Taken By Terror by Lolita Lopez
Chapter Eight
Maisie woke to the gentle shake of a hand on her shoulder. Inhaling sharply, she rolled over to see Fay standing over her. She smiled tightly and signed, “It’s time.”
Feeling as though she had only slept a minute, Maisie rubbed her face and yawned before forcing herself to get up. She made quick use of the bathroom attached to Fay’s room and drank water straight from the tap, cupping it in her hands and bringing it to her dry mouth until she had her fill. When she was done, she found her boots at the end of the bed. They were still damp inside when she slipped her feet into them, and she grimaced at the feel of cold wetness seeping into her clean, dry socks. Kneeling down to tie them, she made sure to securely fasten the loops. The last thing she needed was to trip on a loose lace and fall flat on her face in the dark.
Adhering to the general’s timeline, they were out the door and trekking through the dark before the five-minute warning expired. She kept her head down and stayed close to Fay who had volunteered to lead them the last few miles of their trip. Cotton had come along as well both dogs. Clove still butted against her hand every now and then, seeking out scratches and pets. She enjoyed the feel of his fur under her fingers, certain it would be the last time she touched a dog for a while.
When they finally stopped hiking almost three hours later, Maisie leaned against a tree and tried to ease the ache in her legs and back. The weeks of being held prisoner, the lack of proper nutrition and rest and her nonstop movement since escaping the camp were taking their toll. She sagged against the tree and wondered how much longer she could stay awake.
Lights appeared over the trees in the distance, and her heart started to beat a little faster. She swallowed hard and exhaled roughly. This was it. She was getting off this planet that had brought her nothing but pain and hardship. Yet, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was walking into a much worse situation—a situation she might not survive.
Terror appeared from the shadows, startling her with his sudden presence. He placed his big hand on her shoulder, and she didn’t even try to fight the urge to lean into him. Seeking his strength and his comfort, she shifted her stance until she was resting against Terror instead of the tree. Her lips parted on a shaky breath when his thumb trailed the side of her neck, slowly caressing a soothing line. A moment later, she felt his lips press against temple. The shock of being kissed so unexpectedly and so chastely lasted longer than the kiss itself.
Just as quickly as he appeared, Terror left her side and strode across the clearing, leaving her bewildered and yearning for his touch. As the sleek ship dropped down and hovered only a few feet above the clearing, Clove trotted over and sat at her feet. Maisie knelt down to enjoy one last hug with Clove. The sweet dog nudged her face and neck, and she scratched between his ears and patted his sides. Her old childhood yearning for a pet reared to life, and it saddened her that this was probably the closest she would ever get to having a dog.
When she stood up, Fay engulfed her in a hug. She closed her eyes and lingered in Fay’s warm embrace. She had only known this woman for a few hours, but she felt a strong kinship toward her. It seemed Fay felt the same because she used the bright lights from the ship that were illuminating the clearing to communicate.
“I’m glad I stumbled across your tracks in the woods,” Fay said, her eyes shimmering as if she might cry. “I wish I could have done more to help you.” She glanced back at the ship and the armed soldiers filing out of it. “I don’t trust them, Maisie. Neither should you.”
“I don’t,” Maisie assured her, “but I’m out of options. I have to get off this planet.”
“And what if you can’t get off their ship?” Fay bit her lower lip and shook her head. “I don’t think they’re going to let you just walk away.”
“I don’t either,” Maisie admitted. Like Fay, she watched the scary looking men who had arrived with the ship. Terror and the general stood in the middle of the throng, and their compatriots appeared to be listening to every single word they said as if their lives depended on them. They probably did. It was clear that Terror was just as important as the general and equally as revered by their brothers-in-arms.
When all the men glanced in her direction, Maisie went cold. She avoided meeting Terror’s gaze, certain she would see her worst fears reflected in his face. Instead, she gave Fay her full attention. “Thank you. For everything,” she added, hugging her friend one last time. “I don’t know how I'll ever repay you.”
“By living,” Fay answered. “You do whatever it takes to get as far away from this system as possible. You go find a new place and make a new life for yourself. Fall in love. Get married. Get a dog or two or three.”
What Fay described was more than Maisie had ever considered possible in her wildest dreams. A man who loved her just as she was? A family? A happy life in a safe place? Impossible. But she didn’t want to tell Fay that. She smiled and nodded. “I’ll try.”
Maisie’s gaze flicked to Cotton who was walking to intercept Terror as he strode toward them. He had something in his hand—a book, she realized—and he slapped it against Terror’s chest. Terror took the book and looked down at the front of it. He and Cotton shared a look, and Terror nodded stiffly before tucking the book inside his jacket for safekeeping.
Only a few feet from Fay, Terror stopped. His jaw was tight as he said simply, “It’s time.”
Resigned to her fate, Maisie cast one final glance at Fay and her dogs before taking the first step toward the waiting ship. Her heart clamored in her chest as she walked beside Terror. She kept her focus forward, eyeing the men who were standing outside the ship. Some of them were staying to make the trip back to the compound with Fay and Cotton to retrieve Grim and Lethal. The others were there to serve as a security detail.
It wasn’t until she was safely up the ramp and inside the dimly lit cabin of the ship that she understood just how wrong she had been about Terror. As the team of special operatives followed them into the ship, Terror called out to one of them. She thought he had called the man Raze, but she couldn’t be sure. Their names were so strange that she would have to pay closer attention when reading lips.
The man he had called over—a high ranking officer according to the insignia on his uniform—handed Terror a pair of electronic cuffs. Her face slackened. Was he really going to cuff her? She glanced around the cabin and noticed all of the men staring at her like she was the worst criminal they had ever seen.
I’m not a Splinter! She wanted to scream it. She wanted to grab Terror and shake him and make him understand. She wanted to turn and flee and disappear into the woods. Instead, she lowered her gaze in resignation and extended her hands.
Desperate to believe this was part of a ruse, that he wouldn’t betray her, she closed her eyes as he gently cuffed her wrists. Terror was careful with her, but she prepared herself for the rough handling that others would show her. Unable to move her hands to sign or even try to write out notes, she felt vulnerable and scared. Terror grasped her elbow and led her to a compartment toward the front of the cabin.
A cell.
She glanced at him in shock, but he simply gestured with his head for her to step inside. There was no point in refusing him. She complied and sat on the cold metal bench. When Terror crouched down to hook her ankles to the shackles fixed to the floor, she pinned her gaze on the wall across from her. She couldn’t bear to look at him.
As the door was closed and locked, she sank back against the wall of the confined space and closed her eyes. She tried not to cry, but exhaustion and hopelessness overwhelmed her. After everything she had been through, she was right back where she started. She was a prisoner once again, and this time, there would be no escape.
