“I think it might’ve been a bit scarier for all of them.” Stryder said.
Bayden agreed. He doubted anything could compete with the level of fear a giant piece of space debris hurtling toward everything he loved would incite.
“I only wish we could’ve come sooner.” Thad said.
“It was better to wait for things to settle. The quakes are starting to slow down a bit now. It’ll be safer.” Sarek squeezed the back of Bayden’s chair.
“You going to start jumping up and down and clapping too?” Bayden turned and looked at Sarek, and he tipped his head as though contemplating doing just that. Bayden pushed several buttons, then began scanning for a place to land. “Why didn’t Rohoman come?”
“Rohoman was more interested in drowning himself in Ryon Blue. He thinks he can drink Faylinn out of his head.” Stryder raised his lip. “That
lita
fucked him up.”
“He’ll get over it,” Conlan said. “We’ve all survived worse.”
“I’m not sure about that,” Thad said.
“Prepare for landing,” Bayden said. Easing the control stick to the side, he guided the ship to the ground.
“This place stinks.” After Conlan exited the ship, he scrunched his nose.
Memories of wounded soldiers, despair-filled eyes, and hopelessness flitted through Bayden’s brain. This reminded him of a battlefield. Even a seasoned warrior couldn’t imagine an enemy capable of wiping out thousands of beings within a few minutes. These people had had little hope. None would’ve survived the impact zone. Those who were outside it probably soon found they weren’t so fortunate once the secondary disasters triggered by the impact started.
“We can’t stay for long now that the sun is rising. If we do, we might as well paint big red targets on our bare asses, stick them up in the air, and wave them around for King Mykal to spot,” Bayden said.
“Not to mention it’s making my skin itch.” Stryder gazed at the scorched landscape, scanning their surroundings.
“Not to mention it’s eerie as fuck here,” Thad said.
“Son of a bitch. Are you all babies now?” Conlan snorted.
Stryder bared his fangs. “I fed on the soul of the last person who called me names.”
“Bite my ass, vamp.”
“Let me do a quick survey to find the best landing location when we come back.” Sarek set a small imager on the ground, pressed a button, and stepped back. “I need to make sure we’re close enough to get some samples of the
satersine
and that the ground is stable for the ship.”
“What if there’s no satersine?” Thad rolled a smoke, lit the end, and took a long drag.
Sarek’s cheeks reddened, and he coughed. “There will be satersine. I’ve been tracking this meteor for too long. It has all the right properties, density, size, and mostly metal with a rock mixture. Fortunately, we’re in a position to collect samples from it now. If it hadn’t crashed…”
Bayden scanned the horizon. Even after several months, black smoke burned in various places as far as he could see. The ground was uneven and broken from the earthquakes. The population of the country had been dealt a serious blow. They’d recover and survive, but it’d take years to repair the brunt of the devastation. “Might be fortunate for us, but I’m thinking none of the remaining inhabitants will agree with you,” he said. “Get your survey, and let’s get the hell out of here. We can return in a few nights”.
“We should be okay with the shrouds up,” Conlan said.
“Yeah, we should be. But I’m not one who likes to tempt fate,
nelo
.” Bayden glanced at Sarek. “Just get on with it.”
Stryder cocked his head to the side. “Do you hear that?”
Bayden listened but heard nothing other than the clicking of the imager. ”There.” Stryder pointed to the east.
“Sarek, you stay and finish. Thad, watch Sarek’s back.” Thad gave a quick nod to Bayden. “Let’s go,” Bayden said to Conlan and Stryder.
* * * *
It’d taken Ellie and Molly three days to get close to the shelter. Ellie had found an old map in the glove box and had stuck to the back roads as much as possible, assuming that most of the highway infrastructure would be damaged. The closer they got to the shelter, the more they were detoured by abandoned vehicles, giant cracks in the ground, or smoldering fires over large charred areas that used to contain trees.
When Ellie found a dry patch of ground leading in the desired direction, hope surged inside her once again. The gas tank was almost empty, and she’d used the last of the fuel she’d siphoned from an abandoned vehicle miles back.
“We’re almost there, baby.”
Molly rested her head against the passenger-side glass. She’d grown weaker and weaker, and Ellie knew the girl wouldn’t last much longer without medical attention.
