Zuran: A Paranormal Sci-Fi Alien Romance: Albaterra Mates Book 6

by Ashley L. Hunt

  The only thing that seemed to still be working was the steering gear. Jasih was a great pilot so I was sure he would get us out of this mess alive, but now, even if we found Bohin, there was no way out of this planet without contacting the fleet to come and pick us up. And that could take weeks.

  We were going fast, faster than I thought possible on a planet. The hull howled like a wounded animal from the friction caused by the great speed. Mountains, lakes, clouds, everything scrolled by us so fast that a collage of random pictures was created in front of us. Jasih was trying his best to keep the steering gear stable, but after an extremely strong bump, he released it just for a second and the ship started spinning around uncontrollably.

  The previous picture had now transformed into a haze of gray-white blur, and the wild whirl quickly made me feel nauseated. I’m fighting to keep my eyes open, but...but...it’s impossible.

  I opened my eyes and gasped for air. I was still stranded on my seat, as was Jasih besides me. Somehow, the ship was destroyed, but we were...unhurt.

  The lights were flashing, and wires were swinging from the ceiling. Except for wanting to throw up my innards, I was okay. I was more than okay; there wasn’t even a bruise on my body.

  “Lenora...? Lenora!” Jasih grunted next to me. He was waking up as well.

  “I’m here,” I muttered. I was still unable to shake off the feeling that we were spinning, but I was sure we had stopped moving.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, muttering himself.

  “Yes. No major injuries from what I can see. You?”

  “The same. What happened? We should have died when crashing at that speed.”

  Hell if I knew. Right now, it was pointless to run around chasing our tails. Capturing Bohin was a priority. Whatever he was trying to accomplish on this planet, it involved high levels of energy, the likes that were able to fry our ship without doing anything. At least, nothing we knew of.

  I unbuckled my safety belt and took a look around me. All the systems were fried, and the rest of the ship seemed like it was ready to fall on our heads any moment now. Jasih stood up as well. Unlike me, he headed straight to the communication device. He was probably trying to establish a communication link with the fleet and call for help. It was a standard procedure for all the crash landings.

  Still, I was itching to head out there and search for him.

  “Hello? Hello? Can anyone hear me?” Jasih said again and again.

  He was trying as hard as he could. However, he didn’t stop. That means what? Is the communication device still working? I knew that they built them to last, but that was something else. Jasih still didn’t give up. I walked closer to him.

  “Hello? If anyone can hear me, please reply. This is Esuh Prime Officer Jasih asking for help. Why the fuck don’t they answer to me? I can establish a line, but it seems like no one is answering.”

  I placed my hand on his shoulder and squeezed. He turned and looked at me with a strange look, a look hiding fear and worry in it. I didn’t like it, not when for some reason, I felt unnaturally calm myself. It’s like...I belong here, on this dangerous situation and every dangerous situation out there.

  Abruptly, Jasih tossed the headset on the control console and lowered his head between his hands. He needed someone to reassure him.

  “It might have broken during the crash. Maybe the link is too weak for them to reply to us or maybe they’re under attack themselves and have changed frequency. You can’t really know for sure. Keep trying. Check the systems. I...I’ll check the perimeter for anything that can help us.”

  Why does that sound like a convenient excuse to head outside and look for him? Shit, have I fallen so low to even consider leaving him alone to chase a criminal?

  “Yeah, do that. We’ll need a shelter for the night. We’re trapped in here until we’re able to send a signal on their way.”

  As I walked outside, I felt...excited. I couldn’t control myself anymore. It felt like I was doing the right thing when I knew that I didn’t. But, what if Bohin saw us crashing and was already heading towards our way to take us out? What then?

  I had to keep Jasih safe. I had to capture him before he killed more people. I had to make sure everyone was safe.

  An hour had passed and still no sign of Bohin or the beam of light piercing the sky. If I didn’t know better, I would’ve said that everything was in my head, and nothing had happened. However, he had to be around here. I knew it. I could feel it in the back of my neck, that prickle that meant that danger was approaching.

  I decided that I would check behind a cluster of destroyed buildings ahead of me before I returned and helped Jasih fix the communication device. My pride would be hurt, and I would be really disappointed with myself if there was nothing there. There was no point in wondering around on a strange planet any longer if I didn’t even find a sign of what had happened.

  I climbed over a small cliff of what seemed like broken glasses and columns made of steel when I finally saw it. In the distance, there was a figure enveloped in bright light. For a moment, I had to turn my eyes away so that I didn’t get blinded by its intensity, but the closer I got, the more natural the light it was emitting felt to me.

  There was a buzzing sound coming from it, and I could see that instead of being a continued stream of light, it was instead flashing, kinda like a pulsar but without the violent whirl. Amidst the buzzing sound and the warm light encircling me, it felt like...I was safe.

  Come closer.

  “What the...?!” A voice just came from deep within my head.

  Come closer, it insisted.

  I saw no harm in getting closer. It might have been a new life form that wanted to communicate. For something to be so friendly and warm...it couldn’t be an enemy.

