6. Chapter 6
Chapter six
-Bryce-
“ T here was a…something. I saw something.”
“Whatever it was is long gone by now,” Clyde said.
After my epic freak out, Clyde had searched the area with Rand while I stood back with O’Neill and found absolutely nothing. No monster, no trace of one either. A search of the area uncovered nothing more than strange looking plants. Now we were almost back at base.
I’d fucked up big time, countless hours of training had drilled into me that you didn’t just shoot at shadows. That’s how people got killed. But none of them had mentioned it, not even Rand had ribbed me for it. And to be honest, I’d rather he did.
I rubbed my hand over my face. “There was something there.”
“Alright, I’m not saying there wasn’t,” Clyde said soothingly.
“Ok, because there was. I swear.”
I wasn’t crazy, and I needed them to see that. Rand and Clyde, now with their helmets retracted, too, exchanged a look that was heavy with concern. And O’Neill, the kid that I had been reassuring only a short time ago, had pity on his face.
My brain was telling me I definitely had seen something standing there among the trees, half hidden in the shadows. But how was it possible for something so big to move so fast and silently?
Maybe the atmosphere wasn’t as harmless as we thought and I was high on some toxin, seeing things.
The specialist said I should wait a few months to recover before going back out in the field. To let myself fully come to terms with what had happened and the loss of my leg. Had coming on this mission been a bad idea? But I couldn’t pass it up, I’d needed to come back out here for my own sanity.
We made it back to base eventually. I didn’t see anything else but had been jumping at every shadow.
“Bryce, if you’re finding it hard to—“
A feeling of almost panic gripped my chest. “No, I’m fine. I swear, I’m fine.”
Clyde stood watching me, his weapon holstered now that we were back in the relative safety of the cloaked area. His gray hair stood up in tufts, reminding me of a Jack Russell Terrier, grizzled and sturdy.
“If you saw something, we have to tell Chief.”
“I know.”
Rand clapped me on the shoulder, grimacing—I supposed that was his show of support. O’Neill gave me an awkward smile before following him.
“I’ll leave it up to you to make the report.”
I nodded as he trailed off and headed to Chief’s pod, rapping on the wall smartly.
“Come in.”
I stepped inside. Chief looked up from a blue screen, face cast in a strange light.
I should tell him what I saw, I knew I should. In fact, I had to. Withholding possibly vital information was a punishable offense. It was my duty to tell him, and my duty was one of the most important things to me.
But what if it was all in my head? I didn’t want to draw attention to myself like that, especially not on my first day back. If he thought I was cracked, he’d take me off the mission, send me back to the station. With only one shuttle, he might even lock me up until they were done. He might take me off the team altogether, and then what would I do?
I hesitated.
“Well, make your report.”
“All clear, sir,” I said.
“No sign of hostiles?”
I shook my head. “None, sir.”
Lying to him felt like peeling my own skin off. But was it lying if there was nothing there?
Unaware of my turmoil, he nodded and went back to his screen, dismissing me.
I chewed on my cheek and shifted. “Sir?”
He grunted without looking up.
“I’d like to volunteer for the next scouting party.”
“Be my guest.”
That seemed to be all I would get out of him, so I threw a sharp salute and left. I would do it right next time, prove it to myself and everyone else.
And if that thing really was out there, I’d find it.