Page 44 of Pandora: Alien Games

My pride took over and I pushed him away. “I would believe any of the other guys if they said they wanted to keep me alive. I don’t trust you.”

Hassym stepped back. A shadow clouded his eyes. He lowered his long lashes that touched his cheeks. “I need you to put on that dress and follow me. May is going to help us slip away.”

“I won’t run.”

“We’re coming back. Running doesn’t make sense anymore. I found something you need. So, get ready.”

“Wait, May is in on this?”

“Yes, she helped me get to you. She had the idea.”

My heart warmed for May. She was risking a lot to help me. Was I worthy of her friendship?

“I won’t leave if unless you tell me where we’re going.”

Hassym pushed his hair back. The braid he wore this morning had come undone and golden locks floated over his shoulders and across his Bastet shape. “I have a friend.”

“You have a friend? Did you bite him in the ass, too, and treat him like shit after?”

“Can I finish my sentence, please?”

I shrugged.

“Our civilization isn’t good with technology. Dadoo is an exception. I know him from my days in… from before. He runs a small store and does repairs. He’s a good man. Dadoo has battle armor.”

“What type?”

Hassym shrugged. “I don’t know. It doesn’t work, but he’s willing to allow you to use all his tools and spare parts to try and repair it. What are we waiting for? Let’s go.”

I was antsy and crazy with hope. Technology is my thing. I can work with tech. “Will I be able to wear it in the Games?”

“I hope. Let’s go!”

The dress he brought me was different from the gorgeous garments I had worn before. It was dark brown and covered my hair and most of my body. Hassym took me by the hand, his claws pressed into my soft skin, but he didn’t hurt me. We slipped like ghosts through empty corridors and, just for a moment, I thought I saw Hecla peeking from around the corner. Our steps were light and fast. As soon as we left the palace, Hassym exhaled. I did the same. I wasn’t aware of how tense I was until the tension peeled off me. I was silent, until the palace was out of sight.

“This is beautiful.”

“Huh?”

“This city. I didn’t have a chance to enjoy it. I love the streets, the buildings. I wish I could explore it.”

“I hate cities. I prefer the freedom of the desert. I like to lay on a dune, watch the twin moons and the stars, wait for the dawn to warm the horizon.”

“Hassym, you poet.”

“Shh.” Hassym squeezed my hand and we kept walking.

I felt happy, naughty. I imagined for a few minutes that I’m merely a girl meeting her secret lover and sneaking around.

18

Pandora

The front of the store looked bad. And when I say bad, I mean awful. A collection of junk leaned against a shabby wall. At first glance, you would think someone had cleared out the store for the garbage men to collect later on.

“Is this it?”

Hassym touched a flat surface that turned out to be a palm scanner. The metal door slid to one side. A large Bastet male with a large belly that hung over his belt greeted us as we stepped inside.

---