by Gemma Voss
“What do they think this is going to prove?” I sigh before shoving more of the sandwich in my mouth.
The woman shakes her head. “Stop trying to rationalize it. They’re assholes, plain and simple.”
I turn to her and plead with my eyes. “I can help you. There’s someone coming for me, and when he’s here we can help you get away from them.”
It’s a desperate plea, and as soon as I see her incredulous expression, I know I won’t get through to her.
“You’re an idiot,” she snorts. “No one knows where you are. No one is coming here. If you think you’re fucked… Once they’re done with you, they’ll leave you somewhere and you’ll go back to your regularly scheduled programming. Me? This is my life. I’m stuck forever. So shut your mouth about things you don’t understand.”
She’s awfully confident in the statement that no one is coming here, but I know Kila is looking for me. I know it more certainly than I know my own name. He’s the kind of man that crawls across a desert to survive. He’s the kind of man that clings to the under-carriage of a bus just to eat dinner with me. And even though I didn’t say ‘I love you’ back, he’s the kind of man that won’t stop until he finds me.
Before I can reply, the door bursts open again. It’s my masked friend.
“We gotta go, stat. Got word there was a van outside the compound,” he tells the girl. “Not government. Turned around and headed this way. I shouldn’t need to tell you that we were never here.”
My heart stops. I know it’s Kila.
“Whatever,” the girl is saying, contempt pouring off of her.
Then the man reaches for me and I twist away. My arms are free now, and I hop backwards on my shaky bound legs. He stalks toward me, furious. The girl doesn’t lift a finger to help him, and instead takes the paper plate out of the room like she can’t be bothered with either of us.
“I don’t have time for this,” he says. “And I’ll make you pay for it later.”
I slide my hand behind my back and grab for the hair-spray bottle that’s been wedged in my ass cheeks all night. As he lunges for me, I shoot out my arm and spray wildly in the direction of his face. He lets out a shout of surprise and anger, but I don’t wait for a moment. I elbow him in the balls and hop like my life depends on it. I hop into the hallway. Once glance to the right and I can see the woman’s back heading towards a living room area. She looks over her shoulder at me, then looks away. I hop in the opposite direction, where a door awaits me just down the hall.
It’s my only opportunity. I’m slow-moving in this state, and it won’t take long for my masked torturer to get up. And he’ll be pissed. I grab for the door, and sure enough, as I’m slamming it shut I can see him in the door-frame of the room where I was being held.
I lock the door. My eyes start searching the room frantically. It’s a laundry room. My first instinct is to grab the nearest piece of furniture and shove it up against the door. It turns out to be a table topped with unfolded clothes, which slide onto the floor when I throw my body weight behind the act of bolstering the door.
Just in time, the knob jiggles and I hear my captor shouting at me from the other side. He pounds on the door so hard that it shakes.
As I scan the place, my eye catches on a glint of metal— scissors. Yes.
I grab them from a cup of scrubbers and screwdrivers and triumphantly hack at the zip-ties that are binding my legs together. Behind me, the door shakes so hard that I hear a heart-stopping cracking sound. He’s about to break the thing down. But I have legs now. Legs and weapons. I shove the screwdrivers in my pockets and keep the scissors clutched in hand. There’s a small, high window in here and the sight of it makes me want to scream with joy.
I hop on top of the dryer unit and kneel on it, eliciting a metallic moan from the machine. I get to work popping up the sash lock and throwing it open, but when I check over my shoulder, I see that the door has been busted off the hinges. My masked buddy is trying to cram himself through the opening, pushing the table as he goes. I rip the screen of the window with my scissors and throw myself through, not bothering to carefully pop out the screen altogether.
It seems I’ve been in a split-level house, so I am belly crawling through a bed of mulch as soon as I am halfway through the window. My ears perk at the sound of a tires on gravel, and the hum of an engine approaching.
“Where are you going, bitch?” the angry voice from inside sends a shot of adrenaline pulsing through my system. He grabs my feet and tries to haul me back inside. I claw at the grass for purchase and stab my scissors into the earth to hold onto for leverage.
