Page 22 of Diamond

12

Rin

A twisted smile spreads on his face and I cry out in despair, realizing that this is probably how I'm going to die. My life starts to flash before my eyes, but then something knocks Tehlmar down, pulling me from him.

From the impact, I roll away, scrambling backward, catching sight of a wide-eyed Roshan.

Roshan rambles toward Tehlmar, but a flash of silver hits him. With a grunt, he reels back, crying out as Tehlmar's spiked foot hits him on the chest. Roshan whimpers, his spidery legs hitting Tehlmar in a furious flurry.

Then Tehlmar hits him again, harder this time, and Roshan runs away in fear.

The animal's cries enrage me and while the green-haired alien is down, I get up and drive my foot straight into his face.

I go for a third kick, but he catches my leg, yanking me to the ground. His elbow smashes straight into my side as I land on the ground. I had forgotten how fast he is.

I try to scurry away, but he grabs my hair, dragging me across the ground and against the tree I had just escaped from. His mocking laughter snaps something inside me; I know then—I won't be leaving here alive.

I can't die. Not like this. Not without a fight. Anger drowns out my fear, and I throw the hardest punches I can, each more futile than the last, twisting to break free. But it only thrills him. "Yes, struggle with me, you little pleasure slave. I love a fighter. They break so deliciously."

I want to scream again, but I know that would be of no use at this point.

"I will make you regret the day you ever set your eyes on me,Ya Allah," I curse, tears pouring out of my eyes.

"You can do nothing but take it like a whore."

He spits on my face. Presses his hand against my throat, he pushes me further up against the tree, cutting off all my air.

The wind is knocked out of me again when a heavy blow hits my stomach. Before I can recover, another strikes my eye, temporarily blinding me and sending a sharp pain shooting into my skull.

All I hear is a cruel laughter as this monster, my former companion, beats me relentlessly. As the pain fills my head, I feel myself slipping, thinking I am near my end.

13

Kuret

I am still too far from them, but running at full speed, my hearts pound from more than just the exertion. I only hope that I don't get there too late to help.

It's startling how easy it is to misread a situation. I have never seen a perpetrator actually harming a female, only witnessed their punishment afterward as a lesson to others.

The male has been her protector; he should've settled things peacefully without this brutish use of force. Anyone should be killed for daring to even raise his hands to a female in such a manner.

I don't care if we are completely different species. Even if he comes from an extremely barbaric and uncivilized planet, he should know that forcing a female against her will is a grave offense—a crime equivalent to murder.

Another scream echoes through the forest and I pick up my speed, ignoring the ache in my abdomen.

I cannot understand his language or what she just said, but I know it wasn't a sound of pleasure that she made.

The forest fades into a muffled whisper as my heart pumps loudly in my ears, metal tangs my tongue from biting down, but the pain is lost in a wave of fury. My vision is gray, and thetreesare a blur as I wind my way through the thick undergrowth.

All I can think about is how I am going to rip him to pieces when I lay my hands on him. Out here on these lawless lands, I can take all the honor for myself.

The rage is a dull roar in my ears and a taste in my mouth—a taste I will gladly replace with that of this callous being's blood. Once I can reach them.

Another pained scream echoes, The male's harsh yell follows. The rage in my chest flares, and I curse myself for wasting time with my own discomfort and naivety.

As I close in on the male, I move in a half circle to give me the chance to pounce on him from behind. I must be quick and precise if I want to do this cleanly. The rage that's been building finally bursts out, focused into a sharp cry as I lunge forward, grabbing him by his hair to get a firm hold.

When I push him to the ground, his arms flail out in front of his body, but all he makes is a wet, gurgling sound as I tilt his neck slightly to the side for him to see who punishes him.

---