Bladen

by Arcadia Shield

  Chapter 4

  Grace stood in the sand, her arms outstretched and her head tipped back. She spun around, feeling dizzy and excited. She’d never felt so full of food before, and it felt incredible to have enough energy to do more than stagger about. Six empty ration packs were scattered around her feet, along with the empty bottles of water.

  The sun was finally dipping down, and the sand was cool beneath her feet, giving her some respite from the baking environment.

  Grace yanked off her clothes and threw them across the sand before jumping up and down several times and running in a circle.

  She laughed aloud at the feel of her muscles burning and the food in her stomach churning. This was a weird sort of freedom, but she’d take it. Grace was in control of so little in this game – and in her life – but she could use what she had to make sure her last few hours were ones she forced a trace of joy through. She had not forgotten happiness.

  And Grace had known happiness, although not for some time. After her husband died and she lost her sister, happiness had been harder to find, and she’d lost herself in work, and sometimes shots of illegal alcohol, to drown out the pain. But it hadn’t been enough, and she’d been aware of a growing numbness inside her, a feeling that life wasn’t worth living any more.

  Her trip into space had been her final attempt to find something else, find a meaning and purpose she actually cared about and believed in.

  The Fraken had changed all that, and this twisted version of happiness was all she was capable of.

  Grace knelt on the sand, the memory of the e-comm informing her of her husband’s death blasting away the pleasure she felt. He hadn’t been a perfect man, their marriage strained with the excesses of work and the problems the war caused, but in their early days together, she had loved him. And she did miss him after he’d gone.

  Grace dropped her head and laughed again. Maybe she’d see him. Was there something else beyond this life? She had no idea. All she knew was she had the here and now. She had food and water and some degree of freedom.

  She stood and began to twirl again, but her stomach lurched. Grace clamped a hand over her mouth, and her eyes widened. She bent over and was sick, all the food and water she’d eaten coming out. She wiped her hand across her mouth and grimaced.

  Grace shook her head before moving towards the rocks. But before she reached them, her energy left her, and she sank down, burying her fingers in the sand. Hot frustrated tears trickled down her cheeks, and her body shook with exhaustion and frustration. This was really it; this was the end of her life. And although she shouldn’t care, she did. She didn’t want to die like this in front of a baying, bloodthirsty audience, whose purpose was to watch her life end. It wasn’t fair. She wanted more, and she deserved more.

  Her lungs burned and she coughed, blood spraying onto the ground as she did so. Grace let the sobs overtake her. She hated feeling so worthless and hated pitying herself. This was not how she behaved; she was better than this, stronger than this.

  She tensed as a warm calloused hand touched her back. Grace’s head whipped up, and her eyes widened as she saw a tall, muscular Vorten behind her, his skin tinted to match the sand around him. He had dark hair with a white streak at the front, and his navy-blue eyes gazed at her with what looked like concern.

  Grace opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She cleared her throat and tried again.

  The Vorten raised a finger to his lips, whisked her off her feet, and dashed into the shadows of the rocks.

  ***

  Bladen held Grace close to him, feeling her body tremble as he hurried towards the shadows, knowing they would have a degree of privacy there.

  Confusion raced through him as he tried to figure out why Grace was naked and vomiting on the sand. Perhaps she’d been poisoned. He’d noticed the empty ration packs and water bottles, but the Fraken wouldn’t stoop so low as to poison their prey.

  “What are you doing?” whispered Grace. Her voice was raspy, and Bladen could smell her sour breath.

  “The desert is not safe.”

  “I figured that out.” Grace twisted in his grip. “You’re the reason it’s not safe.”

  Bladen pressed a finger to her lips and felt her warm breath on his skin. “I’ll explain everything soon.”

  He felt Grace tense in his arms, but then relax, as if she was considering fighting but then decided it was too much effort. He felt her lean against him, her muscles still trembling and her heart racing so fast he could feel it against his own chest.

