Page 32 of Vawn
I shook my head. “I’m not moving until I find out if they’re okay.”
Just then, the view on the screens changed. We could see the scene of the accident, actually where the jets had crashed, from a distance. Two of them. Between the smoke and extensive damage, it was impossible to tell which team they were from.
Two limp racers were pulled from the wreckage. No word on their identity or condition.
The update on the screen didn’t help. Dread filled me, like ice water flowing through my veins.Please let my family be safe.I could feel my knees weaken, and I considered sitting, but I refused. Not until I knew.
The picture changed again, switching from the wreckage to space racers being escorted to their guesthouses. I looked for anyone I knew, anyone from ORIXA.
Utahn squeezed my hand tighter. “They’re all okay. They have to be.”
I hoped so, but I wouldn’t relax until I confirmed it with my own eyes.
While the announcer let the video captions show who was leaving, she did mention when Team Ffice was on screen. All five of them.No!While I wanted to be happy for them, that increased the chance of at least one member of ORIXA being involved in the crash.
Fuck!Tears welled in the corners of my eyes. “Shit, Utahn, please tell me they all made it. Please let them walk out next.”
He wrapped an arm around me as we continued to watch and wait. Qé walked out first, followed by Xac. Their heads were down, and they were immediately rushed away in a hovercar.
My stomach and chest twisted in opposite directions. I was definitely going to be sick.
After several minutes on edge, Genj came out, wiping his eyes as he got in another car. While Utahn relaxed slightly beside me, I couldn’t yet. Not until I knew. Though, with every passing second, the dread built, until I could barely breathe. “Where are they?”
No announcement had been made, but I couldn’t help but fear the worst. My oldest brother and my boyfriend had been in the jets that had crashed. But when Ret came out, escorted by the owner of the team, I held onto hope that it wasn’t either of them at all.Please.
Ojokun of ORIXA and Rieh of Team Storm were confirmed as the two racers involved in the crash. No word as to whether they survived.
It was almost the same wording from when the mine Akdan had been working in had collapsed. In other words, it would be a miracle if anyone was alive after that crash.
Fog filled my mind as my chest erupted in pain, like someone had reached inside and ripped out my heart. Again. A high-pitched ringing pierced my ears. I wanted to lie down, needed to lie down, but I couldn’t find the ground. Then it was there with a thump, cold and damp against my cheek. Right before everything disappeared.
***
“I warned him several times about getting involved with Ojokun,” Ret shouted. “Death is only one of the risks we take with every race.”
I opened my tear-filled eyes, needing the throbbing in my head and chest to stop.
“Vawn?” Utahn appeared in front of me, his eyes puffy and red. “How are you feeling?”
“Like shit,” I choked out. The same as my life. “Can you tell my brother to shut up, wherever he is.”
I glanced around to see if I could spot him and figure out where I was. There was a roof over me, so I was no longer in the stands of the stadium. Plain blueish-gray walls, with a holographic panel to my right. And a most uncomfortable bed sticking out from the wall. It had to be some kind of medical facility. Though I doubted they could treat my broken heart. No one could. Not this time.
I’d expected to leave the planet without a boyfriend but not like this.
All I wanted to do was go home and live my life like I had been before I’d met Ojo. I wanted to forget all about him because remembering was too painful. I already knew I couldn’t go through that again.
I sat up and ripped off the monitor stuck to my arm.
“Whoa.” Utahn placed his hand on my chest. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“Home.” I wasn’t going to argue. I knew what I had to do.
“I don’t think so.” He pushed a button on the side of my bed. “The doctor needs to see you first. She said it’s very important.”
I leaned back and sighed. “I already know what’s wrong. I’m unlucky in love. And there’s no cure.”
“That’s not true.” My best friend took my hand in his but immediately pulled back when the doctor walked in. Her skin was blue green at that moment—the complexion of the people of Derinj changed color based on their mood—far too calm for the situation. “It’s good to see you’re finally awake.”
