Page 27 of Orri

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I'm checkingmy comm as I walk, trying to pull up directions to the spaceport and make sure I'm not running late. Orvox said she would meet me there and give me the final clearance to get in the shuttle back to Earth.

My stomach sinks even at the thought. Was it really worth going all the way back to Earth, to await yet another uncertain future? Yet another mate I had no say in?

Wasn't like I had much of a choice. A chill passes down my spine as I approach the busy spaceport. People, ships, and transports come and go, the hub a mighty nerve center of activity for the whole planet. I'm trying to read the monitor when I see movement out of the corner of my eye. I lunge at the last moment away from a speeding hover bike, its driver cursing at me in a high pitched voice. Sheesh.

After stepping out of the road, I peer up at the monitor again, trying to read the foreign symbols. I've learned some of them, but it's still a bit fuzzy to my eyes. Then I see a word I recognize:

Earth.

There's a green box with some text next to it, and the green box is flashing. Is that good? I turn when I hear the hissing of the hydraulic doors and there it is, coming in for a landing.

The sight of the shuttle to Earth brings back memories of my first trip up here. Oh, how things have changed since then. When I first came to Aesirheim on that very shuttle, I was scared, desperate, and alone. All I wanted was a way out. A second chance away from the controlling asshole Adik that made my life hell in more ways than one.

I felt like I'd never be free. Like he'd always catch me, no matter where I went. And if he ever found me, he made it clear in no uncertain terms what would happen...

I can't hold back a shudder as the memories flash through my head all over again. I'd done what I came here to do. Adik would never find me up here. But if I were back on Earth, even if it was at the surrogate center, there was a chance...

More hissing and the sound of metal sliding against metal as the ship hooks into its bay. I scan the surrounding platforms, looking for Orvox's tall, spindly form. I don't see her yet, so I decide to get closer. Besides when I arrived here myself, I've never seen a spaceship this up close before. And watching it land from the outside, instead of as a passenger, was fascinating all on its own.

The dock comes alive around the landing vessel, workers scurrying to and fro to set up the bridge and open the doors for the passengers. Down below, yet more workers check for signs of damage and hook up ports on the hull to the charging stations beneath the dock, allowing the ship to refuel and power up its auxiliary systems as well.

I'm so busy watching the workers maintaining the ship that I don't notice immediately when people start filing out of the ship and onto the bridge connecting the shuttle to the main walkways. Uniformed aliens of Aesir gold, a few young human women, a few more smartly-dressed businessmen of both human and non-human descent. There's even a green-skinned alien among the bunch — his skin a dusky emerald in contrast to Aesirheim's gold. But its the last person out of the shuttle that makes my mouth drop open. That throws me straight back into my own personal nightmare.

It's him. I don't know why or how he ended up here, but it's him. The ex-fiancé I fled the planet to escape.

Adik.

SURVIVAL

ISABELLA

This can't be happening. The world sways around me; my vision narrows to the scarred, hulking man lumbering off the bridge. My brain screams at me to run, but fear has me rooted to the spot.

My mind is short-circuiting, not knowing what to make of this new development. How did he get here? How did he know?

I thought I did everything right. I covered my tracks so well, and I figured if he was going to find me, he would have done so already. Why now?

As soon as I can consciously react, I duck behind a ticket booth, but it's simply too late. He has already spotted me.

Again, I scan the crowds for any sign of Orvox. I've seen her stand up to way scarier guys than Adik. She could vouch for me. But she's nowhere to be found.

I squeeze my eyes shut and try to breathe to calm myself down. Try to remember what Orri taught me about self defense. But it all flies right out the window the moment I feel Adik's callused hand grab me.

"Found you," he snarls, yanking me out of my hiding place. "Thought you could run from me, huh?"

I think about screaming. Wonder if anyone would understand or care if I tried to get their attention. But everyone's so lost in their own world, going back and forth with their own business...would anyone even notice?

My heart thuds double-time and adrenaline floods my system. Fight or flight kicks in and I try to yank my arm away, but he only holds it tighter. My brain throws those options out and goes for a third one.Submit.

But I can't — no, won't! Submit to him. He's the reason I even joined the ISA in the first place. He shouldn't be here. He shouldn't have been able to find me. And now that he has, he'll...

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" His voice drips with malice and a sickening amount of triumph. "Not happy to see me?"

"Get lost." It comes out as more of a weak whisper without any power behind it.

"What's that? Seems like you're the lost one here." He taunts me further. Adik starts walking, but doesn't let go of my wrist. I'm forced to stumble after him, taking us further and further away from the ship, the crowds, and my only remaining salvation.

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