by Shannon Lamb
Raeph shuddered under the scrutiny of her glare. The look she gave him could’ve set him on fire; her curves already did. Such a pretty girl shouldn’t look so angry all the time. It doesn’t suit her. He flashed her his most charismatic smile, causing her to turn away. It wasn’t the effect he was hoping for.
Marie found Raeph more tolerable than Fallon, but she could say that about pretty much anyone. His abundance of confidence and lack of tact quickly got under her skin. He’d made a bad first impression and it was a lasting one.
As much as he annoyed her, he wasn’t totally without his charms. He was nice to look at, to put it mildly. His smile crumbled her defenses, but the affect it had on her only strengthened her resolve.
She wasn’t herself here. She was more impatient and less forgiving. Perhaps under different circumstances, they could’ve been friends, but she tried not to get bogged down in the vicious cycle of should’ve, could’ve, would’ve.
He isn’t so bad to be around, so long as he keeps his mouth shut. A bold smirk graced her soft features as she scraped her eyes over his muscular build.
“Like what you see?” Raeph flexed, mirroring her expression. He knew that look – desire – though a classy girl like her would never admit to it.
“Why do you look so damn happy? Have you forgotten where we’re headed?” Fallon spun Marie’s chair around and sent her careening to the floor, immediately taking her seat.
Marie refused Raeph’s assistance and proudly jumped to her feet. If she tried to retaliate, it would only result in further embarrassment. Fallon was a bully, and Marie was helpless. Knowing that boiled her blood and stoked her temper, making it harder on everyone else, too.
A barricade of bodies filled her line of vision as Alex and Cayden entered the ship looking like knights in shining armor. If they could keep Fallon away from her, they’d certainly be her saviors.
Marie plunked down on a bottom bunk, removing herself from the situation as much as she could. Forget Anthros, she might not last the trip there.
“That’s everyone. Let’s go!” Raeph pressed a few buttons and they were in the air in less time than it took to get seated.
Marie peeked around the corner and gazed out the front window as they wove through the stars. It felt like driving through a blizzard, filling her with the familiar fright and wonder of not knowing what lay ahead, a feeling she was becoming too familiar with.
“I need to talk to you about something, and I don’t think you’re going to like it,” Alex said, taking a seat beside Marie.
“With a preface like that, how could I not?” she joked.
“Cayden and I have discussed it at length, and we think you should stay on the ship while we search for Laylia.” It sounded like more of an order than a request.
“I don’t want to be apart from you! Isn’t that more dangerous?” Marie’s public proclamation brought color to her cheeks and a smile to Alex’s face. Her growing attachment to him signified trust. “What’s the point of bringing me along if you’re just going to leave me behind?”
“Raeph has to stay with the ship, so you won’t be alone,” he added.
“I can guarantee your safety. The ship will be in stealth mode, which means it will be completely undetectable once it’s on the ground. No one will be able to see it, hear it, smell it, or touch it,” Raeph assured her. Alex didn’t like how eager he was to be alone with the young princess, but it was none of his business, so long as she was safe.
“You’re not in as good of shape as the rest of us. You’ll only slow us down,” Fallon pointed out, prompting Marie to cross her arms over her soft stomach. “Your presence will only serve as a distraction. It’s an extra obstacle we don’t need.”
“You say it’s a choice, but it sure doesn’t feel like one. Obviously, you guys don’t want me there!”
“This isn’t a social function, it’s a mission.” Fallon rolled her eyes. “We have to consider all the facts, and you’re detrimental to our mission.”
“Our mission,” Marie reminded snippily.
“We’re only thinking of your safety, Mariella,” Cayden reassured her.
“Enough!” Marie stomped her foot on the ground as if she were putting out a cigarette. She instantly regretted it, feeling a bit like a toddler having a temper tantrum. “It’s my choice, and I’m going!”