  I took a step closer. Now, I was face-to-face with that strange figure that seemed to float above the ground. I raised my arm and stretched, trying to touch the figure with my hand. I was getting closer, even closer, feeling the pulsating light crash on the tip of my fingertips, until...

  “Lenora!!!”

  Jasih shouted behind me, but it was too late.

  I let the light flood my head with words and images of past lives, everything that had happened thousands of years ago. Every...frightening...detail.

  “No...no...no! Please no! No! You can’t do this!!!”

  I was the one doing the screaming now. Honestly, how wouldn’t I scream after what I had seen? God, it was a mistake coming here.

  I quickly withdrew from it as far away as possible, but it was way too late for me now. I raised my head and saw the beginning of it all. Jasih followed my movements, and now it seemed like he was able to spot our doom as well.

  “What is that thing falling from the sky, Lenora? What in the hell is going on?”

  Unable to draw my eyes away from the falling thing or finding a solution to this, I turned around and ran towards Jasih. Without slowing down, I screamed at him: “Run! It’s too late. We have to run!”

  Oh, my God. What have I done?

  Jasih

  It had been over half an hour since we started running. I was out of my breath, and my lungs were burning. I was a trained soldier, but I couldn’t spring all the way out of this planet, no matter how hard I wanted it to. We passed by crumbled buildings and cavities made of stone and glass. This used to be a city, a human city. But...weren’t they supposed to be primitive beings? Were our reports wrong?

  I couldn’t think straight. Lenora had been out of the proximity of the ship for over one hour before I headed out to find her. After I had run countless diagnostic tests to the ship’s system, I found out that our ship’s communication device wasn’t the problem. It was working fine. And the signal didn’t have any problems at all. It was strong as ever. It was just that...no one was replying to our message.

  Thus, I had to find her and let her know. Fortunately, her scent was still strong, and I was able to catch up to her real quick, but the moment I arrived, she was sta
nding in the middle of a crater, surrounded by a strong light, her arms stretched above her head. I started screaming, and she seemed to recognize my voice and react, but after that, we had been running like someone was chasing us. I didn’t have the chance to ask her what was going on, and I was right about my limit in running aimlessly.

  All I knew was that I had to follow her inside one of the human buildings.

  We were running on a staircase towards the upper floors. This building, unlike most of the others, was still in a good enough condition for us to hide in it. However, Lenora kept running, and she kept running until we arrived on the roof. She burst out of the door and collapsed in the middle of the open space whipped by the wind.

  I crawled next to her slowly and lay on the floor, unable to speak. Five minutes passed like that, in total silence, until I finally decided I had to know what was going on.

  But, Lenora, didn’t seem to share my opinion on this. Instead, she got to her feet and looked over the horizon, towards the falling object. It now seemed bigger somehow, like it was getting closer. How is that possible? All that running and still nothing? We should have gained some ground at the very least, not get closer to it.

  I heard Lenora sob behind me. It was an awkward sound, one not befitting her. If there was one person I couldn’t imagine sob, well, that was Lenora. However, she was now crying like a small child.

  It was difficult at first, but I strained myself to get on my feet and head to her way. For every step I took, she took one back. “Lenora? What the hell? What game are you playing?”

  “Stay back, Jasih. It’s over. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have...oh my god, I shouldn’t have dragged you here. It’s too late now,” she said, stopping only to take a breath and cry even more.

  “What are you talking about, Lenora? How is this your fault? Damn it, I don’t know what it’s going on.”

  I tried to get closer to her, but now she stepped onto the ledge of the roof. Suddenly, I felt my limbs wobbly and my stomach getting empty from the shock. She’s gonna jump.

  “I’m sorry, Jasih. I’m sorry I can’t be the wife you wanted. I’m sorry for everything,” she yelled, trying to be heard over the raging wind.

  “God, Lenora, step down from up there and talk to me. I can help you. You know that I can!”

  She shook her head slightly, she opened her mouth screaming something, but I couldn’t hear anything over the constant buzzing coming from around me. I covered my ears, but I only managed to muffle the sound.

  In that sickly scenery, where I could do nothing but watch her stand there, on the edge of nothingness, Lenora cast one last, bittersweet smile at me, before jumping.

  I was not sure how, or why, or what in the world was going on right now, but my instincts kicked in. I didn’t care if the whole planet was on the verge of getting destroyed, I followed her to the edge and jumped behind her.

  I knew there was nothing I could do—the building was too short, and I didn’t have my gadgets with me—but still, I stuck my hands on my sides to gain more speed. Lenora had her eyes closed, her limbs flapping around her. She had given up completely. However, I was falling headfirst and had only one thing on my mind now.

  I stretched my hands ahead of me and struggle to reach her. She didn’t know I had jumped behind her, but if I managed to catch her...if I managed to get below her then maybe...maybe she could...

  “Lenora!!!” I finally screamed, the tip of my hand almost touching hers.

  At that moment, time seemed to slow down and everything getting covered in a warm, penetrating light. I wanted to let go too, but I couldn’t. If I did, then Lenora would die. However, the light was blinding, and I had to close my eyes.

  I have to save her.

  I have to!

