Malik waited for me to catch up.
I frowned. “Hey, you’re limping.”
“It’s nothing.” He stared at the ground as we walked. “I twisted my ankle returning to the group last night after watching for the wolves.”
“I have wraps, if you need them.”
“Thanks.”
“I have a theory about those snakes,” I said.
“What is it?”
“They only come out at night.”
“The only one I’ve seen was on Jay.”
Sucking his blood. Clinging to his leg with its tiny hands. Staring up at Malik before he stomped on it.
“I didn’t see any last night.” Malik ran his fingers along his stubbly hair. “And Jay’s came out early in the morning.”
“Tiff was bitten during the night, after Nikolai fell asleep.”
“Jay’s latched on while it was dark.”
“You might not have seen any, but Colin and I killed four last night.” Picturing them slithering over to us while everyone else slept made me shiver. “They stuck to the soft sand, which makes me think they don’t like the rockier areas.” I looked around but nothing snake-like lurked nearby, poised to strike.
Even though we’d walked kilometers from the ship, the mountains still appeared light years away.
We crested a rise and started down the other side.
“Maybe they hide in the sand during the day,” Malik said.
“If they couldn’t dig in, they wouldn’t like the rough places.”
Malik paused and stared behind us. He shook his head and started walking again, his limp more pronounced. “I think you’re onto something here.”
“We crushed the ones we found last night. They sure don’t move fast.” I shifted my pack off my hips. Sweat had stuck my clothing to my back. An unpleasant odor hovered around me like a dank cloud. It would only get worse as the day warmed.
He sipped his water before returning the pouch to his pack. “If you’re right, we should stop before nightfall and set up our camp in a rocky location. It won’t be easy sleeping, but it beats the alternative.”
“Too bad we can’t walk at night, when it’s cool. But, we wouldn’t see the snakes until they’d latched on. By then, it might be too late.” Just what we needed, to step on a nest of them in the dark. While Tiff had recovered, there was no guarantee the rest of us would survive the next attack. Or that a second bite might not do what the first hadn’t. Were we immune after the first? It wasn’t a theory I wanted to explore soon.
Malik cleared his throat and directed his gaze to the horizon. “About last night…”
His warm skin. His rippling ab muscles. The steamy look in his eyes when they met mine. Heat flooded my face. Was there any way I could get him to forget it had ever happened?
“I want to apologize,” he said. “I never meant to scare you. Not even for a second.”
“It’s okay.” I flashed a look at his face but couldn’t read his expression. “I’m the one who should apologize. I got carried away.” Sure, we’d kissed. A couple of times. But we hadn’t taken things further. We were rarely alone and even then, we barely had time to talk.
The words rushed out of him. “I don’t mind. You could—”
Chuckling, I shook my head. It made sense, now. I should have thought of that way. Why would he mind? He was a guy. What straight guy wouldn’t want a girl groping him? “You don’t mind, huh?”
“Not at all.” The smile he turned my way made my body overheat. The feeling swirled in my belly, wrapping me up tight. He laughed. “Feel free to get carried away any time you want.”
I huffed, but it was rueful, not a sound of disgust. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Malik’s steps stalled, and his smile faded. While he darted a look over his shoulder, fissures appeared on his face. “That sound.” His concerned eyes met mine. “It’s like…”
Colin, Kalani and Riley stood on the hill behind us, peering in the direction we’d come from. My skin prickled with anxiety. What now?
Kalani screamed. Whirling on her treds, she raced toward us.
“Run!” Colin flapped his arms in the air like a bird. “They’re comin’ for us.” Shrieking, he galloped down the hill after Kalani, Riley pumping his legs right behind.
Dull thuds grew to a rumbling roar. Enormous, blue-streaked creatures appeared at the top of the hill, thundering our way. They dashed around Colin and Riley, colliding with Kalani on the way by. She screamed and was tossed to the side.
“Look out!” Malik lowered himself to one knee and lifted his crossbow.