I kick wildly as I scoot farther and farther from the window, pulling one leg from his grip. I am so close. My shoe pops off, and the release of his weight on my leg propels me forward— I am scrabbling, crawling, and wiggling until I can pick myself up.
I stumble, just getting a bearing on my new surroundings, but the first thing I see is a man I don’t recognize. He’s coming right for me with a look of determination. I start to run but he tackles me, laying me out like a linebacker. The air is knocked out of me. As I sputter, my new problem starts to try and pick me up. I grip my trusty scissors in hand and stab the first body-part I can see. He shrieks and drops me, but it’s not a long-lived victory. He knocks the scissors from my hand and punches me in the stomach. I double over, tired of all the pain and running low on energy.
The sound of an opening car door fills me with hope and desperation all at once. I don’t know if it’s really him, but I scream at the top of my lungs, “KIIILAA!”
Chapter 24
KILA
“We’re being followed,” Vala says as we round a corner at top speed.
“You are driving like a maniac,” Kiva shouts as he knocks against the interior wall of the door. Pakka and Mori have braced themselves against the ceiling, contrastingly un-flustered by the turbulence.
“Four armed combatants in the vehicle trailing us,” Mori says. “There are two males with weapons at the house we are approaching. One is unarmed. Two females, one is presumably Ella, and another.”
Vala jerks his arm to get our attention. “Straightaways here. Shoot the tires.”
Without speaking, we glance at Pakka. He’s our best shot and he’s already moving. He slides toward the back doors which open out. Cracking one side open, he slips his arm out with stinger in hand. He’s braced against the side, staring through the window. He hesitates for a couple seconds before he unleashes four shots in succession.
“Get down,” he says.
I slide down in my seat. Mori, Pakka, and Kiva hit the floor as human bullets begin firing at the back of the van. Vala swerves to deter accuracy. They’re not hitting us for long though, because Pakka’s shots slowed them down.
“I only hit three,” he gripes. I drop the window and take a good look behind us. The pursuit vehicle is slowing to a stop, and I can see our enemies emerging from the car.
“We’re close,” Mori warns. “They can pursue on foot.”
“What’s that?” Kiva asks, pointing to his scanner.
“That’s assumed Ella. She’s on the move,” he says. “She’s still inside the house, but she’s by a window now.”
I climb out of my seat and join them in the back. “Show me where she is. I will go to her there.”
Pakka nods. “Kila heads for Ella. Mori, back him up. Kiva and I will enter the house from the front entrance. Vala stays in the driver’s seat, ready for the pursuers on foot. Stingers set to incapacitate. Local authorities should arrive in less than ten.”
“Arriving!” Vala calls out. Then, we swerve and sail over rocky gravel ground.
I hold my breath. The familiar calm before battle washes over me, a sensation I haven’t felt since leaving my military assignment.
Pakka grips my arm. “Control,” he whispers.
“I promise nothing,” I say. “But I will try.”
“Move out,” Vala directs as he slams the brakes.
Mori’s first, sliding the van door open and hopping out. I follow him, eyes on the side of the house, searching the windows.
Then, I hear it.
“KILA!” The strained voice of my mate, screaming my name. My neck prickles, and I am sure that my eyes have blackened in seconds.
“Ella!” I am no longer aware of my team. I sprint towards the sound of her voice. It is dark, and the dwelling is flanked by bulky greenery. I crash through these prickly bushes, and when I emerge I can see her.
She’s on the ground and there is a man on top of her. I am incensed. A ferocious growl rips from my throat, the likes of which I did not know I could produce.
I am on him in a moment, tearing him away from her and tossing him at the side of the building. He slaps the wall and crumples. I want to tear his throat out. I want to see his face as I pummel his ribs into jelly.
Control, I remind myself.
I pull the stinger from my belt and shoot my mate’s assailant twice with drop-stings. He goes limp and I turn away, desperate to have her in my arms.
