“Keep an eye out for…things,” I called out to her. She waved her hand to indicate she’d heard.
Jay shrieked, his feral cry lifting goosebumps all over my body.
Could the day get any worse?
Riley stumbled to his feet. I blinked and backed away from him. What was he doing?
Growling, he scrambled across the clearing and dove onto Malik. They fell on the sand, sending a tsunami of rocks and dirt into the air.
With a gasp, I raced over to them, but couldn’t get near enough to do anything.
Curses and sand flew through the air as each man struggled to overcome the other. Riley rose above Malik, his arm cocking back.
“Stop it,” I shouted. “You guys. Enough!”
Malik ducked to the side, evading Riley’s fist, and it slammed on the ground.
“Stop it!” I stalked after them, but I might as well yell at the moons for all the attention they gave me.
With a grunt, Malik arched off the ground, sending Riley flying sideways. Both men leaped to their feet and circled each other, arms spread wide.
Grunting, Riley rushed Malik again.
Malik spun and yanked Riley’s arm, pulling him toward him. Riley flipped over Malik’s hip and smacked on his back. Malik’s knee descended to pin him in place. Flailing, Riley punched Malik’s thigh, but it did no good.
His eyes darker than sin, Malik lowered his face close to Riley’s and growled, “What the fuck are you doing?”
Riley groaned.
Thrusting himself up off Riley, Malik stomped partway across the open area, his hands raking across his head. He whirled on his heel and faced us. “What the hell is going on here?”
Kalani stooped down beside Riley and helped him sit. “You okay?”
Riley pushed Kalani to the side and rose to stalk Malik. “You told me…” He yanked on the neck of his durasuit. “You got everyone off the ship.”
“What?” Malik blinked. His arms splayed out. “I don’t—”
“Damn you.” Riley swung at Malik, but Malik leaned away from Riley’s fist. “Last night, you said you got Vick out. I never would have left the ship without my brother.”
Creases appeared on Malik’s face as he backed away. “I couldn’t get everyone out. The fire was too strong.”
“Don’t feed me that shit. It was your job to keep us safe.” Riley hobbled after Malik, his fists clenched. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, smearing tears across his cheeks. “How could you leave my brother to die?” His chest lifted and fell. “The fuckin’ ship was on fire!”
“I…” Malik said.
“Tell me why,” Riley screamed. His fists flexed against his thighs.
Malik rubbed the back of his neck and lowered his gaze to the ground. His chest deflated. “I did all I could.”
My heart twisted. I stepped between them and shoved Riley back. “Stop it. Leave him alone.”
Riley’s pleading eyes met mine. “He was only seven. Just a defenseless kid, like your little brother. I was his guardian. I took care of him after our parents…always.” His voice cracked, and he broke eye contact. “He burned. Burned. Oh, my God, Vick.” Crumbling to his knees, he buried his face in his hands. “Vick. Vick.”
Malik stepped toward Riley, his hand outstretched. “I’m sorry. I take full responsibility.”
“You should.” Riley’s head snapped back, sending spit and tears flying around him. Thrusting his arm out, he knocked Malik’s to the side. “Your apology means crap. You should have done something. Anything. You were our protection. But instead of protecting him, you left my brother to die. You killed him.”
“I didn’t,” Malik said softly. “I wanted to get everyone out, but it wasn’t possible.”
I stepped toward Riley. “You should know. The ship was—”
“Fuck off, Lesha,” Riley said. “This is none of your damn business.”
My chin rose. “Sure it is. I found Vick.”
“What?” Riley gaped at me. He wiped a drizzle of sweat off his face with his sleeve.
“I tried to tell you last night, but you snarled.” Should I have shouted it out, anyway? No clue. Too late now. “When I opened Vick’s unit, he was already gone. I’m sorry. The smoke must have gotten him already.”
“It’s still Malik’s fault my brother is dead.” His shoulders shook. “Oh, Vick.”
