Trey nodded at Felicia and Mandy. “Let’s get to it. We want the ring finished quickly.” His eyes slid to the sun hovering on the horizon. Streaks of blood-red and orange stabbed the sky. “It’ll be dark soon.”
By nightfall, Tiff lay as still as a corpse. Like Jay before he’d died. Was this the last phase? Would I lose her? My worry made it hard to focus on anything but her breathing.
I second-guessed my decisions, including the one to leave the ship. What if the colonists had arrived after we left? Sure, we’d carved a message in the hull telling them where we’d gone, but the desert was huge. How would they find us?
Someone lit a fire, and we lifted Tiff into the circle, close to the flames for warmth and protection. Exhausted from walking in the sun, everyone but the guards went to bed. I took first watch with Colin. Fortunately, nothing came near while I patrolled. We woke Malik and Felicia to take over when our time was up. Felicia might only be thirteen, but we needed everyone’s help if we were going to stay alive. Settling beside Joe, I pulled him close. He didn’t stir, but his breath whispered in and out, in and out.
I woke sometime later and sat up, rubbing my face.
Dull coals glowed in the fire pit, generating flickering light, but not enough to see beyond our small circle of rocks and sand.
In the distance, something howled. Trey raised his head from the other side of Tiff, and exhaustion darkened his eyes to black. “What was that?”
I shrugged. “Watch out here? I’ll check it out.”
Felicia and Malik’s blankets lay in a heap, showing me they still stood guard.
Someone walked toward us from the night, making my heart flip.
“It’s me.” Felicia moved into the firelight, my crossbow over her arm. “Malik’s out there,” she pointed west, “while I’m watching here for snakes. But something’s not right.”
Across the fire, Riley, Colin, and Kalani slept. I couldn’t imagine why the shriek hadn’t woken them.
The cry rang out again, driving my anxiety level through the roof. The shivers clawing my backbone told me I’d heard that sound before.
My first night on Eris when something was eating the bodies.
Wolves.
I glanced at Felicia. “You never said if you’d trained with a crossbow before.”
The grim light in her eyes made me glad we were friends. “Qualified and everything.”
That eased my worry a fraction. At least she and Trey would keep the others safe. “I’ll see if Malik needs help.”
Taking a stick from beside the fire, I stirred the coals before throwing more wood on top. Flames licked the bark and an amber glow lit up the area. Warmth enveloped me like an embrace, making me want to go back to sleep and pretend I lay in my bed in the Bunker.
Another cry ripped through the night. After a fortifying breath, I hefted my stick and clambered over the ring. As I hurried toward Malik’s location, my glolight flashed in front of me. No snakes lurked nearby. At least one thing was going right tonight. I joined Malik, who faced the desert with his crossbow wedged against the crook of his arm. A bolt lay along the shaft.
The desert leveled in front of us to a rolling plain, stretching toward the western horizon. Although I strained to make out movement, I didn’t see anything except sand and rocks.
“Think it’s the same pack?” Could I face them again? Their teeth and growls still haunted my nightmares.
“If it is, they must have tracked our scent from the ship. They haven’t come near. Maybe it’s the fire, or maybe they’ve learned caution,” he huffed, “since you chased them down.”
“That’s me. A regular wolf wrangler.” While I pretended bravado, my teeth chattered. I still couldn’t believe I’d taken on the pack by myself with nothing but my glolight and knife.
“I hoped they’d head in another direction, but they’re zigzagging, moving our way. I’m betting they’ll come at us from this side.” Jagged ledge and shale rose around our camp area. Not an easy climb for a beast. The surest way in was from the west.
Ghostly whines echoed in the night. The pack called to each other as they moved toward us, the uneven terrain making it seem like they came from multiple directions at once. I swept my glolight from side to side, picking up four sets of iridescent dots in the desert. The dots moved our way.
“Give me room to shoot.” Malik lifted the crossbow to his shoulder.
I shifted behind him, keeping my light trained on the beasts.
