44. Chapter 44
Chapter forty-four
~Kitari~
I clenched my jaw. The human moved the blade and held it to the soft flesh on the inside of my upper arm. The tip was razor sharp and needed only the smallest amount of pressure to slice into me. The human took his time, pausing after each cut, presumably giving me a chance to answer his questions. I said nothing and he carried on, unfazed.
The pain was moderate, I could take it. But far more alarming was Bryce’s instant reaction. Sickening fear and panic. That was the real torture. I hissed through my teeth as each slice of pain flared, sharp and stinging, knowing that Bryce would be inflicted with it too. So I tried to suppress it as best as I could. I let my mind clear and recalled favorable memories; jumping through the waterfall with him. Curling around him to keep him warm in the caves. The look on his face when the kalao ate from his open palm. I hoped that would dampen the sensation for him.
Bryce considered this human to be like a father to him, but he could not be more different. This man enjoyed hurting living beings. There was no attempt to hide the gleam in his eye as he relished each cut. It occurred to me that, despite everything, my father had been right to fear the humans if this was the type of person they put in charge. But that revelation had come too late.
After some time, the human grunted and slammed the knife down into my leg, burying it to the hilt. I groaned and closed my eyes. He let go and left it there, sticking out of my thigh at a grotesque angle as the blood ran down my calf.
“This clearly isn’t working.”
He slipped something metallic onto his hand, it was smooth and worn and sat across the top of his knuckle like jewellery. He swung back and hit me in the face, connecting with my cheek. It was nothing compared to a strike from an Aldar, but I was already exhausted and sore. I rocked to one side as the blow throbbed through my face. The inside of my cheek caught on my teeth and I could taste blood. I sat back up again.
Bryce would find a way to help me. I did not know what his plan was, but I knew he was resourceful and determined; he would find a way. All I had to do was keep myself together until then.
The human kept on striking me around the face until blood dripped from my chin and stung my eyes.
“You guys are tough, I’ll give you that,” he said as he stepped back shaking his hand out. He wiped a smear of my blood from his cheek with his forearm. “This has been a good warm-up, but I can see I’m going to have to get technical.”
He moved to the door where several guards stood holding their weapons.
“Give me your knife,” he said, holding his hand out to one of the guards. It was the older human with gray hair. Up until this point, he had been pointedly staring outwards with his back to us, but now he glanced over at me and the knife protruding from my thigh.
The human chief didn’t break his stare. “Mine’s already in use.”
The old man hesitated, then drew his blade and handed it over, handle first. The human chief took it and returned to my side.
“You might be an alien, but I’ll tell you something I’ve learned from experience. If you take the time and care, you can cut anything open and find its weak points. In that respect, we are all the same.”
I could not help but stiffen as he took his place in front of me again and placed the tip of the blade under my collarbone. I held my breath and prepared myself for more pain.
Someone banged on the outside of the tank, filling it with an echoing, metallic ringing. He considered me for a few more moments.
“Chief.” The call came from outside the pod, urgent.
He sighed, put the blade into his belt, and opened the hatch.
Someone outside spoke hurriedly. It was Panlin, but he was speaking quickly and urgently. I concentrated through the pain, trying to discern anything.
I made out a single word.
Gunner.
My stomach fluttered. Had they caught him? But through the bond, while Bryce had a sense of urgency, worry, and determination, there was no pain or panic.
They must have discovered his escape.
The older one joined in, speaking to the younger until the human chief cut them both off.
“Find him.”
I heard the human outside hurry away. The human chief faced me again and glared as the noise of activity picked up outside the tank.
“Where has he gone?”
So Bryce had escaped. I let out a breath at the confirmation and allowed myself a small smile. My Bryce was skilled indeed. The human chief worked his jaw as if he was chewing on something. Probably the bitter realization that Bryce had outsmarted him again. Then he spoke to the others and I could hear his words well enough.
“It’s time for us to go. Get everything packed, we’re moving out.”
“But, sir, we can’t go,” the young one said. “Gunner is out there somewhere. We can’t leave him behind.”
The old one said, “What about the captive? We haven’t rescued the pilot. Isn’t that why we’re here?”
“Yeah, what about Clay?” the young one said.
The chief rounded on the young human. “Are you questioning my direct orders?”
“No, sir, but don’t we have to—“
“Get packed up. Now!”
There was a long pause as the younger human looked alarmed. The chief looked pointedly between them until the older one spoke.
“Yes, sir,” he said, although his expression did not appear happy. “What about the detainee?”
They all looked over at me where I sat bleeding on the floor. The puddle of blood under me was growing cold and sticky.
“It’s coming with us.”
The frown deepened on the old human’s face.
“So get on with it,” the chief snapped.
“Yes, sir!”
The chief turned back to me as the noise outside grew. The groan of machinery and the shouts of humans working at speed.
He sighed. “My brief was a specimen. I wanted both of you, but you’ll have to do on your own.”
Then he twisted the knife and pulled it from my leg.
A choked scream escaped between my clenched teeth.