Voyage to Ayama

by K. A Knight

  “I mean it, you could have seriously damaged your brain. Not that there's much up there but still--”

  Her words cut off in a gasp which has me sitting bolt upright. My head spins for a second at moving too fast.

  “INDY!” Her scream cuts off in a muffle and I throw myself off the sofa. Swaying on unsteady feet, I squint at the person at the door. What the-

  The brother's dad is standing in front of the closed door, two men spread out behind him. His palm is over Effie’s mouth as she struggles in his grip.

  With a creepy smile at me, he pushes her across the room, away from him. She lands hard on the floor and scrambles over to me, tears trekking down her face. When she reaches me, I pull her behind me. She grabs my arms and hides there. Panic races through my veins, making my already weak body shake.

  “Did you really think you would get away with it bitch? Threatening me and then sending your dog after me?” He sneers as he steps closer. The men at his back don't move from the door. They are big, bigger even than Barrott. Jumpsuits cover their barrel chests and they must be in their mid-forties. No expression covers their thick faces, as if this is just another day at work for them.

  “My dog?” I ask in confusion as I step back, pushing Effie with me. When he gets closer, I gasp at what is left of his face. The whole left side is black and blue, with the odd purple mixed in. His nose is obviously broken and his other eye is sealed shut. He leans to one side as he walks and winces, letting me know his body is probably no better. His left arm, the one he didn't touch Effie with, is covered from elbow to wrist in a gel healer. The blue liquid and nanobots working to fix the damage. It must have been extensive for them to still be working.

  “That little guard of yours,” he snarls. My heart clenches; oh Barrott, what did you do?

  “I didn't know- I didn't.” I stop when he laughs, the sound horrible and grating.

  “Don't pretend you, little whore. Not only have you got my sons’ pussy-whipped, you have that fucking piece of shit guard. Is your little cunt made of gold or something? Maybe I'll see before I leave you as a message for them.” He grabs his crotch as he eyes me. Plans and escape routes run through my head, the odds not good. I don't see a way I’m getting out of this, but I won't let him touch Effie. I won't let her pay for my mistake.

  “Let the healer leave.” My voice is steady, which I’m proud of. Even though bile is creeping up my throat at the thought of him touching me.

  “Healer?” he asks curiously.

  “The girl behind me, she's a healer. I called her here to check my head out.” Effie goes to speak behind me, but I pinch her arm, making her yelp.

  “So, not another one of your friends?” He sniggers over the last word as he wanders closer to me again.

  “I don't even know her. But if you hurt a healer, you will face the death penalty,” I warn him casually, trying not to convey how important it is he lets her go. If I show interest, he will use her against me. He cocks his head in thought as he tries to see behind me to her. One of the men at the door steps forward.

  “She's right.” He throws a slightly dirty look at the brother’s dad which makes him hunch his shoulder before nodding at him. As he turns back around, I nod at the man in thanks.

  He slightly inclines his head before going back to looking bored. So, they might not help me, but they will help get Effie out and they are obviously here as muscle and have some sort of pull over him?

  “Fine, I don't want her anyway. Let the healer bitch out.” He waves his hand before turning back to me.

  I grab Effie's arm and pull her around to my side, the furthest away from him. I slowly walk past, dragging her every step.

  “Indy-” she whispers, the sound full of unshed tears.

  I don't bother to reply, but I stand before the men at the door.

  “I wouldn't tell anyone what is going on if I was you, you never know when someone is watching.” He narrows his eyes in meaning at her, and hers widen. I nod my head in understanding of the warning then push her to the door. She stumbles and turns back to me.

  “In-”

  I cut her off with a fake glare.

  “Go back to the lagoon where I found you, healer, and don't tell anyone.”

  I’m hoping that's where the boys are, but it's the most I can do with them all watching me. I know she won't get back to me in time before he hurts me, but the brothers will protect her. Stepping back, I’m slammed into a doughy chest. Holding in my gag at the arms that wrap around me, I watch my best friend as she crumbles. Her face is red and covered in tears, her lips pinched in her distress. As I watch, she regains her composure, and with one last look, whirls and steps out of the closing door. With her goes all of my chance to escape.

