Page 34 of Chained

A thin leg appears at the top of the window. It tap-taps its way down before being followed by another, and another, then the bulbous abdomen of the creature. A hideous head with huge lethal looking jaws swivels in my direction as I back away.

But I’m in its sights. Multiple eyes gaze at me and goo drips from the jaw.

“Tasty.” The word falls into my head like I’m being hit.

“Nope, nope, nope,” I say, looking at my dagger. It is completely inadequate against the massive spider, if it can get into the pod, but it’s all I have.

I hope it can’t break through.

The thin leg spears the glass as if it’s cheese. So much for the pod keeping me safe.

I’m back at the door, slamming my blade in between the frame and the door, using it as a lever as much as I can. I believe in the quality of the weapon, but it bends alarmingly as I attempt to prize open my escape route.

I have to make a decision as the glass behind me shatters—continue and risk breaking my only means of protecting myself and my unborn baby or turn and face the thing.

The door gives a tiny amount, and I redouble my efforts as something rakes down my back. I scream out as pain sears through me, but I don’t stop. I can’t stop. I have to get out.

Bracing myself for more violence, I shove the dagger as hard as I can into the gap I’ve made and twist. There’s a rush of wind which nearly pulls me over, and I risk a glance behind me.

The creature is in several pieces, and Maxym stands like an avenging angel, his dark eyes inky and his torso streaked with innards I don’t want to know about.

“Myeregri,” he growls.

“Maxym!” I take a step towards him, and my knees buckle at the pain in my back. I put my hand where it hurts, and it comes away red.

I look at him and at my hand. He snorts, hot and feral.

“Did it hurt you?” he snarls.

My head is already spinning at the sight of my own blood, something I’ve never been good with.

“I think…”

My legs go from under me, and I’m in Maxym’s warm, strong arms. A breeze filled with a metallic scent and something worse blows as I realize I’m no longer on the ground or in the pod at all. I’m in the air.

“Maxym!” My voice is weak in comparison to what it should be, but I can’t breathe properly.

“Medic,” he growls at me before we spin in a sick making motion first one way, then the other to avoid yet more of the spider things.

A brief glance up shows me we’re heading for a gap in the roof of the dome, the one where the creatures are getting in.

“Up there, really?” My voice is hoarse, as if I’ve been screaming.

“It’s the only way.” He says, beating hard to gain height and bursting through.

For a second, I see so many things my brain can’t process them. Finally everything resolves as if my head has gone from slow motion to regular time.

A huge ship hovers over the dome with yet more of the things pouring out like a dark stream of legs and jaws. Across the skyline, I can see many other ships each doing the same.

“What the hell is going on?” I rasp as Maxym sweeps away from the dome.

“Bogarok invasion,” he responds, and I feel the words rather than hear them.

He drops and my stomach rises. We’re skimming over the low roofs of the dwellings as he puts distance between us and the ship over the dome. I slam my hand into his chest.

“I need to be sick. Please stop,” I beg.

His liquid eyes turn on me and, in what has to be an instant, we’re on the ground and I’m heaving up my guts, my eyes streaming with tears as each movement is agony.

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