Jungle Princess Page 5

  Alex held the creature in her arms like a baby. Bronson touched the creature, allowing his arm to brush past her chest. Alex tensed, realized it must have been an innocent accident, and attempted to ignore it.

  §

  The following morning, Holt was on the beach practicing his karate in slow motion. Alex walked onto the beach, paused when she saw him, and attempted to imitate his movements.

  Holt looked back and chuckled. “Stop that. You’re breaking my concentration.”

  “I know what you can give me for my birthday,” she announced enthusiastically.

  He didn’t allow her to interfere with his practice. “No, I’m not teaching you karate.”

  Alex frowned while sitting on a nearby rock. She watched Holt practice a moment longer then stared off and appeared distant. “Holt--?”

  “Alex.”

  She drew a deep breath and held it. “I’ve been feeling very uncomfortable around Bronson lately,” she gently informed him.

  “Really?” he replied while continuing with his routine. “I’ve found him almost tolerable. He seems to treat you with more respect since I nearly broke his arm.”

  “It just seems like--” She hesitated then frowned. “I don’t know.”

  “Rule number two,” he announced firmly without looking back at her.

  “It seems like every time you’re not around, he does things that make me uncomfortable,” she finally blurted out her concerns then groaned.

  Holt suddenly stopped and turned toward her with an odd look. “Give me a ‘for instance’.”

  She ran her fingers through her hair. “I’m probably just being stupid.”

  Holt approached and sat on the rock alongside her. “Let me decide that.”

  “There’s something about the way he smiles at me, and I swear he’s always looking down my shirt,” she announced then hesitated. “Then there’s the way he touches me--”

  Holt’s expression suddenly hardened. “What way does he touch you?”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Later that evening, Holt and Bronson walked through the woods along their usual path toward the area containing coconut trees. Everything they needed to survive comfortably was only a five to fifteen-minute walk from the lighthouse. Holt seemed distracted for the first few minutes then finally perked up.

  “I’m glad you suggested planning something special for Alex’s birthday,” Holt announced as they walked. “I had a few thoughts of my own.”

  “I thought if we could get a few coconuts, we could grind up the coconut meat with the milk, add a little of that sugarcane, and come up with something fudge-like,” Bronson replied and managed a sly grin.

  Holt again drifted out a moment. He drew a deep breath and cast a look at Bronson. He could no longer hold back his emotions. “Now that we’re alone, we need to discuss something that’s been bothering me.”

  Bronson eyed Holt as they approached a coconut tree not far from the bluffs then pointed up the tree.

  “I’m a poor climber,” Bronson announced as if avoiding the conversation.

  “Seriously, we need to discuss Alex,” Holt pressed with limited patience.

  “Can we discuss Alex while you’re knocking down coconuts?” Bronson questioned.

  “No, we can’t.”

  Bronson frowned and indicated for Holt to continue, although he appeared bored already.

  “You’ve been making unwanted advances,” Holt boldly informed him.

  Bronson stared at him with surprise. “Advances? What advances? You have your hands on her more than I do,” he protested then attempted to relax. “I’m not trying to pick a fight or accuse you of anything.” He managed a nervous laugh. “Don’t break my arm.”

  “She doesn’t want you touching her, and I intend to enforce her wishes,” Holt announced.

  “We seem to have a little problem, Holt,” Bronson announced while folding his arms across his chest. “She told me the same thing about you.”

  “She never told you any such thing.”

  “She’s a teenager,” Bronson remarked and sighed. “They tend to make things up, especially when they’re trying to control a situation.”

  “This is about you, Bronson,” Holt interjected and pointed a warning finger at him. “Don’t try to make it about me.”

  “She’s playing you, Holt, and I can prove it,” he announced while glaring at him. “When we get back, we’ll confront her on her lies.”

  “Fine, we’ll go back and ask Alex,” Holt announced then indicated the path to the lighthouse.

  Bronson smirked and pointed at the coconuts. “I didn’t come all the way out here for the exercise.”