Marie wasn’t sure why she was fighting them so hard. She preferred to stay behind on the ship and guard the Agrísta, safely locked away and protected, much like its secrets. It was a nice thought, but there was no honor in such a course. She came here for an adventure, and she was determined to have one, even if the dangers far exceeded her expectations. She wasn’t going to watch it happen from the sidelines.
“If that’s what you want, I can’t stop you. I’d rather not insult you by repeating myself, but let it be known that I think it’s a terrible idea,” Alex sighed.
“Noted.”
“You’re either really brave, or really stupid. My money’s on the latter,” Fallon snickered.
“Maybe it’s both,” Marie couldn’t help but crack a smile when her words left the others in stitches. She even had Fallon in high spirits for a moment, but the levity faded much too quickly, unable to thrive with the weight of the future bearing down on them.
Alex was wrong. It took three days to get to Anthros from Milités. Marie had been dreading their arrival, but by day three, she was sick with cabin fever and was prepared to kiss the ground and the cannibals as soon as she made her escape from Isa-hell. Being stuck in a confined space with one bathroom and four people on a diet of salted jerky and raw vegetables was not conducive to the overall morale.
Much like a traditional flight, everyone flooded the aisle like zombie cattle, mindlessly stepping over one another as they scrambled to get to their luggage. She patiently waited for everyone to finish, tucking the Agrísta away beneath the sheets.
“The Agrísta should never leave your side. What if something happens to the ship?” Alex scolded.
“Are you referring to the ship you were so keen to leave me on because of how safe it is?” she quirked a thin brow.
“Nothing’s going to happen to the ship!” Raeph bellowed. “You better hope not, because if something does, you’re all goners.” Not the most comforting parting words.
“He’s not wrong,” Fallon agreed with a shrug.
“You all know the drill, but she doesn’t.” Raeph gently tapped Marie on the shoulder as he barreled through the crowd. “Therefore, the rest of you are going to have to bear with me, and listen to my longwinded explanation.” He grinned like a joker upon hearing Fallon groan. Raeph threw three silver bracelets into the crowd and personally hand-delivered Marie’s. “When you’re ready to come back, push this down and speak a command into it. I’ll be there in seconds.” Raeph pointed to a large opal gem at the center of the bracelet. “Any time, even if it’s five minutes from now,” he whispered, leaning just a little bit too close for Alex’s comfort.
“She understands,” Alex growled, pulling a wolfish grin from Raeph.
The four of them lined up at the door, impatiently waiting for Raeph to release them. Marie made sure to be last in line. As eager as she was to leave this damn ship and regain her personal space, she was hesitant to step foot on Anthros and see firsthand the horrors it held.
Cayden shook his head when Fallon playfully tackled Alex, sticking to him with the persistency of static cling as he swatted her away. Now that Marie knew Fallon was doing it solely to get under her skin and Alex had no interest in her whatsoever, it was easier to ignore them, but it still irritated her immensely.
Marie took deep breaths to brace herself as the three of them militantly marched down the steps ahead of her, shielding their eyes from the blinding light one by one. She focused all of her energy into taking that first step – symbolic in so many ways – only to have it stunted halfway when something yanked her back.
“There’s no shame in staying behind.�
� A gasp caught in her throat as Raeph held her back flush to his front.
“Is that what you tell yourself?” Marie ripped her wrist from his grasp, infuriated that he’d interrupted her. Taking that first step was extremely difficult. His stony silence prickled the hairs on the back of her neck, and she knew she’d hit a nerve.
Fallon often belittled Raeph’s skills by constantly giving him the job of driving the getaway car, so to speak. He was capable of so much more than that and she knew it, but they’d been friends since childhood and she wanted to keep him safely tucked away.
It was selfish of Fallon to deprive him of his honor, and unlike her not to take risks. The unspoken confusion and resentment it bred kept them constantly at arm’s length, always butting heads and laughing it away with meaningless banter while Raeph secretly harbored a grudge.
“This is just something I have to do,” Marie added weakly.
