“In parts it can get very blustery, but where I’m from it’s a rarity to see snow.”
Zabbie was glad of that; if she never saw snow again it would be too soon. She had to remind herself there wasn’t a wall of ice or fire surrounding her every turn. The snow mounds had crevices leading below ground. Zabbie slipped through a crack with ease. The warriors struggled through. Down they went into the bowels of the frozen earth. All around were small landings or steps to aid in their descent. When they dipped well below thirty feet, they came to a large opening. The icy walls were a bright blue lighting the dark corridor ceiling and the ground they traveled. Zabbie stopped and faced the warriors.
“This area is dangerous,” she warned. “Do not touch the walls. What appears to be a wall of ice is deceptive. There are places you can slip into. The wall will freeze you once you’re on the other side. There’s no coming back. It will kill you. No one wants that to happen.”
With grim determination she led them to a farther corner. Titus swore and a few warriors growled when they stared into a wall of ice. On the other side was a frozen man, his face a mask of terror frozen in time.
“The first and only lesson we needed,” Zabbie said quietly.
“Is there no help for him?” Cy asked. He raised his fists about to pound at the wall but Titus stopped him, grabbing his wrist and yanking him back, when Zabbie shrieked a horrified “No!”
“Damn you, Cy. Do you never listen? She has said don’t touch the wall. She said not to go near the water and look what happened. She told you not to engage the shadow beasts and you and three others could have been killed. What else will it take before you listen to her? If you warriors can’t take Zabbie at her word then take mine. Do not touch the fucking walls.” Titus glared at Cy and included the others in his anger. Cy looked furious.
“I find it odd every time your mate tells us not to do something we get a clear I told you so like naughty children when we disobey.” Cy was glaring as he said this and a few warriors shuffled their feet with embarrassment. “I was only attempting to break the human free.”
“He’s a fucking ice block, Cy. And we can discuss your thoughts about my mate and how she saved your sorry ass when we are alone.” Titus looked furious, the threat was unmistakable. Titus then turned to Zabbie. “My eyes can melt him loose, but dead is dead.”
“You can’t melt him. We tried. When the ice melts it becomes more dangerous. It’s like the walls become hands that grasp at you. The entire length wiggles and ripples as though awakening. Icy fingers form to reach out to grab at clothing from top, middle and bottom. We almost lost another when we tried to save Eddy.” Zabbie shivered. “Eddy’s arms and hands moved through the wall covered in thick ice. He’s gone, the wall claimed him. The tunnel won’t last long, just keep away from the ice. Follow me.”
“What the hell?” Titus said and whistled.
The cave they entered was twenty feet in height. Furniture and furs were sparse. Their hearts hadn’t been into building a new home, they were inclined to survive. Zabbie was dismayed to see it was empty, but she still had hope. In the cave were many walls, each sporting a different scene. She went to a wall of water, took off a mitt and dipped a hand in bringing it to her parched lips.
“The water is fresh and so far as we know only small fish live in this water wall. This and that scene over here are the only two walls you can enter and return here to.”
Zabbie went to another wall. She stuck her face through, half of her disappearing until Titus yanked her back.
“Do not do that,” his words were stern and strangled. Zabbie thought he looked creeped out.
“I was looking for any survivors. This wall is safe. The problem with the other walls is once you step through you can’t come back. When you merely touch the wall you…”
“Shiiiittt,” came a yell.
Titus growled in fury as Cy’s hand was claimed by the summer season and he was yanked through when he touched a wall. The warrior stood on the other side and waved his arms around looking for entry. Titus strode over and growled at him.
“You never learn, do you dumbass?”
“He’ll be fine. He can’t see or hear you. You have to find the winter season again and come through that way. He’ll eventually figure it out. I have no clue why you can go into the water wall, wash, and come out. That was found by accident when a man, a very restless sleeper, rolled into the water wall and as quickly came out. The fire wall over there is a no brainer, touch it and be incinerated. The winter wall is safe but again once through you have to find your way back through the mound of snow and ice up top.”
