Page 75 of Between Earth and Eternity
A gift. From Vallen Mannox. A kitten? A laugh escapes me.
For the second time today, I am completely shocked by his actions and his reasoning.
“Are you allergic to cats?” I ask, flopping onto the couch next to Ori a few minutes later.
She laughs. “What? No. I don’t think so.”
“Romy has a new feline friend .”
“You’re kidding. How did that happen?”
I can’t stop the smile breaking out as I tell the story, and by the look on her face, Ori is just as surprised as I was. I can already tell that little kitten is Romy’s whole world. I have never seen her smile the way she did introducing me to Stella, and it’s all thanks to Vallen Mannox. I shake my head, truly in disbelief.
“Should we plan our next group activity?” I ask to change the subject. Ori doesn’t miss a beat and starts talking a million miles a minute about her ideas, but I don’t retain a single one of them.
I thought I had Vallen figured out completely. Every move and every motive. But I never stopped to consider the depth of the game he’s playing or that I might be a pawn in it. Every person on this ship is involved in their own silent game, whether they know it or not. Alister’s message only made it more glaringly obvious. But what waits at the end for the one who wins, and in my case, what fate lies ahead for the one who loses?
I’ve been living in a bad, bad dream
Sleepwalking through a sad scene
“Bad Dream,” Cannons
There was a part of me that tried to convince myself that what I overheard in the biosphere wasn’t true and another part that hoped Payson would ignore Vallen’s commands, but he didn’t. In fact, it’s like Payson doesn’t exist. He avoids me like the plague. Every day for the last two weeks, he has had an excuse to not eat with us at mealtimes, least of all do anythingall together, which means he has also missed the last two singles meet-ups. Even Laz has been distant.
“I can’t believe Payson,” Ori says. Tonight, we went bowling with the singles group, and neither he nor Laz showed. “I really thought he could get past this, but to completely ghost you, that’s just rude.”
I pour myself a glass of water and chug it down. It’s been difficult keeping what I know from her, so many times I have almost let it slip, but I have a feeling in my gut that this is just the beginning, and if I can keep her out of it, I will.
Besides, what do Ireallyknow? Mannox Industries is planning something more than this interstellar expedition alone, but I have no idea what it all encompasses, and I believe Payson, Laz, Bex, and Vallen are all connected to it somehow. Whatever “it” is. I’m not an investigator, but it can’t all be a coincidence.
“Keep your eyes and ears open.”
I’m trying, but what do I do now?I want to ask El more than anything.
“He must have a good reason,” I say, grabbing some popcorn. “Do you want to watch something?” I hope she’ll drop the subject, and thankfully, she does.
The following week, Ori plans a movie night for the singles group. She requests a list of suggestions, which I happily provide. I throw in a couple of sci-fi horror classics just to be funny. Hopefully she’ll look them up before she chooses, or we may be in for a nasty surprise. I would love to go over the movies together, but I’m determined to get Payson to talk to me.
People look at me skeptically while I wait outside the tube. I’ve been standing here for about an hour already, but he hasn’t shown up. He has to leave his room at some point.
Finally, I spot him. He has his head down, typing into his StarComm, so he doesn’t notice me until it’s too late.
“Payson.”
His eyes snap up, and he fumbles, putting his device in his pocket. “Skyler. I can’t talk now.”
He tries to push past me, but I put my hand on his chest, relying on the fact that he wanted to be more than friends. I feel bad using it against him, but I need answers, something, anything.
“Please, Payson,” I say.
“I really can’t. I’m sorr—”
“I heard what Vallen told you,” I cut him off as his eyes go wide with panic. “I know,” I whisper.
He looks around, and then without warning, he grabs my hand. “Not here.” He pulls me back to his room and lets me inside. He does a quick check out in the hallway before the door slides closed.
“You can’t do that,” he says, worry in his voice.