  Holt groaned then headed for the tree and looked up it. “I hate being short.”

  He made his moderately slow attempt at climbing the tree. Bronson removed a thick branch from behind a nearby tree and swung, hitting Holt in the back. Holt fell from the tree and landed roughly. Despite his rough landing, he rolled to his feet to face Bronson. Bronson swung again and struck him in the head. Holt fell to the ground and appeared unconscious. Bronson tossed the branch aside, grabbed Holt by the ankles, and dragged him toward the bluffs. Holt regained consciousness just near the bluffs and attempted to grab Bronson despite his head injury. Bronson kicked Holt in the side several times and sent him over the edge of the bluffs. There was a moment of silence, and a splash followed.

  Bronson grinned. “So long, Holt.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Alex walked along the beach the following morning and looked in Holt’s usual area for him. She was worried about him when he didn’t come home last night. There was no sign of Holt, and she was growing concerned. Bronson appeared on the beach from the path and jogged to catch up with her.

  “You got up early,” he called out and stopped near her. Bronson immediately pulled Alex into his arms and kissed her on the cheek. “Happy birthday, Alex.”

  She felt slightly uncomfortable, but it was just an innocent birthday wish. “Thank you.” Alex pulled away and looked around while insecurely rubbing her arms. “I haven’t seen Holt since yesterday evening. It’s not like him to be gone overnight.”

  “Oh, I’m not about to spoil his birthday surprise for you,” Bronson announced with a low chuckle. “He’ll be back later, I promise.”

  Alex felt relieved by his words and immediately smiled. “He’s doing something special for my birthday?” she remarked and attempted to brush off her anxiety. “He’s been gone so long. What could he be doing?”

  “Probably building you a car out of coconuts,” Bronson teased then chuckled at his own joke. “I have a special surprise for you myself, but I need to prepare, so you just go out and do whatever it is you do.”

  As Bronson returned to the path, Alex could only think of one thing she wanted to do at that moment. She wanted to find Holt even if it meant ruining whatever surprise he had for her. She just needed to know he was okay. Nothing else mattered.

  §

  By late afternoon, Alex walked along the stream where they had originally found Monster. Despite Bronson’s reassurances, she wasn’t convinced Holt had spent the entire evening and night doing something special for her birthday. She was concerned he may have attempted to find out more about Monster’s origins, which could be hazardous to his health. She looked at the ground near the stream and appeared frustrated.

  “Come on, Alex. You’ve watched him look at the ground and flora for months,” she muttered while staring at the ground. “You should be able to track him.”

  Although it seemed to take some time, she finally found a set of tracks. Alex followed them along the stream, stopped to eye some plants, and then continued onward. Alex paused near a tree and looked at the damp base. She appeared curious then crouched down and dabbed her finger to the moist ground. She smelled the substance then suddenly cringed, sprang to her feet, and wiped her fingers on the tree.

  “Oh, God--urine! Gross!”

  Alex followed the tracks on th
e path toward the bluffs. Instead of one set, there were now several sets of tracks. Some appeared fresher than others. Alex approached the clearing containing the coconut trees. She crouched near the tree and saw droplets of blood on the ground and on nearby plants. Alex looked at the thick, oddly placed branch with blood on it.

  She then noticed the deep drag marks and more blood on the ground not far from the tree. Alex followed the drag marks nearly fifty yards to the bluffs and suddenly stopped. She saw Damon crouched near the edge of the bluffs alongside the end of the drag marks. Alex took a step back as horror swept through her entire body. Damon glanced back, saw her, and straightened with his machete in his hand. Alex gasped and ran for the path.

  Chapter Seventeen

  It was nearly dark by the time Alex returned to the lighthouse. She was exhausted from her long day of searching for Holt with no success. She didn’t know what had happened to him, but she was entertaining several horrible scenarios already. If something happened to Holt, she didn’t know how she’d ever survive on the island without him. As she entered the lighthouse, Bronson stared at her and appeared surprised.

  “Where have you been?” he asked. “You’ve been gone all day.”