Titus strolled back over to Zabbie and put his hand through the wall she had recently ducked her head into. He waved his fingers and pulled his hand out.
“If I were to go in there could I see you and this wall?” Titus asked.
“Yes.”
“Um, Titus?” a warrior said.
Titus turned to look at him. The warrior pointed at Cy who was still flailing his arms around and stomping like a fool trying to find the wall. He tossed his head back and she could tell he was bellowing. Zabbie hid a giggle. Franken poodle was pissed. That particular warrior drove her to distraction. She also wasn’t pleased by his previous comment, he had hurt her feelings. She had no powers, she wasn’t crazy. Served him right to be punished as he claimed, like a naughty child.
“Tane, can you go get Cy and take him back through the winter area?” Titus said.
Tane shrugged and stuck his hand through the wall; he was yanked into the summer season with Cy. Zabbie and the others watched as both warriors became animated. Tane pointed to an area behind him and waved and smiled. Cy grew red in the face and Titus laughed. So did Zabbie, the embarrassing red of Cy’s face complimented his pink coloring. The warriors soon turned and began walking away.
“Do you think there could be any humans in the fall wall?” Titus asked.
“It’s possible,” Zabbie said. “But again, looks are deceiving. It’s not just the fall.”
“What’s in there?” Titus asked.
“The fall behind this wall and the real fall don’t connect. They’re separate, I don’t know why. Before we go in you need to understand time is different in there. What’s in there can make your hair stand on end, but don’t let anything get to you.”
“Why would humans go in if it’s that strange?” Titus asked.
“We could get wood for fire and fruits and dig up vegetables. It was a place we could take off these furs for a while.”
“Then why didn’t you stay in there?” Titus asked.
“There’s a creature in there. The shadow beasts can be dangerous but this creature is like nothing I’ve ever encountered.”
“Why doesn’t the creature come in here?” a warrior asked.
“All of these separate walls are a certain height and width. The creature is too big and broad.”
“How big is this creature?” Titus asked.
“I’m not sure. Grey and white smoke prelude its appearance. It’s kinda like a bunch of skulls but with smoky flesh, bald, huge pointed rows of teeth. No arms or legs I’ve ever seen. It zips around like a ghost around the trees and through the woods, vacant eyes. Scary as hell. It’s made a noise like a moan but nothing more.”
“Has it killed anyone?”
“Maybe,” she muttered. “Just keep your eyes open and stay alert.”
“I think you should stay here,” Titus said.
“You need a guide. And the humans will be afraid of you if we find any.” Zabbie was beginning to lose hope they would find anyone. Her loss settled into her belly before she straightened her shoulders. There was only one way to find out. Being chicken wasn’t one of them.
This woman ain’t no wallflower.
Zabbie stepped through the wall before Titus could stop her.
* * * *
“Tammin, stay here and wait for Cy and Tane,” Titus said. “Leave the meat. I want our hands free in the
re.”
Titus didn’t wait for his warrior to respond as he stepped through the wall. The rest of his warriors followed. The air was different; the smell was crisp, sweet. Trees sported red round objects and odd shaped green objects. Zabbie went to a tree grabbed a green object and bit into it.
“These are pears. The red fruit are apples. Watch for the orange pumpkins. They aren’t edible.”
Titus saw the orange round objects on the ground. As they passed, the things turned and lit; their faces were carved, some eerie, some smiling, all wore different expressions. Dark skulls with red eyes lined a field to their right. Tiny furry creatures rustled amidst the foliage unafraid of their approach.
“Zabbie, did you hunt here?”
“No, these creatures aren’t real, well not entirely. It may be the reason the ghost can’t come through the wall. If you kill them they incinerate, their bodies break into molecules and fly away. If you try and bring them into the cave the same thing happens.”
“Then they can’t hurt you?” Titus asked.
“Yes, they can bite. You can hurt yourself in here.”
“Zabbie, has this place always been here?” Titus asked.
“It was here when we came underground.”