She’s going to get herself killed over pride. What a damn waste, Raeph scowled. “Do whatever you want,” he shrugged, lightly shoving her forward. Marie shot him a glare over her shoulder as she stumbled over her feet. Raeph didn’t seem to grasp the meaning of appropriate touch.
Marie took a deep breath and slid her foot forward. Raeph’s distraction had only bolstered her anxiety – a fact that didn’t escape his notice. The crack of a hand smacking her arse shattered the silence and sent her crashing down the stairs.
Alex caught her before she took a nosedive into the sand, suppressing a smile so as not to rouse her temper. He found her clumsiness surprisingly charming. If he had known what Raeph had done to throw her off balance, however, he wouldn’t have found it nearly as amusing.
Raeph closed the door and the ship vanished. He figured that by the time he saw Marie again, she will have cooled off. He hadn’t gone the best way about seducing her, but Raeph made no apologies for his behavior. She could take him as he is or not at all.
Putting Isabel into stealth mode had already drawn her thoughts elsewhere, making her forget about the little incident with her derriere. He wryly chuckled as he watched her continually try to sense the ship. She sliced her arm through the air as she flared her nostrils in concentration. He could see her, but she couldn’t see him.
“The ship is completely undetectable, as you can see. Are you sure you don’t want to stay…” Marie cut Alex off with a glare.
“I already gave you my answer,” she ground out. “Let’s get this over with.” Marie spun on her heel and lumbered forward.
FIGHT OR FLIGHT
Anthros was known as the land devoid of sun, but the Southern half burned with the intensity of thousands. The only sound that filled the air was that of Marie and her companions, and not a single grain of sand stirred in the distance. Marie didn’t detect any sign of life among the endless ocean of gold, filling her with equal parts hope and futility.
After traveling through the sweltering desert, dragging her feet over molten terrain that burned through her boots and scorched her flesh, it became increasingly easy for Marie to forget about the dangers this land held and begin to feel safe. Exhausted, to say the least, but safe.
She wasn’t sure how long they’d been traveling, but she felt like she’d been walking directly on the sun for hundreds of miles. Fortunately, the armor she was wearing wasn’t stifling at all, but it made no difference with heat this extreme.
No one seemed to mind that Marie needed to rest her legs about every hour or so; even Fallon, which was surprising. Marie figured the only reason Fallon didn’t complain was because she was itching for a fight, and the more time they spent here, the more likely one was to find them. Marie didn’t want to hold everyone back, and she definitely didn’t want to run into the cannibals, but she could only push her body so far.
“Not that I’m complaining or anything, I’m just curious,” Marie said as she gasped for air. “How much farther do we have to travel? I mean, how realistic is it that we’re going to find Laylia in this wasteland? Why would anyone come here?” She squinted up at Alex.
“You know, I’m not really sure why anyone would come here,” Cayden answered for Alex, since Alex didn’t seem to think her question merited a response. “But it’s the only lead we have, kid. Let’s rest here for a few moments,” Cayden’s large hand engulfed Marie’s shoulder, bringing her steps to a sudden halt. He could tell she desperately needed a break, but was holding back from saying anything.
Marie was thankful for the suggestion. Alex looked increasingly irritated with her every time they had to stop, but she felt like her lungs were about to collapse.
She couldn’t look at Alex directly when she stopped to rest, though. It only intensified how guilty she felt for being so needy, especially since she was the one who insisted on coming along, but there was nothing she could do about it now.
She plopped down right where she stood and took her time stretching. Hot as it was, it felt amazing to sit down, but it was going to make it even harder when they had to start moving again. She needed to remind herself constantly that just because they hadn’t run into trouble yet didn’t mean it wasn’t out there, but at least she was safe for now. No danger was present in the miles and miles of open sand; the same view she’d been looking at since they arrived.
Marie took a big gulp of water out of her canteen and arched her back, getting in one last stretch. She felt a slight vibration directly below her as she began to push herself up by her arms. She paused for a moment to see if she felt it again. When nothing happened, she scrambled to her feet.
