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Leave this place?“Keep talking.”
“I must talk toyou. Alone. I will return you, but it must be before this portal closes. Come with me now, and I can save you and your friends.”
“By “save” do you mean go back to Earth? And get off this lice-pit of a planet?” Nieve jumped up.
“Yes, I mean exactly that. Hurry.” He reached out a creepy, double-knuckled hand.
“What the hell are you waiting for? Get your ass up there.Now.” Nieve yanked on me, and I was too stunned to push her off.
“Unbelievable! Aren’t you the one who said she didn’t care about going home?” I slapped her hands away. “I’m trying not to be ‘too stupid to live.’ Remember?”
“Too late for that. Now go!” She tackled me, but I dug in my heels.
“Help me get her closer to the portal. He can reach down and pull her up,” Nieve shouted at Querida.
Querida shook her head. “It’s not safe.”
Nieve shrieked and pushed harder. The only thing thatsaved her lifewas my racing thoughts. Should I? Shouldn’t I? What if he could really save us? What if he killed me on the spot?
What if he knows about Valentina?
Decision made. No matter how dangerous.
“Get off me.” I shook off Nieve. “I’ll do it.”
“Al que madruga, dios lo ayuda.Get a move on!” Nieve pushed her curls out of her face and froze when she saw myglare. Even Nheenya looked shocked. “Okay, I might have gotten a little carried away, but…this is the first chance we’ve had to go home. I lied before. I hate it here.” Her voice broke for a minute. “Don’t forget about us, Hera.”
I snapped my mouth shut. I’d been about to blast Nieve, but I understood. We were all desperate. “I won’t.” I reached for the Veras’s hand and allowed him to pull me up. I felt the familiar suction as the portal took over, but for once, there were none of the haunting voices and screams. I fell through, landing on my belly, and something was moving Veras and me forward in a cramped space. When I opened my eyes to figure out what was happening, it was pitch black nothingness. I tapped my palm instinctively, trying to access my vid-flashlight.
“Do not fear. I am here.” Veras’ chipper voice swirled around me.
“A little light would help.”
“Let me cook.I should be able to figure something out.”
It was an expression myabuelaused fromhergrandmother. This weird Aavvee knew a lot of ancient Earth expressions.
The area around us shimmered and lightened. I realized with a start that we were still in an extended portal. But none I’d experienced so far.
“This is temporary transportation. More like a bridge or a travel tool, rather than the soul of the planet like the other portals. The naturally occurring ones.”
The soul of the planet.Is that who whispered to me before?
“They spoke to you? You are fortunate indeed.”
Did he just… read my mind?
“Yes. Forgive me. I am told that it is very rude of me. But if you could try to stop shouting all of your thoughts, I would appreciate it.” He shook his head. “Apparently, it’s a trait you humans share,” he muttered.
My brain could not compute. Shout my thoughts? Before I could formulate a response, I noticed a twilight jungle surrounding us beyond the misty walls—flora and fauna the size of me, trees like skyscrapers, and bugs bigger than my head. “What is this place?” My voice dropped in awe. Veins of Oro lined every plant and animal. The golden glow created a feeling of perpetual dusk.
“It is safe.” We stopped abruptly on a platform, and the mist surrounding us evaporated. We stood in front of a massive force field high above the jungle, nestled in the trees. As we moved in, we entered what looked like a military facility, made from the same glittering metal of the ship. It was a drastic contrast to the heat of the jungle.
“I have a million questions for you.” We passed hall after hall, room after room of weapons and machinery. Eventually, we arrived at a hub. “Or maybe only one. Why am I here?”
“I want to help get you home, but I need you to help me with something before that can happen.” Veras swirled his hands, and we stepped on a fast-moving elevator. We moved upward and then forward at astonishing speeds. I tried to get the lay of the land, but it was moving too quickly.
“You need something from me.” There it was.The catch.
