Page 91 of Treasure of the Abyss

The screen flickered and reverted to its previousstate.

“That was the final transmission sent from this facility before the communications array became nonfunctional, sent only on secure military channels,” the computer said. “Contact was maintained with human survivors in cabins two, ten, thirteen, and twenty-six following the incident. Communications ended twenty-one days later, and the residents of those cabins have remained unresponsive in the timesince.”

Macy had gone pale, her expression a blend of shock and horror. Jax had known what happened here, but he’d neverseenit. This was the first time he felt shame for the actions of hisancestors.

“Macy, are you all right?” he asked, placing a hand on her shoulder. She flinched; his chestconstricted.

“They would have done that to me.” She pressed a hand to herstomach.

“I would not have allowed it. I would have done everything in my power to protect you, andbeyond.”

“I…I don’t—” Macy turned and ran, crossing the room before she doubled over and vomited in thecorner.

Jax hurried to Macy’s side. He eased down beside her, put his arms around her shoulders, and brushed her hair out of her face. Was this another bout with her recent illness, or a result of what she’dseen?

“I need to lie down,” shewhispered.

“Anything.” Jax gently scooped her into his arms and rose, holding her against his chest. She curled intohim.

“There are dead bodies in thoserooms.”

“Just more ghosts.” He smoothed back her hair as he carried her into the hallway, glancing over his shoulder. Arkon nodded, his expressiontroubled.

Jax turned his attention forward. He wouldn’t think about the dead bodies, or the Uprising. Macy was herenow, alive…and he would keep her thatway.

Chapter 19

Macy remainedin bed for the rest of the day after the computer’s revelations, overcome with shock and nausea. She ate nothing that evening, and very little through the followingweek.

She was as worried as Jax; each time he came with food, already filleted and cooked, it sent her stomach into revolt. All she’d been able to keep down was a bit of naba. She hated that Jax had to venture onto land by himself to obtainit.

Arkon visited her several times throughout the week, relaying new information he’d gleaned from the computer. Now that he knew how to access it, he spent hours questioning it, delving ever deeper into itsdata.

Finally, as the week ended, Macy woke without queasiness. She rose cautiously and slipped out of bed. Jax was nowhere to be seen; he must’ve left while she slept. After relieving herself and showering, she felt better than she had in a long time. Her middle seemed rounder, as though — despite eating almost nothing for days — she’d gainedweight.

As she dressed, she nibbled on one of the last pieces of naba. Had Jax gone out to find more? Wherever he was, she couldn’t sit here and wait; this was the first time she’d felt well in weeks. She strapped on the thigh holders for her knife and gun andleft.

Macy had just stepped into the main building when she saw movement from the corner of her eye. Startled, she retreated, fixing her gaze on an open doorway down the hall. No light came from within thechamber.

The hairs on the back of her neckrose.

“Hello?” shecalled.

Noanswer.

Frowning, Macy approached the doorway. Her hand fell to the butt of her gun. Something slid across the floorinside.

“Hello?” sherepeated.

A small, bald head poked out from the doorway, around the height of Macy’s waist. Two big, yellow eyes met hergaze.

It took Macy a moment to realize what she was looking at — a kraken, but far smaller than any she’d yet seen. This was a child. Afemalechild, if its delicate facial features and body structure were anyindication.

Crouching, Macy smiled at the kraken. “Hello.”

The girl’s eyes dipped, and her lips twitched into asmile.

“Do you know who I am?” Macyasked.

---