Iska looked around. A glowing archway had appeared behind him.
He hesitated. Should he pursue the woman being chased and see if she knew anything about Avril?
He shook his head. She was long gone if she knew what was good for her. He’d given her a distraction and a chance to get away. That was the best he could do.
Iska focused on the archway. Avril could be in this next level. She had a good head for strategy. If she could stay clear of the fangs and claws, she might still be alive and making progress through this place.
“Level closing in ten seconds.”
Decision made. Iska ran forward and stepped through the archway.
Chapter 15
Avril let out an exhausted breath and collapsed on the ground.
She’d been tracking up the hill with Malka for what felt like hours. Every part of her shook with fatigue, but they were finally up as high as they could go, and it felt good. This felt like a safe place.
Malka slumped next to her and nudged her shoulder. “This is the place to be. Up here, we’re queens of the world. We can look out over almost the entire game and see what’s going on. This is my favorite vantage point. You can see anyone coming up the hill. If anyone’s going to attack us, we’ll know beforehand.”
Avril smiled tiredly. “Is this when we bring out the big guns and shoot them down?”
“No, but we can make a run for it. It’s the best defence we’ve got here.” Malka pointed in front of her. “Do you see that beam of light over there?”
Avril tilted her head and nodded. “What is it?”
“I’m not sure, but I think it’s some sort of central headquarters. This game is being monitored. They’ve got people in here keeping an eye on what’s going on. And there’s an arena.”
“An arena?”
“Fights happen there.”
“You’ve seen the fights?”
“No, you don’t go there willingly. It’s what I heard from this guy I met in here. He escaped from these freaky guards dressed in black. That’s where he reckoned they were taking him. It’s a sort of huge fight club.”
Avril squinted at the beam. “That could be a power supply keeping the place going.”
“It might be. It isn’t something humans know how to create.”
Avril nodded. “I think aliens are involved in this game.”
“Of course they are. Never trust an alien.”
Avril glanced at Malka. “You’re not into aliens?”
“Some are okay. Some are just plain weird, though. Have you seen the ones with tentacles? And don’t get me started on the ones with horns and claws.”
“Most are decent. I work with a lot of them.”
Malka’s gaze turned curious. “What do you do with them?”
“I work for a matchmaking agency. There’s a big demand for fertile females among aliens. We match lonely aliens and willing human females.”
“Hold on. You’re a part of My Single Alien?”
Avril smiled. It felt good to talk about something so normal. “That’s right. You’ve heard of us?”
“Everyone’s heard of that place. All my friends back on Earth won’t shut up about it. They keep on about how they’re going to meet their dream alien, and he’ll whisk them off for a life of amazing sex and adventure in the stars.”
Avril grinned. “That happens more often than not. Have you ever thought of signing up?”
Malka shrugged. “I’m not one of the lucky ones. I’m no good to anybody. I used to live at a site that took an almost direct hit. The whole place was irradiated. I got out alive, but that’s about it. Nothing works down below. No alien would be interested in me.”
Avril touched Malka’s arm. “Sorry to hear that. You don’t have to join the dating agency to be useful to aliens.”
“I’m not exactly highly qualified to do anything. You can still pick up easy work on Earth. It’s grunt work, but no questions are asked about your work history or experience. If you do a good job, you get paid cash in hand. I might make it to the giddy heights of worn out waitress if I’m lucky.”
“Waitressing isn’t so bad.”
Malka shrugged. “I never finished school. The war kind of got in the way of me getting an education. I’m no good to anybody.”
“That’s not true. You’d be a real asset on Prodigy.”
“Earth still has its good points. There are still a few places that haven’t been completely messed up. A lot of people live by the coast. I’ve got myself an amazing mansion that was deserted by the owners. It’s happening more and more, rich people leaving everything behind and getting out on the next space ship. I live a life of luxury and don’t have to pay a penny for it.”
“It must be risky, though. Other people might want that mansion of yours.” It was every man and woman for themselves on Earth. The government held things together with emergency sanctions and lots of luck. Things had gotten bad in the last six months, despite assistance from different aliens. Humans loved to blow things up.
“I live the life I’ve been given.” Malka glanced at Avril. “You really think there’s a place for me in space? Something better than what I have?”
“Absolutely. You should give it a shot.”
“I don’t know. Change is scary. Space is scary. Aliens freak me the hell out.”
“This place is scary, and you’ve managed in here on your own.”
Malka grimaced. “If this is the only change I’m offered, you can stick it up your ass. I’d happily remain on Earth rather than stay here and end up being beaten to death by some psycho.”
Avril jumped to her feet as she spotted movement in the distance. “Is that a group of fighters?”
Malka remained on the ground. “It happens sometimes. Gangs get together to take out the bigger opponents. It helps the little guys, the guys like us.”
Avril’s stomach felt like it twisted as she watched the gang in action. She saw a lone figure running from them. This was about life-and-death, not showing off your abilities or watching a couple of hot aliens spar in a ring. This violence held no appeal. She slumped back down.
