Dwija had been pushed to the ground. Her limp body was kicked mercilessly numerous times out of frustration. Her entire body was bruised.
"Vivian! Stop it now!", another man, named Soham who was standing in the second row of the formation spoke up. "We need to leave now. It's getting darker."
Vivian had taken his coat off, and it was thrown away on the grass. He moved around in circles, his hands pulling at his hair in frustration. "I have to find it, I have to.", he muttered. He was utterly disturbed.
"You take the guys back to the quarters. I will stay till she wakes up and tells me where it is."
Soham was irritated, "We can carry her back to the quarters and question her there."
"And expose our one and only shelter to her? Devil knows, she has how many bugs on her currently! I am even not sure who is watching us now. We can't be exposed now, not today."
"You are being paranoid Vivian! Nobody is here watching us. We have patrolled perimeters of the clearing; we found no bugs." Vivian still was not sure. He kept pacing.
"She is unconscious! Once she is awake she won't even know where she is. By being here you are risking our exposure more. The moon will rise soon. Let's go Vivian."
"I am stronger than you. I can control."
"But not strong enough!"
Soham shot daggers at Vivian only through his eyes. But Vivian was not the one to back out. Both stood their grounds with same determination.
"Fine! Let's all stay and you take responsibility for whatever happens henceforth." Soham declared.
The devices on their hands glowed and beeped loud. It was time for them to return.
Vivian was angrier, he closed his eyes trying to determine what to do. He wanted the paper desperately and then he had thought of ending the petty thing for good. With her gone, things would be easier. As much as he wanted to get the paper, he hated her more and the fact that her blood would stain their sacred space.
Vivian looked at Dwija's frame on the ground once and then turned around moving in the direction they came from. Soham instructed other men to follow him while he moved in direction of Dwija to pick her up. A hand came up on his shoulder and stopped him.
"I will take care of her brother. You go after him. Others won't be able to handle."
Soham looked between Vivian and Dwija. He sighed and rubbed his face. "Okay, you take care of her. But don't get her to our quarters. Who knows what will happen tonight!"
"Don't worry. I will take her to a safe space for now."
"Leave her secured and return back to the quarters. Last thing I want would be for you to cause any troubles."
The guy nodded. Soham turned back and while taking off his overcoat, jogged in the direction Vivian had left.
Avinash waited until all the men had gone and he was left alone with Dwija. He slowly walked towards Dwija and sat down on the grass beside her bringing his knees up and resting his hands on them. He eyes raked over her entire frame.
"You look beautiful!", he whispered and kept on looking.
He swallowed. He needed to feel her. He reached out his hand and touched the bruises on her legs. He slowly made his way up along the curves of her body, feeling the cuts and bruises in light as a feather touch. Her skin was turning a blackish red hue. "These are the marks of a warrior" he murmured while caressing her skin "and it suits you". He chuckled. He made his way to her face. His long fingers moved along the contours of her face and then wiped the blood shining on the cuts on her lips. He licked the blood clean of his fingers and smiled. His eyes shone out of satisfaction. Within seconds he had flipped her on her back and hovered over her. His eyes on her lips. Just one drop had made him hungry. He wanted everything.
He heard somebody running towards the clearing. The sound stopped having reached closer to him, "Let's go. Everything is ready."
Avinash smirked and buried his face into the crevice of her neck, devouring her scent. "You know, I could take you here. But I will wait." he murmured against her skin. Lest he should fail to control himself, he was fast on his feet and opened his coat. He wrapped it around Dwija and picked her up cocooning her in his embrace.
"Leave me! Please let me go!, she muttered slowly but did not open her eyes. She involuntarily snuggled into the warmth of his body, leaving no air between them. Avinash was looking down at her. He laughed.
After Dwija had settled comfortably in his arms, she snored softly.
"Let's go Baba!", Avinash said, and his long strides measured the forest floor.