Page 1 of Wings of Desire

Into the Labyrinth

My silky skirts swirl around my ankles, brushing against my skin as I move to the rhythm of the blaring music outside. My top shows my stomach, and the way it hugs my curves fills me with confidence.

I feel blissfully alive. It’s been so long since I’ve seen myself in anything other than my old, ratty gray Imperium uniform.

“Echo! You look gorgeous; look at you,” Jetta says, her fingers lifting a coil of my tawny hair.

Her cheeks are rosy around the edges from too much mead. The sweet smell of honey still lingers on her breath. Still, I’ll accept the compliment. We deserve to enjoy tonight after endless days of setting up the camp.

I look down at my skirt and bare midriff, loving the way it’s brighter periwinkle hue glimmers in the planet’s bioluminescent lights.

“Thank you,” I reply with an absent-minded giggle. “I’m glad the commander is giving us at least tonight to let loose.” All the hard work is finally paying off, but it’s not over yet.

“It’ll thrill Kane to see you looking like this.” Jetta’s hand falls from my hair, giving me a playful wink. “You’re not wearing yourglasses, are you? Don’t hide your eyes, please. I’d kill to have them.”

Peering into the holo mirror, I sigh at the sight of my thick coke-bottle lenses. My stormy gray eyes appear almost bug-like. I wish I had enough credits for surgery, but I likely will never save up enough.

“I don’t care what Kane thinks, you know that.” It’s a lie that tastes bitter on my tongue because I’ve had a crush on my boss for years now and secretly, I hope he’ll notice me tonight.

I adjust my glasses, trying to shake off the nagging thoughts to enjoy the night. This party is going to be our only respite from our journey through space—a journey that stretched over three years.

Working side by side in the lab has made it impossible not to grow fond of Kane. We work seamlessly together, oftentimes in unspoken harmony. My feelings are a secret I’m burying deep, deep inside me. I’ll die before I tell anyone.

Jetta shakes her head, making her blonde hair fall loose from her bun. She pats my arm with a tinkling, bell-like laugh before grabbing my shoulder. “Come on, let’s hurry. We only have a few hours until we’ll have to pretend this was all a dream.”

She bursts from my tent in a flurry yellow, leaving my heart racing as I follow behind. The moment we’re outside, the sound of revelry fills the air. I glance upward, captivated by the trees overhead. Their canopies glow in brilliant shades of purple and pink.

I allow myself a moment to imagine life on the other side. I’m so excited at the prospect of finally seeing it up close tomorrow.

Jetta’s gentle tug on my arm pulls me back to reality. “Come on, girl. Your plants will wait for you tomorrow!”

I’m distracted again by a flicker of light in the distance.

Here on Azgul there’s nothing but darkness, but there’s bright light among the array of swaying trees. The trees ofthis planet tower above us like natural skyscrapers; each limb and blossom shine in an array of brilliant colors. They are varying ranges of purples, pinks, bright blues, and all of them shimmering as brightly as the moons in the sky.

Some of them have bulbous lantern-like lichen attached to their bark. It makes me wonder what type of yeast has grown there to make it glow.

Other trees have long, slender branches that sway like tentacles in the wind. There’s a few standing tall and sturdy, reminiscent of trees I’ve seen before.

Yet there is a flicker of fire in the distance, dancing along the horizon.

“Jetta, there’s something out there,” I whisper urgently, yanking her hand to pull her closer, pointing towards the mysterious glow.

“Relax, there’s nothing out there.” Jetta dismisses, shrugging off my hand. “This planet is totally void of sapient life forms. There’s no boogeyman waiting to get you. You need to loosen up.”

Before I can respond, a piercing battle cry cuts through the air, and a spear hurtles into a tent, slicing through it like butter.

Jetta screams and she dashes off into one of the nearest tents to our left, likely searching for a weapon. I’m frozen, planted into the grass. I stare at the monstrous beings emerging from the shadows with horror.

They are nightmares on four legs, with scorpion-like tails that curl up from their backs. They have powerful humanoid torsos and, each one has a spear tipped with a glowing fire-like light.

“Echo, move!” I hear my name just as the beasts breach the camp.

My feet swivel, driven by instinct as terror floods through my veins. The pulse in my chest quickens as the skittering sound of their legs echoes behind me.

The crew from the Peony bursts out of the mess tent, many too inebriated to run. Some fall, collapsing into the dirt as spears cut through the air toward them.

Suddenly, a sharp tug on my scalp yanks me backwards, sending searing pain through my head. Its rough, calloused hands tangle in my hair, dragging me against my will. “Let me go!” I scream in agony; tears blur my vision. Desperately, I squeeze my eyes shut, hoping to block out the pain.

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