Malka patted her knee. “You’ll get used to it. I hid for two days when I got here. All I kept wanting to do was throw up or cry. It passed. You’ll get there.”
Avril smiled weakly. “I hope so. I’m glad you’re here. You make it all a little less freaky.”
“Likewise. I’m not known for my brains, so I’m glad to have you along. I figured you’re someone with smarts.”
Avril ran a hand through her hair. She wasn’t stupid, but right now, she had no idea how to get them out of the game.
“You see those blinking lights that show in the sky occasionally?” Malka asked.
Avril shielded her eyes with her hand. She waited a moment and saw two quick flashes of light. “What are they?”
“I think it’s the way the game monitors when someone makes a kill.”
Two more white dots flashed in the sky before disappearing.
“Is that the same person making those kills?” Avril asked.
“I reckon so. They appear in different parts of the sky. It might be a problem with the game. We’re not supposed to know how everyone else is doing. We’re given as little information as possible. But I’ve been watching those lights. When a kill happens, they light up.”
Avril continued to stare at the same spot. Several more dots flashed. Whoever that was, they were killing it, literally.
Malka wrinkled her nose. “We need to be careful. If there’s a hot shot warrior in here, we’ll need to keep an eye out. We don’t want them jumping us if we’re not prepared.”
“Even if we are prepared, I don’t want to go up against someone like that.”
Malka shrugged. “There’s nothing we can do about it now. We’ll rest here for a while. I’ve still got half a pack of food left if you want to share.”
Avril’s stomach growled. “I haven’t eaten properly in days.”
Malka pulled a pouch
out of her jacket pocket. “I doubt anyone has. Keep them hungry, keep them terrified. I reckon that’s the motto of this place.”
Avril tried not to feel too disappointed at the small amount of food Malka passed her. It was no more than the size of a match box. “Where did you get this?”
“You find them sometimes in the game.” Malka looked into the distance. “You get them as a reward sometimes.”
“A reward for doing what?” She picked off a piece of the brown lump in her hand and chewed. It was like eating salty, compacted hay.
“One guess.”
Avril suddenly didn’t want the food.
“The taste is not excellent, but it will boost your energy, so you can show off your skills and impress the scum who wants you in here.”
Avril swallowed the lump of food. “Who do you think wants me in here?”
Malka stuffed the rest of the food into her mouth and chewed for a few seconds. “Whoever invited you.”
“No one invited me here. Is that how you arrived?”
“It wasn’t so much an invitation.”
“What do you mean?”
Malka’s gaze shifted to her and away to the beam of light. “I didn’t have much choice. Well, I did have a choice, but it was a lousy one. I game with my younger brother. He disappeared a couple of weeks before I got my so-called invitation.”
Avril lowered the food from her mouth. “Whoever is running this place took your brother?”
Malka nodded. “My choice was leaving him in here to die or join the game in the hopes of trying to get him out.”
“Have you found him?”
Malka shook her head. “I keep looking, but I’m not hopeful he’s still alive. He was a terrible gamer. He won’t be any better in real life.”
“You still came in after him, even though you didn’t think he was alive?”
“I couldn’t leave him, and I had no clue the place would be like this. He’s a huge pain in the butt, but I wouldn’t have him any other way. He’s just a dumb kid who doesn’t know any better.” She glanced at Avril. “Have you got siblings?”
Avril shrugged. “In a way. No one I’m close to. I lived with several foster families growing up. My sort of siblings came and went. If I count them all, I probably have fifty. Maybe more.”
A look of sympathy crossed Malka’s face. “That sucks. Being in the system couldn’t have been fun.”
“I could have had a worse childhood.” Avril tried to forget the cold words of her foster parents telling her she’d amount to nothing. They still lingered, no matter how many times she shoved them away.
Malka was silent for a moment. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to help my brother.”
“Of course, he’s family.”
Malka shifted her position on the ground. “I mean, you understand, don’t you? You have to help those you care about, no matter the cost.”
Avril stared at Malka and licked her lips. “I’m not sure about that. What sort of thing do you have in mind?”
Malka tipped her head back. “I didn’t realize you’d be such a decent person. I figured you’d be some arrogant bitch with her head up her own ass.”
“What are you talking about? This is the first time we’ve met.”
“In here. It’s the first time we’ve met face-to-face.”
A shiver of dread ran down Avril’s spine. “We’ve met in the games?”
“Everyone knows you. How could they not? You’re one of the top gamers. You guys pulling in the top rankings are like my superstars. I do my research and like to find the face behind the gaming mask. I know you’re Warrior Princess.”
Avril nodded slowly. “If I am, why is that important?”
Malka let out a long slow sigh. “I’m the reason you’re in here. I had to nominate someone to enter this game. It had to be somebody who knew their way around the gaming environment. Someone with the right skills and tactics who would give people what they wanted, an entertaining game. My first thought was you. You kick butt whatever you play. I figured you’d hold your own in here.”
Avril swallowed as her heart pounded in her chest. “You’re the reason I’m here?”
