Believer

Victoria wandered aimlessly through the cold and unfeeling structures of the city for some time after that. She did not see anyone else, though on occasion the outlines of shadows would appear in the windows of some buildings. She spent most of her time dwindling on vacant benches and just trying to keep herself from going mad. There were times when the silence truly bothered her, mostly because the memory of what she had done to end up in this situation would come flooding back. Nights were spent huddled under the arches of doorways, yet no matter where she slept nothing was ever truly warm enough. A constant feeling of coldness lingered in her body, even when it felt warm. After awhile she began to suffer from a persistent cold. Her nose dripped and her sinuses burned.

All the while she thought about her situation and how she had managed to get herself into it. She recalled her attack against Revaz in vivid detail, and the stressful events prior to it, and even some of the things that had happened on earth which she blamed for guiding her down this path. This was after all, mostly a result of her needless behaviour. And as the hours ticked by she mentally argued over the subject over and over until at last, on a lonely cement bench in a place she didn't recognize, she broke down into tears. “It's all my fault.” she whispered to herself, as she stared down at the ground beneath her feet. “None of this would have ever happened if I'd just stayed out of that stupid barn!”

Her stomach growled angrily and she winced back at gnawing hunger pains that had spread across her stomach. It had been a long time since she'd eaten. Even longer since she'd bathed or combed her hair or slept on something that wasn't hard and cold. And if she had just phoned the police that fateful night when she saw something in her fathers barn she would have never ended up in this awful place. Instead she was stuck there in a city that felt more like a ghost town, wandering around in search of food. It lead her from what felt like one end of the city to the other. Her legs were aching by the time she staggered out into a wooded clearing.

The shock of suddenly seeing vegetation, after days of nothing but towering skyscrapers, left her feeling as dazed as a rabbit in the headlights of an oncoming car. The trees and plants on this planet were nothing like the ones she'd seen while she was on earth. They were lush and bold. The vibrant colours of the leaves and the flowers made her eyes bulge. Drifting past a brush with brilliant emerald leaves and narrowly stepping over a patch of lovely blue flowers she found herself feeling as though she were wafting through the depths of the amazon jungle. For a moment she pretended she was still on earth, and that this was the adventure she'd been planning to go on once she left her little backwater town. The scent of pollen and dew drops filled her nose as she listened for any sign of chirping from the trees. If only this place had some birds to sing in the high branches it would have been a little paradise.


She passed on tree that appeared to have some sort of fruit growing on it and her stomach instinctively gurgled to remind her that she still hadn't found any food. Victoria glanced up at them for a moment, chewing anxiously on her bottom lip. They looked delicious. But what if they were toxic? The last thing she wanted was to eat something that was poisonous and die out here in amongst the trees. With a deep breath she walked past the tree, and did not stop walking until it was out of sight. Removing the temptation was the only thing that would keep her sane at this point. But she still needed to do something about her hunger.

“I wish I'd eaten a bigger breakfast before I ran away.” She sighed while slumping herself down onto the ground. She could not help it. The weakness her hunger had brought on made it difficult to keep going now. All she could think about was how badly she wanted something to eat. Even a mouthful would have sufficed. “Cake would be nice...” She murmured to herself. “Or mashed potato's. With gravy and butter.” Her mouth began to water, and she slipped into a coma-like fantasy of chips, Sheppard's pie, and hamburgers. She was so lost in her own train of thought that she didn't even hear the sound of heavy footsteps and twigs snapping until it was too close to run away from.

“Look what I found.” A voice called out from behind her. Snapping out of her trance Victoria sprang up onto her feet, a surprising thing considering how badly her legs ached. A part of her expected Revaz to be standing there behind her, ready to scold her until her ears dripped blood. She actually wished that it was him. But it wasn't not even by a long shot. The figure standing there sneering back at her was not even close to Revaz.

Eyes wide, watching for any sudden movement of tell-tale smile, she forced herself to back up a few paces. “You're the one who was there when Revaz first brought me here aren't you?” She whispered, unable to bring herself to speak in a louder volume. “You're Thamar.”

“Such a clever little creature you are. So good at remembering things.” He chuckled at her questions, swaying from side to side like a tree branch caught in the wind. “Yes, my name is Thamar. And your's is Victoria if I recall right.” His every word dripped with sarcasm. Her cheeks flushed just listening to it. “It's easy to remember. No Belderi or Azrac would ever curse their child with such a common sounding name.”

