It wouldn’t be long before the dandies found him, if this creature didn’t do something else to him in the meantime.
It looks like this time, the emptiness might win.
CHAPTER 6
ALLY
Her eyes creaked open. “Footsteps. Someone is coming.”
Evie turned her head, a groan escaping her lips. “I didn’t hear anything.”
Ally frowned. It was hard telling what was dream and what was reality. They’d been bound here for hours, going in and out of consciousness. Her last solid memory was boarding the cargo ship. After the door had closed behind them, everything got blurry.
Ally had found the vessel at the spaceport, delighted to find a cargo ship about to depart for the Rings. When she’d approached as a potential fare, the dockman had brought her straight the captain.
Rigel Rigellus might be physically repulsive, but he’d been a charming gentleman. Ally had asked for passage to the Rings for herself and her sister, and Rigellus had offered a surprisingly low price for the ride.
“I’m a philanthropist at heart, my dear. Sheltering two wee females is a sacred duty. The fare is just a formality, enough to feed you and offset your share of the fuel. We leave in four hours. Do not be late.”
Ally had rushed home, announcing that they would be on their way home in a just a few hours and with more credits left in their pocket than they ever could have hoped. Evie had hugged her, thanking her, and for one shining moment, Ally felt proud.
We did it. We’re going home, she’d thought.
What a fucking fool I am.Ally pushed herself into a sitting position, barely fighting back the urge to vomit as the room spun around her. If those were footsteps, then someone was coming. She wanted to be ready.
The footsteps stopped, and Ally heard a thump. Something hit the floor. Something or someone.
Ally crawled toward the door, stopping only when she reached the length of her chain—a chain that apparently connected her to her sister. “Evie! Wake up. Crawl over here.”
Her sister groaned. “I… I can’t.”
Although she didn’t want to ever hurt her sister, she wasn’t above a few bumps and bruises if it helped them get out of their current predicament. Ally tugged on the chain, forcing her sister’s arm to extend. “You can do it. Crawl to me! Now!”
With a grimace, Evie rolled over on her belly and slowly slid forward. Ally used the slack to make it to the edge of the door, hitting against the locking console. An evil buzz squealed from the lock and Ally cursed in frustration.
“What… are you… doing?” Evie’s voice was weak, but at least she was conscious.
“I’m getting us out of here.”
“Where is here?”
Ally hit the pad again. The same squeal issued, along with a flashing red light. “Fuck!”
Evie crawled forward, then tugged on the chain connecting them. “Where are we, Ally?”
“We’re in the hold of the ship bound for the Rings. They must’ve knocked us out when we came on board.”
“Why?” her sister slurred.
“I’m not sure. Probably to sell us.”
“Slavers.” Her sister hissed the word, then picked up her pace until she was crouching next to Ally and staring at the locking panel. When Ally reached for the panel again, Evie grabbed her hand to stop her.
“It’s programmed, and not for you.”
“How do we get it open?”
Evie frowned. “We need a print from someone who has access.”
