bitch about this, but that’s my husband out there—and he doesn’t have Tank’s training. So, yes, I’m concerned. And I’m pissed off. Hopefully, Tank will enlighten me on why he decided to do this when they return.”

  “I believe he will. Tank is no fool. He did this for a reason, and he’ll share that reason with you.”

  “It better be a good reason,” I said. “The other half of my life is out there with him now. And if anything happens to him, there will be hell to pay. I can promise all of you that.”

  * * *

  Three hours later, the sun had set, it was twilight, and neither Tank nor Alex had returned.

  At that point, Alexa and I had cleaned Cutter’s wound again, applied the herbal paste to it, and wrapped it in fresh, water-soaked kelp and palm leaves so the mixture could settle deeper into the cut. With his temperature rising, we administered more Tylenol, which thankfully we had plenty of. As for the penicillin, I wasn’t sure when to give him another shot, so I didn’t, but hoped that Tank would return with Alex soon so he could inform me when the time was right.

  The problem was that they didn’t come. And my concern for their well being deepened as we all built a fire and sat around it while Cutter slept in the hut.

  As I sat there with Blackwell, Alexa, Lisa, and Daniella, it occurred to me that none of us had eaten since morning. But it was too late to fish now, or to bother trying to smash open one of the coconuts. So we just sat there, hungry for something to eat and waiting for the men to arrive. And while we did, it was clear to us that we weren’t alone. Others were in the jungle—I could hear them moving. Twigs snapped. Leaves rustled. I could hear footsteps closing in.

  They were watching our every move, and the very thought of it terrified me.

  CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

  That evening, the girls and Cutter slept while Blackwell, Lisa, and I remained at the fire. Earlier in the day, Blackwell had demanded that Tank make spears for each of us, which he had made within a matter of minutes. But even though we had them now, we also knew that they were essentially useless. The people on this island had guns, and we didn’t. Tank was the only one among us who had a gun, and it was with him now. If they wanted to shoot us, they would. What good was a damned spear when we were faced with loaded guns?

  Still, we held those spears tightly in our laps, if only for the false sense of security they provided. Sometimes, in the darkest moments of our lives, even a false sense of security is enough to get you through to the next second, the next minute, the next hour. The next day or year. Sometimes, it’s enough to give you the courage you lack to see you through to the other side.

  “Where are Alex and Tank?” I asked Blackwell. “The sun set three hours ago. Why aren’t they back yet?”

  The fire’s flickering light cast a wicked net of shadows against the sharp contours of her face. It was a moment before she answered me. “What can I say to you?” she said. “I know what you know.”

  “I’m not going to lie—I’m angry that they did this to us.”

  “So am I. We should have been consulted.”

  “And yet we weren’t.”

  “The thing is, I trust Tank,” Blackwell said. “He likely sensed that we’d try to stop him. And because of that—and knowing him as well as I do—he must have thought he had a very good reason to do what he did. He obviously thought that Alex could help. They’ll be back—and we can give them hell for what they did then.”

  “How can they even see in the jungle at this time of night?”

  “The moon is bright,” she said, looking up at it. “It’s nearly full. And then there are the stars, which Tank certainly has been trained to use as a guide. Perhaps he’s using them now to get back to us. Who knows how his mind works? It might be that under the stealth of night, they can gather more information on our situation than they could in the daylight. Think about it. If the sun were out, they’d easily be spotted. But now? Not so much.”

  “The people in their compound can hear Alex and Tank just as easily as we can hear their people. And by the way, can you hear them? They’re just off to my left in case you were wondering.”

  “I can hear them,” Blackwell said.

  “Can you?” I asked Lisa.

  “I can.”

  “Perfect.”

  “Jennifer,” Lisa said. “They said they’d give us five days. They took care of Cutter. Maybe not to the extent that they could have, but they did set his arm and heal his burns, and they did bring him back to us alive. For whatever reason, they’re watching us now, so let them. I don’t think they’ll try anything now. But after five days? That’s a different story, and we need to be prepared for it.”