“It's not 'common' where I come from.” She defiantly responded to him. It was the truth was it not? Her mother had insisted on naming her Victoria because it was such a feminine sounding name. According to her father nothing simple like Beth, or Jane would do. Not for their precious baby girl. Clenching her fists she glared at Thamar, annoyed by the way that he seemed to look down on her even without saying anything. The way he snubbed his nose at her made her insides boil with anger. It was pure snobbery, the type that made you want to slap the person displaying it. “On earth names like 'Thamar' are only given by parents who are completely crazy.”

His expression hardened for a moment and she sensed he had taken some offence to the subtle insult. “So the poorly evolved vermin knows how to sass. I cannot say I'm not impressed. From what we've learned about your planet it seems like your species thrives on nothing but mundane things. You're too busy learning new ways to insult each other that you haven't even learned space travel. Unless you call those floating tin cans that you allow to hover around your planet 'ships'...”

“What the hell do you want from me?” Victoria somehow found the will to raise her voice finally. She stood her ground, maintaining a rigid posture as she watched Thamar move into the clearing she stood in the middle of.

“I saw you foolishly stagger into this godforsaken forest awhile ago and I followed you. I was so amused by your stupidity that I wanted to see what else you would do.” He remarked it with a casual tone, as though insulting others was something normal to him. While he spoke she noted that he kept looking to the left and right of the clearing. “Revaz told me you almost got killed by a common house spider. If that's true then you're an idiot for going in here alone. There are worse creatures in these woods than the one who gnawed at your leg.”

She swallowed a lump that quickly gathered in the back of her throat. The thought of nasty creatures hiding out in the forest never really occurred to her. “I don't care.” She replied in a moment of defiance. There was no way she would show fear in front of this man. Not right now. “I can take care of myself just fine.”

“No you can't.” His response surprised her. It was blunt. Right to the point of the matter, and intentionally vicious. The toothy grin he cast in her direction made her think of a hungry cat that had stumbled upon a wounded mouse. “You're weak. You couldn't take care of yourself ob this planet if you tried to.”

Her hands were balled into fists now. “What the hell do you want from me anyways?” She demanded, completely side-stepping the whole issue of whether or not she was weak. She hated the way that Thamar talked down to her. Even when she first met him, he seemed to have nothing kind to say about her. “If you're here to do Revaz's bidding tell him he can just go to hell.”

“Revaz?” He snorted. “You must be joking. If anything that worthless Azrac should be doing my bidding. That's the only thing he and his worthless species are good for.”

That made sense. As she recalled Andrea mentioning to her, Thamar was a Belderi, a species that was apparently the rival of the Azrac's. “But...if you're not here to talk me into going back to Revaz, why are you here?”

“I saw you scampering around like a pathetic little mouse on the streets and decided to follow you. Needless to say you proved to be a lot more brainless than I initially thought. You went from a reasonably safe city street to the only place in this area where you won't survive.”

“Stop talking about me like I'm stupid!” She spat venomously, having grown weary of this little game. Thamar reminded her the the spoiled brats in her old high school. They carried the same I-am-better-than-you aura and attitude that he did. The only difference between the two seemed to be the malice that radiated off of Thamar. “Ever since I came to this planet everyone has been treating me like I'm an idiot and I'm sick of it.”

“Would you have preferred to be taken to Belderi instead? Though you would still be an inferior species you would at least serve a purpose. Regardless of your lacking intellect you are still a very useful, aren't you?” While Thamar questioned her he began to slowly pace across the clearing. He circled around her, causing the fine hairs on the back of her neck to tingle. He made her so nervous.

Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment when she realized what he meant. Scuffing the ground with her foot she shrugged. “I'm Revaz's though.”

“Really? I don't see his name one you.” Thamar had grabbed hold of her before she had time to get away. “I suppose you mean that pathetic little marking his species puts on each other.” His fingers dug into her shoulder, pressing against the exact spot where the marking Revaz had left on her would have been. She winced softly, struggling to fight against the pain and the discomfort of having him so close. Thamar practiced little restraint. His eyes wandered wherever they felt and stared for as long as they wished. “I can smell only a little bit of him on you.You weren't very intimate with Revaz were you?” Victoria's eyes widened with horror from the moment the question passed through his lips. The shear vulgarity of the accusation made her hands tremble. Thamar appeared to be keenly aware of her discomfort. He lifted her chin, using the very tips of his fingers to turn her heard from side to side. “Isn't it any wonder that worthless field medic has failed to conceive with you. The Azracs are a puny species. His failure to conceive with you only proves how useless he truly is. Myself on the other hand...”

She didn't realize what was happening until it was too late. One moment she was standing with her hands balled up into tight fists and the next he had shoved her onto the ground. She cried when she thumped against the long grass, immediately consumed by the panic and terror of the situation. He was going to hurt her! She was so stupid she hadn't even realized it until now.