“I’m okay,” Molly said. She always said she was okay. Ellie had never seen anyone possess as much courage as Molly.
Suddenly, the ground rumbled and a huge chunk of dirt fell away in front of them. Ellie screamed and slammed on the brakes, but it was too late. The front tires went over the edge, and now they dangled over a gaping chasm. If the Bug went over, they wouldn’t survive.
Molly began to cry, something Ellie hadn’t seen her do until now.
“Be really still. Don’t move.” Ellie’s legs quivered, and her palms began to sweat. She started to ease her door open, but the movement caused them to wobble.
“Ellie?”
“Sh. I’ll figure this out.” A sharp pang stabbed her through her chest.
How the hell am I going to get us out of here?
And even if she did manage to get them both out, what then? There was no way she’d get Molly to the shelter now.
Just as she thought all hope was lost, the front of the Bug lifted up, and the vehicle started moving backward. She turned to find three hulking figures pulling them from death’s grip.
Once they were on solid ground, she flung the door open, ran around the other side of the car, and hugged Molly.
When the anxiety stopped churning her stomach and Molly calmed, she stood to face their rescuers.
Three huge men dressed in black fatigues stood in front of her. She tilted her head back, and her eyes widened.
Holy hell. I’ve just met three giants
. “Damn you’re big. I-I mean, thank you. If you hadn’t shown up…” The dark-haired one with the tinted glasses said something. She held her hands up. “I can’t understand what you’re saying.”
He tapped his earpiece several times. “Can you understand me now?”
“Yes!”
Wait. What the hell kind of language was he speaking to begin with?
“I’m Bayden. That’s Conlan and Stryder.”
All three men were similar in size and dark-haired. However, Stryder was the one who made her uneasy. His amber-eyed gaze and pale skin reminded her of a predator hunting for prey, and she’d no desire to be the rabbit.
Where had these men come from, and what were they doing here? They could possibly help her get to her destination, but she wasn’t sure she could trust them. She glanced at Molly.
What if they’re willing to help me get Molly medical attention? What if they aren’t?
She took a deep breath.
Time’s running out. I can’t risk not asking them for help
. “Can you help me get to the shelter?”
“Where is it?” Bayden looked toward the crack that had nearly swallowed Ellie and Molly.
“That way?” Ellie pointed the same direction he stared.
Please let them be willing to help us. And what if they aren’t? None of them have threatened me or Molly in any way, but what if one or all of them do?
She looked from them to the car.
If they do, I grab Molly and make a run for the car.
“We scanned the area for miles. There’s nothing that way,” Bayden said.
“No! It has to be there.” Bile burned up the back of her throat, and Ellie bent, resting her hands on her knees while she fought the nausea. “I can’t go back. She’ll never make it.” Bayden looked around Ellie at Molly. “The girl is sick.”
“Yes.”
“What’s wrong with her?” Bayden took a step closer.
Ellie backed up a step. She didn’t get the feeling he was trying to intimidate her. He was obviously used to being around others of similar size. She wasn’t. “She has leukemia.” Ellie whispered so Molly couldn’t hear. “She had it two years ago, and it went into remission. It came back. I found her close to a hospital after… She was there to start treatments again. She’ll die if I don’t find her medical attention.”
He tapped his earbud again. “Thad, come in… We have a sick girl… Leukemia… It doesn‘t look good… Affirmative.” Bayden looked at Ellie. “Come with us.”
Ellie slowly stood, hoping the nausea wouldn’t return. “No offense, but come with you where? And exactly who are you?”
“Explanations can be made later. If you want to save the girl, come with us. It’s your choice but make it quick. We’re leaving.”
Chapter Three
Ellie chewed on her lip and then crouched in front of Molly again. “We’re going to go with the men.”
“I don’t want to go with them,” Molly said.
“I know, but you trust me, right?”
Please don’t let this decision to go with them be wrong
. She sized up the three men. Their stance… Their demeanor… Everything about them reminded her of soldiers.
Molly nodded.
“We’re out of options, kiddo. Fate sent us guardian angels.” She prayed they were angels anyway. She did have a choice not to go with them. If she chose that option, Molly would die. Bayden claimed to be able to help Molly. Even if he was lying, the possibility that Molly might get help was better than no chance at all. Surely the men wouldn’t have pulled her and Molly from certain death and offer them help only to harm them later.