  She was thin, and her skin had an unhealthy grey tinge to it. The veins beneath her flesh were too prominent, and Bladen was certain he’d seen blood on the ground, but couldn’t see any open wounds on her skin.

  But despite her obvious frailties, he liked the dark hair that hung to her shoulders and the flecks of hazel in her brown eyes. And he could see she’d once been athletic, and there were traces of lean muscle along her arms and thighs.

  Bladen slowed as he reached the deepest shadows closest to the rocks and set Grace on her feet. He kept his hands on her shoulders, concerned she might fall over. Although she swayed, she remained upright.

  Grace’s gaze rose slowly, taking her time looking at him, and she stared in silence at Bladen when their eyes met.

  He found himself struggling to return her stare. There was a fierceness in her eyes he didn't often see. “You are unwell.”

  “Nice observation,” said Grace.

  “You’re wounded?” asked Bladen. “I saw some blood.”

  “Not exactly,” said Grace.

  Bladen recalled Axen telling him Grace had some sort of infection. He pulled the kit bag off his shoulder and pulled out a Healing Stick. “Use this on your wounds.”

  Grace took the Healing Stick from his outstretched hand and backed away. “Why are you treating me?”

  After a quick glance into the sky to ensure no drones had spotted them, Bladen closed the gap between them and placed his hands either side of Grace, trapping her against the rock. “You might not believe what I’m about to tell you, but I’m not here to kill you.”

  Grace said nothing, simply stared up at him, the Healing Stick hanging loosely in her hand.

  Bladen cleared his throat and continued, “I mean, I am the predator who's been sent to end your life, but it’s not going to play out like that.”

  Grace blinked several times and then activated the Healing Stick, tracing it over the sunburn on her skin. “If you’re trying to make me feel less intimidated, it’s not working. I can smell your sweat you’re so close to me.”

  Bladen lowered one arm. “Just don’t run. Not yet, anyway.”

  Grace shrugged. “Where would I run? You’re faster and stronger than me. And you have those.” She tapped a broken fingernail on the weapons strapped across Bladen’s chest. “You could throw one of those at my retreating back and that would be it. Game over for me.”

  “I could, but that won’t happen,” said Bladen. “We don’t have much time, and we’re being closely monitored.”

  “Again, not a surprise.” Grace looked at the bag in Bladen’s hand. “Don’t suppose you have any synthetic antivirals in there? The Healing Sticks are only good for physical wounds.”

  Bladen shook his head. “Only Healing Sticks and Medi-patches.”

  “Neither of which will help me.” Grace handed back the Healing Stick.

  “What’s wrong with you?” Bladen noticed the tremble in Grace’s fingers as they touched his.

  “Like you care.”

  Bladen raised his eyebrows. “If I’d have known you were so ill, I could have bought in different medicines.”

  Grace barked out a laugh. “If you’re looking for a thank you, you won’t get one. I don’t know what game you’re playing, but lulling me into some sort of false sense of security is not going to get you anywhere. I know how these games end.”

  “Not this one,” said Bladen. “I know who you are, and I’m here to help y
ou. But you’ve got to play along.”

  Grace's eyes narrowed. “How do you know me?”

  “I’ve met your friend, Eloise Harper.”

  Grace’s mouth opened and shut several times. “Eloise is dead. She was the first to go into the games. She’s been dead a long time.”

  “She should have died, but she didn’t,” said Bladen. “She was up against a Vorten, called Axen. Have you heard of him?”

  Grace shook her head, her fingers pinching the bridge of her nose. “I don’t fan girl over killers.”

  Bladen inhaled sharply. “Axen is a warrior, not a killer.”

  “Not much difference. Are you trying to tell me this Axen saved Eloise? He didn’t kill her?”

  “He didn’t kill her, and he took her out of the game.” Bladen felt his anger rise at the way Grace was so dismissive of him. “They both escaped.”

  Grace laughed bitterly. “And I’m supposed to take your word on that? No offence, but you don’t look like the trustworthy type.”

