Page 40 of Emerald

I cut zha off, my spikes flaring slightly. "It's dangerous out there."

"I can handle myself," zha argues, stepping closer to me, zha’s glow brightening with stubbornness.

"You'll slow me down," I snap, my irritation flaring again. "Stay here."

We stand there, locked in a silent standoff for what feels like an eternity. I can see the determination in zha’s eyes, the way zha jaw is set, and the pink flush of zha glow as zha refuses to back down.

Olivia lets out that odd growl, then speaks again. “You make it really hard topretendto be cheerful, you know that? I’m going back to sleep."

I let out a breath, relieved to have won this small battle, though the dark-purple glow still lingers around me as I turn to leave.

My irritation simmers just below the surface, but beneath that… there's something else. A strange tug, a pull, as if something is shifting between us. I try to ignore it, focusing instead on the task at hand, but it's there, lingering in the back of my mind.

I don't understand this human. I don't understand zha’s stubbornness, zha’s persistence. But for some reason, I find myself doing things for zha that I wouldn't do for anyone else.

And that… that's confusing.

12

Olivia

IseetheasKroaichostalks out of the cave without another word, its tall, spiked form silhouetted against the cave walls, flickering purple. My fists clench at my sides, knuckles turning white, the sharp prickle of frustration clawing at my insides. At the same time, hunger surges. Great.

I ignore it. I'm not some fragile thing that needs protecting, and yet, here I am, being treated like exactly that. Again.

Part of the hoard, my ass. A prized possession that needs to be hoarded alongside a precious collection of treasures. I hate it. I hate it.

The thing is, it's not just Kroaicho. It's always been like this. My entire life on Earth, I was caged in by the people who possessed more than I did. It started with my family, always making decisions for me, and always keeping me on the sidelines. They said it was for my own good. Bullshit.

I pace the cave, the odd soles of the black suit crunching against the rocky floor. Kroaicho doesn't understand. It can't. Not when it’s a towering mass of alien strength, built to survive in the harshest conditions. It thinks it's doing me a favor by “protecting” me, but it's the same thing I've been dealing with my whole life—being treated as less.

A bubbling rage rises in my chest, hot and consuming. I've reached my limit. My hands are trembling now, and I feel my breath coming in short, ragged bursts. It's like the walls of the cave are closing in on me, suffocating me, trapping me in this endless cycle of being kept safe—but never free. Never my own person.

My emotions are all over the place like I'm teetering on the edge of something dangerous, something I can't quite control.

I take one step, and my vision swims. Everything feels hot, too hot like I'm going to explode. The rage is boiling, and blistering, and I'm not sure if I'm about to scream or break something. The thought of tearing this entire cave apart crosses my mind, a wild, irrational impulse that makes my skin crawl with anticipation. I clench my teeth, trying to hold it all together, but it's like trying to hold back a tsunami with a paper cup.

But then, something snaps.

I let out a guttural scream, not caring if Kroaicho hears it. My fists slam into the wall of the cave, sending a small spray of dust and pebbles cascading down around me. The pain of impact briefly clears my head, grounding me for just a second. My vision narrows, and I feel the burn in my throat from the scream. I've crossed a line.

I gasp for air, trying to calm myself down, but my thoughts keep spiraling.

Done and undone, my mind chants.

I feel like I'm drowning, even though I'm still very much standing. Tears threaten to spill, but I choke them back. I will not cry. Not again. I've cried enough in my life, and it's never changed a damn thing.

I squeeze my eyes shut, forcing myself to take deep breaths. But I can't let myself fall apart.

No.

Not here. Not now. I have to be stronger than this.

With a loud, furious exhale, I mutter under my breath, "Fuck it." I don't care what Kroaicho says. I don't care about the dangers. I'm done being locked away. If this planet is dangerous, so be it. I'll face it head-on.

I grab a random piece of metal from the stupid, fucking hoard and grip it like a knife. A terrible, dull knife.

And then I'm off.

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