Molly hugged Ellie. “Okay.”
Ellie stood and turned to Bayden. “We’ll go. Let me get our things.” Ellie retrieved the bag from the backseat and began stuffing everything inside the pack. She helped Molly from the car. “I’m going to carry you, kiddo.” Ellie slung the pack over her shoulder. Carrying Molly would be awkward, but Ellie doubted the girl could make the walk on her own.
Molly nodded.
Bayden knelt beside Molly. “I’m Bayden. Would you like for me to carry you?”
Molly hesitated and looked at Ellie.
“I think you might be a little too heavy for your mom. She can walk right beside us—even hold your hand if you like.”
“She’s not my mom,” Molly whispered and then looked at the ground.
Ellie’s heart squeezed, and a pinch of pain lodged in her chest. She chose not to address the loss of Molly’s parents. “It’s okay, if you’re okay with it, Molly. But if you aren’t, I can manage.”
“I don’t want to make Ellie tired.” Molly looked at Bayden. “You can carry me.”
Bayden carefully scooped Molly up, and Molly reached for Ellie’s hand. Ellie took it, and they began walking away from the Bug and all hope of finding the shelter. She struggled to keep up with the three’s large strides.
About twenty minutes later, they reached two other men. Ellie was winded and was grateful they’d stopped.
Bayden called out to the other men, tapped his earpiece, and said something she didn’t understand.
“Thad.” Bayden motioned with his head.
When Thad approached, she was barely able to look away from his silver-eyed stare.
Good God
. She’d never seen such a shade. She also found his hair strange—gray with black lowlights.
“This is Molly. She needs treatment right away,” Bayden said.
“I can scan and stabilize her on the ship, but I’ll have to wait to treat her until we return to the compound.”
Ship?
She stared at the oval black object.
No. This isn’t possible. That can’t be a spaceship, can it?
Ellie’s hands began to shake, and she shoved them in her front pockets. “What the hell is that?”
“Our transport out of here,” Bayden said. “Sarek, haul ass. It’s time to leave.”
All the men started for the ship, and she froze. “I-I—”
“We have to go. Is it all right if Molly goes with Thad? He can help her. He’s a patch. I need to talk to you, and I’d rather not have this conversation in front of the girl,” Bayden said.
“Um…” When Ellie finally looked at Molly and saw her wide-eyed stare, Ellie realized her own anxiety was affecting the girl. She smiled. “Go with Thad, Molly. I’ll be right there.”
“I’d rather go with him.” Molly pointed to the one Bayden had called Sarek. “He’s neat. He has purple skin.”
The hair at Ellie’s nape stood on end.
How did I miss the dude with purple skin? Hm. Maybe because of the distractions of silver eyes and a freaking spaceship?
A dull tingling behind her eyes warned of an impending headache.
“Sarek, come take Molly to the exam room,” Bayden said.
Sarek nodded and came over and stood next to Bayden. “Hi, Molly. I’m Sarek.”
“You’re purple!”
“I am?” He held his hands up in front of his face. “You’re right. I am.” He laughed. “But only a little. Will you come with me?”
Molly looked at Ellie.
Now’s the time to back out if I’m going to
. She’d already made the decision to come with them.
Yeah, but that was before the whole spaceship thing
. Butterflies danced in her belly.
I have to take the chance that they can help Molly
. “It’s okay. I’ll be there in a minute, kiddo.”
“Promise?” Molly’s voice trembled.
“Scout’s honor.” Ellie said. She waited until only she and Bayden remained outside. “Where, exactly, do you plan on taking us?”
“Ryon.”
“What the hell is Ryon?”
He pointed to the sky. “That way.”
Her jaw dropped. “Are you implying that you’re from outer space?”
Is this really a surprise? There is a spaceship, remember? Spaceship. Maybe if I say it enough, it’ll actually sink in that this is real.
“I’m flat-out saying it.”
She shook her head.
“No?”
“You’ll have to forgive me if I can’t quite grasp the idea of getting on a spaceship and flying to a planet with little green men.”
“Do I look like a little green man to you?”
Far from it. If a typical alien resembled him, she wished she’d met one long before now. But what he looked like had nothing to do with the decision looming in front of her. “No, but—”