  “Looking for Holt,” she announced and couldn’t hide her concern. “I think that man killed him.”

  “What man?”

  “The one from the south side of the island,” she announced while attempting to fight her tears. “The scary one with the machete!”

  Bronson approached her and placed his hands on her shoulders to calm her. He stared at her with concern.

  “Tell me what happened.”

  Alex attempted to relax and caught her breath. “I was tracking Holt, and I found blood. It looked as if someone had been dragged to the bluffs. When I got there, I saw him.”

  “You saw the man from the other side of the island at the bluffs?”

  Alex nodded and wiped her tears. “He saw me, and I ran. Holt wasn’t there,” she explained. “I think he stabbed him and tossed him off the bluffs. I went to the beach, but I didn’t find him.”

  Bronson pulled Alex into his arms and held her. “Oh, that must have been terrifying. You’re lucky you got away.”

  She half-heartedly returned the embrace. “I don’t know why he didn’t chase me.”

  Bronson guided her to the bottom bunk and sat alongside her while keeping his arm firmly around her shoulders.

  “It’s going to be dark soon, but first thing tomorrow morning, we’re going to go back to the bluffs and have a look,” he insisted. “We’ll find Holt, I promise.”

  Alex sniffed and again wiped her tears. “I think he’s dead. I think that man killed him.” She shook her head. “It’s possible Holt may have gone to the south side of the island looking for evidence of Monster’s origin. Maybe that man caught him.”

  Alex sobbed, feeling it was all her fault. She couldn’t live with herself if Holt died because of her.

  “It’s okay, Alex,” he reassured her while holding her against his shoulder. “I’m going to take care of you. I promise.”

  When she lifted her head, Bronson suddenly kissed her on the lips. Alex gasped with surprise and pushed him back.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” she gasped in horror.

  “I’m taking care of you, Alex. Just as I promised,” he replied then attempted to kiss her again.

  She attempted to hold him back while glaring at him with hostility. “I don’t want you taking care of me that way! Let go of me!”

  Bronson tackled her to the bed and maintained his smile while she attempted to push him off her. “Trust me; it’s better this way. Holt was in the way,” he informed her. “Now it’s just the two of us.”

  Alex stopped struggling and stared at him with a look of horror. “It was you, wasn’t it?” she gasped. Her horror turned to rage. “You bastard!”

  Alex rammed her forehead into his nose. Bronson clutched his nose allowing her the opportunity to throw him off her. As he toppled to the floor, she ran for the door. Bronson sprang up from the floor and tackled her against the door. She hit the door harshly and gasped as pain shot through her body. He spun her around and pinned her against the door with his body. She was momentarily dazed from the hard hit. Monster stood up in his box and wailed while watching, his little tail thrashing wildly.

  Bronson glared into her eyes with an anger she’d never seen before. “You need to learn to respect me if you want me to take care of you.”

  “I want you to go to hell!”

  Bronson backhanded Alex across the face, stunning her. Monster again wailed loudly. Bronson held her shoulders and shook her.

  “I’m it, Alex,” he lashed out. “I’m all you’ve got. So you’d better get used to it.”

  Bronson grabbed her wrists and pulled her toward the bed. Alex fought him and attempted to kick him in the groin. He blocked the kick then shoved her onto the bed, enraged by her attempt to maim him. Her head struck the upper bunk. Alex clutched her head and fell to the lower bunk while momentarily dazed. Monster again wailed while thrashing his tail, rocking the crate. Bronson unbuttoned his pants then grabbed Alex’s shorts. She still appeared unable to move or defend herself. Bronson suddenly jumped with surprise. The twelve-inch creature scaled Bronson’s pants leg while snarling softly as his foot-long tail swished wildly. Bronson jumped with surprise.

  Monster leaped onto his forearm, clung to his shirt with tiny, cat-like claws digging into his skin, and attempted to bite him with his toothless mouth. Bronson screamed and slung his arm violently. Monster flew off his arm and across the bed. Bronson looked at the bed. Monster was gone! Alex felt the room stop spinning long enough to open her eyes and witness Bronson grabbing her shorts. She cried out and kicked at him while attempting to keep him away from her. He fought her hands and thrashing legs for control of her shorts. They heard a tiny, fierce snarl.

