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“You wouldn’t possibly want me,” I say, speaking only partially with dishonesty. “I’m gross and covered in sweat.”
I can feel the blood running along my cheek now. Its metallic smell fills my nostrils, though it’s ultimately overwhelmed by the salty ocean breeze.
“That’s a lovely notion,” he says, moving closer to me. He moves behind me, and I can feel the distance between us shrinking to almost nothing.
Standing right up beside me, he moves his mouth to my ear.
“But you don’t have any idea what I want,” he whispers.
His mouth inches toward my face. His tongue runs along my cheek, licking the blood from it.
I look into the distance, and see that the eyes of the women are now upon me.
My mind is partially imagining that I’m back in my cove, where I find safety, but most of my energy goes toward trying not to break down here in front of everybody. I can already feel the tears welling up.
Don’t give him the satisfaction.
His tongue lingers on my cheek, and I try to formulate an escape plan.
If I retaliate here, I don’t know what Malachi will do. Women have been killed for far less.
If I want to stay alive, I can’t openly retaliate against his advances.
My eyes curve around, and I see the crying mynah around me. A wicked idea forms.
It’s going to hurt, but it might be the only way.
His hand moves down to my breast, and I can feel his claws digging into me, his mouth still pressed against my cheek.
Rapidly, I swivel my head, pretending to look up at one of the mynah.
The impact is immediate.
My chin crashes into his nose. The thud as I make an impact against his face is loud and satisfying.
He doubles over in pain.
I can feel my chin throbbing, immense and nearly debilitating pain coursing through my jaw. To make it seem like an accident, I overplay my own injury.
“Why?”
It’s all he can bring himself to say. As he hunches over, I can see him struggling. Blood trickles down his face.
I might have broken his nose.
“By the gods,” I say, my voice sounding strained. “I’m so sorry!”
“Go get your rations!”
He picks himself up, and before I can see the full extent of his injuries, walks in the opposite direction.
There’s no way this doesn’t have repercussions.
2
LAIKEN
Sunlight filters down through the water, beams and rays dispersing and suspended around me. I can see the silhouettes of their boats above me as they go about their meaningless lives, oblivious to my existence.
