Page 107 of Victoria's Discovery

Chapter 52

The muffled thwacks as Vi’kail strategically shot the doors made Victoria twitch, but she grit her teeth, shoving the feelings that wanted to rise up back down, struggling desperately to ignore the blood she could feel drying on her face.

It only took a few moments for Vi’kail to make it look like the transport had been attacked and then they were moving. Thorn ignored Victoria’s quiet protest and scooped her up, holding her tightly to his chest while Thegan and Vi’kail led the way into the nearest building.

It was a dilapidated, three story structure made out of a mishmash of materials, like whoever built had used whatever they could find. It also looked like a strong breeze would send it crumbling to the ground. Hopefully, that meant there wouldn’t be anyone inside.

She and Thorn stayed near the entrance until they came back with an all clear. Vi’kail immediately began digging through the piles of debris inside while Thorn set her down. Before she could ask what he was looking for, intending to help, even if digging through that mess looked like an invitation to get tetanus or the alien version of AIDS, he made a sound of triumph and pulled out a jagged sheet of what looked like metal.

Seeing that he didn’t need help, she turned to keep watch by the grimy, little window but listened as he said something to Thegan. She didn’t quite catch what was said other than ‘disrupt signal.’ Glancing back once, she saw them working together, using a different kind of metal to cut the sheet into strips of varying lengths but all roughly four inches wide.

A few minutes later, Thegan called her name softly and waved her over.

They’d smoothed the jagged edges as much as possible and rolled the strips into circles, but she didn’t understand the purpose until he gestured for her to give him her right arm and slid the cuff up until it was securely placed over the raised red mark on her bicep.

Raising wide eyes to him, she asked, “Will this block the signal?”

Vi’kail grunted as he handed one to Thorn then put one on his own arm, shaking his head. “Not entirely.”

Her brief moment of excitement vanished. She’d hoped, selfishly, the cuff meant they’d be able to make their way back to the complex. Selfish, because her thoughts were on Snitch and finding him. She tried to hide the crushing disappointment when Vi’kail glanced at her, but he saw it anyway.

Reaching out, he brushed his fingers over her curls, tucking a strand behind her ear and explained, “This is a type of kinetic metal, able to shift and reform with a specialized device. Obviously, we don’ have one, but that transformative aspect means it’s molecules are unstable and will at least disrupt the signal. It’ll weaken it enough that tracking us will be impossible unless they’re close.” Stepping closer, he cupped her cheek, not seeming to give the dried blood splattering her face a second thought. “It’s gon’ be okay, baby. We’ll make it back and stop her.”

“Yeah.” She tried to smile, but he narrowed his eyes, his gaze probing.

Voice soft, he murmured, “Snitch?”

A lump formed in her throat. How did he know she’d been thinking about him?

“Yeah,” she whispered.

“Don’ worry, baby. He’s smart and damned hard to kill. If he’s alive, we won’ hav’ta worry about finding him. He’ll find us. That I promise you.”

Drawing in a deep breath, she nodded, trusting him. She needed to believe, because the thought of Snitch being dead was just too fucking much to bear right then. She already felt fragile, like she was holding herself together by sheer force of will.

Glancing at the giants, he checked their cuffs. “Everyone good?” At their nods, he withdrew the gun from the back of his pants. “Good. Let’s move.”

* * *

For what felt like hours,they moved through the city, ducking in and out of buildings, scurrying down alleyways and over streets. By the time Vi’kail finally found a place he felt was secure, and far enough away from the runner, the suns were beginning to peek over the horizon, casting the decrepit buildings in a purple glow.

Victoria waited until they called an all clear then slumped back against the wall, bracing her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath. She was exhausted, felt tired down to her bones, but whether that was from running, the aftereffects of being tranqed, or the adrenaline waning, she didn’t know. Probably a mix of all three.

“We’ll take cover here till the suns fall. I’ll take first shift while you get some rest.” Vi’kail’s eyes cut to her. “I’ll see if I can find some water, maybe something to eat.”

“I’m okay,” she lied.

She was absolutely dying of thirst. He didn’t say anything, just disappeared deeper into the building. Sliding down the wall, she sat heavily and drew her knees up.

When she looked up to find Thegan and Thorn working to clear a section of floor, she gathered herself to get back up, but froze when her gaze caught on her hands. A thin shaft of light from the window slashed across her hands, illuminating the blood speckling the backs of them.

Her stomach heaved and a strangled sound caught in her throat.

Jerking her head up when someone crouched in front of her, she blinked at all three of them before her gaze settled on Thegan in the middle. Wordless, she lifted her arms, showing him the blood.

“I– I didn’t know.” She tried to wipe it off, but it was dry and just flaked, leaving her skin stained beneath. “I touched walls. Doors. I didn’t know. Fuck! We have to go back. Make sure I didn’t leave a trail.”

She’d killed him. But he was a bad person, right? Only, what if he wasn’t? What if he had a family, children? What if transporting slaves was the only job he could get, and now that she’d killed him, his family would starve?

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