Page 51 of Across the Crimson Sands

I paused, memories of blood-soaked battlefields flashing through my mind. “Experience,” I replied simply, resuming my work.

With her arm securely bandaged, I reached for the pain medication. The hypospray felt cool in my hand as I loaded the correct dosage.

“This will help with the pain,” I explained, pressing the device against her neck. There was a soft hiss as the medication was administered.

Arilee broke the silence, her voice soft. “What happens now?”

I tightened my jaw.

She needed me to be practical. I had always been good at just doing the practical.

I couldn’t afford to think any further than that.

“We’ll get that arm looked at properly. Then... I guess that’s up to you.”

She raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“You’re free,” I said, the words catching in my throat. “No more running. No more hiding. You can go wherever you want, do whatever you choose.”

Arilee’s expression softened, her hand covering mine on the control panel. “And what if I choose to stay?”

ARILEE

Isipped the cool, tangy drink and gazed out at the lush paradise before me. The patio overlooked a vibrant jungle, bursting with life in every shade of green imaginable. Massive ferns unfurled their fronds, reaching towards a sky painted in soft pastels. Strange, bell-shaped flowers hung from vines, their iridescent petals shimmering as they swayed in the warm breeze.

A flock of creatures that looked like a cross between butterflies and hummingbirds darted past, their gossamer wings catching the light. Their trilling song mixed with the constant background hum of unseen insects. The air itself felt alive, thick with moisture and the heady scent of exotic blooms.

This world was so different from the harsh desert planet where I’d fought for my life. My mind reeled as I took it all in, still hardly believing I was here.

Free.

Rokan’s voice drew my attention back to the video screen where Davor’s face flickered.

“It turns out Gorin was running his own little operation inside the Krelaxian camp,” Davor explained. “His superiors weren’t exactly heartbroken to see him go.”

I leaned forward, curiosity piqued. What did this mean?

Davor continued, “And get this - Gorin never bothered registering Arilee’s papers. So I went ahead and purchased them from her previous owner.”

The words hit me like a physical blow. I set my drink down with shaking hands, overwhelmed by a tidal wave of emotions.

“What?” I whispered.

All that time... all those years of abuse and degradation... Gorin had never truly owned me? The realization left me reeling. Anger, grief, and a bittersweet sense of vindication warred within me.

I wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it all. Or scream and rage at the unfairness. If only I’d known...

But I hadn’t known. And now, finally, I was free.

Rokan’s voice pulled me from my spiraling thoughts. “Register her as free, Davor.”

“Already done,” Davor replied. “Listen, everything’s settled now. You two should come back to Caroma.”

I tensed, not ready to return to that world of violence and scheming.

“I’ll think about it,” Rokan said, much to my relief. “For now, put me down for a leave of absence.”

He switched off the screen and knelt beside my chair. “What do you want to do?”

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