  Bladen frowned and ran a hand through his hair. He needed to get through to her, make her realize they were on the same side. “Your name is Grace Connelly, and I’m Bladen.”

  Grace’s eyebrows shot up. “Okay, so you know my name. The Fraken could have told you that.”

  “But they didn’t,” said Bladen. “I found out this information from Eloise. And she’s at a secure location along with your two other friends, Jessie and Melody.”

  Grace swallowed and he saw her bottom lip tremble. “I don’t want to hear your lies.”

  “This is the truth,” said Bladen. “And I’m here to get you out.”

  Grace shook her head. “Let’s just get this over with.”

  Bladen pulled out a bottle of water and handed it to Grace. “Drink some of this, but take it slowly. You can’t be feeling good after you were so ill.”

  Grace tipped the contents of the bottle over her head and shook her hair, droplets of water landing on Bladen’s hot skin. “I’m not used to so much food. I decided to enjoy myself since this is my last day alive.”

  “You ate all your rations? That was why you were so ill?”

  “Why not go out with a bang,” said Grace. “I knew that, once you’d found me, it would be over.” She threw the empty water bottle down and glared at him, water dripping down her skin.

  Bladen followed a water droplet down the curve of Grace’s neck, watching as it ran over her bare breast and down to the curve of her waist. Something more than a desire to protect stirred in him, but he shoved it away.

  “It doesn’t have to be that way.” He'd expected Grace to be cautious of him, but the wild gleam in her eye made him fear the worst; that she’d really lost her mind and was beyond saving.

  “Just kill me.” Grace jammed her hands on her hips. “Or do you want me to run from you and give the audience something to watch? Make sure you’re still seen as a fearsome killer. A hero in their depraved eyes.”

  Bladen raised a hand towards Grace, keen for her to remain calm. “This game isn’t going to play out the way you think it is. It’s—”

  With a scream, Grace lunged towards Bladen and grabbed his weapons.

  Chapter 5

  Grace’s vision clouded with rage and hatred as her fingers wrapped around the straps across her killer’s chest. She felt blades beneath her fingers, but her hand was yanked away and twisted behind her back. She kicked out, making contact with Bladen’s leg.

  “You don’t have to fight me,” said Bladen. He forced her other hand behind her back and pulled her towards him.

  Grace head-butted Bladen and felt his nose crunch. Stars spotted across her vision at the force of the blow, but she felt pleasure, knowing she’d injured him.

  Bladen cursed and released his hold on her. His hand went to his nose.

  Grace turned and ran, but only made it a few steps before Bladen grabbed her around the waist and yanked her against his chest and back into the shadows of the rocks.

  “Stop playing games with me,” gasped Grace, dizziness from the blow making her see double. “I’m not some toy. Give me dignity in my death.”

  “It’s not like that.” Bladen set her down against the rocks. “I’m here to help you.”

  “Help me by killing me? Putting me out of my misery, you mean.” Grace aimed another kick at him, but he smacked away her leg easily.

  Grace staggered backwards, and almost fell, but pushed herself upright and glared at Bladen.

  “The warriors aren’t all the same,” said Bladen. “Some of us want change, and that’s why I’m here.”

  Grace shook her head, unable to believe what she was hearing. “You can’t want change. The Fraken don’t want anything to change in these games, and you work for them.”

  “We used to,” said Bladen, “but not anymore. There’s no time to explain now, not here. They will be watching us, and if they think things are going wrong, they’ll come in and end the game.”

  Grace stared at Bladen, the fight sliding from her limbs. “So what?”

  “So, I know you don’t want to die. I see fire in you.”

  “I don’t have any reason to fight.”

  “You do. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t have attacked me and tried to get my weapons.”

  “Maybe I was trying to get one so I could end things myself,” said Grace. “Do your job for you.” She never would; suicide was a coward’s way out. And she wasn’t sure why she’d attacked Bladen. He could be right; she was still fighting, but she had no idea what for or why.

