Page 38 of The Stolen Tribute
I looked into Jaxir’s golden eyes. “It’s our only chance,” I whispered.
Jaxir growled in his throat and kissed me passionately. “I’ll come to you. I’ll save you. I won’t let him take you from me, Kylie. You have my word.”
I nodded. All I could do was hope that Jaxir could get to the control bridge in time to kick Dal out of the system. That or Dal really was telling the truth.
I choked back a sob and let go of Jaxir’s hand. I wanted to tell him something, but the words wouldn’t come. In the past day, I’d had wild adventures, nothing that I’d experienced even in virtual reality could compare, and I didn’t want it to end. But it didn’t have to. Jaxir would come for me.
I raised my chin and summoned all of my courage. “Ok, Dal. I am taking you for your word,” I said loud enough for the intercom system to hear. “I will leave on an escape pod right now.”
I swallowed hard and walked backward from Jaxir until my hand brushed one of the silver escape pods.
As I touched it, the silver machine came to life, opening the airlock door with a hiss. The egg-shaped vehicle buzzed, and the buttons inside lit up.
Escape pod one activated …The computer voice said.
“Excellent,” Dal spoke over the speakers. “I look forward to being reunited with you, my dear.”
I shuddered and took one last look at Jaxir before getting into the pod.
Jaxir gave me a curt nod. His eyes were filled with the promise he made to me. He would come after me and save me from Dal.
The pod hissed closed without warning.
I gasped, not even getting a chance to say goodbye to Jaxir properly.
The egg-shaped ship locked and powered up in only a few seconds before being blasted out of the junk trawler like a torpedo. The screens flashed messages that I couldn’t read.
I felt sick as the tiny pod spun around in empty space. I caught sight of the giant trawler. Then nothing. Then a sleek modern starfighter. Then stars. Then nothing again.
Finally, I blacked out.
***
I didn’t know how long I’d been out for when I finally came to my senses.
I wasn’t in the escape pod anymore. I was in a small, dimly lit room. There was no furniture but a simple cot and a metallic blanket to keep me warm. The room couldn’t have been bigger than a closet, and I suspected that it might actually be one.
The air was cold and smelled slightly of bleach. I couldn’t hear anything except of the rattling of the vent in the ceiling. I glanced up again, just to be sure that it was too small for me to escape through. Definitely wouldn’t be getting out that way.
“Hello?” I whispered nervously.
There was no answer.
I stood up, using the wall to keep me steady. Thankfully, I was still dressed in the black flight suit from Jaxir’s starfighter.
The lights flickered as the door sprang open.
I shrieked, not expecting such a quick movement, and fell backward onto the cot.
Dal stood there dressed in his warrior’s uniform. He looked as overbearing and brutish as the first time I saw him during the Tribute ceremony. Any trace of handsomeness was gone now, now that I knew his back story. I had no respect for people who didn’t own up to their mistakes or let others take the fall for them.
“Hello,” He purred. “Back into bed already? Are you eager?”
The thought made my stomach turn. “No!” I gasped.
Dal frowned. “What?”
“Nothing. I just woke up. Feeling dizzy from that pod. How did I get here?” I said. If there ever was a time to play a damsel in distress, now might be it. I needed to buy time for Jaxir and his crew to come to save me.