He was on top of her now. The weight of his body made her feel as though she was suffocating. He laughed while she struggled beneath him, vainly attempting to wriggle free. It was no use. Though Victoria thrashed and kicked as violently as she could it did nothing to help her. Thamar was like a lead weight, pinning her against the ground while he unbuttoned the front of her shirt. “Don't!” She yelled as a gust of cold air swept against her exposed stomach. “Please don't!!” She exploded into a scream. It was the loudest scream she'd ever made. So loud she thought the trees themselves would crumble. But no matter how long she shouted nothing seemed to happen. In the end she had only amused Thamar more. She thought she heard him cal her 'pathetic' but in the midst of her fear she was unable to focus long enough to hear it.

“Stop!!!” She wept softly, unable to scream anymore now that her throat was raw. He tried to kiss her but she twisted her head away. She could feel his teeth scrapping against the side of her neck, bruising the sensitive skin and sending waves of pain throughout her body. It was nothing like the way Revaz had kissed her in the past. Though her mind was glazed out with fear she could distinctly recall the gentleness of his caress, her hands reached through the long grass, fumbling until they discovered a stone. But even as she did this her mind fixated on Revaz. He'd always left Victoria with a craving for more when he touched her. But Thamar, who dug his teeth into the side of her neck like she were a stake and bit hard enough to draw blood, made her wish she would simply die.

Clasping the stone as firmly as she could she lifted her arm, smashing it across the side of his jaw. Thamar yelped in agony. Blood pooled out of his lips and she squealed loudly at the sight of it. Somehow in the midst of the terror and the repulsing acknowledgement that she'd made her attacker bite down on his own tongue, Victoria managed to wriggle herself out from underneath him. She tried to crawl away, but was struck in the back by the heavy weight of a foot. A pitiful cry emitted from her lips as she found herself pressed face down on the ground.

“Foolish mistake my dear!” Thamar growled. “Revaz might not have been able to teach you your place in this world, but rest assured I will.” His fingers were wrapped around her hair now, she winced when he tugged it, intentionally tormenting her as he bent forward to snarl into her ear “And I'm going to make you wish you were never born.”

“No, don't do it! I'm sorry.” She wept. He was rolling her over onto her back. She tried to fight him but it was no use. She'd dropped the rock she's used to attack him earlier and while only her fists pounding against him she felt completely useless. Though she punch, scratched, and kicked as violently as she could it did not seem to make a difference anymore. She knew what he wanted to do with her now. The very thought of it made her wish her heart would stop beating right then. Death was a better fate. The clearing felt like it was shrinking. She closed her eyes now, unable to look into the face of her attacker. He was trying to yank her pants off now. He pulled so hard the fabric itself seemed to tear apart and she whimpered as she listened to the sound of his victorious laughter.

Then there was...silence. Eerie silence.

Victoria opened her eyes just long enough to catch a glimpse of Thamar as his lips began to turn blue. A thick, cord-like appendage was wrapped around his neck, squeezing down on his windpipe to the point where he could make nothing but the slightest gurgling noises. He did not seem frightened by the promise of death either, in fact the only thing she could get from his bug eyed face was surprise. He made no effort to fight the tentacle. Though his arms were free, they remained glued to his sides as he was pulled by his neck across the grass towards the opposite end of the clearing. “It's you.” She saw him mouth but was too far away to tell if he'd managed to actually say it out loud.

“I am in my right to break your neck right now where you stand.” A familiar voice flooded her ears as she stumbled onto her feet and attempted to button her shirt back up. Her skin was still crawling with the disgusting sensation of Thamar touching her. “It would take only a moment. An impressing feat for a creature as 'inferior' to you as I am.”

He emerged from the shadows, but she knew even before seeing him that he was there. How could she not know? Those long, cable shaped appendages could have only belonged to one person in Victoria's life, and he now stood with a look of defiance smouldering across his face as he threatened to choke to death the malicious figure who had just tried to rape her. The mere thought of the word made her cringe. She was that close to being raped. Thamar had tried to rape her. It was not a dream. She had not imagined anything. It was real. It happened...

Victoria's eyes clouded over with tears as she came upon the realization of just how dangerous her situation had been. Thamar was close to getting what he wanted from her. If Revaz had not intervened, he would overpowered her. A sickening feeling settled in the pit of her stomach as she watched the two males glare at one another. “If you touch her again. I'll break it.” She heard Revaz threaten as he squeezed more life out of his opponent. Just when she thought he was about to suffocate Thamar to death he released the Belderi, letting him fall onto the ground in a crumpled heap while gasping for air.

