To my surprise, Sidney was sitting beside Trang when I walked into the medical tent. After searching for her all night to no avail, I managed to find her here of all places. For a second, all three of us were quiet.

I felt like I was interrupting an important conversation, but about what?

“Sorry to interrupt,” I finally said, clearing my throat.

“No, please. Sit down,” Trang prompted, gesturing to the chair beside Sidney. After last night, I was sure she wanted nothing to do with me.

“Maybe I should just come back another time.”

“I should probably get going anyway.” Sidney got up, already heading out.

Without thinking, I reached out and grabbed her, my arms snaking around her waist, pulling her close to my body. “We need to talk,” I whispered, desperately looking into her eyes, hoping that maybe, just maybe, she would give me the opportunity to explain myself.

She shoved me away. “There’s nothing to talk about, Kirk. It’s too late to apologize.”

I sighed, watching her disappear.

“You two know each other?” Trang asked.

Her voice made me jump slightly. Just holding Sidney close for a few seconds had made me forget where I was and what I was doing.

“Yeah…”

“She seemed angry.”

“That’s because she is.” I slipped into the seat across from her, my hands on my knees. “And she has every right to be.”

“Oh?”

I shook my head. “Don’t worry about it. I just came here to find out if you were okay. What happened to you out there? You aren’t supposed to go in the jungle. Everyone knows that.”

She bit her lip, looking unsure for a moment. “If I tell you, will you swear not to tell a soul?” Her accent crept into her words, something that hadn’t quite happened before. Her eyes were wide and dilated. She was scared, but why?

I nodded. “Of course, Seal’s honor.”

Slowly, she tried getting up, holding on to the chair for support. I got up quickly to help her, placing my hand under her elbow. “What are you doing?”

“We cannot speak here. Just outside. It’ll be safer.”

“Why? None of the other nurses know how to speak English, do they?”

“That’s what they want you to believe. Come, we must speak outside.” She looked at me with a desperate look in her eyes.

I knew I wouldn’t be able to deny her, so I helped her walk out when the nurses weren’t looking. Once outside, I eased her against one of the support beams. Her skin looked sickly and pale. “Are you sure you’re well enough to be out here?”

“I’ll be fine.” She grabbed onto my shirt, propping herself upward so our faces were inches apart. Her lips were pursed together like she was about to lean forward and kiss me. Our noses nearly touched. I wanted to pull away from her, but it was like she had me trapped in a spell with those great big eyes of hers. “I need to tell you what I saw.”

I cocked my head to the side, wondering what she meant. “You mean out in the jungle?”

“Yes.” Her breathing was ragged. “A man… who looked just like you…”

“What?” I grabbed her, my fingers digging into her arms. Could it be…? “Are you sure?”

She nodded. “Yes. I remember him well.”

“Where is he?” I demanded, my excitement getting the best of me. It had to be Jason.

Her eyes darkened. “You cannot go after him. The Gorillas have him hostage deep in the jungle.”

I narrowed my eyes. “How would you know?”

“Because I was their hostage, too.”

“What? So how did you get here?”

“I escaped.” Her words were steady and unwavering. If she was lying to me, she was doing a hell of a job. “You saved me from certain death, but I cannot allow you to meet your own. Anyone who goes into the jungle in search of the Gorillas will end up dead.”

“Where are they located?” My face was so close to hers that I could feel her breath on my lips. My fingers tightened, waiting for an answer.

“You’re hurting me.”

“Tell me where he is!” I bellowed, growing frustrated that I had finally found a legitimate lead to my brother and she was refusing to cooperate.

“Please…” she whimpered.

I snapped out of my trance, letting her go. “Sorry…” I mumbled, running my fingers through my hair. “It’s just very important to me that I find him. I’ve been looking for my brother for a long, long time. Please, you have to help me.”