Page 176 of Deadfall

Jesus, could I not talk?

Gold Eye looked around. “We need to get off this beach.”

Before I could do much else, he’d slung my arm around his shoulder and hoisted me into his side. I groaned as the pain caused stars to burst across my vision, and the world tilted precariously. I managed to take two steps before I muttered a pathetic ‘oh shit’ and passed out.

A stinging sensation on my cheek forced my awareness back into my body. Another one, and I realized it was a slap. My eyes flickered open, gritty and heavy.

“Stop that,” I slurred. “I’m awake—I’m—” My words cut off in a groan. I was awake, but everything fucking hurt. I looked down and saw my wounds had field dressings on them. Why did he do that if he was going to kill me?

“Where—”

Gold Eye interrupted me. “You passed out. But, I can’t carry your fat ass, so you need to stay awake long enough to get to the helo.”

“I’m not fat,” I grumbled.

I was starting to hate this dude.

“Whatever,” he growled. “Don’t pass out again.”

Like I could help it. He held out his hand, and I took it. Somehow I made it to my feet with only minimal dizziness. The world felt off though, like the colors had all been leeched from it, and my head felt like it was floating somewhere high above my body. Gold Eye once again slung my arm over his shoulder and helped me. We stumbled our way down the beach. I had no idea where we were going. All I focused on was putting one foot in front of the other. It was a shockingly difficult feat and took all of my energy to accomplish.

“We need to go faster,” Gold Eye griped.

“Fuck you,” I muttered.

I really couldn’t find it in me to care. At this point, he could drop me where we stood, and I’d die happy because it meant I didn’t have to take another painful step.

“Why are you helping me?” I ground out.

He ignored the question. Probably just as well; it took all of my concentration to survive. And I supposed it didn’t really matter. I had no idea how long we walked through the sand. I had no idea where on the island we were. I wasn’t really in a place to focus on where we were headed besides the few inches in front of my feet, so when I looked up to see an airstrip in the distance, I forgot to keep walking. Gold Eye dropped me when I stumbled.

“Good a place as any,” he grumbled.

I watched him walk a few paces away and sighed. Finally, he was going to leave me the fuck alone so I could die in peace. I rolled over onto my back and stared up at the grey sky. It couldn’t even be blue—I had to go out looking at the dull grey of dawn. So lame.

There were sounds of something going on off to my right, but I literally couldn’t be bothered to turn my head. It sounded like brush and branches being moved and canvas being pulled off metal. I must have dozed off, because my body lurched and Gold Eye’s hands yanked me carelessly up.

“Come on, Pretty Boy,” he grunted as he hoisted me to my knees. “Fucking dead weight—”

I’d lost the strength to combat his snark. I could barely get to my feet, even with his help. I lifted my head to see a helicopter that definitely hadn’t been there before. Or at least, I don’t think it had been there before. I really couldn’t be sure. It was painted in splotched camouflage, and looked like it had seen better days.

“That thing can fly?” I slurred.

“Better than you can walk.”

Touche.

I supposed a fiery death was as good a death as any. I let him manhandle me into the back and strap me in. He climbed into the pilot’s seat and started to bring the bird to life. It very much acted like it didn’t want to be alive. Much like myself. I felt the darkness call to me again, and suddenly I needed to know what Gold Eye’s name was. Desperately.

“What’s your name?” I asked.

The engine coughed. The rotors whirled.

“Ranger.”

“Ranger. Weird name. Ranger Rick?”

The bird shuddered on its skids.