Chapter 20: Chapter 20

Raven

Raven’s skin was slick with sweat, her body radiating heat. She’d lost track of time, and her energy was dwindling. Her legs felt like they were made of lead, but she kept pushing forward.

The crunch of small rocks and dirt under her feet was the only sound in the still air. A breeze would have been a welcome relief.

“You should have slept,” Arenk said, matching her pace.

“Sleep isn’t exactly top of mind after you’ve touched an angel,” she replied. “How much further?”

“About a mile,” he said, quickening his pace. “Keep up.”

They left the track, moving onto the sidewalk. The change of scenery was a small comfort, but her heart was starting to pound. He’d have to carry her back whether he liked it or not.

The sleek, modern buildings gradually gave way to older, more worn structures as they turned a corner. Some were rusted, missing the water features and greenery that adorned the others.

Arenk stopped, and Raven dropped to her knees, grateful for the break. She gasped for air, but instead of the fresh breath she expected, a foul breeze hit her.

She covered her face with her hand, looking around for the source of the stench. Dimly lit eyes began to appear from the shadows. Arenk approached the pair closest to them.

“What’s your vice?” he asked.

“Anything that’ll get me high,” a raspy voice replied. “So, fifty for you and a hundred for the lady. I’m a prized beast.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Arenk said, pulling out a plastic card. “You can take this or a job.”

“What’s your game?”

“The military could use more recruits. I can take you there now. You’ll have a warm bed, food, and a purpose. But you have to give up your vices.”

The man was mostly hidden in the shadows, but Raven could see fresh cuts layered over old scars. His skeletal hand clutched a tin can next to him as he struggled to stand.

His jacket was tattered and stained, his face hidden by his hood. They stood in silence for a moment.

He reached for the card.

“Not yet. Tell her why you’re passing up this opportunity,” Arenk said, pulling the card back.

The man glanced at Raven. “I don’t think I can stop. Or that I want to. I feel connected to the universe when I’m high. I don’t want to lose that.” Arenk slipped the card into the man’s pocket.

“Let’s go,” he said, crouching down in front of Raven. “We have a schedule to keep.”

Raven rested her chin on his shoulder as they passed by the shops and people.

“I won’t end up like him. I know addiction.”

“It’s a possibility, and the odds increase every time you use. Are you willing to risk that?”

“My life has been nothing but risks.”

Arenk tensed beneath her. “Not anymore, Raven.”

His voice was low, but it wasn’t like the night before. It wavered slightly. Her heart ached. She could just tell him what he wanted to hear, but that wasn’t her style.

“I like playing dangerous games. If it’s not this, it’ll be something else.”

He stopped, and the crowd flowed around them. After a moment, they moved again, continuing until they reached his building. Laro tossed his polishing rag into a bucket and fell into step with Arenk.

“You two smell like a sewer,” Laro said, keeping his distance.

“What time should I expect you tomorrow?” Arenk asked, pressing the elevator button for his floor.

“Dawn. Are you coming to the party?”

“Not if he’s there.”

Raven stepped off the elevator, almost stumbling. The cool air made her smile.

She headed to the bathroom and started the bath. She’d left her towel on the bed that morning. As she cracked the door to retrieve it, she heard muffled voices.

“Why are you showing me a doctored video?” Arenk asked.

“It’s not doctored. He wouldn’t have come to me if it was. I talked him out of his first plan, but we have to do our part. We test her, and everyone’s happy,” Laro replied.

“We would’ve noticed this behavior before. It was a fluke.”

“Then we have nothing to worry about. They’ll lose interest and move on,” Laro said. “Should we tell her together?”

Raven flung the door open. “Tell me what? That I’m being screwed over again? At least you’re telling me to my face this time.”

“Eavesdropping will get you in trouble,” Arenk said. “Sit.”

“Why did you lie about the generals’ party?” Laro asked, handing her a tablet. “If you’d told us, we could’ve gotten ahead of this.”

“Are you going to lecture me about the dangers of drinking now?”

“Just watch the video.”

As the video played, Raven’s palms began to sweat. When had she become so skilled with blades? This had to be a trick, a ploy to lock her up. Memories flooded back—being turned away at bars on Earth, people avoiding her on the ship after a night of partying, Tori always having to bail her out of the drunk tank.

Then there were flashes of red, severed body parts, cries for help. But when had that happened? Where?

A firm grip on her shoulder brought her back to reality. She was on the floor, the cold tile beneath her.

“Breathe, Raven. In and out,” Laro said.

Once her breathing steadied, she leaned against the leg of the table, smoothing her hair back.

“What was that?” Arenk asked.

“I’m just tired. All that running took a lot out of me,” she replied.

“Sure thing,” Arenk replied, guiding her to a chair. “The big shots are in the loop now, so there’s no turning back. We run these tests on every new species we come across. It’s just the way things are.”

But if that was the case, why hadn’t they done it with the doctor when she first showed up?

“You won’t need to pack up or head to a lab for these,” Laro chimed in.

“And what if the results freak them out?”

They shared a look. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” Arenk said.