Page 93 of Between Earth and Eternity
He’s hiding us, or rather, hiding me. He’s clearly withthem, the outfit alone makes that obvious, so why does he care if they discover me? Why not just drag me into the open? They could just kill me to ensure no witnesses.
Fear starts to settle, and when I inhale through my nose to try to catch my breath, I stop breathing all together.
My heart stops beating.
I know this scent.
I’ve had this chest pressed up against my back before.
These hands have been on my body, restraining me as they are now.
As if he can sense my realization, he loosens his grip slightly but keeps my mouth covered.
I attempt to elbow, hit, bite, or kick him, but he doesn’t move an inch.
Then he speaks, except it’s not Vallen’s voice; it’s a distorted electric echo that is menacing and unnatural through the helmet.
“Do you want to get out of this alive?” he asks.
He doesn’t remove his hand, so I nod.
“Then don’t make a sound and doexactlyas I say.” He slowly lowers his hand, the other still wrapped around my arm to keep me in place. Then he leisurely turns to me face him.
My hands shake as I stare up at my reflection in the glossy surface of his helmet. My eyes are dilated, nostrils flared in anticipation and terror.
He lifts his hand slowly, a gloved finger raising to where his mouth is underneath the helmet, telling me to stay silent.
He reaches out, and I brace myself, but he only gently pulls my StarComm from my pocket and slides it into a compartment in his jacket.
Not again. My music, gone in an instant.
I’m so wrapped up in the loss that I don’t pay attention to what he does next. He manages it quickly, removing a small tool shaped like a pen from his breast pocket, and without warning, he sticks it into the side of my neck. Not a pen—a needle. I gasp just as his hand covers my mouth again, holding me as I sink to the floor.
And in a mere second, everything goes black.
I jolt awake, back in my room with Ori by my side.
“Oh, thank goodness.” She sighs in relief.
My head is pounding as I try to sit up.
“You had a panic attack, a bad one. Some stewards found you wandering the halls, but you were so frantic, they had to sedate you,” she says softly.
Not entirely unbelievable, considering my track record.
“How long have I been out?” I groan, touching my neck. It’s tender and bruised from the injection site. That bastard drugged me.
“A few hours. The lockdown is over.”
“I need to go,” I say, ripping back the covers.
“What! No. The nurse said you need to rest.”
I ignore her, rushing into the living room.
“Skyler, stop. You’re scaring me.” Her voice breaks.
“I’m sorry, Ori. I’ll explain things once I have the answers." I don’t wait for her to respond.
