He took a seat on the edge of Masters’ bed and watched her. She looked small and haunted. “I got the food,” he said feeling awkward. “Why don't we go and get you something to eat?"
Beth didn't meet his eyes. She shook her head and squeezed the book tighter. “I'm not hungry."
She was dangerously thin; he knew she was lying. “Come here.” Magnus gestured to her.
She shook her head “no” and seemed to shrink a little more into herself.
Magnus got up and slowly moved toward her. Beth didn't look up at him but he saw her stiffen. “I'm not going to hurt you, baby.” He kept his voice soothing. Crouching in front of her, Magnus tried to catch her gaze. Reaching out, he took hold of the book and peeled it from her reluctant arms. He took her hands and she finally met his gaze. He draped her hair behind her ears so he could see her face clearly. “Is it too much for you?"
The crack in her emotions poured out of her, rushing over him in an exhaled gasp. The sobs flowed out of her in great waves of toxic grief. She clutched onto him like a drowning woman going down for the last time.
He pulled her into his arms, bringing her down onto the floor with him. Squeezing her body, he could feel the violent sobs as they rocked her with their ferocity. He hated the feelings her breakdown was tapping in him—his own fear and loathing of this place. Fears of maiming and suffering beyond imagination, but he kept himself in check and held her tighter than he'd ever held anyone.
"I hate it here. Hate it, hate it,” she hissed through clinched teeth.
"I know, I know.” The words were meaningless and did little to temper his true feelings. He buried his face in her neck. “There is another way, you know."
Beth sniffled a few times and pulled back to look at him. “What?"
Magnus pulled his pistol and pointed it at the ceiling. “I could take us both out and we'd be done.” He was the stalking angel of death. His voice was a dark whisper. A voice she barely recognized.
Beth looked into his eyes and he could see her playing with the possibility. “No,” she whispered finally. “No, I don't want that."
He holstered the weapon again then kissed her deeply on the mouth. She looked too stunned to speak.
"Just remember, baby—that option is always available in case you feel like you don't want to try anymore. And if you go, I won't be far behind you."
Chapter 30
Beth slumped in her chair, randomly arranging packages of condiments. The break room was dim and dusty, showing signs of its infrequent use. She glanced across the room at Magnus sleeping in a green vinyl armchair, his leg swung over one arm. She wished she was more like him, able to turn her emotions on and off at will.
Masters was moving from one vending machine to another, considering the meager offerings with a serious air. She sighed loudly and stared at Magnus’ still form. She knew he wasn't really asleep. He never slept.
"Tell me more about people who've managed to get off world,” she said.
Magnus didn't move from his position of apparent sleep. “We can do it."
Doctor Masters turned around and frowned at her. “So you're going to try and get off?"
Beth shifted and met his hard gaze. She was annoyed at herself for feeling a tinge of guilt. “I just can't live like this,” she admitted softly. “If there's any hope at all of getting out of here, I'm going to take it. The patients can be damned."
They all lapsed into a long silence. Beth listened to the wind spraying sand against the building.
Masters lowered himself into a metal folding chair. It creaked under his weight. Sunlight from the grimy window dappled his back. He watched Magnus as if the man was going to vanish at any moment. “You'll have to make it past Piper to Outpost Ten."
Magnus took his leg off the chair arm and stretched. “That's right."
Masters shook his head and hissed air from his teeth. “You'll never make it."
Beth looked from one to the other. There was a dangerous feel to the room—a hostile feel that she was excluded from. “Why won't he make it past Outpost Ten?"
"Transportation, slavers, hunger. I could list a hundred reasons. Then there's Piper,” Masters told her.
"I can take care of Piper,” Magnus said.
"What do you really think about this trip?” she said to Magnus. “Do you think you can make it?"
Magnus leaned his head back again and closed his eyes. “I don't know, but I can't think of one good reason not to try."
Masters folded his arms and shook his head.
"What about you?” Beth said to Masters. “Are you coming with us?"
"No,” he said. “I have nothing to run from here. You two kids go ahead. I wish you all the luck in the world."
Magnus stood up and straightened out his jacket. “Not much luck in it,” he said. “Either we make it or we don't. And if we don't, the only thing we'll be planning for is a quick death."
Chapter 31
After several hours, Magnus finally got the generator running. As a personal reward, he filled the clinic compound with light, banishing all the dark spaces, at least for a little while. Masters had been hounding him to fix it before he left, so he indulged the man for some peace.
Unrolling the map, Magnus spread it out on the floor so he and Beth could see what they were really up against. She stared at the map silently. After a few moments, she said, “If we follow the water stations, it looks like it's a pretty straight forward shot to Outpost Ten and freedom."
"The water stations are exactly where the cannibal bands hang out. We'd have to fight our way through to each one and we won't have nearly enough ammunition,” Magnus said, scratching his neck absently.
Beth tapped a finger over some mountainous terrain. “There's the Solian Pass. We could try cutting over the mountains. What do you think?"
He rolled the different possibilities around in his head. Every route presented its own problems, but the water route had the added problem of Piper and his merry band of nuts. Fuel was another problem but they might just have enough for the Solian Pass. “Sounds like a plan."
* * * *
The systems check became a breeze. Beth was surprised how quickly Magnus had learned Kerillian. He'd taught himself to both read and write the language.
Magnus took the cruiser on a small test flight around the medical compound and was impressed by how smooth the ride was. For the first time in years, he actually had some hope.
He landed, and he and Beth sat in the dark for a few minutes, with only the glow of the control panel illuminating their features. “Are you ready?” Magnus said.
Beth grinned. “I guess so."
"You didn't say goodbye to Doctor Masters,” he said softly.
"What's the point?” she said. “He knew we were going."
Hitting the ignition, he fired up the ship and they took flight. After a few minutes, they were on their way.
Epilogue
It had taken them five days to reach Outpost Ten, but they finally did. The first mining station they came to, they had their prison tattoos removed by a man who asked no questions. Beth had a new sense of hope for their future and Magnus had changed too.
They had taken up residence on the small moon of Goth. Both of them had no problem finding jobs—she as a nurse, and he as a weapons expert. As time went on, they talked less and less about their sentences on the Prison Planet of Ackron-Nine. Indeed, by the time they had their first child together, their time there was nothing but a terrible and distant memory.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michelle was born in Los Angeles, CA but has called many cities her home. She is a huge fan of science fiction and romance and loves to write. She has authored numerous stories both on the Internet and for Whiskey Creek. The Hungry Planet is her fourth book.
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