Near the brook: 16th July Saturday: 3:55 am:

“The world is a jungle. You either fight and dominate or hide and evaporate.” This rule was perfectly going with the current circumstances. The crackling sound of the bonfire mingled with the murmuring of the brook made the surrounding alluring. It could have been a perfect place for solace if the situation would have been different. But in reality, two desperate hunks were getting ready to lock their horns to prove their dominance. It was again proved that nature always gets disturbed by the greed of humans. The greed for supremacy, greed for existence and the greed for possession.

"Come on, kitten...show me your muscles. Let's see how high are you on your testosterone?"

Harry spoke in a razor-sharp tone and bent in a squatting position. His body posture was indicating that he is well-trained in martial art. Micky eyed him carefully. He prowled towards him and tried to punch his face. But Harry moved his face like lightning and in the next moment, Micky got a blow on his jaw. Harry swirled and took a full turn to boot Micky's jaw with a perfect roundhouse kick.

“Bang”

Micky thrashed on the ground with a jolt.

"WATCH OUT..."

Nina screamed. A diabolic grin crept on Harry's lips.

“This is only the beginning, Baby. Watch me..”

Harry winked at Nina and beckoned Micky to get up and he got ready for his further attack. Micky got up quickly and looked at Nina to assure her with a blink. He shook his head to overcome the impact of the hit. He again approached him but this time more watchfully. This time he didn't try to attack rather waited for the opponent's first move as he whiffed that it is going to be suicidal to give easy access to a trained karateka. Smelling his intention, Harry again squatted; this time aiming at Micky’s legs. Like a snake attack, he tried to kick Micky's knee. However, this time he was not so accurate, as Micky jumped in the air and perfectly dodged the hit. Due to the failed hit, Harry lost his balance for a second and Micky didn't delay taking the chance. He fisted Harry’s hair and with all his strength gave an uppercut on his chin.

"Thwack..."

The sound indicated its intensity. However, Micky didn't stop here and curled his hand in a fist again to hit the bridge of his nose. Blood splattered all over the dry leaves covered the ground.

"Watch me...Mr karateka.."

This time Micky growled and stepped back to be ready for further attack. Harry wiped the blood dripping from his nose. Now, his evil eyes were blazing with a vengeance.

"Not bad kitten. But not enough to stop me."

Saying this Harry sprung on Micky and at a drop of a hat, grabbed his neck with a hand while using his other hand to stop Micky's resistance. His fingers dug into Micky's flesh let the blood droplets ooze out. He lifted Micky until he was dangling on the tips of his toes. Micky started struggling to unshackle his grip around his neck. His eyes widened as he got choked. Harry slammed his fingertips into Micky’s ribs and he winced. The pain rippled across his chest.

“Come on Rat…focus…”

Harry groaned. Suddenly something heavy smashed on Harry’s back compelled him to loosen his grip on Micky’s neck. Getting the opportunity, Micky tightly pressed Harry’s both ears until he completely freed his neck. Micky started coughing and panting due to lack of oxygen while noticing Harry approaching Nina who hit him with a dry log. She continued to retreat while Harry continued advancing.

“You broke the rule, Baby doll. It was a man-to-man fight. You shouldn’t have interfered.”

Harry hissed and in a blink of an eye, pulled out his revolver.

“Enough of this drama. Let’s cut it short.”

Saying this, he aimed it at Micky and cocked the gun. But in the next moment, a strong hit smashed his hand letting the gun fly away.

“The drama is not over yet. You shouldn’t have underestimated me.”

With a stern voice, Nina again hit him on his biceps.

“You are talking about a man-to-man fight? Was it a man-to-man matter when you kept us hostage at your gunpoint along with your gang? Did you follow any rules at that time? You are a bloody gangster…a killing machine. The word rule doesn’t suit you.”

She again tried to hit but this time Harry caught the tip of the log and yanked. Needless to say, Nina lost her balance and banged to him.

“NINAAA…”

Micky yelled in fear. Meanwhile, she got trapped in Harry’s iron grip. He grabbed her from the back while clutching both hands of hers behind her and shackled his other hand around her upper chest.

“Catch…caught…caught…oopsss…my Queen Bee is caught…This gangster caught you…now what, Baby? Who will save you from me?... Your lover or your smartness?"

Harry whispered in her ears while touching his lips against her jawline lustfully.

“Harry…leave her…you want to take revenge from me…right? So, here I am…Hit me…as much as you want. I won’t resist. But let her go.”

Micky pleaded with a broken voice. Tears pricked his eyes. Nina looked at him helplessly. Her eyes were bloodshot red. Both never felt so much helpless in their life.

.....................

Somewhere in the jungle: 16th July Saturday: 3: 40 am:

“GUYS…THE STREAM..!”

Maya yelled and stormed towards it. Everybody sighed with relief. At least now, they can quench their thirst. All of them drank the water and filled their bottles.

“I wish our other assumption also come true. We will find them out.”

Cody said in a deep voice when Natalia placed her palm on his shoulder showing her belief.

“Let’s follow its bank. We have no other option but to follow our instinct.”

Alex shrugged unsurely.

“But what if they are on our backside? How can we decide whether we should go to our right side or left along with this brook?”

Peter sounded sceptical.

“They should be on our right side as we left the tree hut behind.”

Alex cleared.

“Right…and if they have found this stream, they too must have followed this way. Being a wanderlust, I can guess a person’s psychology when he or she is lost in a jungle. That person always tries to follow a water body like a stream or a narrow river. Because it lessens the risk of getting lost again.”

Billy seconded him. All agreed and started walking along the stream bank. After 10 to 15 minutes, a faint light grabbed their eyes. To watch it clearly, they kept on approaching. And at last, came near the bonfire place where the actual action was going on.

“Oh, God…That Harry has caught Nina…Micky can’t do anything right now. We should go and help them.”

Natalia desperately said. Her voice was a bit high. Cody immediately palmed her mouth.

“Shhhh….Don’t make a noise. We can’t let him know about us. It can be harmful to Nina.”

He whispered. On the other side, the drama was at its peak.

“Tch…Tch…Tch…What a love story. Even God might be in tears. But you know…I am a devil. I like pain…when it shows in my enemy’s eyes.”

Harry hissed and suddenly clutched Nina’s throat with his strapping fingers. He slowly increased its pressure on her soft skin. Nina started writhing in pain. Her eyes widened while she gasped in search of oxygen.

“Harry…NO…LEAVE HER…”

Micky screamed to his highest pitch and ran towards them without thinking about any repercussions. Before Harry could think anything, he sprung on him and started punching him frantically. As a result, Harry had to leave Nina and grab Micky to save himself. Both grappled each other and landed on the ground. It was undeniable that Harry is more powerful, more habitual and well trained in these kinds of fights but in this situation, he was fighting with Micky’s love…Micky’s insanity to save Nina…his ultimate love. Both were lurching on the ground, rolling over the dried leaves releasing a rattling sound mingled with their growls and groans. Sometimes Harry was taking over Micky and in the next moment, he was being dominated by him.

“How long will we wait here? Let’s go and help Micky. This Harry is a bull. Micky can’t overcome him.”

Alisha became restless.

“Shhh…..I don’t think so. Take a look.”

Peter said in confidence and pointed to the battlefield where a new sight raised up their hope. Micky was sitting on Harry’s chest, strangling him with his iron grip. Harry was struggling to breathe while thumping his legs on the ground.

“Even I like to see the pain in my enemy’s eyes.”

Micky growled.