He helps

The man kneels down next to them. Jade can see that he's not much older than either of them, in his early twenties or perhaps younger still. There is something vaguely familiar about him, but she can barely think about that now.

"She's going to die unless I can stop the bleeding," Jade says. "I know why you're here... but if there's a shred of decency in you, help me save her life!"

The man reaches out and puts his hands over Jade's, pressing down along with her. Kayo moans and rolls her head from side to side, but doesn't wake up. "I've got this," he says softly. "Find something to put under her head, so her mouth doesn't go underwater."

"Thank you," Jade whispers, and slides her hands carefully out from under the man's. She bundles up Kayo's pack and gently places it under her head, lifting it above the water.

"Did you call for a chopper?" the man asks.

"Yes," Jade says. She pulls up Kayo's pager, which shows a green light now.

The man nods. "That means they're coming," he says. "Find me a couple of straight sticks; we gotta move her. There's bound to be other guys comin' this way who might not want to help."

Jade gets up and starts scanning the riverbank. Most of the wood is twisted and gnarled, but she is able to find two pieces which are at least reasonably straight. She runs them back to Kayo, and the man nods.

"The bleeding's slowin' down. I don't want to let go yet, though. Go into my pack, get my kit out, you can use those bandages to get the sticks tied on."

"Do you know what you're doing?" Jade asks, uncertainly. "You have medical training?"

"Nah, but I live in a really rough neighborhood. I've seen shit like this before. Put those sticks on both sides of her leg, and then you'll want to tie them on as tight as you can. Gotta go quick, she screamed really loud, they would've heard it a long way off."

"Do you know if there's a safe house nearby?" Jade asks as she positions the sticks and fumbles with the bandages.

"Yeah, just past them trees. It's in a clearing so they can land the chopper."

Jade drops one of the sticks on her first attempt, and forces her hands to stop trembling as she tries again. This time, she's able to keep the sticks in the proper place as she wraps the bandages around.

"Tighter. Don't worry 'bout hurting her, she's out right now and it'll hurt a lot worse when we move her if it ain't tight."

Jade complies, and soon the splint is wrapped both top and bottom. The man looks it over, then nods, and slowly takes his hands away from the wound. The blood continues to ooze out, but only very slowly.

"That'll have to be good enough," he says. "Grab the packs, I'll carry her."

Jade scoops up her pack and Kayo's, and the man stands up holding her gently. His body is slim but well-muscled, and he seems younger to Jade than he first appeared. Kayo moans but otherwise doesn't respond.

"That way," the man says, indicating the direction with a nod of his head. Together, they make their way quickly into the trees.

The safe house is there, and Jade is able to enter. The man carefully lowers Kayo onto the mattress as Jade locks the door behind them.

"What's your name?" she asks, suddenly realizing that she's just locked herself in with a potential rapist.

"Malik," he responds.

"Are you... are you going to -"

"No," he says, quietly.

Jade can't help but look down at his crotch, where she sees that his cock is hard and erect. He glances down too, and shrugs. "I can't help that," he says. "They put somethin' in the water, I think. And yeah, I'm feelin' really horny, and I'm fightin' the urge to throw you down and... look, I'd rather not talk about it, that just makes it harder to hold back."

Jade feels a warmth inside her, and a sudden wetness between her legs. "I understand," she says.

"You should go. You're the one who pushed the button, so if they find you here too, they might lift you off the island along with her. I'm guessin' you've got reasons for bein' here and you're not ready to leave yet."

"I swore I'd keep her safe," Jade says. "I appreciate all you've done, but I can't know for sure that she's safe with you."

"This morning, she probably wouldn't have been," Malik says softly. "But then, somethin' happened, and it woke me up. I done a lot of shitty things in my life, and some things since I got here that I ain't never gonna be able to live down. But I ain't gonna hurt your friend. Call it a shot at redemption if you want."

"What happened?" Jade asked. "I need to know, so I know if I can trust you."

Malik goes to the large water bottle on the wall, pulls out his canteen, and begins to fill it. "We ain't got time for the whole story," he says. "I came here because I'm desperate, just like I'm guessin' you are. They said they could get me a lawyer to clean up my record, and some cash besides. I figured what the hell, it's not really rape 'cause all the women on this island signed up for it, you know? That's consent, is the way I saw it."

"It's not that simple," Jade says.

"Yeah, I know that now," Malik replies. "I know that 'cause I ran into my sister."

"What?" Jade exclaims.

"Yeah, my sister's here," he says. "They didn't tell me, and they didn't tell her. But when I saw her here, and she saw me... the look on her face made something snap in my head. I've done some pretty low things in my life, but ain't never felt like dogshit like I did right then. I decided I didn't want no more part of it, I was just gonna head for the other side of the island and collect the consolation prize. I fucked two girls on this island already, and I can't take that back. But I can help your friend here, and maybe that'll help me start makin' things right with my soul again."

Jade can see the look in his eyes, and it's real. Then, she hears the sound of an approaching helicopter.

Malik hears it too. "Take my pack," he says, holding it out. "Water bottle's full, and everything's there, except the stuff we just used. I'll get your friend out of here, I'm done with this place. You gotta go, my head's not on right and all I can think about is bendin' you over this table."

Jade's uncertainty returns, and she looks at Kayo, then at Malik.

He sees the look. "I'm not that far gone," he insists. "I might be horny but I'm not a killer, and that's what it would do to her right now. You really need to leave, though."

"Fox..." Kayo whispers.

Jade runs over to her, and kneels down beside her. The helicopter noise is growing louder, and she has to lean close. Kayo's eyelids flutter, but that's all.

"You're going to be all right," Jade assures her.

"It hurts... what happened?"

"It's okay, Kayo. You're going home."

"Okay," she mumbles. "Tell Fox... tell her I love her."

Jade's eyes go blurry with tears. "I love you too, Kayo," she whispers, and kisses her softly.

She looks up, and sees that Malik has turned away, and that he's leaning with his fists up against the wall, clearly struggling mightily against his own urges. He really means it, Jade thinks. If he was going to give in and jump me, he would have done it right then. I'm torturing him by staying here - I have to go!

Jade hefts the larger pack, makes for the door. "Thank you, Malik," she says right before leaving.

"Just... just go. And if you see my sister, do me a favor. Tell her I did somethin' good."

"I will," Jade promises, and with a last apologetic look at Kayo, turns and runs into the woods as the helicopter begins to lower into the clearing.