  I watch as the steel closes, blocking me from the rest of the ship. Leaving me at the mercy of a madman. I don't know how long I stand staring before he gets bored. His hand winds through my hair tenderly before yanking. I’m dragged back to the living room by it, shouts of pain escaping my surprised mouth.

  He lets me go in front of the sofa, my head banging painfully on the cold floor from the force of it. My eyes blur from the pain jackknifing through my head. I don't even have time to suck in a breath before he's on me. All my training with Barrott goes out the window as he pins me to the floor. Panic has my body jerking beneath him, trying to get free. He backhands me, my cheek instantly flaring with agony. The distraction is enough to still my movements so he can lower his body on mine.

  His foul breath hits my face as I turn away from his descending head. My raw cheek presses into the floor, the coldness cooling some of the sting.

  “I'm going to have some fun with you, girl. When my sons find you, there will be nothing left but a broken and used body.”

  Tears fill my eyes and I scrunch them closed as his hands wander along my body. He squeezes a breast before moving on, the feeling leaving slime in his wake. My chest heaves with the horror of what is happening as my adrenaline surges through me.

  “They'll know who it was.” My voice is weak and trembling and my warning only makes him laugh harder.

  “Oh, I'm not worried, bitch. Everyone's a little too preoccupied at the minute to care about one little orphan.” My head snaps around to him.

  “What's happening?” My horror retreats as my curiosity gets the better of me. His hands still, one over my breast, one along my rib cage.

  “Who knows? Some cunt told me everyone would be busy, so to have my fun. She even sent these men here to make sure ‘nothing gets out of hand’ but what that stupid old bitch doesn’t know won’t hurt her.” He grins at the last, his sour breath hitting my face again.

  “Long black hair?” Why the fuck am I questioning him?

  “Yes, now enough questions,” he snarls the last as his hand squeezes painfully, causing tears to gather in my eyes again. My mind is half focused on the here and now and the other half on what he said. Why would the rebel leader pass on information? She wanted my help, so what changed? Maybe she saw me as too much of a threat. I frown in concentration. Or maybe it doesn't matter anymore.

  My head rocks to the side with another hard slap.

  “Pay attention, cunt.”

  My mind refocuses, none of my speculation matters if I can't get out of this mess. I start to struggle again, but it's no use; he's too big and it only seems to spur him on. He grabs my cheeks to slam my head down on the floor. The pain rocks through my abused head, making me scream. When my eyes focus again he's grinning down at me.

  “Let's see how magical this cunt is, shall we?” I hear movement from the men at the door, like they are shuffling uncomfortably.

  “The agreement was that you get to rough her up, and the rebellion gets to send a message about denying their requests.” The voice is hesitant but strong.

  His head snaps up as he glares their way. His mouth opens to say something when the floor rocks underneath us. A massive bang sounds as it rocks again, sending him flying off me. Using the di
straction, I scramble to my feet with my back to the wall.

  The ship rocks again, the sound of metal screaming reaching us. I stumble, but use the wall for support. The floor tilts as the ship moves, harshly jerks up, sending the brothers’ dad flying across it. Eyeing the door, I make my bid for escape. The floor moves dangerously beneath me as explosions so loud I have to cover my ears go off. I hop over his prone figure and then slide across the floor to the other men. They are both clutching the wall, holding on for dear life as the ship jars and spins beneath us. I smash my hand against the screen and wait for the agonisingly slow moments it takes to turn green.

  “Fucking stop her!” he shouts from behind me, but I'm already squeezing through the gaps in the opening door. Once on the other side, I slam my hand down again, locking them in.

