Page 40 of Fresh Flesh

Maisie

I smileas Roger and Denise approach us with the unknown Grengoran in tow. His eyes lock onto Joras and narrow to dangerous slits. The Grengorans loyal to us don't trust those who are not.

“It’s okay,” I say as they approach. “He’s with me.”

Joras gives me a look. I’m pretty sure he never thought he’d hear a human being say something like that about him.

“Well met, Maisie.” Roger comes over to me and gives me a hug. He’s aging, silver shooting through his hair and beard, but his smile is wide and his eyes are bright. Denise smiles too, but hers is more muted. After watching her entire family be slaughtered in a Grengoran arena, though, I don’t expect her to be jolly.

“Well met indeed.” I turn to gesture at Joras. “This is Joras. He’s a…friend.”

Roger and Denise exchange glances. I can tell they know that Joras is a lot more than a friend.

“Maisie, will you please tell me what’s going on here, now?” Joras asks. “Surely I have proven I can be trusted by this point.”

I realize he’s right, and now I feel bad for keeping him in the dark for so long. Better late than never, I guess.

“We belong to a group called The Change.” I gesture at myself and the other three. “Obviously, it’s a top secret group. If Grengoran central command finds out about us, they will quickly move to destroy us.”

“What does your group do?” He asks, his expression hard. “What is your goal?”

“If you think that we’re trying to overthrow the Grens, you’re sadly mistaken,” Roger says.

Joras glares at him, not used to being interrupted or spoken to by a human as an equal. The Gren Roger and Denise have brought along with them bristles, stepping up as if he wants to get between Joras and the other humans. Roger lifts a hand and shakes his head. The strange Gren backs off, his nostrils flaring. He gives Joras a look like ‘I wish you’d try something.’ Joras gives it right back.

“If you’re not trying to throw off the yoke of oppression with armed violence, then what’s the point of your group?” he asks suddenly.

“The point of our group is to try and find a way for Grengorans and humans to coexist. Or barring that, to at least get the Grengorans to stop eating us.”

Joras shakes his head and sighs.

“That’s just as bad in the eyes of central command. All you’re going to do is get a lot of humans killed.”

“The Grens kill us anyway,” Denise says. “We might as well try to stop them.”

She has a point there that Joras cannot refute. He falls silent, and Roger gestures for us to follow.

“You might as well bring him along. If you trust him, then I trust him.”

That helps a little bit with Joras’ attitude. We follow Roger through the game trails until we come across an abandoned mine. The entrance looks boarded up, but Denise swings it open with a secret latch.

“I will remain outside,” Joras says, taking up a position near the entrance. “I’m worried.”

I nod to him and pat his shoulder.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”

He nods, and watches the skies through the tree limbs. If he’s anxious, I’m anxious, though I’m not sure why he’s worried at all. We covered our tracks very well as far as I know.

I make my report to Roger and Denise. I founded this organization, but I don’t run it. I would have to remain here if I were going to do that. I prefer to roam, because if it’s not me risking my life, I’ll have to ask someone else to risk theirs.

I hate doing that with a passion. If I have to put someone in danger, I prefer that it be me.

I barely have time to say hello to the others when Joras comes bursting into the mine. A lot of our friendly Gren assets turn their weapons his way. He scowls at them and then turns to address me, ignoring everyone else in the room.

“There are Grengoran Hunter shuttles landing nearby. Dozens of warriors are offloading, and I think it’s pretty safe to say they’re coming this way.”

“Oh no,” Roger says, his face paling several shades. “We’re dead. We’re all dead.”

“Calm down, Roger,” I say quickly. “We planned for this, remember? Just stick to the protocol. Everyone evacuate immediately.”

The evacuation begins, but we had very short notice. Despite all of my planning methods to get everyone out safely through the tunnels below ground, I find that we’re still scrambling when Joras reports the Hunters are almost to the cave.

“Go, go, go,” I shout, shoving people down the corridor ahead of me. Now it’s only me and Joras.

“It's our turn to flee,” Joras says. “They’re right outside the cave—”

Something flies through the wooden slats of the mock gate, landing at my feet. Green gas spews forth, filling the cavern quickly. I try to cover my nose and mouth, but it’s too late. Everything grows dark around the edges, and then I plummet to the cave floor.

I’m unconscious before I even feel the impact of my fall.

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