  Bronson looked up with surprise to the sound. Monster hung by his claws from the upper bunk and leaped upside down for Bronson’s face. Bronson cried out as Monster’s claws dug into his cheeks while he tried in vain to bite his nose with his toothless mouth. His tail thrashed wildly, thumping Bronson on the top of his head with enough force to cause him to wince. Alex kicked Bronson in the abdomen. He stumbled backward and struck the table while attempting to dislodge Monster from his face. Alex jumped to her feet and staggered dizzily while holding her head. Bronson pulled Monster from his face, revealing deep puncture wounds and long scratches. He threw the thrashing, wailing creature across the floor.

  Monster struck the floor, letting out a sharp cry, and rolled several times from the force. He suddenly flipped onto his feet, hissed his anger, and raced up the wall. Alex stumbled toward the door, knowing she had to escape, but she couldn’t move fast enough in her disoriented condition. Bronson again grabbed her from behind and tossed her back onto the bed. Alex screamed and fought Bronson, who was now on top of her, using his body to pin her to the bed. He pawed at her shorts like a wild man, attempting to slip them down her hips. Monster scurried under the top bunk and dove onto Bronson’s back, digging in with his claws, and letting out a fierce, tiny roar. Bronson attempted to remove the creature without releasing Alex, but he was planted firmly on the center of his back and thrashed his tail, cracking Bronson’s hand each time he attempted to grab him.

  The front door was thrown open with a thunderous crash, startling everyone. Monster cried out with surprise and leaped off Bronson. Bronson jerked with surprise from his position on top of Alex and looked at the door. Holt stood just inside the doorway, soaking wet, bruised, and scratched. He charged for Bronson. Bronson leaped off Alex and attempted to move out of his path.

  “Holt--?” Bronson gasped.

  Alex sat up with surprise, clutched her head, and attempted to focus on the soaking wet man. Holt stopped just short of Bronson. Bronson held his hands out and appeared terrified.

  “Holt, I’m sorry,” Bronson cried out in panic. “It won’
t happen again!”

  Holt stood completely still while staring at Bronson with a cold, psychotic look in his eyes. His eyes strayed to the blood on Alex’s hand and the tears down her face as she stared back. Holt suddenly spun into a high roundhouse kick and struck Bronson in the face. He dropped to the floor with a thud. He gingerly touched his bleeding face then looked at Hold and again held up his hands defensively. He slowly moved to his feet.

  “Just give me another chance,” Bronson begged while straightening.

  Holt stared at him through squinting eyes. There was no emotion left; only hatred. Bronson suddenly lunged for Holt, throwing a fist at his face. Holt blocked the punch and kicked him in the hip. As he started to fall, Holt grabbed him around the neck and swiftly snapped it, breaking his neck. He released Bronson, allowing him to drop to the floor. Holt stood over the motionless man and resumed his cold stance. Alex stared in horror at the dead man on the floor. Her heart was pounding in unison with her aching head. Holt exhaled as the emotion returned to his face. He looked back at Alex, practically fell to his knees before her on the bunk, clasped her hands in his, and stared into her eyes.

  “Are you okay?”

  Alex burst into tears, threw her arms around him, and fell onto her knees with him. They clung to each other and sobbed together in a small huddle. Monster leaped onto her shoulder, clung upside down to her arm around Holt, curled his long tail around them both, and wailed softly with them.

  Chapter Eighteen

  After Holt changed into dry clothing, he wrapped Bronson’s body in a burlap sack and tied it securely with some old rope. Alex subconsciously stroked the purring creature in her arms while she sat on the floor and watched Holt plot his disposal of Bronson’s body. She was filled with nervous anxiety over everything that had happened that evening.

  “What are we going to do with him?” she asked timidly.

  “Burial at sea,” he scoffed.