My heart rose into my throat as I sprinted for Joe and Mandy. I had to get to them before the animals did. The creatures drew closer behind me. I chanced a glance over my shoulder. Their leg muscles bunched, and their hooves smacked into the sand as they plunged my way. Snorts erupted from their snouts. Their eyes bugged in their heads. Terrified screams rang out around me. As the double-humped animals raced by, I strained to get to Joe and Mandy. One of the animals knocked Joe to the ground. I shrieked, my arms reaching for him. Please. Don’t let him be hurt.
Mandy stood beside Joe, frozen, gaping around her. Her mouth a small circle, she turned terrified eyes my way. My lungs screamed in my chest. Leaping, I tackled her to the ground, covering them both with my body. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Tiff, Felicia, and Trey running ahead of me, their packs smacking their backs.
Hooves struck the ground around me as the creatures galloped past. One jumped over us, its cloven hoof whistling by my head.
Mandy whimpered. Joe screamed and struggled to get away. Shifting my weight, I pinned him in place.
Malik cried out, and I looked for him. Shock filled me when I found him lying on his back, his crossbow beside him. I had to get to him. Had to—
An animal bellowed as it raced away from him. Huffing with fear, it dashed by me.
Something large dragged on the ground behind it, like someone had tied whatever it was to the creature’s neck. It flopped and smacked. Bright blue, almost as blue as the stripes on the creature’s sides. The animal fled into the desert ahead of me, but the lump snagged on a rock disconnected. Kicking its heels, the creature raced after the rest of the herd.
I peered behind me, whimpering as more animals dodged us. A hoof struck my arm, shooting pain to my neck. I hunkered over Joe and Mandy and remained there until the Eris camels had fled.
They loped across the desert toward the mountains, leaving behind a cluster of moaning survivors and a cloud of dust that made me choke.
Rising to my feet, I coughed while tugging Mandy and Joe up beside me. I ran my hands down their limbs, seeking injuries. “You okay?” They nodded, and my terror eased somewhat. Dropping to my knees, I hugged them, kissed them, and murmured whatever reassurance I could dredge up from my mind.
Malik groaned. Moving Joe and Mandy to the side, I stumbled to his side, panting like I’d run a thousand kilometer race. “Are you hurt?”
He got to his feet and swayed.
Grabbing his arm, I steadied him, although it was a toss-up who needed steadying more, him or me.
“I’m okay.” He stared up the hillside. “I’ve got to go see if they’re…I’ll be back.” Snatching his crossbow off the ground, he fitted a bolt along the shaft, his fingers shaking so much he nearly dropped it. He jog-limped up the hill. Reaching the top, he dropped on his belly and tucked his weapon against his shoulder, pointing it in the direction the animals had come from.
“Help her,” Colin cried, making me jump.
Kalani lay on the ground at the base of the hill, Colin kneeling by her side.
Riley stood over them, lines heavy on his face. His gaze shot back and forth from the animals still fleeing to Kalani.
Somehow, my pack had survived the stampede. I slid it around to the front, pulled out the large medical kit, and hurried over to them.
Pale, Kalani was still conscious. She had a cut on her forehead, and blood trickled
down her temple and across her cheek. She was covered with dirt, but so were the rest of us.
“Where do you hurt most?” I asked her. “Were you kicked in the head?”
“No. It’s my wrist.” She gasped and clutched it. “I fell. I…I think I hit my head on a rock. It doesn’t hurt too bad.”
“I’ll look at it,” Riley said.
I handed him the kit and backed up a few steps to watch, my knuckles pressing against my lips hard enough to make my teeth ache.
Malik hobbled down the hill and joined us. He shook his head when I glanced his way, but I noticed he kept the crossbow loaded. The scope clicked as he lifted and lowered it, over and over again.
Kalani whimpered, her eyes locked on Riley’s. “It hurts. Please help me.”
Riley pulled her arm onto his lap. “Let me see.”
Her wrist wasn’t misshapen, so maybe it wasn’t broken. But swelling and light purple bloomed in the area already. No wonder she’d cried out. It had to hurt like hell.
