Page 13 of Across the Crimson Sands

“Ouch.” Arilee sighed. “I get it. Sometimes I wish I’d stayed on Earth to die.”

“Then climb the ladder. Quit whining,” I snapped. She acted like the only one facing hardship. Everyone fends for themselves - always has, always will. The sooner you accept it, the sooner you move on.

“I’m not whining!” Arilee protested.

She softened her tone. “It’s not that simple. There’s no debt to work off. I’m enslaved for life. What’s left to strive for?”

“Tough luck,” I mumbled, drifting off again.

“That’s all you’ve got?”

I kept quiet.

“Fine,” she huffed. “Pleasant dreams, then.”

Sleep finally claimed me.

Later, something tickled my ear, rousing me.

The sensation crept down my back. My hand lazily swatted at the air. I rolled to my side, and it ceased.

Then it resumed just as swiftly.

My eyes snapped open. I reached back, realizing an insect was crawling on me. I crushed it in my palm, flinging it as far as I could.

“Damn nuisance,” I grumbled, attempting to settle back down.

I tossed about, now wide awake and restless. The earth felt like stone beneath me, and my makeshift pillow had flattened to nothing. A dull ache began to throb in my skull.

After a minute, the silence struck me as odd.

I glanced over. Arilee was nowhere to be seen.

“Blast it!” I yelped, leaping up and gathering my things. I examined the rope.

Throughout the night, she’d gnawed at her bindings. Bit by bit, the human woman had worked them loose and slipped away.

My quarry had made her move. She’d resumed the hunt.

What a worthy adversary. What a captivating woman. If she weren’t bounty, I’d have relished the pursuit. The challenge of capturing and taming such a fiery spirit. My blood surged at the thought of getting close to her again.

I briefly considered returning to my shuttle. But that would give her even more time to get farther from me. And… I hated to admit it, but the desert was too dangerous for her to be roaming around alone.

No, this chase would have to continue on foot, through every twist and turn of the unforgiving desert.

Time to give chase once more.

For the first time in years I kinda felt like laughing.

What the hell?

ARILEE

Istumbled through the desert, my mantra echoing in my head with each agonizing step. “Freedom or death.” The words tasted like sand on my parched tongue.

My swollen ankle screamed in protest. Fire blazed in my lungs. Blurry shapes danced at the edge of my vision. Every muscle begged for mercy.

But I couldn’t stop. Not now. Not ever.

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