A wolf stalked toward us, sand skipping ahead of its feet as they thrust forward. It pulled back its lips and growled, and its large teeth gleamed like milky daggers. My light picked out three others flanking the first like sentries.
Malik tilted his head to look down the sight, his finger clenched on the trigger.
I hoisted my stick over my head.
The creatures stopped about ten meters away, close enough the drool dripping from their mouths winked in my light. Rumbles erupted from their chests.
Malik’s bolt flew from the crossbow, imbedding itself in the ground near the lead wolf. The creature darted to the side and leaped for us, growls filling the night.
Sweat beaded above my lips. Lifting my stick, I raced forward, but tripped and fell.
The lead wolf hit Malik in seconds. Grunting, Malik dropped the crossbow and grabbed the creature’s fur, halting it mid-rush. Snarls raged from the animal as it snapped at Malik’s wrists. It twisted its body, claws gouging the earth, struggling to get loose.
The crossbow lay on Malik’s other side. I crawled forward, freezing when the wolf tilted its head my way. Chin-level with the beast, I stared into its emerald eyes, mesmerized by the heat and fury flickering in their depths. The animal dismissed me as if I wasn’t worth its time. It renewed its effort to get at Malik. Claws scrambled in the sand. Its jaws drew closer to Malik’s throat with each snap.
The other wolves sauntered closer. My knees trembled. If I jumped up and ran, they’d be on me in seconds, hamstringing me before finishing me off. I crawled for the crossbow. I’d never leave Malik.
I brought my stick down on the wolf’s back, and the creature pulled away from Malik.
Grabbing the bolt, I notched the weapon and swung it to my shoulder.
The wolf stumbled backward. It stopped a few meters from us and shook its head as if clearing away flies.
Malik leaped to a crouch and took the weapon from me. In seconds, another bolt flew, grazing the wolf’s head. It yipped and scrambled away. As they fled, they tipped their heads back, howling in unison, a haunting melody sung to our two moons.
They disappeared into the night.
Lightheaded, I staggered.
Malik groaned and dropped onto the ground.
“Are you all right?” Had the wolf clawed or bitten him? Was he bleeding somewhere? “Tell me where you’re hurt.” I knelt beside him and ran my hands over his arms and chest, feeling for wounds.
“But I’m—”
Planting my palm on his shoulder, I pinned him to the ground. “Lay back so I can examine you.”
He slumped in the sand, his chest shaking.
I pulled his zipper down and shoved the nylatec off his shoulders, exposing his chest. “Where? Show me.” My hands shook. What if he was injured so badly I couldn’t help him? Could I bear to watch him die?
I expected blood, maybe guts spilling onto the ground. With a clinical eye, I ran my fingertips over his torso and abdomen, pushing, prodding, feeling along his sides for an injury. Instead of gaping wounds, I found smooth, taut light brown skin. Heat radiated from his body. It slid along my wrists and under my sleeves, spreading excitement wherever it passed. My hands stilled on his belly, and I lifted my gaze to his.
He shook his head. “Wow.” The twinkle in his eyes told me more than his rueful smile ever could. “I’m okay.”
“You let me think you were injured.” Accusation filled my voice as I rose and backed away. I slapped my hands to my hot cheeks.
“Well�
�”
“No well about it.” Flutters trounced through my belly. “You freaked me out. I thought the wolf had hurt you. I was worried about you.” My eyes stung, and I blinked back tears.
He rose and stretched his hand toward me. “I’m sorry.”
Embarrassed by how I’d behaved, I whirled away and ran toward the rest of the group.
Chapter Twenty-One
By the time Malik joined us, the sun had crested the horizon, and a new day was upon us. Not a cloud in the sky. Another scorcher, for sure.
Tiff looked so perky, I rushed around the fire and tumbled onto her. “You’re better.”
She patted my back, and her breath brushed my hair when she spoke. “I’m fine.”
I sat back on my heels. “I was worried about you.”
“I feel completely normal now.” Her green eyes sparkled when she laughed. She wiggled her shoulder and then pulled her durasuit and bandages to the side. “Hey, this looks better.”