Riley poked and prodded, assessing her bones for fractures. “I think it’ll be okay, but it’ll hurt for a week or so.” In no time he’d wrapped it for support. After he’d tidied the kit and handed it back to me, he sat back on his haunches. “Think you can walk? We need to get out of here.”
A wail drew our attention.
Some distance ahead of us, Trey and Tiff hugged each other. They stood near the blue object the Eris camel had dragged and left behind. Felicia knelt on the ground beside it, her palms pressed to her cheeks.
Malik’s nostrils flared wide as he stared in their direction. “Aww, hell.” The words stuttered from his lips.
I squinted but couldn’t make out what was so awful.
The object was deep blue with red splotches.
My heart froze as if it already knew what my brain hadn’t figured out. I kicked my legs into overdrive and raced toward them. When I drew close and saw what lay crumpled in the sand, a high-pitched keen surged from my belly. It rose into the sky with Felicia, Tiff and Trey’s, creating an unearthly chorus.
A body.
I stalled and dropped to my knees beside it.
Malik stooped across from me, his face wizened. His hand lifted and hovered over the body, before he pulled it back.
Someone retched behind me, but I didn’t turn to see who it was. I couldn’t turn.
Piper’s body lay in a broken heap in the sand. Her clothing had torn pretty much everywhere, exposing what was left of her creamy skin. Cuts, abrasions, and burgeoning bruises covered every exposed surface. Her eyes stared at the sky, fixed as if in wonder or horror.
Riley walked over and stalled by her feet, his hand pressed against his mouth as if to hold in his screams. He nudged Malik’s shoulder. “You see anything from the top?” He dragged his eyes from Piper long enough to shoot a terrified look in that direction. “Are they coming for us, too?”
Malik didn’t look up. “Whatever, no, whoever did this is gone.” With a growl, he ran his fingers through his hair, yanking on the ends before smacking his hands on his thighs. “I’ll scout for tracks, but doubt I’ll find out who did this. They’re too damn good at hiding to make this easy.”
And the animal’s tracks might have obliterated all evidence of their presence.
“What’s she wearing?” Tiff’s voice cracked. She pointed toward Piper’s neck.
I leaned forward. My gasp broke the stillness that had descended around us.
Someone had fastened a red durasuit to Piper’s throat, triple knotting it so it wouldn’t become dislodged when she was dragged.
Red, like the one Joe had worn when he’d played Space Cadet back at the ship.
They’d sent a message, and I got it, loud and clear.
They were watching us.
And they’d come for us when they were ready.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Malik found nothing to indicate who had tied Piper to the animals and spooked the herd in our direction.
We buried her body.
After gathering our shaky spirits, ten survivors hurried toward the mountains. As we half-jogged in the sand, I wasn’t the only one shooting fearful glances over my shoulder. We clung together in a tight group, worried someone else would be taken.
Tears for Piper trickled down my face for hours even though I knew it was foolish to spend my moisture on grief. But I kept picturing her face when she’d shared the pictures in her sketchbook and spoken of naming a daughter Piper after the woman who’d raised her.
Kalani made a good effort to keep up, but within an hour, she groaned whenever she took a step. “My ankle hurts.” It wasn’t swollen, but maybe, in addition to hurting her wrist, she’d twisted her ankle when she fell. Or an animal banged it when it rushed by.
“I’ve got an idea.” Colin strode to a big rock and bent forward, gesturing to his back. “Hop on.”
Kalani peered at Riley, her hand shielding her eyes from the sun. “Will you help me? Please?”
Riley frowned but lifted her.
Kalani slipped her hand around his neck, nestling the injured one against her chest.
I could only sigh. I had my suspicions about Kalani, the girl who’d been switched from Stellar 3 to Eris on her eighteenth birthday. Riley had been slated for Stellar 3. There were too many coincidences here to shove the notion of a pairing between them aside. Watching her fawning only made my anxiety about my implant grow. I felt like I watched the nightmare of my future in action. Only a few weeks until I turned eighteen. It wasn’t enough time.
