Page 19 of Emerald

Creeping forward, I move as silently as possible, using the cover of the bushes and trees to hide my presence. Every step is careful and calculated. My skin shifts to a muted brown to blend in with the surrounding foliage as I move closer to the source of the commotion. The voices are louder now, more distinct, though I still can't make out what they're saying.

As I near the edge of the clearing, I peer through the thick leaves, my eyes narrowing. There, in the center of the clearing, I see them.

Genali. Again.

Of course, it had to be them. What cruel twist of fate is this?

The leader stands in the center of the group, its compact frame brimming with the same lethal energy I remember from before. My body tenses involuntarily at the sight of them, my skin flashing purple with irritation. These… incomplete life forms. I don't know what they're doing here, but if the scent is coming from one of them, that might explain why I've been so… affected.

I watch as the leader gestures to something behind them—a large, cylindrical metal-like contraption. The rest of the group moves with practiced efficiency, setting up equipment and positioning themselves around the clearing. Their movements are precise and controlled, just like before.

My eyes go back to the cylinder, eagerly taking in the details.

I must have it.

I remain hidden in the bushes, trying to make sense of the situation. My body itches to move, to strike, todosomething. But I need to be smart about this. I can't just rush in without a plan. I need to figure out what they're doing, why they're here, and most importantly, how I can use this to my advantage.

For now, I'll wait. Watch. And when the time is right, I'll strike.

I shift from one foot to the other aggravated as the tension in my gut rises, before the familiar scent wafts into my nose again, eliciting a low hiss from the back of my throat.

The scent is not from here, but the only way to get to it is past them.

Tunneling is out of the question though, they'd be here and have a one-way path to my destination.

Perhaps now is a good time as any to plan an ambush.

6

Olivia

Thecoldwrapsaroundme like a familiar blanket, numbing my thoughts as I drift in and out of consciousness. My body feels heavy, sinking into soft fabric. I blink, trying to shake off the lingering fog of sedation, but something is wrong. The cold is giving way to an uncomfortable heat that seeps into my skin. A strange mix of grogginess and confusion overtakes me as I open my eyes, expecting the sterile light of a cell to greet me.

But there's only darkness.

I blink again, trying to make sense of it. Why is everything dark? My breath catches in my throat as the realization dawns. I was in a ship. A wave of panic rises in my chest, and I struggle against the lethargy, trying to sit up. The heat is suffocating now, clinging to my skin like a thick, damp layer of fear. My pod, once a freezing prison, now feels like a furnace, the air thick and stifling.

I claw at the door, hoping to push it open, but my fingers slide uselessly over the glass. That's when I notice the glass pane is no longer smooth. It's covered in breaks and dents… and dirt?

The panic surges through me in full force. My mind races, piecing it all together, a chaotic jumble of thoughts tumbling through the haze of fear and confusion.

The ship has crashed.

A strangled gasp escapes me as I push harder against the door, my palms slamming into the glass over and over. I can feel the edges of hysteria clawing at my mind as the door refuses to budge. I cough, the acrid scent of burning electronics assaulting my senses. I can't stay in here. I need to get out. Now.

Desperation fuels me as I search for any way to escape, my hands frantically scrabbling over the smooth surfaces of the chamber. There has to be something, a lever, a button. Anything. My breaths come in short, sharp gasps, and I can feel the walls closing in on me. Trapped. I'm trapped.

A loud groaning noise reverberates through the chamber and my heart leaps into my throat. My eyes dart around wildly, trying to find the source of the sound. The chamber starts shaking, and suddenly, with a crack, something gives way beneath me and I’m falling.

I scream as my chamber jerks violently, the entire pod I’m trapped in tipping forward and plunging into a gaping darkness. My body is thrown against the glass as I fall, the impact rattling my bones and slamming me back against the back and then the glass again. The world outside my pod is a chaotic blur of debris and darkness. I'm tossed about like a ragdoll as the pod tumbles downward, and with a final, bone-jarring jolt, my chamber stops.

I hit the ground hard, and the world explodes into pain and noise. Metal screeches against rock, and I'm vaguely aware of rocks and dirt pelting the outside of my chamber as it skids and rolls to a stop a few feet away from a steep slope.

I lay there for a moment, stunned, trying to process what just happened. My whole body aches and my head is pounding from where I've been slammed against the inside of the chamber. I can feel warm blood trickling down my face, sticky and uncomfortable. I groan, closing my eyes for a moment to steady myself.

When I finally manage to gather my wits, I take stock of my injuries. My muscles scream in protest as I attempt to move, and I hiss in pain as I realize I've got more than just a few bruises. Lacerations dot my face, small cuts from where I was tossed around. My head is throbbing, the telltale sign of a concussion making everything feel far too bright and sharp. But, despite it all, I can feel something tingling within me, knitting my wounds back together at an accelerated rate. The pain dulls slightly as the healing process begins, but I know it'll be some time before I'm fully back on my feet.

With a groan of effort, I struggle to sit up, my vision swimming for a moment before it stabilizes. The inside of my pod is a mess of cracked glass and twisted metal. I reach up and try to push the door open again, but it's dented from the fall, and it refuses to give. Long locks of bright green hair are wrapped around my arms, making it harder to move, but when I yank at them there is simply an answering pain on my scalp.

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