Page 52 of Seven Oars
Games? Okay, alright. She could play this one, seeing as they left her no choice.“I’ll play.”
“That’s the spirit.” Ucai placed the flexible bag over her head, tying it around her neck.
Immediately, all sound became muffled. The world turned into an indistinct blur behind the bag’s frosted material. It was warm and claustrophobic.
Rosamma dropped to the floor and groped for Phex’s hand, releasing a controlled burst of her energy into his wrist without delay.She prayed it would help rouse him… quickly. But given the extent of his injuries, she knew it wouldn’t be an instant resurrection.
She sat still, measuring her breathing. Even so, the warm material quickly became suffocating. With a sinking feeling, she realized that the bag’s air capacity was too small. The oxygen just might run out before Phex awakened.
She gripped his limp hand harder, sending another healing burst into him. Her head was already ringing from the thin air, from the usual weakness of the energy sharing, and because she was so, so afraid.
Time passed, but Phex’s body remained still.
Rosamma’s breathing grew shallow.
She opened her mouth like a fish, but there was little to catch to fill her lungs.
Vaguely, she realized the pirates had left. Only Phex and she remained in the Habitat.
Wake up, Phex! Wake up!
She wanted to run, go somewhere, cry for help. Her legs scissored, and she writhed on the floor.
Dizzy, dizzy.
The world behind the crinkles was dimming.
Rocked by an involuntary gag, she let go of Phex and clawed at the bag ties around her neck, pulling, tearing, digging her fingers in.
Nothing.
The Cargo Hold! Run for help!
But the commands from her brain couldn’t reach her legs.
Then, she couldn’t breathe at all.
She flopped, helpless.
A movement next to her… The world was obscured by the frosted material and her fading awareness.
Hot. Dark…
When the lights returned, she was lying on the mesh floor, and Phex’s bottomless eyes were trained on her, a frown between his fine brows.
“Can you breathe?”
She must be able to, since she heard him, saw him, felt the cold air on her skin again. Her head throbbed. A tinny taste filled her mouth.
Phex cursed quietly.“Don’t do that again. Don’t play. Don’t come to my rescue.”
“I’m sorry,” she mouthed without a sound.
A tear slid down her cheek before she could stop it from forming. Rosamma drew a slow, deep breath that filled her lungs with precious air.
They’d survived this round, only to be abused again in a demoralizing circle of life on Seven Oars.
*****
