Page 2 of Across the Crimson Sands

“Well, how could I say no to something like that? Arilee, up!” The chain jerked violently, choking me as I scrambled to my feet. “I’ll freshen up and meet you and the boys there. Tell them to leave a seat at the bar for their old Captain.”

Back in the shuttle, it wasn’t any better.

Gorin grabbed my chin, forcing my face up to meet his. “You’re an extension of me. Your behavior reflects on my status. Act like it, or I’ll make you wish you had.”

I nodded, swallowing hard. His fingers left indents on my jaw.

He released me with a grunt of disgust. “Pathetic. Can’t even walk properly.”

My leg muscles twitched, phantom pains from old injuries flaring. The words flew to my lips to explain, to defend myself.

But I knew better than to try.

Instead, I kept my eyes lowered and my hands busy, smoothing out the creases in his dress uniform.

The ship’s recycled air felt stale against my skin. My neck chafed where the leather collar dug into my flesh. That damned tracker charm taunted me with each tiny jingle.

The security system hummed, a constant reminder of my captivity. Sure, my wrists and ankles were free inside the ship. But that freedom was an illusion, as false as Gorin’s smile.

“You’ll be given half rations for dinner tonight. Eat them slowly. Whether or not you receive breakfast depends on how well this ridiculous morale visit goes. For your sake, they’d better be lapping up every word I deign to speak.”

I nodded again while finishing buttoning his jacket. Then, I presented his cap, keeping my eyes cast down. He put it on and surveyed himself in the mirror.

“Something is missing… Ah, I know. A little gratitude from my pet for letting her dress me.”

I stayed placid and emotionless as I carefully moved to my aching knees, bent over, and placed a lingering kiss on each of his leather boots.

“That’s a good girl. Eat and bathe yourself. We’ll work on your ‘jewelry’ when I get back.” He patted me gently on the head, a mocking gesture that promised violence on the horizon.

I stayed motionless on my knees as he left his cabin. I waited, seemingly for hours, to hear the sound of the transport door sliding shut.

The moment I did, I jumped to my feet and scurried to the galley. Since the collar had a lock on it, there was no way I could remove it normally. Instead, I dug through a drawer and found the only knife I could. It was dull and practically useless, but it’d have to do.

I was going to escape.

I had to. I couldn’t keep going like this. Gorin was eventually going to kill me. Hell, he’d kill me in public if he thought for one second he’d get any attention at all.

It would have been better to wait until we were back on Quixa, maybe. The sprawling city that Gorin was based on would have more places to hide, surely.

But right now I wasn’t sure I was going to survive the night. Gorin hadn’t wanted to come back here to Caroma, hadn’t wanted to leave his cushy post to visit this small garrison next to the sprawling, deadly desert.

And if the evening didn’t go well, he’d have no qualms taking his annoyance out on me. Slaves were easy to replace, after all.

I ran the dull knife over the collar in a sawing motion as quickly as possible. For ten minutes, I worked furiously. And then I looked at my progress.

There was none. I felt like crying. But I had to keep trying. Another ten minutes and the faintest of indentations appeared on the collar. It was something - barely nothing - but something.

My tired and shaking hands slipped several times, leaving knicks and cuts on my neck. A small price to pay for freedom.

I heard footsteps outside the shuttle and froze. But those steps receded and I continued to saw.

Hours went by with such pitiful progress that at times I wondered if I should just give up.

But every time I thought that, I looked at my bruises. And I sped my efforts.

And now I was committed. If he found me like this, there would be no forgiveness. I was running out of time. I closed my eyes and moved my hands furiously.

When the collar finally fell free, I heaved a sigh and tossed it on his bed, exactly where he’d be expecting to find me when he stumbled drunkenly back onto the ship. I nabbed a sack from his closet and placed the knife, a small canteen of water, and two ration bars inside.

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