  There was no pain, except the fleeting feeling of being alive. I knew I was gravely wounded but still, something felt wrong with this feeling. I could barely open my eyes. When I did, I looked around me, searching for Lenora. She was nowhere to be found. Does that mean…?

  Someone was dragging me through the city. I had no idea what was going on.

  Where is Lenora? God, is she okay? The idea of her lying dead on the ground in front of that building rushed into my head, causing more pain that all the wounds I had endured.

  I pushed myself to do something, to free myself from the one dragging me, but the only thing I managed was for him to raise me over his head and carry me on his shoulders. He stopped and barely tilted his head to look at me. He was waiting for something, but I was not sure what.

  Suddenly, it hit me; he’s waiting for orders. Even so, where should I go? No place is left for me if she, Lenora, is dead. I have to heal my wounds and find her. And there’s only one way to do it.

  I opened my mouth. “Take me...to my spaceship…,” I whispered. He nodded and with a slight jerk, he started forwards.

  Only after we passed under the door of my spaceship, I knew for sure that this man wasn’t human. He didn’t talk, he was overly hairy and too strong to be one. Humans were all frail creatures that didn’t even live that much. This thing...well, this thing was something else.

  After it took another step into the spaceship, the door behind him suddenly closed. But...that’s impossible. Nothing was working just a couple hours ago, not even the doors. How did he...?

  The man didn’t move now. He was waiting for my next order. Even though I was quite big and heavy myself, it seemed like I was nothing comparing to his strength. I left a sigh when giving him instructions to get me to the cryo-pod room. He easily headed through the bridge, against the observation hall, and found it.

  I hope Lenora is doing okay. If I can get one day into the cryo-pod, then maybe I’ll be able to recover enough to go out and help her.

  I heard my voice breaking, being unable to talk. The man opened one of the pods and put me in. I had no strength left in me. He just sealed the pod and took two steps behind. I made sure I explained the procedure to him, the man that had just saved me, the one that had appeared out of nowhere.

  The water particles on the glass door seemed to freeze the moment the system activated. I only had sixty seconds before I fell into a chemical hibernation. Twenty-four hours have to be enough, and even if they are not, then I’ll have to make it with what I have.

  I had no idea what’s going on. Why had everything had to end up the way it did? Lenora...my love...is she dead? I wanted to cry and mourn her, but the cold liquids running into my veins seemed to do a good job numbing the pain.

  What was that thing flying towards us? What was that light that encircled her before? What scared her so much she decided to end her life in that way? It felt like I was falling into a twisting labyrinth without a way out.

  I had to find what had happened to her. The last thing she mentioned was that everything was her fault. That she was sorry, she couldn’t be the wife I wanted her to be. But how it’s possible that this disaster was her fault?

  A light was coming from outside. Someone else was with that man, but I couldn’t see clearly. There was something going on outside.

  “Access granted: add new hibernation period,” the voice of the ship’s automatic assistant uttered clearly.

  What the fuck? Someone is trying to change my hibernation time. But...but that means…

  “Input accepted. New hibernation period: unlimited.”

  Un...limited? What is she talking about?

  “Hello? Who is out there? What are you doing?” I tried shouting, but I could only hear myself mumble. Shit. I’m too tired to do anything.

  I managed to move my hands and touch the cold, glass case, but there was nothing I could do. Fuck! Why did this have to happen? Is there something I can do to get out of here? To save her?

  “Ten seconds till deep hibernation. All systems entering into suspension. See you soon, Prime Officer Jasih.”

  Ten seconds. Adrenaline dulled the kick of the drugs a bit, giving me the strength to punch the glass case. But, I was weak, certain
ly not strong enough to escape. Why didn’t I hear Lenora in the first place? Why...why? We could have made it in time if I had heard her. She knew that something was wrong with Bohin and his relic, but I didn’t believe her. Now, she’s somewhere out there alone, waiting for me to help her.

  God, who am I kidding? We fell off a building. There’s no way in hell she’s alive.

  I was starting to get dizzy. My hand was still touching the glass case of the pod, but I could feel my muscles sore and heavy. Soon, I would lose consciousness. The scene of our falling popped to my mind. There was something there...a warm light coming from somewhere. I thought it was coming off from her, but now that I was looking back at that moment, there was something else flying towards her.

  I have to get out of here. I have to find her. It wasn’t her fault, and I’ll prove it.

  Lenora...Lenora now had only become a word buried into my head. I didn’t know how long it would be before I woke up but inside me, I promised that I would find her.

  Yes, I will find her and...and...

  It seems...I’m out...of...time…

  Lenora...

  So long...my love...

  Until...we...meet...again....

  The Story Continues Here

  Click the image below to read how the story continues:

  http://ashleylhunt.com/Amazon-To-Jasih

  Preview Of Kerr

  Alien Mates 1

  Turn one more page to read the sneak peak.

  If you want to read the full story Click Here or the link below: http://ashleylhunt.com/Amazon-To-Kerr

  Kataline

  Night has fallen as I stand in the vast garden of antique roses my father has made for my sister and me to enjoy. I’m not willing to go back inside just yet though as I think about my future and how it will no longer be here on Earth.