Page 29 of Rebirth

I don’t know if I’ll ever forget that sound. Even now, my heart thumps unsteady, the chance of hearing that sound again not completely gone. And as He’rox continues on, I realize Fer’ro’s words were true.

I am with him, but I am alone. I’m the only one here who is influenced by being in the presence of something so different from myself. Something so utterly captivating.

For I can’t take my eyes off him, even though I tell myself I’m staring at his back because I don’t want to lose sight of him.

But he is so focused on something, as if led by a force outside of ourselves that’s drawing him to a particular spot, that he’s forgotten all about me.

“He’rox is committed to his cause, and nothing else.”

I remind myself I’m used to this. Used to being alone. This is fine. When we finish this mission and head back to camp, I can always get to know the other Vullan. Learn about their planet, their species. Find out about what brought them here…and if they’re going to stay.

After hours of difficult hiking, we emerge into a small clearing, moss-covered rocks leading up to the entrance of what looks like a cave. Everything is deathly still and quiet. The trees loom over us, branches intertwining to give us shade.

He’rox stands like a statue, completely focused on the cave entrance, ice-cold eyes reflecting nothing as if seeing something I cannot. His stillness is unnerving, reminding me of the fact he is very different from me.

I step up beside him, determined to appear as unaffected as he is. “What is this place? Why did you bring us here?”

His gaze remains fixed on the cave. “This place may hold answers. Or more questions. It is…difficult to say.”

Cryptic as ever. I release a slow breath, thankful for the moment’s relief on my muscles as I kick my legs before running a hand through my hair, pushing back tangled strands. “Well, do you want to go inside and investigate?”

When he finally looks at me, pale eyes peering into mine, my breath catches for a heartbeat.

“Yes,” he says, voice rough and low. “But be on your guard. There are things in the dark that even my kind fear.”

A chill dances down my spine at his warning. I grip my gun and nod, preparing to follow him into the depths of that opening even with the light dying around us.

I’ve never been afraid of the dark…well…not until those things came. With them, the darkness moved, vibrated. It became alive with monsters and filled with terror.

I gulp as He’rox moves from the edge of the tree line, climbing over the rocks as he heads to the cave entrance and I watch him go, my eyes on his back for a few seconds before I follow behind him toward that cave and whatever dangers may lie within.

* * *

It’s quiet in here, even quieter than it was outside. And dark.

I reach into the pack on my back and grab my flashlight. A flick of the switch illuminates the tunnel and He’rox stops to glance back at me.

The light illuminates him, the ridges across his body hiding shadows and waves, and his eyes glowing with the light put upon them. My breath hitches as I stare at him and the utter magnificence that he is before he turns back around.

Forcing that breath through my nostrils, I berate myself. Yes, he’s alien, but so am I to him. I don’t see him gawking at me every second he gets. I’m supposed to be a scientist. I’m supposed to be better at this.

As we begin walking, the beam of light swaying and bouncing with each step, I turn my attention to our surroundings.

The walls of the cave are damp and rough, jagged rock formations rising on either side of us. This is definitely a natural formation. So why is my heart racing as we descend deeper into the twisting tunnel?

The air grows thick and heavy, filled with the scents of stone and water and earth. We descend for a while, some passes far narrower than I’d like, but He’rox squeezes through them and I follow him, trusting he knows where he’s going.

I doubt he found this cave by accident. Of all the directions in which we could have gone, this is where he came.

Flicking my wrist, I shed light on the walls and floor, scanning for any sign of life. Snakes, bats, spiders…anything could lurk in a cave system this expansive. But so far, all seems quiet. The only movement comes from rivulets of water trickling down the stone and gathering in shallow pools.

After a winding trek that leaves me thoroughly disoriented, the narrow tunnel opens abruptly into a massive chamber. I stagger forward, my breath hitching in my nose automatically as some kind of scent fills my nostrils. Something in the air. Something…wrong. My heart beats so hard in my ears, I can hear it.

Only it’s not my heart. And the sound isn’t coming from me or anything inside of me.

I sweep my light upward, unable to see the ceiling high above, and slowly pan it over the expansive space surrounding us.

The sight steals my breath away. Sends a chill down my spine. Definitely makes it hard to breathe apart from the scent choking the air around us.

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