Kate
My faceplate has a bright blue ticking countdown across the bottom of the viewfinder. Eight hours before the execution of Rune. Pious has made it mandatory that every Caelum bear witness to the event.
Eight hours.
That’s all the time I have if I want to save him.
And I do.
There’s no doubt in my mind, I can’t let him die. He sacrificed himself for me. “The first thing we have to do is get Rune out of the isolation ward,” I whisper to Sarahh as we gather the other women that hid with her. There’s no way I can stop Pious without Rune, that’s what I keep repeating in my head, but I know down deep inside me it’s more than that. But right now, I don’t have the time or luxury to sort through my feelings for him; I need to get him back and I need his help to end Pious’s reign.
Sarahh’s shoulders slope forward. “I can take you to the passageway that leads to it, however the isolation ward is large with many smaller cells. And there would be so many Caelum guarding—”
“Just take me there,” I breathe, digging my fingers deep into the metallic gloves that sink through my pores like a second skin.
“We can’t emerge from the passageways right in front of the ward, can we, though? Therewillbe too many guards there.”
“True.”
She pauses, shuffling on her feet. “Why are you choosing to help General Rune, when it’s Pious you need to stop?”
I shake my head, debating whether she would understand, or if I could even put words to it. “I can’t leave him there, Sarahh. I…I need him.”
“To get back to Earth?”
“If I’m being honest with myself, I’m beginning to think it’s more than just needing to go back home. I just…right now…I just need him with me.”
“Hmmm. I think I understand,” she says, fitting her faceplate on. “Come then, I can take you to where the prisoners are kept, but I’m not certain what we can accomplish when we get there.”
I follow her without another word. How could I explain to her what emotions are running through my mind right now? I’m not sure I trust myself to speak the words out loud—I’m torn between absolute panic and the pure elation that one feels when they realize someone you like might have strong feelings for you.
Not thinking about it.
Nope.
Right now, my family is still alive, the Earth still orbits around the sun, and Rune is somewhere here with me and I need to find him. The mere thought of seeing him again after what he did for me sends a hot rush of adrenaline through my body.
I walk faster.
The tunnels slope up and down and zig-zag like one of those line mazes I loved to do when I was younger. I wonder why the ship was built this way with its hidden passageways and secret alcoves. The countdown in my helmet alerts me there’s now seven hours left until the execution. We’ve spiraled around the ship for an hour. Is Sarahh leading me to Rune or on some wild goose chase with no end in sight? The other women quietly trail behind us not giving anything away.
“Sarahh?” I whisper.
She shifts farther away from me and the countdown jumps to four hours remaining.
Shit. What’s happening?
She rounds a sharp corner a few feet ahead and stops so abruptly around its bend, I slam right into her.
I do a horrible job of muffling a small cry, but it’s useless, it’s too loud. My eyes dart up and see the cause of Sarahh’s sudden standstill. My heart skids to a stop. We aren’t alone. No more than five yards away is a Caelum.
There’s a small docking station next to him jutting out of the darkness of the tunnel. His hands are on the dashboard, but they raise instantly as he whirls around in surprise, facing us.
That’s when I see his left shoulder and the crack in his armor, and the smear of darkened blood that stains its edges.
“Tore?” I ask, raising my own hands in surrender. I rush ahead of Sarahh, bumping her out of the way. “Tore?”
His faceplate is off and his head is shaking. “Kate? How? I thought you—”