Click.
The unmistakable sound of a human gun cocking.
I freeze. There is a second man, half hanging out of the small window by the ground. He has a gun trained on me. Though he’s not at the most advantageous position, one shot to the head would end me.
“No!” Ella shouts, but claps her hands over her own mouth quickly.
“Bitch,” he addresses her. My fist clenches. “Move an inch and I shoot this freak.”
Ella and I exchange a look, and unspoken emotions pass between us. Even in the low light, I can tell her face has been hit. It’s swollen and her lip is bloody. The state of her clothing would be more fitting if she had been dropped in a forest of thorns. It fills me with rage, but I cannot move. I begin to calculate. If I duck and charge him quickly, will he miss my head? My vitals are covered by Kar’Kali armor, so surely I could dispatch him even if he shoots me anywhere else…
He is climbing out of the window, grunting with his gun trained on me. Ella is shaking her head in my direction, tears coming from her eyes. She is silently begging me not to “do anything stupid”, as she might say. As long as he does not go near her now, I will let him go. As long as his only plan is escape—
The sound of gunfire makes me flinch. Ella screams and launches herself at the man with a small weapon. She swings her arm and viciously stabs him through his foot.
“Ella,” I cry, jumping into action.
The man folds with a gurgle of surprise, letting off a shot from his gun that glances against the side of the house. He falls over, a drop-sting protruding from his throat.
Mori rustles out of the bush behind us. “Apologies for the delay. Needed a good angle.”
I skid to my knees beside Ella and drag her away from the man’s now-limp body.
She is sobbing, digging her fingers into my arms like she’s afraid I’ll disappear. “Oh my… Kila, I thought it was you. I thought he shot you! I thought—” Her words dissolve into incoherent gasps of emotion.
I pull her against my chest gently and she lolls into me weakly.
“I am fine. I am here,” I whisper as I stroke her hair. “You are safe now.”
Mori walks over, inspecting the dropped kidnappers. “Both of these men have stab wounds,” he comments. “Kila?”
“This fierce viki is responsible for that,” I say, cradling her in my arms and lifting her from the ground. Mori and I stop to appreciate the blunt metal tool that sticks out of one of the attackers’ shoes. She lodged it straight into his instep.
Sirens blare down the otherwise quiet street.
We walk out to the front of the dwelling to meet the local authorities and the emergency medical vehicles. The cars cram halfway up the gravel drive and park just in front of four bodies that have been drop-stung. Vala leans against the van, arms crossed lazily over his chest as he watches their approach.
“Kila,” Ella murmurs, fisting the front of my shirt in her hand. “You know I love you, right? I don’t know why I didn’t say before, but I love you so much. I just don’t know what I would do if—”
“Do not worry yourself,” I tell her. “Rest your eyes. You are safe now, and we can talk of many things when you are rested and healthy.”
She nods slowly and nestles into my shoulder, sniffling. I can’t stand to see her swollen face, her pained winces. It is all I can do not to hand her off to Mori while I turn on my heel and brutally murder each and every drop-stung beast that helped to do this to her. But I couldn’t bear to release her from my arms now, so I will settle for having them arrested.
The human authorities begin to flood the property, and Vala calmly explains to them what has happened. They are a bit confused, but quickly enter the house with their guns cautiously raised.
They emerge with a young female, with her arms cuffed behind her back. Just behind this, Pakka and Kiva spill out the door. Pakka is supporting Kiva—no, in fact, restraining the male— as they cross the threshold.
Red blood pours from Kiva’s face as he struggles vigorously against Pakka’s grip.
“You can’t let them just take her away like this! She is not a criminal,” he shouts. “Pakka, tell them to stop!”
The female eyes Kiva over her shoulder, in shock, as the human authorities lead her across the greenery to the gravel drive.
Mori claps me on my shoulder as he grins at the chaotic scene developing before us. “You know, you were correct about the chips bringing feeling to the surface. I have not had such good fun since… Eh, I cannot remember. I feel like laughing.”
