Planet Athion: The Complete Series by Angel Lawson

14

Mercy

This isn’tthe first storm I’ve experienced since arriving on Athion, but with every passing moment I think it may be the worst. I’d left the building when the alert sounded, notifying each of us via our devices and the security systems to take cover in the residence halls.

“Be careful,” Dr. Kane calls, heading north toward the staff housing. “Get inside. Quickly.”

We’d been the last two to leave the clinic and I took two steps before muttering, “Shoot,” and pausing at the door. I left my data pad on the counter and the last thing I wanted is to be in a storm lockdown with nothing to read. I look up for Kane, but he’s gone already, rushing home. I know I should get home, but I swipe my card and rush back in, grabbing the pad before going back into the building storm.

The alarm buzzes on my wrist, notifying me of the danger. “I know,” I grumble, ducking my head and trying to blindly follow the path. My hair whips around my face and the edge of my sweater trails behind me like a sail. The wind is insanely strong, pushing me back with every step I take. Like a shroud covering the planet, the sky turns dark with sand and debris, making it feel like night. I reach the statue of Emperor Elrin outside the entrance of the building and crouch, flattening my body against it. There’s no way I’m making it to the dorm. I need to get back to the clinic, but it’s too dark and too far away.

I turn, holding my hair out of my eyes, listening to the wind and yelp, feeling the sharp sting of something pelting my face. I look down and see the round orb—the size of a golf ball. Hail.

I use my hands to cover my head, the hail raining down from the sky. The ice hurts and I curl into the side of the base of the statue, listening to the howl of the wind, praying to the god I grew up with and the one ruling this planet, that I’ll survive.

Minutes pass and I feel my skin peeling from the wind. This is idiotic, I think. Dying in a sandstorm, feet away from my building. What a waste of my life and resources. I feel the sting of tears prick at my eyes—this is not what I came here to do.

I don’t know how long I stay there, couched and balled against the statue, hoping the great Emperor’s spirit protected. When I feel the tug against my body, I’m exhausted and have no energy to resist.

It’s not the wind that lifts me, but strong arms that cradle me against a hard chest. Shivering, I sink in, unsure who has me but knowing in my heart I’m with someone safe. I peer out into the darkness and see another figure and soon I’m handed over into a second set of welcoming arms. We’re out of the storm, somewhere low, I hear it roaring overhead, followed by the clink of a door being secured.

“Can you stand?” the man holding me asks in a muffled voice.

I nod, then reply, “Yes. I think so.”

I’m lowered to the ground, feet steady. I turn to see my savior but find a figure cloaked in black, face covered with a heavy mask. Fear rolls through me; was it a trap? A trick? Is this what happened to the last girl that went missing?

A regrettable whimper tumbles from my lips.

The masked man tears off his mask.

Kai.

A sob of relief claims me and I lunge forward, flinging myself in his arms.

“Sorry it took so long to find you. Some of the equipment went down in the storm and you were tucked beneath that statue.” His arms hold me tight, like he’s afraid to let go.

“Thank you for coming,” I say, after swallowing back my emotions.

“Are you injured?” he asks. His hands lay on my back.

“No, I don’t think so.” I haven’t let go. “I was just so scared. I’ve never seen anything like that.”

“We don’t have storms like that back home—not really,” another voice says. Not leaving Kai’s arms, I look to the side. Alex. “No wonder you were frightened.”

“The wind was so strong and the hail.” I hold up my shaking hands.

Alex reaches for one. He’s been wearing gloves and his skin is warm against mine. “You’re bleeding.”

Kai frowns and steps back, looking at my other hand, then up at my face, pushing back my hair. He rubs a thumb over my cheek and I grimace. “Sorry. You’re bruised.”

He and Alex exchange a look but before they can speak, a figure appears in the dark entrance. Dimka. They all came for me. All of them.

“I think we’ll be on lockdown for a while—the storm is moving slowly and only gaining in intensity.” His eyes assess me. “You can clean up and I’ll make some food.”

He turns, and along with Kai and Alex, I follow him down a hallway and into a small, open area. Comfortable seating is in the middle. A small kitchen to the side. There are two closed doors. Shelves with supplies line the walls. “What is this place?”

“There are emergency bunkers all over Athion. They’re for storms like this or enemy attack,” Kai says. He hasn’t moved an inch from me since we got down here. “There’s a cleaning facility over there. You can bathe and change.”

Alex removes his storm jacket, revealing a gray fitted shirt and bulging arm muscles. I swallow and nod. “Thank you. I will.”

“Once you’re done, we’ll doctor your wounds,” Dimka says. “I found some potions in the supply closet.”

I nod and enter the small bathroom off the living quarters, feeling a rush of nerves and adrenaline. Some is surely from surviving the storm, the rest is different. It’s a warm feeling that starts in my belly and travels to my chest. I stare at my wild hair and bruised face in the small mirror adhered to the wall and wonder how the fates tossed us into a situation like this.

Then I remember the men I’m speaking of. The fates don’t rule their lives.

They do.

And something tells me that being down here alone isn’t completely an accident and that maybe I should take advantage of the situation while it lasts.