Page 236 of Scorching the Alien Empire
Uh oh. Dreamy sigh. How random. But I don’t have time to mock her questionable taste.
“Sumo Face and Blonde Goth? Did they say anything about Bitch Brick?” I ask, barely containing my excitement.
Sandra freezes, then jabs a plastic fork at me like I’m also French toast she’s about to maul. “Why do you always do that?” she demands.
“Do what?” I blink, scrunching my face like she’s just accused me of murdering the President.
“Belittle everything with stupid names—like everyone’s beneath you,” she snaps, glaring.
Because they are—well, everyone except Dracoth.
“We can’t figure out why you’re acting this way. Especially at the summit.” Sandra’s voice softens, almost like she feels sorry for me. “It was crazy, Lexie.”
We.The word slams into me harder than a parking ticket.
I’m losing her.
Bitch Brick.
She must have warped Sandra’s mind, just like she tried to warp mine. I shiver. I have to be careful. Careful not to reveal too much in case it trickles back to the enemy.
“Rocks is alovelyperson,” Sandra insists, her whole face lighting up. “You should hear all the mental things she’s been through. Surviving a jungle full of giant monsters while chased by murderous Klendathians desperate to save Krogoth from execution.” She shakes her head, giggling. “Could you imagine it? I’d die of fright just thinking about it.”
Yeah, if only.
“She was really excited to meet us,” Sandra continues, smiling sweetly. “Especiallyyou.But then you had to, you know...Lexie it up.”
“Okay.Rude!” I huff, wounded. Since when is my name a synonym for disaster?
“But what about the vote?” I press, lowering my voice into a conspiratorial purr. “Has she been talking to the Big Chiefs? Offering them deals? Bribes?Sex?Tell me!” The hunger gnaws inside me—real, desperate.
Sandra just blinks. Once. Twice. Frozen in freckled shock like she’s just witnessed a live goat sacrifice. “You’reridiculous,” she mutters finally, stabbing another forkful of French toast and ignoring me.
“What?” I squawk, leaning over. “Oh, don’t be such a tease.” I smile as sweetly as I can manage despite my heart hammering against my ribs. “Spill the juicy beans already. This is really important for our futures, Sandra.”
Sandra’s expression hardens. “I’m not comfortable being your spy anymore.” Her voice quivers with the force of it. “Not when you’re starting fights and drama with good people for no reason. For fuck’s sake, Lexie—someone could get seriouslyhurt!Have you ever thought about that?”
Her eyes blaze, blue sapphires cutting straight through me. “No. You only think about yourself. And I am sick of it!”
She screams the last part with such force I physically flinch, hands raised protectively.
“But... but you’re my Ginga Ninja,” I stammer, voice cracking. I try a weak, hollow laugh. “I need you, Sandra,” my eyes moisten for real this time. “You’re myonlyfriend.”
Sandra doesn’t melt. She only shakes her head, eyes as cold as when she blamed me for Kazumi’s death.
“Even now—with thestupid names,” she says bitterly. “Maybe Rocks is right about you.”
The world tilts sideways.
“When she reads your thoughts,” Sandra sneers, “the only thing you think about is eating, sleeping, and pooping. Her words.”
Rude. Fucking. Bitch.
A black void yawns open inside me, the same hideous, icy dread I thought I left behind.
Betrayal. Abandonment. The curse that haunts me no matter how brightly I shine.
I could cry. I could lash out. I could rip the whole damn ship apart. I want to. At least I’d feel real. Visible. Heard. Not detested by selfish, hateful people using me to better themselves, until they throw me out like hobo garbage.
