Page 102 of Seven Oars
He’d make her hurt so bad.He’d laugh at her pain.
She’d much rather the Striker do it. He’d make a clean cut and set her free.
Painless.
His hard, scarred face rose in her mind.
She wanted Fincros.She wanted himnow.
Massar threw back his head and laughed, showing uneven dark teeth, a horror mask of bloodlust and feverish anticipation.
Curse you, Fincros, help me die!tore through her mind.
A mournful wail of a siren rent the air, silencing Massar’s maniacal laughter.
*****
The flashback hit Rosamma so hard, she momentarily lost touch with her surroundings.
She was back in their cruiser, in the“back room” with the rest of the women.Fawn’s player still belted out the cheery music.Phex’s voice shouted orders as the defenders scrambled to mount a resistance.The flashlight, the waiting, the distant clung…
Then, like now, the alarm had beeped and wailed, the harbinger of doom.
Rosamma froze, bracing for the moment when the lights would go out…
Massar shoved her aside.
“Later, wisp. Business.”
His expression registered no concern, but his retreating steps were fast.
Rosamma shook her ringing head, forcing the illusion of the cruiser to dissolve.
The defenders were long dead.
The lights stayed on.
When she stumbled into the Cargo Hold, she collided with Galan, beating it out of there under the shriek of the sirens.
She stared, stunned, as he disappeared down the passageway. What on Earth…?
Fawn rushed in behind her.
“We’ve come across another ship!” she cried.
Gro leapt to her feet.“Holy-moly.”
Anske closed the Holy Guide, eyes wide.“Is it true? A ship?”
Catching her breath, Fawn stuttered over a piecemeal of information.“That’s what I heard. Thilza said. A big freighter. Super armed!”
“All spaceships are armed,” Eze muttered.“Except for our stupid cruiser.”
Sassa emerged from her hiding spot, glancing between Rosamma and Eze.“You think there’s going to be a confrontation?”
Tutti rolled past the Cargo Hold on squeaking wheels.
Fawn hugged herself.“I’m afraid. What if it’s pirates?”
