Jingle Bell Vengeance

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Jingle Bell Vengeance Page 3

by Zoey Indiana


  "Then it's broken because time travel isn't possible." Bash checked a wall screen in the adjoining building, but it said the same thing.

  "There's one thing in common with each of these views." A shiver of ice went down his spine at her words. "I can't see a single person. If there had been a fight, it couldn't have happened in the short time we were in the colony." She paused while trying to catch her breath. "Woman should be all over the streets, but everyone is missing. What if we did go to the future?"

  Chapter 5

  "We have to go back, and I don't know if it's as simple as clipping on the cloaking devices and running in the other direction." Bash sucked in air as he waved at the two small devices on the table between them.

  They were in an older model housing unit, only built to house a few people. It was simple with slightly outdated tech. Plain white walls were broken up by the viewer and the sparse black furniture. There wasn't a single personal item in the whole unit.

  "Like you said, we will die if we stay here. My nanites are-" She took a moment to catch her breath, "breaking down as we speak. We are both on the verge of asphyxiation because the oxygen we need to breathe is somehow disappearing." Her muscles clenched she dropped her head to the table. "I don't have much longer."

  "If I'm going to try this crazy idea, you're going with me."

  Reaching into her vest, she withdrew the hard drive and slid it across the table. "I think it's too late. The drugs you gave me have worn off. Just don't let me die without having helped the Resistance one last time. Make sure Nova gets this, it should answer how Crimson always seems to locate us."

  "This is crazy talk, you're going to be by my side the whole time, so you can hand that to Nova when we get back." Pushing it back towards her, he shook his head.

  "Bash, please." Those soft words struck him to his core.

  His eyes became itchy as he struggled to answer her. "I'll make sure she gets it." Giving in, he slipped it into his pants pocket.

  "Thank you." A hint of a grin appeared on her lips before she slumped over in her chair.

  Panic seized him, she couldn't die. There had to be something else he could do. Quickly he was at her side and scanned her for life signs, but the device didn't find any. How could he live without her? Defeated, he dropped onto his heels and searched for what he should do next.

  He had to take her back. She deserved the burial of a true Resistance leader. Despite his labored breathing, he gently cradled her body to his chest and carried her back to where they'd appeared.

  He'd walk into the clutches of Crimson if there was a chance he could fulfill her dying wish. With a sense of purpose, he turned on both of the altered cloaking devices and sprinted forward until everything around him was consumed by a blinding light. Pain seared through his body as his existence crashed back into him.

  Coughing, he rolled onto his side as everything spun around him. A loud gasp made him pause as he listened for another sound. Sure enough, a second breath came from behind him. Twisting onto his other side, he saw Freya's chest heave. She was alive! Pulling out his handheld, he did a scan. Her life signs barely registered, he was going to lose her again. Heat flushed through his body at the injustice of having to watch her die a second time.

  Seconds ticked by without another breath.

  This was his chance to think of something, anything that would keep her alive.

  Still she didn't inhale.

  Not again! Smacking the palm of his hand against his forehead, there had to be a way to save her. The nanites! While they had caused this, they'd survived for a while before breaking down. Fumbling to retrieve the injector from his pocket, he didn't waste a second.

  The moment the needle protruded, he slipped it into her thigh. Removing it, he retracted the needle and returned it to his pocket. Hopefully it would work long enough to keep her stable until he could get her to a colony.

  Three seconds.

  No breath, no moan, not even a muscle twitch.

  Fifteen seconds.

  He didn't look away for fear of missing a clue that she might be returning to him.

  Forty seconds.

  An invisible weight crushed him. Sinking back into the dirt, he sobbed as heavy tears ran down his cheeks. He'd give up everything he had just to bring her back.

  She deserved to live, deserved another chance to save the world. Her main mission in life had been to save everyone so they couldn't be harmed by ARI anymore, instead she'd saved him and stolen his heart.

  "Bash?"

  A tingle developed in his chest. Could he believe his ears?

  "Bash!"

  This time he didn't hesitate. Bolting upright, he went over to Freya and scanned her. While still sporadic, her life signs were getting stronger by the second. "I'm right here my love."

  Her eyes blinked open, but her gaze was still unfocused. It was in that moment that he realized they were laying in the dirt. Looking around them, they appeared to be in a large dusty crater. Checking his handheld, a cluster of five bodies headed directly toward them. The large force of Crimson didn't appear to be here still.

  Without Freya, he couldn't begin to take on one soldier, let alone all five. Not sure what else to do, he turned on the small devices he'd altered for magnetic propulsion and hoped they would still work to cloak them provided he didn't try to move them. A message popped on his handheld indicating the cloaking devices were running out of battery life. He'd just gotten her back, but the enemy was right on top of them.

  "I'd give my life for yours." Leaning forward, he placed a tender kiss on her forehead.

  Pushing to his feet, he stood in a fighting stance as she'd taught him. Dust trailed toward them as a transit appeared. Except the transit looked oddly like the Resistance one they'd ridden this morning. Stepping back and dropping his fists, he watched them approach. It stopped a few meters away and Nova stepped out. He stood frozen to the ground as she approached him.

  "Where have you been? We've been looking for you for hours." Nova gestured at the women with her. They rushed forward and got to work helping Freya to the transit.

  "You wouldn't believe me even if I knew how to tell you." Shaking his head, he looked around them. Shrapnel from the colony was strewn all around the crater. Instead of returning to the exact moment they left, it appeared that time had passed while they were in the future. "You should take a look at this… Carefully." He handed Nova the hard drive Freya risked her life for.

  Without waiting for Nova to respond, Bash walked over to where Freya was struggling to walk, scooped her into his arms, and carried her to the transit. "Come one, let's get you back to the colony so I can fix those pesky little nanites. I know just the thing to get them working. After that, I want to make love to you all night long."

  If you loved Jingle Bell Vengeance, please take a moment to leave a review.

  Continue the adventure in The Vengeance Trilogy Holidays in New Vengeance.

  Want to read how Freya and Bash met? Start the trilogy with Vengeance Unveiled.

  A Note from the Author

  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking your precious time to read Jingle Bell Vengeance. I hope the adventures were daring, expectations were defied, and all the liaisons were dazzling. I had so much fun writing this short story for Freya and Bash.

  But wait! There’s more. The Trilogy isn’t the end. Remember man of few words but plenty of growls — Alastor? His book is coming soon.

  Sign up for Zoey’s Zine for first access to new releases. Plus I always give my elite readers extra content, giveaways, sneak peeks, and first look at new covers.

  If you have time, would you mind leaving a review? Reviews help other readers like you find books they’ll love.

  I appreciate you.

  ~Z

  Also by Zoey Indiana

  The Vengeance Trilogy

  Book 0.5: Vengeance Due

  Book 1: Vengeance Unveiled

  Book 1.5: Celebrating Vengeance

  ^Ma
sked Vengeance: A Holiday Story

  ^Thanks for Vengeance: A Holiday Story

  ^Jingle Bell Vengeance: A Holiday Story

  ^New Vengeance: A Holiday Story

  ^Cupid’s Vengeance: A Holiday Story

  Book 2: Vengeance Executed

  Book 3: Vengeance Denied

  * * *

  Coming Soon:

  The Fated Mates Series

  About the Author

  Zoey Indiana is an emerging author of daring adventures, defying expectations, and dazzling liaisons. Her books follow headstrong heroines as they find the heroes and love they deserve. She loves writing stories that push the bounds of reality while finding a way to keep it down to Earth.

  Connect with her on her website www.zoeyindiana.com

 

 

 


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