He wasn’t thinking clearly. Obviously, Malik couldn’t be expected to rescue everyone. And the last thing I remembered, Riley was escaping the ship, not rushing around helping anyone else. “Why didn’t you try to rescue him your—”
“Enough.” Kalani dropped beside Riley and wrapped her arms around him. Her glare took in me and Malik. “Leave him alone. I’ll help him now.”
Riley sobbed against Kalani’s shoulder. His burly friend, Colin, came over and rubbed his back.
Jay let out a gut-piercing wail, making me jump.
Last night had nearly done me in, but the unraveling of my dawn threatened to shove me over the edge.
Malik stalked to the end of the clearing and stared toward the desert.
I grabbed my first aid kit and went to Jay. Although the burns on his face and neck looked bad, I’d start with his leg, since the coin-sized wound still seeped. I washed it with water from one of my pouches and covered it with antibiotic ointment. Hopefully, Dad and the colonists would be here soon. They’d been on the planet for years; they must know how to treat this.
Jay slumped sideways and tears leaked down his cheeks.
“It’s going to be okay.” I touched his forehead—cool, and studied his burns—inflamed, but they didn’t look infected so far. But a worm of unease wiggled along my spine, telling me I had no way of knowing that.
“You don’t understand.” His brown eyes drilled into mine. “This is horrible.”
I nodded but clamped my lips together. Jay’s expression reminded me of the rabid look in that ReGreen recruiter’s eyes when he talked to my mom. Crazy like that had lured her to her death.
Dragging my gaze away, I tidied my medical kit and put it inside my pack. With my focus on this simple task, I could pretend there was nothing seriously wrong with Jay. He wasn’t going to die, was he?
I stood. Around me, people got ready to return to the ship. Tiff held the kids’ hands and tipped her head to indicate she’d take them toward the ship. Where would I be without my friend’s help? Dealing with Jay, with Riley, and even Malik, was almost overwhelming. I wanted to help Joe, but didn’t have the bandwidth at the moment.
But things would get better.
Other than the crash, the snake, Riley and Malik’s fight, and the wolves eating the Captain and Sam, we’d made it through the night unscathed.
Unscathed. Who did I think I was fooling?
Things couldn’t get much worse.
Chapter Eleven
As I left the low area to catch up with Joe, Riley hobbled over and latched onto my elbow, holding me back. “I need you to help me up the hill.”
Fear rushed down my spine, and I reeled back. “Stay away from me.” He couldn’t force me to do anything here.
Most of the others had started toward the ship. Since they didn’t face me, I wasn’t sure they’d hear, even if I screamed. Malik stood in the middle of the open area, talking to Jay.
Riley leaned against me, his body heavy and sweaty. “Please?”
“I really ca—”
A growl rumbled in his chest. “I could make you.” His hands curled into claws, the nails denting my flesh.
“Leave me alone.” My voice rose. “Ask someone else.” His friend Colin, or Kalani. Where were they? I glanced around but couldn’t see them.
“I thought you knew about us.” For a moment, Riley looked disappointed which made no sense. How could he think I wanted to have anything to do with him? “But we can play it your way if you want.” His features pinched. He leaned into me again, his arm snaking around my waist.
Shuddering, I yanked away from
him.
Riley stumbled and dropped to his knees. Falling onto his side, he clutched his leg. Pain dented his face, and he shouted, “God, Lesha. What did you do?”
Colin appeared at the top of the hillside. “Riley!” He scrambled toward us, sand shooting ahead of him. When he took in Riley lying on the ground, he tossed his head back, sending a chunk of dark blond hair off his face. “What's goin’ on here? Did you push him?”
Claws scrambled up my spine, and the sweat on my face dried in a flash. I hadn’t hurt Riley. I’d only tried to get away. But I couldn’t stop the heat from climbing into my cheeks. “I didn't do anything. He grabbed me. I stepped back, and he fell.”
Colin stooped beside Riley, resting his hand on the other man’s shoulder. “You okay, dude? How's the leg?” His grip on Riley’s shoulder tightened. “I’m really sorry about your brother. He was a great kid.”
“Thank you.” Riley’s voice shook. “I feel so horrible about this. Poor Vick.”
“You need to talk about it, vent, or whatever, you come to me,” Colin said. “Anytime.”