Everywhere Titus looked seemed dream-like. Odd shaped trees, shadow colors, oblong images. The things he touched had substance. Tree bark was hard or rubbery. The rabbits allowed his warriors to pick them up.
“Is this area large?” Titus asked.
“No,” Zabbie said. “It takes only an hour, I suppose, to travel the length.”
Zabbie stopped and stood still. She yelled, ‘hello,’ as loud as she could, her words were echoed. They all waited for a response. There was nothing. She gazed at him sadly. Dark green eyes filled with loss, her lip trembled. Titus could see she was heartbroken.
“No one is left. They must have all been taken.”
“I’m sorry, Zabbie. It has been a long time. If the Gorgano were topside they may have taken the last of the survivors,” Titus said.
“But the ship blew up,” Zabbie said, she sounded horrified.
Titus placed his hands on her shoulders. “We can’t know if any were killed in the explosion.”
“Titus,” a warrior bellowed.
A massive amount of mist began to swirl in waves through the forest trees. A low moan sounded. A hideous powdery grey face raced with many hollow sunken eyes and more eerie faces swished forward. Titus grabbed Zabbie in his arms and began running.
“They’re coming for me,” Zabbie screamed. “Their ghosts.”
“Zabbie, this has to stop,” Titus yelled. “Make it stop.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” she cried out.
“The creature must be something you have manifested.”
“I have no mind powers; I’m not crazy,” she screamed. “It’s coming closer.”
“Having powers doesn’t mean you’re crazy. But you’re letting the powers make you crazy with manifested fears. Make it stop, Zabbie,” Titus bellowed as a warrior was consumed, then another, overwhelmed by the thick smoke. Titus couldn’t see his warriors anymore.
Titus turned and stopped, the thick fog surrounded them. The faces were floating inches from them. All vacant stares, circling around each other. Tendrils of the white substance reached for Zabbie. His warriors were choking on smoke, Titus could hear them coughing. Jagged teeth protruded from a black mouth. The faces tilted to one side then another. Titus could feel Zabbie’s heart pound. In the smoke he heard the warriors gasping and gagging for breath.
“The Gorgano came,” Zabbie said as he set her on her feet. She seemed dazed, her words a loud whisper. “Oh, God. I remember. They came and they killed us one by one. Each time our minds were invaded by thought, each time I grew stronger and they never knew. I killed the Gorgano that came to the planet until they stopped coming, I was so angry. I boarded our vessel from Earth, we had hidden it, and somehow I fixed it. It was blown up the second I ran from it into their ship’s hangar. But there was no one alive on the ship that I boarded, at least none I saw, the ship was too big to search everywhere and I had to run.
“I must have destroyed my shuttle because that’s what the Gorgano would have done; in my thoughts I knew they would blow it up. I found the hangar bay. I took a smaller shuttle, one of the Gorgano’s, alone, away from the Gorgano vessel. I escaped.
“This place in the cavern wasn’t here, where we’re standing wasn’t here to begin with. I created it. Each time the Gorgano came, I grew stronger, but I didn’t know how to save them, my friends. We had to hunt, we needed the food, I made this place all wrong. We couldn’t hunt, the animals disappeared, only the fruit stayed edible. We would have had to kill what I created, I was responsible for what I created and I couldn’t kill the animals. It hurt too much the first time I tried. I’m useless. I’m so sorry I couldn’t save you. I’m so sorry.”
She was sobbing as she shouted the last to the faces hovering inches from them. Titus pulled her closer, her misery was killing him. She sounded so defeated, she had been through hell. His poor little warrior. Zabbie blamed herself when there was nothing she could have done. The Gorgano were too strong. It was a miracle she escaped. Titus began to wonder if the Tonans and Gorgano engaged so long ago before joining forces. A battle would explain her references to both aliens and her escape if there was confusion.
“I’m sorry,” Zabbie whispered.