Chapter 25
ELLA
“I once questioned the need for so many, but I now consider them quite beneficial,” Kila says as he fluffs one of my pillows and props it up under my knees.
I lay fully reclined on my bed, propped up by a perfectly engineered arrangement of pillows. Not a single limb is unsupported. My hot alien boyfriend has turned into a nursemaid right before my very eyes. In my underwear and a tank top with just the two of us in my cozy apartment, I can finally relax.
I chuckle at his fussing, but wince immediately at the way my bruised ribs ache from the movement.
“Do not laugh!” he demands, his face as serious as the grave.
“I can’t help it if you look at me like that! Will you sit down? I’m fine. I feel wonderful. Relax,” I tell him firmly. He sighs heavily and then complies, softly seating himself at the foot of the bed.
“Mmm,” I hum appreciatively when he begins rubbing my elevated feet. “I love you.”
His black eyes twinkle up at me in reply. “And I you,” he whispers. “I feel complete.”
“That’s the hormones talking,” I tease him. He takes the bait so quickly.
“Do not say that!” he protests. “Ella, we’re putting all of that behind us no—”
I start to giggle again briefly before the pain sets my teeth gritting. He tightens his grip on my ankle and gives me a pleading look.
“Alright, alright, no laughing,” I say, showing him my palms in surrender.
“I’ll never forgive myself for what happened,” he says. “If only we had appeared in public with you, or if I had given Pakka a talking to about our relationship before—”
“Shush,” I snap. “I don’t want to hear that talk. It’s not your fault. It’s not anyone’s fault but the men that broke into the building and decided to snag me as a bonus.”
He shakes his head. “There are more responsible, but nothing will done about them.”
My stomach sinks. This morning, when I was released from the hospital, we received some concerning news. While the men that Kila and his team so efficiently incapacitated on the night of my rescue have been arrested, the rest of their organization will continue to operate. The authorities were unable to find evidence clear enough to link the break-in and my kidnapping to their official group, The Exile Squad. Stupid assholes with a stupid name. If they had their way, I know I
would have been at that compound and I don’t want to think of what else they would have done to me. The investigator that interviewed me would not tell me what the un-rescued victims had endured. I shiver just remembering that they are out there, plotting their next move.
According to Jen, the information they stole from the facility could be dangerous, as it includes the names and contact information for every staff member. They also took files on the Kar’Kali genocide. Jen said they must have thought they could try to use the bioweapon formula on humans here on Earth without realizing how utterly useless it is now. “Somehow I doubt they have to chops to synthesize the pheromones of a Mitskaa fog monster,” Jen had said. “HA! Friggin’ idiots.” I’m still not finding the humor in it myself, but that’s for the best since laughter makes me spasm in pain.
“I didn’t get a chance to say how proud of you I am,” I say, smiling as I reach to him, signaling that he should hold my hand.
He frowns and lays his head on my leg pillow. He nestles between my legs and takes my flexing hand in his own. “What can you mean?” he asks.
“I know you were in Alpha male rage mode. And you did the right thing. You proved everyone wrong, including yourself I might add, by not ripping any throats out.”
“I must admit I often regret that,” he grumbles.
“Take my compliment! Don’t make an injured woman get up to smack you,” I warn him.
“Apologies.” He laughs and opens my hand so he can kiss the inside of my palm. “Your pride in me is more than I deserve. But I am filled with joy at the thought of it.”
“Good enough,” I say. “But seriously, you didn’t maim a single person!”
He grows quiet, then glances at me with slitted eyes.
“What?” I exclaim. “Kila! Did you…?”
His fingers stroke my palm and wrist.
“Kila! Who did you maim—”
“Lightly,” he corrects in a silky voice. “Lightly maimed.”
“Well, who?” I ask.
“Please don’t be upset,” he sighs. “But I extracted some information from Vic Williams. I might have broken a finger. I was more than willing to begin cutting him in the Kar’Kali way, but he broke in a matter of seconds.”