Riley winced. “My leg hurts like hell. I hate being weak. But don’t blame Lesha. She…didn't do anything. I fell.” His gaze met mine. “All on my own.”
“I think Lesha helped you along.” The glare Colin sent me could have cooked meat. “Riley’s had enough shit dumped on him already. Heard you were considering being a doctor. Maybe you should rethink your compassion first.”
Anger shot through my belly. “But—”
Colin shoved his palm into my face. “Shut up. I don't want to hear your excuses.” He shook his head. “I’ll help you, Riley. That's what we all gotta do here, help each other.”
Riley hissed and clutched his leg as he struggled to his feet with his friend’s help. “Don't be too hard on Lesha. We're all upset.” He staggered, and Colin grabbed his arm to steady him. “It makes sense we’d all snap every now and then.” Lifting his head, he smirked. Colin brushed the sand off the back of Riley’s durasuit, oblivious to what was going on.
My gut spasmed, threatening to heave.
“That’s damn nice of you,” Colin said. “But if we don’t act like a team, we’re doomed.” His nostrils flared. “We’re only as strong as the weakest one in our group.”
I snapped my mouth shut as horror and embarrassment scrambled inside me. I wasn’t the weakest in the group. I wasn’t. I’d helped people escape the ship. I’d scared the wolves away all on my own. I’d bandaged Jay. That had to count for something.
Kalani passed us, heading up the hill. She paused for a moment and blinked. Taking a shuddering breath, she rubbed her upper arm—where they’d likely placed her immunity-boosting implant. Her face cleared, and she turned and ran back to Riley. “Are you okay?” She looped her arm around his back. “Lean on me.”
“That’s nice of you,” Riley said.
“I can’t help but be nice to you.” Her frown deepened, and she stared at his face as if memorizing it. “There’s something…” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.”
Riley limped as they urged him up the hill.
Stunned, I stared after them. How had I gone from defending myself to being accused of intentionally hurting someone? This was wrong. They were wrong. And while I should feel bad for Riley because of his brother, I wanted to smack him. We couldn’t reach the colony soon enough. Once we did, I’d avoid him for the rest of my life.
Gnawing on a fingernail, I dragged my treds up the hill. I’d only gone partway before Malik called my name. Jay hung on his shoulder, so I rushed to them and tucked my arm around Jay’s waist. “Are you in pain? Can you make it?”
“I’m okay.” A huge sigh came from his lungs. “Malik made me leave him behind.”
“Him?” I shoved my hair off my face and studied Jay. Sweat glistened on his forehead and an unhealthy sheen filled his face, but he could be hot from the sun. “You mean you had to leave Sam?” Maybe they’d been friends back on Earth.
“Not Sam,” Jay said.
“Oh, you mean the snake?” I squirmed, wishing I could bite back the words the second they’d left my mouth.
Jay stiffened and shoved away from us. Rage shot across his face and he strode up the hill, his treds kicking up sand. “When will you people get it through your thick heads?” he yelled. “It wasn’t just a God-damned snake.”
It wasn’t? Shaking my head, I caught up to Jay and put my hand on his forehead. The day was warm, but he blazed hotter than he should after such a short time. “You’re sick. Delirious. Maybe you have a fever from your burns. I have aspirin.” I slid my pack around and unzipped the top. “Let me get you some.”
Jay whirled on me, his glare hitting me hard enough I staggered backward. “Leave me alone.”
My lungs froze. I jerked and let out a long, slow breath, afraid I’d set him off again. Tension coiled down my back, and I tightened my legs, prepared to flee if he attacked.
I trusted the old Jay. Sort of. This version? Not so much.
“Okay. Sure. No problem,” I said quietly. “Let me know if you need anything.”
Jay spun on his heel and stomped up the hill.
Malik’s eyebrows lifted.
I winced and fell into step beside him. “I can’t seem to do anything to make my patients better.”
One corner of his mouth curled up. “Maybe you’re picking the wrong patient.” His devilish smile widened, and he marched ahead of me.
I followed, mulling over his comment. Exactly what did he mean by that?