  “No, you don’t want to do that,” said Bladen. “There will be plenty of opportunities to live when we get out of this game.”

  “That’s not possible,” said Grace. “This is where it ends for me.”

  “Only if you want it to,” said Bladen. “You can go out there, right now, tell the Fraken what I’ve just told you, and see what happens. But don’t doubt, they will come in and kill you and me. They are expecting us to work together in this game, and if you show them we are, it will be all the information they need.”

  Grace swallowed the tightness in her throat, her gaze running over Bladen. “If you’re not here to kill me, what are you here to do?”

  “Help you get out,” said Bladen, “just like your friends got out before you. The Vorten don’t want these games to take place any more, they want—”

  “This is a trick,” snapped Grace. “I don’t know you. How am I supposed to believe what you’re saying? Predators are devious. They use whatever tactics they can to get to their prey and dispatch them in the most elaborate way possible. It’s always an audience pleaser, or so I believe. What do you plan to do to me?”

  “Get you out of here,” said Bladen. “You have to believe me.”

  “I don’t.”

  Bladen sighed, and his gaze hardened. “You have a choice. You either play along with me or expose yourself to the Fraken and see what they do. I’m the better option here.”

  Grace shook her head, her thoughts muddled as she stared at the blood leaking out of Bladen's nose, her instinctive desire to heal urging her to help him. “I don’t know what to believe.”

  “Your friends are safe, and you can join them if you want to,” said Bladen. “But you have to trust me.”

  “I trust you or throw myself to the Fraken?” Grace laughed again, the noise coming out shaky.

  “I know that doesn’t sound like good options, but I’m here to help,” said Bladen. “I can only do that if you let me.”

  ***

  Bladen’s head still pounded from the impact of Grace’s skull smashing into his nose. He could feel blood trickling down the back of his throat, but his injuries didn’t concern him half as much as the way Grace was behaving. Her body trembled as she stood in front of him, and her eyes rolled around in her skull as if she was having an internal dialogue with herself, and the conversation wasn’t going well.

  “Wait here a moment,” said Bladen, too aware Grace was naked in front of hi
m.

  “What are you doing?” Grace’s eyes instantly narrowed, and she tensed.

  “Getting your clothes.” Bladen walked away, ignoring the pang of regret he felt at not being able to see Grace’s body anymore. He walked back and handed over the clothes. “Get dressed.”

  Grace licked her lips as she shrugged into her trousers and shirt.

  Bladen felt a little of the tension leave him once Grace was covered. “I spotted a location we can rest in overnight. It looks like you could do with some.”

  “Why bother?” asked Grace.

  “Because things have to change. The games are wrong.”

  “The games have always been wrong. Why act now?”

  Bladen smiled. “That’s a question I’ve asked myself. Do you remember me mentioning the Vorten warrior, Axen?”

  Grace nodded. “You reckon he’s got something to do with Eloise.”

  “Eloise met Axen in a game. She convinced him to act. For a long time, he’s been unsure about these games and wanted them to end. But he never acted on those feelings. That was until Eloise became his prey. She changed him; she made him go against the orders of our Elders and the Fraken. That’s the reason all of this is happening.”

  Grace shook her head. “You’re telling me Eloise Harper made such a difference to a Vorten warrior?”

  “I didn’t believe it, at first,” said Bladen. “But I’ve seen the two of them together, and I’ve met Eloise. She has changed Axen.”

  “Are you saying they fell in love?” Grace’s top lip curled up. “Can love conquer an emotionless Vorten killer?”

  Bladen scrubbed a hand across his chin, not liking the angry gleam in Grace’s eyes. “We aren’t without emotions, but we keep them in check to maximize battle efficiency. That’s a strength, not a weakness.”

  “Doesn’t sound like much of a strength if a human can beat it,” said Grace.

  “Not all humans can beat it,” said Bladen. “Eloise is someone quite special, as are the other human females the warriors encountered in the games.”

  Grace pulled her wet hair off her face, and her gaze ran over Bladen. “I can't trust you.”