As soon as Marie found her footing, the ground shook so hard she nearly toppled over. She was surprised that no one else seemed to feel it. She considered the possibility that sporadic tremors were nothing out of the ordinary for this land, but it was the first time she’d noticed them.
The next tremor sent her flying backward. This time, she was sure the others had felt it because everyone was looking straight at her. Mass panic spread through the group as anxiety stiffened their features, contorting hers like a sweeping contagion.
“You’re bleeding!” Alex pointed to her leg. “Why didn’t you say anything?” his eyes widened with horror.
“I didn’t even notice,” Marie nervously wiped the blood away with her palm, willing herself not to wince. She wasn’t sure why Alex was freaking out. It was just a measly scrape, after all.
Marie stubbornly ignored Alex’s hand out offering assistance. He’d been short with her since they’d arrived because she didn’t agree with his decision for her to stay behind, and that royally pissed her off. She’d uprooted her entire life for the sake of their cause, and coming here tested her sanity at every turn. She needed patience and understanding, not judgments and petulance.
A roar of protest emanated from her companions as Marie thrust her bloody hand into the sand, followed by a powerful rumble that made the land weep and tremble. A chill washed over Marie and settled into her bones. Something was wrong. Somehow her simple actions had become a catalyst for something unimaginable.
Suddenly she was upside down, dangling ten feet in the air above everyone else. Something big had a hold of her. Bands of steel encircled her, trapping the air in her lungs and stifling her screams. Her bones felt like matchsticks against the vise grip. She willed them not to crumble as all the blood rushed to her head, stripping her of her peripheral vision.
Images of Fallon and Cayden rushing toward her exploded in starbursts of light as black spots skittered across her sightline, mottling her vision. Cayden stood ramrod straight as he hoisted Fallon onto his shoulders. In a flash of silver, she unsheathed her sword, slicing a clean line over Marie and bathing her in a downpour of crimson.
Marie began plummeting toward the ground, face first. Whatever had a hold of her was still wrapped around her, but there was no longer any force behind its grip. She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for the hard – if not fatal – landing, but never made impact.
Alex had managed to catch her right before she hi
t the ground, wrenching her from the carnage and shielding her close to his chest. She listened to the erratic patter of his heartbeat, in stark dissonance with her frenzied gasps. She honed in on the haunting synchronization that deadened her to their surroundings. Everything was happening so unbelievably fast.
She placed her hands flat on Alex’s chest and pushed herself away, craning her neck to assess the situation. She blanched when she saw the detached hand that nearly served as her coffin. The fingers were as long as her legs and three times as thick, with fingernails as big as her head that had bone fragments and rotting flesh caked underneath. No one happened to mention that the cannibals were giants.
Unable to help herself, she slowly lifted her head to see the creature it belonged to. She drew in a deep breath and held it before fully raising her gaze. When she finally mustered up the courage to set her eyes upon the enormous beast charging toward her to reclaim its hand, a terrible scream erupted from her chest.
The creature stood more than fifteen feet tall, with an anatomical structure similar to a man’s. Heavily muscled with broad shoulders and narrow hips, it was a far cry from anything human. Its hair, matted into dreadlocks with god knows what, reached all the way down to its waist. Its skin was cracked and calloused, stained with blood and layered with sand.
It had a mouth fall of jagged canines that stretched from ear to ear, and its gums were black with decay. Its face was twisted and deformed, with a flattened nose and lidless, bulging white eyes that hung limply from their sockets.
Marie ran over to Alex in a panic, hiding behind him as he positioned himself into a fighting stance. She felt so pathetic, whimpering and cowering behind him like a little girl scared of the monster under her bed, but this was a real life monster, and she was definitely a damsel in distress at the moment. The shame of her cowardice sunk in as she trembled behind him.
She’d lived her whole life this way; in a cushy bubble of safety, avoiding anything that might frighten her. It wasn’t living at all. She decided right then and there that it was time for a change. She was sick of running scared. She was fed up with feeling weak.