“Alexa?”
Pigeon appeared above her. The beeping stopped.
“You’re awake!” he exclaimed, glancing over his shoulder. “How are you feeling?”
“My head...” she croaked.
“Right,” he said, shuffling away. Something happened with the pallet she was on, and the IVs were changed by the robotic arms attached to it. Pigeon returned. “That should help, I hope.”
Pigeon glanced over his shoulder again. She tried to see what he was looking at, but there was only the closed door of the medical lab and some equipment.
He faced her. “I need to talk to you if you can manage it. It’s important, and we don’t have much time. Do you understand?”
She thought she did. She at least could tell Pigeon was worried about something, and since the pain in her skull kept her thoughts blurry, maybe whatever he had to say would jar them back into place.
“Yes,” she wheezed.
“Good. Try to stay awake and listen. I know you’re not human.”
Her eyes closed. There it was. Her stomach churned.
The words had been uttered aloud.
It’s over. If I’m not dead by the end of the day, I’ll never see Hysterian again. He’ll hate me as much as I should be hating him.She didn’t know why that made her miserable.
“I don’t know how much longer I can keep it from the captain.” Pigeon kept talking.
“He doesn’t know?”
“He probably suspects something isn’t right, but I’ve been manipulating and destroying your data as it comes. I’m not running the tests you need to help you heal. It’s why you’re still here. He’s been believing my excuses, but I don’t know how long I can keep it up before he finds out. He’s…not well. We need to get you off this ship. Now.”
Alexa’s heart raced. She couldn’t leave. How would she manage that? She could barely think straight, let alone walk off this ship without Hysterian noticing.
“I have a guy outside waiting who will take you and hide you, at least long enough for you to get on your feet, but we have to leave now, if possible.”
She tried to nod, but her head decided to split open instead.
Pigeon glanced at the door again. She wanted to tell him that Hysterian had access to security feeds, and just saying the words out loud was enough to fuck everything up, but it was too late.
Pigeon put his arm under her back and helped her sit up. She clutched the edge of the pallet, trying not to faint as he pulled out her IVs. When he was done, he helped her into her jacket, covering up her arms. He kneeled and put on her boots.
“You’ll…have to come with me,” she managed, slurring. “Not safe for you either anymore.”
Pigeon nodded.
It broke her heart. “I’m sorry.”
He stood, grabbing her hands. “Don’t be. I don’t know why you put yourself in this situation, to begin with, but I’m sure you have your reasons. I know you’re careful and cautious. So I’m sure you knew the risks. I just wish… I wish you would have told me.”
“Couldn’t risk it,” she swallowed. “I care about you.”
Pigeon’s face fell. “I care about you too, Dear. You remind me of my daughters.”
Her heart flooded with emotion, and her chin fell to her chest. It was too painful to hear, to cry even.
“None of that now,” he said, curling his arm under her shoulder. “Time to get you to safety.”
He hauled her against his frame and guided her to the exit. He checked the corridor twice before leaving the medical lab.
