Page 26 of Across the Crimson Sands

“Look! Okay, okay!” he yelped as I released my grip. He tended his sore tentacles before he spoke again. “She said she had a crazy ex on her trail. She was buying items with stolen credits, so I was about to call the authorities. But she said she’d just done the unthinkable to get away from a bad man. She showed me the marks on her arms, so it wasn’t hard to believe that she was running from a monster.”

Those bruises. I hadn’t left them.

But I was going to bring her back to the man who had.

So which of us was the monster?

I shook myself. There wasn’t time for thoughts like that. I’d stopped trying to be a decent man a long time ago. It didn’t get me anywhere.

“Where did she take off to? And you better have an answer.”

The man shifted, ready to cry or shit himself as I flinched, ready to grab him again if he didn’t answer me.

“She didn’t say!” His answer was as quick as it was relieving. I reached over, yanking at him like a string until he yelped.

“Okay! Okay! She didn’t tell me where she was going, but…”

“...but?” I finished hotly, tapping my pistol on his counter impatiently.

“She bought rain gear, boots, and bug repellent. Lots of it.”

The next sound was the shop bell ringing as I swept back out onto the streets with a destination in mind. There weren’t a lot of places she’d go with a list like that on the credits she could get from exchanging the ticket.

I swung my ticket down at the ticket desk a few minutes later.

“I’d like to exchange this, please.”

“And where are we going, sir?”

“Guilgar,” I replied. “One way.”

Several hours later, my feet hit the deck of the overly warm, sunny moon of Guilgar.

I scanned the vibrant jungle port, picking up traces of her presence. Arilee had a talent for blending in where humans rarely ventured solo, making her stand out without effort.

“Seen this human?” I flashed my percomm at a wary Mondian woman. Her distrustful glare pegged her as my best lead. She fidgeted, eyes darting past my shoulder until I turned.

A sea of sentients swarmed the bustling shipyard. Beyond, locals crowded the streets.

Wisps of steam danced above the forest canopy. Reptilian kids kicked a ball in the dusty square. I scrutinized the throng, one face at a time, until—there.

Arilee stood alone, captivated by a street vendor’s artistry. Her face glowed, delighted by the spectacle at her feet, but something more. I hated to shatter her illusion, especially after her elaborate escape.

Blissfully unaware, she reveled in her perceived freedom. The sweet unknown radiated from her features. Bursting that bubble would be brutal.

Somewhere, deep inside, I almost didn’t want to do it.

But I’d done a lot of things I didn’t want to do. This wouldn’t be any different.

I waded into the city’s chaos. The road oozed mud from the morning’s downpour.

Arilee sported shorts, a tank, and sandals—clear evidence she thought she’d given me the slip for good. A massive hover truck zoomed by, yanking her attention from the crowd to where I stood.

Her pupils widened and all too easily I could imagine her thoughts.

“Rokan,” her lips reluctantly formed my name. I grinned.

Hey, sweetheart.

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