Page 66 of Akur

She strained her ears. It was hard trying to listen through complete silence. You’d think any sound would be harsh, grating, and loud, but that wasn’t the case when her mind was creating phantom sounds in the back of her head.

“Wait,” she whispered, grabbing Akur’s arm. He froze instantly, and she pressed closer to hear what had caught his attention. There was…nothing…and then there was. A faint humming sound coming from somewhere ahead.

“Maintenance drones?” she asked, hoping beyond hope. Akur shook his head.

“Worse.” His voice was barely a breath. “Gragmars, I’m sure. Scavenger creatures the Tasqals use to clean their waste systems. They hunt in packs.”

As if in response to his words, the humming sound grew louder. It wasn’t pleasant. Not like a humming sound should be. Instead, it was like a too-deep vibration that threatened to render her eardrums useless. It raised every hair on her body. It was a sound that triggered something wild in her brain, something that recognized apex predators on an instinctual level.

“How bad?”

“Bad.” He drew one of his blades silently. “They’re drawn to heat signatures. And right now…” He groaned as he rolled his shoulders.

She understood immediately. She was warmer than she was before, thanks to the tunic she was wearing. But him? He was probably lighting up like a beacon to any heat-sensitive creatures.

The Tasqals were using the creatures to find them. What better way than to turn the tables and hunt in a way they couldn’t escape from.

“Options?”

Another explosion shook the tunnel, more debris raining down, and this time she heard something else. Beneath the humming, a distinct snapping sound. Multiple snapping sounds.

“We can’t go back,” Akur growled, scanning the passage ahead. “The Hedgeruds will have reached our previous position by now.”

“And we can’t stay here.” She could hear more of them gathering, the snapping growing louder. “How many do you think?”

“Too many.” His free hand found hers in the darkness, squeezing once, and the simple motion made something ache inside her. “When I say run, run. Don’t stop this time. Don’t look back. There’s a junction ahead—take the right path. I’ll hold them.”

“Like hell you will.” She gripped his hand harder. “We do this together or not at all, warrior.”

A sound that might have been a laugh rumbled through his chest again. “Stubborn female.”

“You’ve known that from the start. And you still stayed to help me.”

The snapping sounds were getting closer. Like the claws of a crab? Snap, snap, snap. She could deal with crab creatures…maybe. Possibly. If it looked like an Earth thing, then it would be easier to fight…right?

Her mind flew back to the giant molerats…well, maybe not.

“There might be another way.” Akur was looking around now and she wished her eyesight was better to pierce the unending dark. “But you won’t like it.”

“I like being eaten alive even less.” The tremor in her voice betrayed her fear. “What’s the plan?”

“Gragmars hate light. They dwell in darkness, hunting by heat signature, but they’re easily confused by multiple sources.” His free hand moved to his blade’s hilt. “If I can generate enough heat…”

She caught his meaning immediately. “You’ll draw them to you instead of me.”

“Yes.”

“That’s the same shit plan as before, warrior. I’m not leaving you. You’re hurt, too, and your heat—”

“Is managed.” His tone brooked no argument. “The joining helped. I can control it now.”

Liar. But before she could argue, another explosion rocked the tunnel, close enough that the wall to her right shook. The shock wave sent her tumbling against Akur who stumbled back, and kept moving backward. The light from the map disappeared as he pressed the device to her chest in his haste to move, and it took her a moment to realize why.

There, as the last of the light died away, she saw one of the huge blocks shift and fall from the wall, and there, a creature from her nightmares.

18

Constance

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