Page 48 of Angel Condemned

Jody

Axton.How could I just leave him in the prison knowing what those monsters had done to him…what they would do to him?

They weren’t the only monsters, I was too. I took off the Roulex disguise and threw it in the corner. I didn’t want to have anything to do with them. Couldn’t stomach the severed tail hanging off the back of the uniform.

I was free. But inside, I was still in prison. My heart and soul locked up with Axton’s. I needed to see him. Tell him how I’d seen his sister in the afterlife or whatever that was and how she forgave him and Knox. That they weren’t at fault for her death.

The water-ship hummed, shifting course.

“Why are we changing direction?” I scrubbed a hand over my face and stood.

My dad stepped back. “Looks like they’re bringing us back to the prison.”

I rushed to the controls, flipping switches, pushing buttons. “We can’t go back.” They’d kill my father and probably me too. I had to get us away from here.

Lights blinked, but nothing changed. The ship sailed us toward the prison.

“No, no, no.” I jabbed more buttons. A red light flashed overhead and an alarm blared, filling the small space with an obnoxious ringing.

The Roulex’s hand.

I glanced around, finding it on the ship’s floor and placed it on the panel.

Nothing changed.

Shit, shit, shit.The blood must have congealed too much to register on the scanner.

“I’m so sorry, Daddy.” I hugged him. “All I wanted to help you—get you the transplants you need.” To save one member of my family when I had failed Mom and Vivian.

“Hey, it’s okay.” He kissed my forehead. “Let me try.”

I wiped my face and nodded. What could it hurt?

Dad bent down and tapped at the metal panels until one popped open. Then he looked over at me. “Ever since your mom and Vivian died, you’ve given up on life. Then my issues started and you buried yourself further with work and worry. I don’t want that for you anymore, baby girl. I want you to live. I want you to chase the stars. Find whatever makes you happy and hold onto it with everything you’ve got.”

Tears burned my throat. “Dad w-what are you saying? You’re scaring me.”

“I know a thing or two about machines. Studied as an electrical engineer in college when I met your mother. But your mother was worried about my work being too dangerous. Especially when her uncle and grandfather had been killed because of it. I don’t want you to blame yourself for anything. Live your life for you and whoever you love. Stop living it for the dead.”

A sinking sensation hit me. “Dad, no!”

I rushed toward him, but he yanked out the exposed wire, twisting them until a bolt of electricity surged through his body and the entire ship went dark. The ship lurched forward as it stopped.

“Dad, Dad,” I screamed, falling to my knees. I crawled over to him. No pulse. No breathing.

My hands were sweaty as I placed them on his chest and started CPR.

“Please don’t die, Dad.” I blew air into his mouth. “Come back. Please.” Tears ran down my face, but I didn’t stop. Couldn’t.

My arms ached, but I kept doing compressions. I lost track of time. How long had it been? Minutes? Half an hour?

I breathed into his mouth again, then checked for a pulse. Still nothing.

“No, no, no.” I sobbed, striking my dad hard in the chest.

His breath whizzed out and I gasped.

“Dad?”

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