  “How?”

  “Tank will figure out how. He saved your life once. It wasn’t so long ago that he saved mine. And God knows how many lives he saved when he was in the field. I need you to calm down and respect that.”

  “I don’t like feeling deceived, Lisa.”

  “I get it. They did a stupid thing. Let’s hope they come back from their little jaunt with some useful information. I’m also unhappy with the way they handled this. After I’ve calmed down, I plan on sharing that with Tank. But getting angry now? What’s the point? What’s done is done.”

  “I’m sorry,” I said. “I’m more frightened and worried than anything. Maybe I’m being hormonal.”

  “Let’s pray that you are,” Blackwell said.

  “I’ve been praying about that since we first landed here,” I said. “But it’s hard. I’m trying my best to keep up with everyone and do my part, so if I’m ever being difficult, I apologize for that, and I hope that all of you understand where it’s coming from. My mind is a mess. It’s with my child, it’s with Alex and Tank, and it’s with Cutter. It’s also with that plane we heard earlier. If this island is so damned small, why didn’t they circle it? Why search only the sea for us? Is the black box on our plane dead? After those explosions, I’m thinking it is—and that’s beyond frustrating.”

  “You’re doing the best you can,” Lisa said.

  “And you’re being kind. There are times on this island when I’ve been a complete bitch. Like a minute or so ago.”

  “You’ve never once been a bitch.”

  “I’ve been a handful. When do I behave like this?”

  “When have you ever been in a situation like this?”

  “Touché.”

  “Our Jennifer is no kitten,” Blackwell said from across the fire. “She can be a viper when she needs to be—I’ve seen it, and I’ve heard about it. What she did to Stephen Rowe on that dance floor was nothing short of a brilliant set-up for his potential demise.”

  “And yet he might be the interim CEO now.”

  “If he is, it will be short lived. We’re getting off this island. OK? We’re going to get off it. Now, how about if we change the subject and lighten the mood? How about if we look forward to our return to New York? Are you with me? No? Fine. I’m with me. As for me, I’m looking forward
to the day that Bernie can have at my brittle hair and take to my ruined skin. At this point—and under this extreme sun—I’m convinced that it’s finally time to pay my toxes.”

  “You’re going to pay your what?” Lisa asked.

  “My toxes,” she said. “I eschew the sun. I always have—my mother taught me to, and she was right. And by the way, if you think that I can be difficult, I’m a fragile flower when compared to my mother. My mother was a top-tier prima donna. Former beauty queen, former model, total monster.”

  “You’ve never talked about your mother,” I said.

  “There are reasons why.”

  “She was a model?”

  “One of the best. In 1964 alone, she was on the cover of American Vogue twice. Think about growing up with that. I loved my mother as much as anyone could love her, which is to say that she made it nearly impossible to do so. But she was a businesswoman through and through—and tending to business is what I learned from her. She took no bullshit from anyone. I loved that about her. I also learned that from her. She wasn’t perfect—who among us is? Still, as tumultuous as our relationship was, she set an example for me, and it was an important one. With a backbone of steel, a woman can win in a male-dominated world.”

  “She sounds fascinating,” Lisa said.

  “In her way, I suppose she was. She was this beautiful, angry, crazy enigma. Always pushing forward. Always fighting to remain on top even when it was unreasonable to do so. When she became older and her looks faded, staying at the top eluded her—which naturally infuriated her. Those are the days I prefer not to remember.” She waved a hand across her face. “Good God. How did we get on that subject? I never talk about my mother.”

  “Maybe it’s her strength you’re calling on now,” Lisa said.

  “That’s horse shit. I’ve made my own strength. So, let’s just move on, shall we? Enough about my history with Mommie Dearest. Tomorrow, we’ll have been here for ten days, and I’m sure that after being on this island for so long, I’m so burned by the sun, I could enter a freak show as Lobster Woman—and probably earn a fair salary. When we get home, I’m paying my toxes.”