“Yeah, so…There’s no way I’m staying in here,” I say, facing him. “Not in this poor excuse for a room and definitely not on this…” I point and wave my hands all around, “whatever this is.Nothappening.”
A scratchy wool blanket slams into my face. It launched so fast out of his hands I didn’t even register it flying at me. “Hm. Is that so?”
I wrestle with the blanket until it’s wrapped around my shoulders and covering everything but my ankles and feet. “Yes. It is.”
“And how will you leave? Do you think it would be simple to just open an airlock and step outside? Or do you think someone is coming to get you? Who will come to save you?”
“Rune said he would—”
“Why would Rune come for you?” he cuts in, stalking closer to me, devouring the small distance between us until his cold armor is cool against my skin. “Interesting, how very emotional you are. Believe me, girl, Rune has no care or use for you.” His dark holes eerily stare down over me. He pulls himself straighter and seems to take a deep thoughtful breath in. “I would welcome his attempt, though.”
“Yeah, so would I,” I snap, huddling myself onto the cold flat poor excuse for a bunk that’s protruding from the wall. “I hope he kicks your ass, too.”
“Your mouth is disturbingly archaic.”
“Your whole race is disturbingly assoholic.”
“Your entrance mechanism locks from the outside,” Pious mumbles then pivots on his feet and storms out of the small cell. The door opens and closes quickly, leaving me inside, alone.
“Hey!” I yell, jumping off the bunk. “What if I have to pee?”
His metallic flavored laughter echoes down the hallway as his footfalls trail away from my door. I spend a good five minutes pounding my fists against it, then press every button and light I find, and lift every lever I can. Nothing happens.
Eventually I bundle myself on the icy flat shelf and fall into a restless sleep.
I dream about home and fires and war raging miles below us.
Then I dream about Rune, and the desperate way he looked at me when this giant tin coffin lifted off the ground. And how Pious was right, Rune has no care or use for me at all. And I’m a fool to hope he does.
