We hadn’t considered that they may just send an entirebattalionto get the job done. At least…Ihadn’t. Maybe because I was afraid to, or maybe because Theo had always talked about this war being small, stealthy acts of strategy and violence happening in the shadows. Society couldn’t know what was going on or the whole jig was up. They couldn’t make a show of parading soldiers through the streets to find their next victim.
Plus, this world wasn’t as advanced as Earth. Theo had never heard of a fuckingplane. Basic explosives existed on Trebianna, but not the catastrophic bombs that haunted Earth’s news.
As far as I understood, this planet couldn’t host a modern war. In my head, militaries didn’t exist here. The idea that a massive group of people would climb this fucking mountain to get to me didn’t either. It’d be like seeing a tank roll into myfield. It didn’t make any fucking sense with how I viewed this world.
Theo stopped in his tracks and turned to me, grabbing my shoulders with a firm grip and using his other hand to force my eyes to meet his. “Vivian, I need you to hide. Okay? Do not get fucking involved in this.”
“I can handle myself!” I snapped, trying to keep my voice low. Now wasnotthe time for his “you aren’t a killer” sentiment. We both knew I was fully capable of being one when push comes to shove.
“I know, but this is different. If they catch you, who’s going to heal me? Okay? You need to stay alive and free.”
It was a fucking lie. Theo didn’t give two shits about his own healing and we both knew it. He couldn’t change my mind. I wouldn’t hide in the dark while my partner was gunned down.
“Promise me,” he growled desperately.
“I won’t promise that.” I shook my head.
The distant popping continued, growing ever closer. The forest creatures must be trying to protect us… or maybe they just wanted to consume the buffet hiking within their trees. Either way, the rattle of gunfire was a ticking clock.
A muscle twitched in Theo’s jaw as his dark eyes flickered between mine, pleading. The desperation in his walnut gaze made my soul ache, but I didn’t budge. Instead, I made a show of squaring my shoulders back and lifting my chin just a little higher. This standoff was a waste of time, and I needed to look certain enough in my stance to convince him to drop it. We had to start running again, preparing for whatever hell was coming for us.
He hung his head in defeat. “Go get your axe, darling.It’s in the cabin.”
I nodded, running towards our home. Theo lagged behind me, peeling his shirt off to allow his feral body to expand.
It would be me and my god—side by side—protecting what mattered most to us. Dying together, if it came to that. I was good with that ending; living forever wasn’t really part of the goddess appeal to me. I had only wanted to find my home, and Theo helped me do that. Although dread coiled in my stomach, this was a reasonable enough way to cut my immortality short.
I finally had something worth dying for.
I searched frantically for my axe in the cabin. Theo and I purposely moved it out of sight to avoid triggering bad memories. My chest rose and fell with panicked breaths as I scanned the empty floor.
Nurghle slept soundly on the bed. Oblivious. Maybeheshould be in the hatch. No. If this went poorly… it was better he be found by someone. Otherwise, he didn’t have any chance of survival.“What a lucky plant to have been adopted by you.” Was my cat lucky to be here with me? How did I make sure he came out of this alive, fed, and loved?
No. Stop thinking like that, Viv; it’s not helpful. You need to find the axe now so you can protect him… Theo… your home!
I set my sights on the square hole leading to the attic. Maybe the axe was there.
I yanked myself up the ladder, scrambling as my desperate feet tried to find the wooden rungs. The dim light made it difficult to see, but I shoved boxes around feverishly anyway, hoping a gleam of metal would catch my attention.
The door slammed closed downstairs.
“Theo! Where’s the axe?!” I called down.
No answer.
“Theo?” I asked softly. A shiver ran down my spine. Maybe it wasn’t Theo.
I quietly crawled to the ladder entrance in the floor and peeked downstairs. I didn’t see anyone. My hair toppled into my face as I slowly lowered my head to get a better look. The cabin seemed empty.
I climbed down, quickly scanning both sides of the partition to confirm that I was, in fact, alone.
I wassureI’d left the door open, and now it wasdefinitelyclosed.
A loud thud sounded outside.
“… Baby…?”
I stepped onto the reed mat at the entrance, turned the doorknob, and pushed. The knob turned, but the door wouldn’t open. I pushed harder. No budge.