His backside shifted, hugged by his snug, green durasuit.
I wasn’t checking out his butt.
I wasn’t.
Shaking my head, I caught up to him.
“You know,” he said. I expected another comment about Jay or for him to bring up Riley, because there was plenty to work with there. Lines lay heavy on Malik’s face. “I don’t want to scare anyone, but one of us is missing.”
My smile slid. I glanced around, fear slithering through me. Up ahead, some of our fellow survivors had reached the peak and disappeared beyond. Our group varied from six-year-old Mandy to Jay, our oldest.
“People are hard to count unless they’re all together.” I picked at my lower lip. That must be it. “There were sixteen of us after the crash. Two died. That leaves fourteen.”
We picked up our pace. When we reached the top, I counted the group streaming across the desert floor ahead of us.
Thirteen. Not a good number on any given day. Where the hell had the fourteenth survivor gone?
Rushing to a boulder, I scrambled to the top and spun in a slow circle. Desert stretched around me, vacant except for the ship glinting in the distance. Except…was that someone jogging in the opposite direction? I squinted and then rubbed the sand from my eyes.
“What do you see?” Malik asked.
Blinking, I stared again, before sighing. “Nothing.” I must have imagined seeing someone. Between dry eyes and the shimmer of heat on the sand, I’d been mistaken.
I jumped down and rejoined him.
A few kids waited for us to catch up, Tiff and Joe among them. My steps stalled when I reached my friend.
“Last night, I counted sixteen survivors.” I raised my voice, barely reining in my worry. “Sam and Captain Blackmine died, but there are only thirteen of us now.”
“Wow.” Tiff wrinkled her face as she looked around. “Where do you think they went?”
“You counted wrong.” Riley paused, leaning on Kalani and Colin. They helped him turn, and their faces gleamed with sweat.
“I don’t think I did.” I looked to Nikolai and the teenage girls standing beside him, hoping for confirmation. Malik and I couldn’t be the only ones who’d counted last night.
Riley snorted. “You think someone would wander off?” His hand flipped toward the desert. “We were exhausted last night.” He tossed a glare at me. “Admit you messed up. We all do it every now and then.”
I ground my teeth. “
But—”
“I also counted sixteen,” Malik said from beside me.
I nodded my thanks.
“Then you’re both wrong.” The look Riley gave Malik would have shoved him through the planet if it held more kick. “Let’s move it out,” he yelled. “The sooner we get there, the better.”
Kalani patted Riley’s back. “Lean on me.” She pressed her cheek against his arm.
That was another odd thing I couldn’t figure out. The last I knew, Kalani didn’t care one way or another about Riley. Yet, here she was, hovering over him like a devoted girlfriend. Not that I’d paid much attention to who was seeing who back on Earth, but I would have sworn she hadn’t been more than his friend before we got to Eris. I’d always liked Kalani. If she’d decided to take up with Riley, I might need to fill her in on a few facts.
“Do you think we miscounted?” I asked as Malik and I fell in behind my brother and Tiff.
“Both of us?” he said in a low voice. No need to scare the kids. “I doubt it.”
I shrugged. “We’d just escaped the ship. We were fighting stasis lag.”
He whistled through his teeth. “I don’t think we’re wrong.”
I moved ahead of him, catching up to Joe. “We must be,” I said over my shoulder. “Where else could the person be?”
He squinted toward the horizon. “That’s what’s bugging me.”
Chapter Twelve
The ship lay ahead of us like a broken bird. While it no longer burned, smoke still hung in the air.
No rescue vehicles hovered nearby.
My shoulders sagged. “The colonists aren’t here.” No Dad either.
“Not yet, anyway,” Malik said.
When we crashed, the ship had plowed the surface before coming to a halt. It lay partway up a hill with its nose near the top. The left wing had crumpled and was buried in the ground. Only the front right tire and the twisted right wing remained, the wing shooting toward the sky. Who knew where the other three tires had gone. Broken metal that must have held tires stabbed from the ship, the left ones nearly buried beneath the hull.
Phoenix Arise: YA Sci-fi Thriller (From the Ashes Book 1) Page 8