I narrowed my eyes on her wounds which were no longer seeping. The redness I’d feared would cost her the arm had disappeared as well.
“I remember you working on my arm,” Tiff said. “You’re a great doctor already.”
Had the ointment worked that fast? It couldn’t have, could it?
“Since everyone’s doing so well, how about we ditch this tea party and get going?” Riley said. “Who or whatever took that boy yesterday could be watching us, ready to grab someone else.”
Shading my eyes, I scanned the surrounding hills. If someone was out there, would I see them spying?
Riley was right. We needed to leave. We’d only be safe when we reached the colony. They’d have weapons, security personnel, walls.
Tiff’s brow creased. “What’s he talking about?” I filled her in on what Malik discovered the day before. Her eyes widened, and she rose to her feet. “That’s horrible. Poor Nikolai. We’ve got to leave, then.”
“You sure you feel okay?”
Trey smoothed his hand along Tiff’s forehead. His eyes met mine, and he shrugged. “We can stop if she gets tired.”
“How about you, Joe?” I slid my arm around his shoulders and hugged him against my side. “How you feeling?”
“I’m okay.” He’d already knotted his supply pouch around his neck.
I frowned and glanced at my friend. While pale, there was no feverish slant to her eyes. The improvement in her burns was essentially a miracle. Maybe the dry, desert air contributed. Or something I couldn’t figure out was going on here.
“It’s hard walking in the sun all day.” I nibbled on my thumbnail, ignoring the fact that everyone else was loading up and getting ready to go. How could she have healed so easily?
Joe handed me my pack and took my hand, tugging me to my feet. “Don’t just sit there. Come on.”
Frowning, I swung my pack onto my back and secured it around my waist. No reason I couldn’t speculate about Tiff’s injuries while we walked.
Crossbow in hand, I caught up to her. Trey and Malik had taken the lead with Felicia and Mandy. Joe trailed just behind them. Riley and his crew walked behind us.
“We need to talk,” Tiff said. “Please.” At my nod, she glanced over her shoulder. “Back on Earth, Riley tricked me.”
I snorted. “No shit?”
“It wasn’t supposed to happen like…I hacked into the computers a few weeks before departure.”
I gasped. “You didn’t.”
“I had to know.” Her green eyes met mine. “I heard about forced pairings.” She gulped. “Lesha, they’re for real.” She grabbed my arm, keeping her voice low. “I had to see and make sure Trey wasn’t paired with anyone else. Riley caught me at the terminal.”
“What did he do?”
“Nothing.”
I leaned away from her. “What do you mean, nothing? He didn’t try to…you know?” I cringed.
“The opposite. He was kind, understanding. Said he was interested in someone in the Bunker and wondered if she…” Pulling a pale yellow durasuit out of her pouch, she wrapped it around her head like a turban to shade her face. Cool idea. I did the same. “I guess while some people have no match, others have more than one. There were other names on the list, but you were at the top of Riley’s.”
Dread crept through my body, weakening my limbs. I hadn’t realized how much I’d hoped this was just another game on his part. Somehow, I had to find a way to keep my implant from hijacking my brain.
“Riley said it confirmed what he already suspected.” She squeezed my arm. “He said if I got him on the ship to Eris, he wouldn’t call security. That he thought you’d be open to a match with him, anyway. Something about what happened with… an uncle? He said he thought this would make me eager for the match.” Her gaze was pulled to the sand. “Crap, I’m sorry.”
He must have read my file and knew what happened. I’d talked to Jay about it once.
She frowned and glanced back at him. “He said as a Team Leader, he was obligated to tell them I’d hacked into the computers but since I was your friend, and well…” She held up her hand when I started to speak. “I thought it was cute. That maybe you just didn’t see the Riley I saw. That if I programmed your implant, gave you two a chance, things would work out.”
“He tried to—”
“After I met the real Riley, I was afraid you’d find out.” She shook her head. “But, hell, there’s more. Way more.” Her eyes darkened. “I played God.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I couldn’t let him come here and take what you’d offer based on a crush alone. He’s get over it and you’d be stuck forever.”