The faces before them disintegrated in the breeze. Tiny glimmering molecules fluttered high overhead. Everything faded. Everyone was standing back in the cave. His warriors gazed around, all were fine. Zabbie turned in his arms. Her gaze was hollow.
“I lost so much, so many,” she said. “How could I forget?”
“It’s alright,” Titus said. “I’m here with you. It’s time to take you home.”
Titus could see Cy standing to his left, scowling. The other warriors looked wary. Titus gathered Zabbie close. Her little body was shivering. Their entire mission was a hoax. But Zabbie finally understood and admitted she had been altered. How altered would remain to be seen.
Chapter 8
Zabbie watched the heavens zip by. She sat on Titus’s large bed dangling her bare feet. Her other furs remained on but she liked the feel of the air slipping between her toes as she swished her legs back and forth. When they returned to the ship Zabbie asked to go to his quarters, she saw the looks the warriors gave her. They were nervous having her around. She wondered if Titus was. As if thinking of him made him appear, he strolled into the bedroom.
“Are you afraid of me?” Zabbie asked.
Titus knelt before her and gathered her hands into his. “No.”
“Your warriors are.”
“My warriors are fearless, but cautious.”
“How could I have done so much and not realized it?”
“Trauma. Zabbie, you watched the Tonans slaughter your friends, you watched the Gorgano invade and kill. Nineteen people gone. I’ve heard how volatile Earth was and is. All of that you survived to end up alone. Fear, death, loneliness can do strange things to anyone.”
“The Gorgano and I alone was so real.”
“Maybe it was. Maybe you destroyed all but a single Gorgano on the vessel. Maybe when it escaped so did you. Maybe the only way to keep itself safe was to take you back into your memories.”
“There must be something missing. Why would I fire on your ship?”
“Because that’s what the Gorgano do. None of the blasts damaged my vessel.”
“What if I blow up this ship?”
Titus rose to sit beside her. He slung an arm around her shoulder drawing her against his chest.
“Zabbie, you have never hurt any of us. The smoke hurt you more; my warriors can filter a great deal of toxins. All of them tell me any choking or gasping we heard wasn’t real, they were fine, the smoke surrounded them but never touched them. When we get to my home, we can work on discovering what you’re capable of. Some of the
human females I’ve encountered had no clue how powerful they were until placed in an extreme situation. You have been placed in so many situation, but the Gorgano’s ability was never explained to you. Everything will be fine.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I say so and I’ll make it fine.”
He sounded so sure of himself she wanted to believe him. “I’m so confused, Titus. I don’t know what’s real in my life anymore.”
Titus hooked a finger under her chin and made her look at him. “I’m real.”
“I hope so. Sometimes I worry I’m on the planet and I’m sleeping and the fire is creeping closer. I envision a huge wall of protection. The dark wall forms in my mind blocking my vision of the fire.”
A voice sounded in Titus’s room. “Captain,” it was Cy.
“I was asked not to be disturbed.”
“Fine, but I thought I should mention a large wall of meat was created in the eating hall. A few replicators went nuts and began tossing meat. Strategic meat, Titus. It’s standing in the middle of the fucking floor. If I didn’t know better I’d swear it was taunting us. We go close and it begins to sway. Fucking creepy. Your little mate isn’t by chance feeling threatened by food, is she?” Cy’s tone was condescending.
Titus sighed then grinned. “Still think you’re alone on a planet?”
“Sorry. I was thinking of the wall and also thinking how hungry I was, so he wasn’t far off the mark.”
Zabbie felt her face flame red.
“Well, I know of a meat wall we could check out,” Titus said.
“Do you want me to concentrate and try and bring it down?”
“Maybe you better not…”
“Fuck, Titus,” it was Cy again. “Fucking ninja meat.”
Zabbie groaned and flopped backwards on the bed. “This is going to prove to be very difficult.”
Titus laughed. “For all of us.” He clicked the console at the side of his bed. “Status report, Cy.”
“Evasive maneuvers, Captain. Every mouth for itself.”
To Catch A Warrior [Unearthly World Book 5] Page 9