“Don’t blame me. You shouldn’t be so good at what you do.” Malka shook her head. “I hate this. You’re a decent person. If only you were an asshole, this would make things so much simpler.”
“Sorry I can’t be more of a jerk.” Avril stood slowly, keen to put some distance between herself and Malka.
Malka wasn’t her friend. She’d brought her here, not to help her, but to use her.
“The person I nominated to come into the game is my challenger.” Malka stood and faced her. “I challenge you to a fight to the death.”
Avril stepped back. “I’m not fighting you.”
“You’re going to have to. It’s the only way I can win back my brother.”
Chapter 16
Iska’s hands were slick with the blood of his latest kill.
This was a job he had to do, nothing more. He took no pleasure in ending the lives of these creatures, but if they didn’t keep attacking him, he wouldn’t have to keep killing them.
He shook his head as he shoved away his last kill. It was a weird-looking dog-type thing that had kept trying to embed its fangs into his arm like it was his favorite chew toy.
He cleaned his blade for what felt like the hundredth time since he’d walked through that glowing arch and shoved it back in his boot.
Iska was confident he had the skills to beat the monsters in here. He hunted the worst kind of scum that haunted space. He wasn’t so sure about Avril, though. She had moves in the games they’d played together. You didn’t get those by sitting on your butt eating candy. Still, could she kill to keep herself safe? Iska wasn’t so sure.
Fighting with a headset on and motion sensors tracking your air kicks was a whole different show to real-life blood and guts.
If Avril was sensible, she’d have holed up somewhere and hidden away from all this. Even if she did that, Iska doubted the monsters running the show would allow her to stay hidden for long.
Iska growled to himself as he left his latest kill on the ground and walked away. He’d let her down. He rarely bothered with regrets but felt this one bitterly.
If he’d turned up when he was supposed to that night, they’d have had a fun evening playing together.
Avril would have gone to bed happy and maybe a little in love with him. That would have been the kind of damage he could have lived with inflicting.
Iska was easy on the eye. He’d had numerous humans interested in stroking his fur and suggesting a whole lot of fun things to do with his tail. It was something about his fur that got them hot. Maybe it was the softness and the way it felt to a human when they touched him. He wasn’t sure and had never bothered to investigate. He didn’t mind; he found their interest amusing.
But he’d never been all that interested in humans. They were small and furless. He’d always imagined touching a human would be a bit like stroking a snake, cold and smooth. Nothing to get hard about.
Avril was different. He’d found himself wanting to touch her. She was a weird combination of terrified and strong, like she didn’t know her own mind and didn’t know how to be in the real world. Who was the real Avril? Iska wanted to find out.
He’d led Avril on then let her down. Now, they were in this game, and there was a high chance she was already dead.
That was a death that wouldn’t sit easily on Iska’s conscience. Sometimes, he struggled to find his conscience. He did the job, killed if he had to, and moved on.
He wouldn’t forget this easily. If Avril died because of him, he’d struggle to forgive himself.
This strange-looking little human had shifted Iska’s focus. For the last decade, he’d been so intent on scoring the bounty of a lifetime. The one capture that would change his life and change the way others saw him.
This obsession with scoring big time was a matter of respect. His fa
ther had rejected him because he didn’t consider him good enough. He’d been too small, too slow, too much of an inconvenience.
Despite all the knockbacks and humiliations he’d shown him, Iska still felt a twisted urge to earn his father’s respect and ensure he felt proud to call him his son. He would show everyone he was worthy.
To do that, Iska needed resources and plenty of them. Only then would he have the life he yearned for. He’d have his father’s respect, he could claim a mate, and he would feel proud and worthy of his place in Mehab society.
Until he’d met Avril, Iska had never considered taking a human as a mate. Mehabs and humans were compatible when it came to breeding. He’d even seen a few alien babies that had come out of such a coupling. The infants typically took on most of the Mehab traits but tended to be gentler in nature and not so driven by the urge to hunt and predate. They sure were cute, though. They had big dark eyes and tiny whiskers that sprouted from their cheeks. These fell off as they grew, but they made them look adorable.
Avril would make an amazing mother to his cubs. Her focus and determination when playing in the holo suite games showed her to be smart and resourceful.
If she could transfer those skills into the real world, she’d be deadly and a fiercely protective mother. She’d have no problem keeping their cubs safe.
Another low growl rumbled out of Iska. Before he could begin to explore this possibility with her, he needed to make sure Avril was safe. Shit, alive even. His search was taking too long, and this place was enormous. He could be hunting for days before he found her or what was left of her.
“Please be upstanding. You will soon hear an announcement from our sponsor,” a soft female computerized voice said.
Sponsor? Who in the name of all things screwed up would want to sponsor this nightmare? Iska paused by a tree and waited to hear what the big announcement would be.
The sky over his head flickered and darkened.
“Welcome all new gamers to the fifth True Fight Championships,” the female voice continued.
Iska scowled. This was the fifth time this had happened? How many lives had been lost to this place? Too many and it needed to stop.
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