Fear bloomed in my belly. “What did you do?”
“I don’t know if you’ll…” She gazed toward the horizon and sucked in a deep breath before spitting out her words. “Riley was linked with someone else. I don’t remember who, but someone going to Stellar 3. I reprogrammed his implant to link with yours instead, so this would be more than a crush. He’d be compelled to care for you. A double twist, I guess.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I didn’t know what else to do! I only had a few seconds. His fix was in, but I softened it as much as I could.”
No. No! My legs shook while I processed what she’d said. Riley really was paired with me, which meant he’d want me forever. He’d never leave me alone. And soon, I’d want him. “How could you?”
“I know, I know.” Tiff’s voice screeched. “It was an unforgiveable thing to do to a friend. I’m sorry. I tried to make it the best I could.”
I wrenched away from her and strode ahead. I couldn’t stand to talk to her anymore.
“You have every right to hate me.” Catching up, her throat moved as she swallowed. “I know sorry means nothing compared to what I’ve done.”
The furious thrum of my pulse crashed around me. “What else. Is there more?” Please, let there be no more. I couldn’t take it.
“That’s it. Someone else walked in, and I shut the computer down.” Her hands rubbed her face until splotchy pink marks stood out sharply. “If I could go back and fix it, I would.” She pulled me around to face her. Grief created deep lines in her face. “If you hate me forever, I understand.”
I sucked in a breath and held it before releasing it in a whoosh. “I wish…Well, it doesn’t really matter what I wish. But I don’t hate you. You did what you thought was best.”
If anything, I hated Riley more than ever. He’d manipulated my friend. What she’d done was horrible. I wasn’t sure I’d ever forgive and forget. But Riley would have found another way if not through her. And if that had happened, I’d be programed for him while he’d be free to use me then move on to someone new.
I had a choice here. I could hold on to my anger with her or let it go.
Rather than scorn her, I rubbed her shoulders. With Riley paired with me, I’d need friends more than ever. “I’ll find a way out of it.” Somehow.
“I’ll help any way I can.” Tears welled in her eyes, an
d she sniffed. “It would just about kill me if we weren’t friends anymore.”
“We’re good.” Mostly. But what else could I say? I’d need time to put this fully behind me.
“Thank you.” Shadows lingered on her face, but she grabbed my hands and squeezed. “So, you and Malik?”
She was kidding, right? “No more matchmaking.”
Her grin faded. “Sorry.” She bumped my shoulder with hers. “But I’ve seen you two together.” Her eyes focused on the mountains for so long, I didn’t think she’d speak again. “Everything will work out.”
I nodded, although she couldn’t know that.
We sped up until we caught up to Malik, Joe and Mandy, our feet sinking into the deep sand. Trey walked a little distance ahead of us with a large stick in his hand.
At what I figured was about lunchtime, since my stomach had sunk its teeth into my backbone, I pulled out an MRB. Breaking off a section, I gave Mandy and Joe a piece, saving the rest for myself.
“Ah, chicken,” I said after my first nibble. “Haven’t had that since…” I blinked and took another bite. “Well, maybe never, but I’m enjoying it now. And baked potato with simulated butter. Saw that in a vid once. Looked delicious.”
“Stop it.” Sweat dribbled down Tiff’s sunburned cheeks. “You’re fucking killing me.”
I smirked. “Damn, girl. You looked in a mirror lately? Your freckles are having baby freckles.”
Her hands rose to cover her face. “Really? Shit. Just what I need.”
I shoved the last bit into my mouth. “And the pièce de résistance.” I slid my eyes shut for a second. “Dessert. A slice of rich, dark chocolate cake topped with iced whip.” Why did I do this to myself? Talk about self-torture. Dreaming of yummy food only made my hunger worse.
“Ugh. I want some of that.” Tiff raised her voice. “Hey, Trey, you’ve got the food. Wait up.” How she found the energy to jog was beyond me, but she caught up with her boyfriend. They rifled through his pack and pulled out an MRB to share.
Phoenix Arise: YA Sci-fi Thriller (From the Ashes Book 1) Page 18