When the sun slipped low on the horizon, we chose a spot and set up camp like we’d done the night before. In no time, we had a rock and sand circle to keep out snakes and enough sticks to feed a small fire.
Malik caught my attention and nudged his shoulder toward a nearby hill. Time for some self-defense training.
“Hey, Tiff,” I said. “I’m going with Malik for a few minutes. Will you keep an eye on the kids?”
“Don’t go far.”
We walked a short distance away, staying within shouting range of the others.
“Okay,” Malik said once we’d stopped out of sight. “We can start with the simple stuff if you’d like.”
Setting my crossbow down, I faced him. “Sounds good. I don’t know much more than the basics.”
He rocked on his heels. “You know it’s best to avoid confrontation altogether, if you can.”
“You’re telling me to run away?” I linked my arms across my chest and pasted a pretend scowl on my face. “Like they taught Joe back on Earth. Duck and run.”
“Hell, no.” He rolled his eyes.
So much for fooling him. He knew me too well.
“I meant you shouldn’t get involved in something you’re not prepared to handle,” he said. “That’s all.”
My turn to roll my eyes. “I know what you’re saying.”
“We’ll start with your stance and a strike. You know what they are?”
“I assume they’re about position, balance, and striking before someone grabs you.” Like Riley. That’s what I was here for, to learn to disable him so I could, well…duck and run.
“It’s important to keep proper balance. Your power comes from your legs, so keep them comfortably spread. If they’re too close together, your balance can be thrown off and you’ll fall. Simple enough?”
“Sure.” I put some space between my treds and crouched, my arms lifted away from my sides. “Like this?”
“Perfect.” The twinkle in his eyes came across too mocking for my taste.
He better not be laughing at me inside, or I’d kick him. Well, maybe not kick him, but want to kick him.
Malik shifted his feet. “People recommend you aim at a spot further back from your target to increase the penetration when you throw your fist.” He made a slow-motion air punch, fully extending his arm. “If you shift your body into the blow, shoving your shoulder along with it, your strike will have more force.”
“Like this
?” I pulled back and slammed my fist toward him. I expected him to dodge. Instead, I socked him in the gut.
Oops.
Malik crumpled forward, one hand held toward me, the other mashed against his belly.
“I’m so freakin’ sorry, Malik.” I attempted to catch his eye, but he bent his head, no, his entire body forward. His shoulders shook. Had I hurt him? I ran through my limited anatomy, trying to picture where my hand had connected. His liver? Intestines? I hadn’t hit low, so it couldn’t be…there. Bending forward, I cricked my neck, trying to see his face.
A few slick moves on Malik’s part, and I found myself lying on my back on the ground with him propped on his arms above me, laughing.
I smacked his shoulder, my chest twitching with my chuckles. “You. You’re not hurt, are you?”
“Sure I am.” His eyes lit with fire in the setting sunlight. Amber flames. “My feelings are hurt. You hit me.”
I tried to hold in my grin, but my lips quivered. “I’m sorry.”
“Sure you are.” He paused, and his eyes grew serious. They slid to my lips.
Shivers fluttered in my belly. Should I tell him he made my heart flip whenever he was near? That I missed him when I didn’t see him every second? That I wanted to kiss him all the time?
“What else can you teach me?” I whispered. Talk about a loaded question. I hoped it hit its mark.
“Well,” he inched in close enough his breath whispered across my lips, “how about…” His mouth descended to mine.
Soft and smooth, even sweeter than the last time we’d kissed. Sighing, I parted my lips, and he pressed closer, shifting more of his weight on top of me. Little tingles sped through me. A fire lit in my belly. One only he could quench. I ran my fingertips across his short hair, down his neck, and then cupped his shoulders with my palms, pulling him closer.
He lifted his head and grinned. “I think we should get back to self-defense, don’t you?” Rising, he held his hand out to help me.
Standing on tiptoes, I held his shoulders and pressed my lips to his for one brief taste. I stepped back, linking my fingers through his. “For what it’s worth, you’re awfully kissable.”
Phoenix Arise: YA Sci-fi Thriller (From the Ashes Book 1) Page 19
