Page 92 of Between Earth and Eternity
“I don’t know about yearning, but whatever was lingering between us has been building up for a while now.” I stare off, replaying the kiss, everything.
“Wait a minute, why does this feel bigger than just a kiss? Are you starting tolikeVallen Mannox?”
“What? No!” I say a little too quickly. “I’m going for a run.”
“That wasn’t at all convincing by the way.”
My body hates me for skipping the gym these past weeks. After a couple of miles, my muscles are singing, welcoming back the familiar burn. Today, it looks like I’m running through a tropical rainforest. Squawking birds fly overhead, and a growl of a jaguar certainly motivates me to pick up the pace, even if it isn’t real. I am about to finish another mile when an alarm goes off, echoing throughout the ship. I almost slip off the treadmill but catch myself before jumping off.
“Another drill?” a woman next to me complains, not at all bothered. But this time is different.
Instead of Zara’s voice instructing everyone to an escape pod, she repeats the words, “Please return to your cabins immediately. Remain inside until further instructions are given. For your protection, do not allow any unknown passengers into your cabin until the all clear has been issued.”
This isn’t an evacuation, this is an invasion. Something or someone has boarded Zenith without permission.
I jog back to our hallway but pause as a group of badges run by. “Ring Twenty-Three. Repeat, Ring Twenty-Three,” echoes from their StarComms.
Keep your eyes and ear open.
I feel that ache in my gut. This is more than it seems, and I intend to find out what my intuition is trying to tell me.
My time is limited. Call it defiance, or maybe my patience has run out. I could be arrested or worse, but instead of going back to the suite, I go searching for Pace.
I start at the place that makes the most logical sense. I approach the door to his suite and push the bell. I wait a few seconds and try again. Nothing. Good thing I have a plan B.
When we first boarded Zenith all those weeks ago, we shared our locations with each other in case we truly did become lost. I say a silent prayer that he hasn’t turned it off. I pull out my StarComm, and sure enough, Payson’s tracking beacon appears in the holographic map projected in front of me.
Zara’s voice continues to blare throughout the empty halls as I run in bursts, checking around corners, listening for any sounds, not really sure what I should be listening for, but I figure I’ll know once I hear it.
Pace’s location is signaling from the main deck of the ship toward the hull. I use the need for discovery to outweigh my fears. A couple of times, I’m nearly found by passing crew members but manage to stay out of sight.
Soon, a loud humming overrides the alarms, its pulse and power buzzing through my whole body. I must be getting close to an engine room of some kind. I’m no engineer, but I can’t think of anything that could mimic that immense power.
A large door slides open as I approach. The keypad on the threshold blinks with errors, like someone hacked the door to remain unlocked. The thrumming is almost deafening inside. Metal catwalks hang from the ceiling against pipes varying in size and color and snaking through the massive room. Control panels with flashing lights stand in work stations, casting reflections against the polished floors.
There isn’t a soul in sight, but my StarComm still indicates that Payson is close by.
In the middle of the room is a soft blue glow illuminating a large core of energy like a beating heart. It must be the actual heart of Zenith, storing and pulsing power to the entire ship like blood pumping into veins. It’s surrounded by a globe of thick glass. If the StarComm is accurate, Payson is around the next corner.
I swallow my unease and inch closer. There really is no need to be quiet with all sound drowned out by the ship’s engine, but I won’t take a chance. I inhale shaky breath before peering around the corner, holding back the gasp that wants to escape.
A group of individuals retrieve large, sleek barrels from a stockroom and place them on a nearby cart. They wear suits, much like the space suits in our rooms, except theirs are completely black, the face coverings of the smooth helmets blacked out as well, their identities hidden underneath, and it’s not hard to miss the guns holstered on their hips. They clearly aren’t meant to be here as they work at a rushed but efficient pace, stealing whatever is in those barrels. I retreat behind the wall.
My stomach drops. Payson is over there, and probably Laz too.
Would I be able to pick them out? Should I confront them?
I need to move closer to be sure. I scoot around the wall, looking for a new place to hide, but when I turn the corner, I run right into a wall of stone.
Not a wall. A man.
He wears the same attire as the rest of the group, and before I can attempt to run or scream, he captures me and pulls me tightly against him, covering my mouth with a gloved hand.
I squirm, trying to break free, but my attempts are rendered useless. He is strong and has zero intention of letting me go.
He doesn’t speak but keeps my back flush against him, hand tight over my mouth and out of sight.
Wait.