  DAY 920

  Stumbling away from the door, I look around wildly. The corridor is empty and the lights flash red, throwing the hallway into a semblance of darkness. A siren starts up, only to be interrupted by the sounds of the constant explosions. Screaming reaches me as guns go off in the distance. My muddled brain panics as I look around. The ship is obviously damaged. That means I need to get to an emergency shuttle. My training kicks in as I whirl and run down the corridor, sliding and nearly slipping at least once. At the intersection, I stop. My brain is hurting so bad but I push it back and try to remember why I am hesitating.

  Effie! Shit, the guys!

  Hesitating for only a moment longer, I spin turn away from the corridor that would lead me to the emergency shuttles. The noise of fighting dies out the further away from the shuttles I get until it’s deadly quiet apart from my heavy breathing. The lights blink out above me, casting the corridor into an eerie red as the lights strobe above me. The light barely pierces the darkness, making me squint and stretch my arms out so I don’t bump into anything. With a cry, I'm flung into the wall as the ship banks again. My shoulder throbs painfully, as does my back from the impact. It stuns me for a moment and I hold on for dear life as the ship tilts, I grab the edge of a door as my feet leave the ground. Until the ship rights itself then I crash into the floor, face first.

  Refusing to lay down and give up, I push to my feet and make my way as fast as I dare, my legs wide to brace myself in case it banks again. The ship continues to shake and rock making the going hard and treacherous. Using my hand on the wall, I guide myself to the lagoon, hoping that is still where they are. Blood drips on the floor, making me stop and hold out my hand. A drop hits it, and I can feel it now dripping slowly from my head. That can’t be good. I reach the door to the lagoon to find it wedged open. With a frown, I slip through, trying to see them. When I don’t, I start to panic, they have to be here! They said they wanted to meet here...unless they weren’t here yet? If so, where are they now?

  “Effie? Auden? Eldon?”

  I cry out their names, searching through the darkness, begging whatever god exists to let them be okay. I stumble around the open space, the sand squishing beneath my feet. The siren cuts off leaving me in deafening silence. The red strobe light is the only moving thing, but it barely makes a dent in the shadows in the room. I move to the edge of the water, squinting to make sure. No lights reach this far in here, making the water dark and eerie. The space I used to find sanctuary turning terrifying. Space balls, they aren't here. I will have to keep searching, I can’t leave without them.

  I turn to leave when I'm flung into the air.

  “Gravity filters malfunctioning in the Lagoon.” Comes over the speaker.

  Time seems to stop as the ship spins wildly, leaving me suspended in mid-air. With a rush, everything speeds up as I land in the water with a splash. Gasping, I kick myself to the surface. I break through with a gasp, drawing in oxygen as fast as I can.

  The ship tilts again sending me back below the blue depths. I try to pull myself back up, my arms flapping wildly. Chairs and other objects from the room stream through the water as it rushes around the spinning room. A chair hits me, making me scream underwater as another hits me from behind, spinning me around. I feel something crack as I scream in pain. My body gets hit from every angle.

  My lungs scream as I try to figure out what way is up. My eyes dart around, looking for anything to pierce the hazy blue water. Dots start in forming in front of my vision as my body gasps for oxygen. I twist desperately, my legs kicking furiously. A red light flashes and I desperately kick my way to it, using it like a beacon. I try to dodge the debris as the ship stops spinning for a moment and the gravity filters obviously flicker back on.

  Breaking the surface of the water with a sputter, I suck down air to my abused lungs. Not wanting to get trapped again, I swim as fast as I can to what used to be the shore. Crawling, I try to get to my feet only to fall at an ache in my ribs. Gritting my teeth, I stumble in the sand as I race for the door, my wet feet sinking, slowing me down as my clothes are heavy on my body.

  Sliding through the door, I find myself in a heap against the opposite wall, my chest heaving as water drips to the floor, mixing with my blood, turning it pink. Not one minute later, the door to the lagoon slides shut as an automated warning blares over-head. I look at the window to the lagoon as water steadily rises in the space I just escaped.

  “Lagoon compromised. Ship in full failure, please make your way calmly to the nearest shuttle.”

  Fuck. Pushing myself up, I start towards the shuttles, intent on finding them there. If not, I will go back and search my unit, then Effie’s.