“Revaz. You'e here. It's you...” She murmured, unable to coherently say anything else. It was one of the few times that she was genuinely glad to see him. When her eyes caught a glimpse of the white bandages wrapped around one of his hands she flinched knowingly. She wished she could have apologized, but found that none of the words she knew could redeem such a vicious attack. Nor could she utter an acceptable for of thanks for being spared such a gruesome fate. Instead she remained rooted to the grass while he approached her.

“You insolent fool.” Thamar chuckled the moment he had recovered from his near death experience. Even after staring death in the face his arrogant demure remained unshaken. Twisting his head to glance over one shoulder he grinned at them, as though delighted by everything that had just happened to him. “By rescuing that worthless vermin from a deserving fate you've damaged your own reputation.”

“I knew the consequences of my actions when I acted upon them. And I know what will occur now that I have reacted to your behaviour.” Revaz was somehow very calm when he spoke. Although Thamar's words were laced with a threatening undertone he remained as cool as marble.

“I always knew you were an idiot Revaz. You destroyed your research to save your precious little 'mate'.” His opponent cackled softly while rubbing both hands against his neck. “Is that mindless little whore really worth the effort you out into her?”

Victoria tensed as she watched Revaz's hands slowly curled up into fists. “You would be wise to get out of my sight.” He responded cooly, casting an icy stare at Thamar from over his shoulder. “I could always change my mind about breaking your neck. Dead or alive I am still facing consequences for my actions against you...”

Thamar seemed to listen now, though he spat at the ground and made venomous grumbling noises as he staggered back onto his feet. “A pity you didn't give me the leisure of playing with her.” He remarked while turning away from them. “I can tell by the lack of your scent on her that you have not consummated your union very long. She must be...tight.” Victorias insides heaved and she had to clamp a hand over her mouth just to keep the bile in the back of her throat down. His words disgusted her, and she felt a chill sweep through her body when he walked away from them. His stride was so casual for a man that had nearly destroyed someone else's life. She watched him for a long time, fuming with anger and despair as she heard his laughter off in the distance. Why did he sound so amused?

“I'm sorry...” She murmured when Thamar was finally gone and the silence that had settled in between them had grown intolerable. His expression was completely muted, without even a hint of the concern he must have felt when he'd rescued her. It was like speaking to a mannequin for her once again. Only instead of responding in a monotone voice Revaz struck her this time. The sound of the back of his hand slamming against the sensitive flesh of her cheek rang loudly through the air. Silence fell upon them both, and as she stared at him, clutching the side of her face that was now burning in agony Victoria found herself unable to speak. She was in complete shock, and unable to muster anything other than a feeble whimper.

“You fool.” He chided, speaking to her in a tone that was cold enough to send shivers down her spine. “You have no idea what you have done. Running away like a coward, stumbling blindly into the woods like a fool, and provoking a Belderi into assaulting you.” His words dripped with a kind of venom she had never heard from him before. Clutching her aching cheek Victoria found herself rather disturbed by the unsympathetic look he was giving her. It reeked of annoyance.

“Y-y-you just hit me!” She stammered. No sense in arguing against anything else he had said; it was the truth. She had attacked him. After skewering him through the hand she had raced out of the hospital like a frightened rabbit, never once bothering to look back. “You bastard, you hit me!”

“You wounded my hand and left me to bleed out on the floor while you escaped!” His voice loomed over her like a shadow, completely overpowering any hurting feelings or offence Victoria had mustered from the slap. “If either of us has the right to complain right now it is I; because of you my reputation has been damaged. You have tarnished months of my work and have damaged the lives of both yourself and Andrea because of your carelessness. They will never trust you now. Nor will I.”

Her eyes darted down to his hand again, and he knowingly lifted it to allow her a better look. The icy look that consumed his eyes made her wish she could shrivel up into dust. The churning sensation in her stomach was acting up again. It was the same sensation that had bothered her shortly before Thamar had tried to rape her. “What are you going to do to me now then?” She whispered, struggling to remain composed. Revaz's gaze was toxic. It felt as though two invisible hands were reaching out and strangling her.

He said nothing, but instead grabbed her by both of her wrists. While she wriggled and squirmed in a vain attempt to get free he carefully produced a length of black rope which he wove around both hands. When he was finished she was completely bound from her wrists to her elbows and her skin felt as though someone had rubbed a sheet of sandpaper over it. “Why are you doing this to me?” She exclaimed in horror, unable to move anything other than her fingers.

“Since you violently attacked me the last time we interacted it has become clear to me that you cannot be trusted Victoria. From now on I'm keeping your hands bound together. “