  “Level G lost. Explosions sensed in level D. Air locks sealed.”

  Fuck, it sounds like the whole ship is dying. What the hell happened?

  In the corridor, an explosion goes off again and I only just manage to stay on my feet as the ship rocks with it. Another comes from behind me, sending me sprawling to the floor, luckily I manage to catch myself on my arms but they give out under the pressure. My ears ring as I pick my head up from the floor littered with glass and metal. I can feel blood running down my cheeks. Looking around in a daze, the words from the warning system blur together. I try to get to all fours, only for my legs to give out. My hands scramble along the floor as I try to pull myself to safety. I can feel my front being cut as I manage to crawl to the corner of the corridor. Using the wall, I pull myself to my feet. Placing my head on the cool wall, I give myself a second to come around. Blowing out a breath, I push away, my feet steadier. I'm turning around when I hear my name screamed. Spinning, I try to see through the dark. I’m back in the corridor at the end of my row of units. Maybe I hit my head harder than I thought and am I hearing things? But no, there it is again...

  “INDY!”

  “Effie?!” I shout, my voice cutting out with a hacking cough halfway through. I spit blood and water to the floor.

  “Indy!” The excited scream comes again, closer this time. I let my abused body rest for a minute as four shapes lumber through the darkness in front of me. The one at the front flings itself at me. I smell Effie before I see her and I lock my arms around her, my back on the wall to steady us.

  I offer her a quick hug before letting go. Eldon and Auden stand behind her, looking relieved. Cain pops from in between them and offers me a shit eating grin.

  “Couldn't just wait to be rescued could you, speed demon.”

  Smiling, I go to answer when the speaker sounds again.

  “Ship’s shuttles fifty percent depleted.”

  “Fuck, we need to get out of here,” I warn. Effie cries but grabs my outstretched hand.

  “Eff, where's your dad?” I rush the words out as I yank her down the corridor after me.

  “He was at home.” She gasps as she stumbles behind me. Okay, that's good, that means he will be at the closest shuttle and he won't leave without his little girl. I pick up the pace, the sound of running feet slapping on the floor the only sound. The ship carries on tilting as we run.

  We skid around the corner to the closest shuttle to Effie's unit and I cry in relief when I see the light still
blinking next to it. Cain puts me on my feet and I stumble over to it.

  I bang on the small window into the shuttle. Howard’s relieved face appears before the door slides open.

  “Girls!” He cries before surrounding us in his arms. I step back and freeze when I see the people in the shuttle. I count and with each number, my heart speeds up. There are only two empty seats. Unwilling to freak Effie out, I step back, my guys behind me.

  “Get in the shuttle Effs.” I smile reassuringly at her as she grabs my hand and tries to pull me in after her. Howard’s eyes flick behind me before resting on me again. I see the knowledge in his eyes. He knows I won't leave anyone. He knows what that means. He nods, but I see the tears in his eyes. He gently grasps Effie’s arm and pulls her into the shuttle.

  “Indy?” She turns to me, confused.

  “There isn't enough room, babe. You get in this one we will go to the next one.” Her eyes widen before she flings herself in my arms, shouting at me. I gently stroke her hair as I swallow my tears.

  “It’s okay,” I whisper as I rock her.

  “Get in the shuttle good looking,” Eldon says. I let go of Effie and turn to them, defiance in every line of my body.

  “No. The more we argue, the less time we have.” With that, I turn and push Effie. She stumbles and I step back, the automatic door closing between us. Her faces smashes against the glass as she shouts for her dad to open the door.

  “Love you, Effs. I’ll see you again.” I promise. Ignoring the tears on her face, I press the emergency release next to the door.

  “Shuttle launching, please step back.” The voice emanates, making her struggle harder.

  “Get her in her seat, Howard. Thank you for everything. I love you both.” With that, I step back and watch as my best friend is dragged kicking and screaming to her chair. She cries like her heart is breaking as she raggedly screams my name over and over again. I turn away as the shuttle detaches and launches into space.