Chapter 26
– Theodora –
My breath is ragged in my throat. I’ve abandoned the whole quiet-escape idea. Now it’s just don’t fall off a cliff and don’t stroll straight into the mouth of something with too many teeth.
The jungle isn’t as dark as I expected. A few plants emit this weird, ghostly light, like someone scattered glow sticks everywhere, and the blue moon flashes at me between the leaves like it’s trying to help but can’t commit.
If I keep moving toward where it’ll set, I should hit the beach eventually.
If I get there. And if a certain tribe isn’t already fanning out after me.
Kenz’ox will stall them as long as he can, but it’s been hours.
I’d be stupid to assume they’re not on the move.
Damn, that kiss he gave me… like he knew it was the last one. Tender and intense, the kind of kiss that says everything you don’t have time to spell out. Not helpful right now, brain.
Branches whip my arms and slap my ears, but at least I’m not barefoot. The moon boots are champs. I’m not struggling with blisters yet.
I round a massive, mossy trunk and freeze. There’s light. Firelight. Torches. Men’s voices drift through the brush in a too-familiar cadence.
And stripes. Blue stripes.
Oh hell. The Tratena tribe. I am feet from their camp.
I’ve literally run myself in a circle.
Hopelessness punches my lungs harder than the running did. I duck back behind the tree and lean against it, trembling. Hours of stumbling, scrambling, and panicking… for this.
But I can’t stop—
The camp goes silent. Instantly. Like someone muted them.
They’re listening.
I risk a peek. Dark shapes detach from the firelight and start moving toward me, cutting off the glow with their bulk.
They’ve spotted me.
I bolt again, trying to be quiet, because sure, stealth now will help. But I know it’s pointless.
A harsh yell rips through the air behind me. I’ve been seen.
Fear turns my legs light, and I sprint, dodging foliage like a deranged pinball.
But those guys are enormous. Just by walking fast, they’re three times as fast as me, running for my life.
They know how to move in the jungle, and they can step over obstacles that I have to run around. Meanwhile, I’m tripping over leaves.
My mind spirals. If they catch me, can I still pull off the whole the Woman act? Or have they figured out the joke yet? Most of them desperately want me to be her. Wishful thinking is a hell of a drug. It even kept me stuck at the damn saucer.
I can’t hear them now. That’s… not comforting. They’re like the krolts that chased me, made for the jungle. Silence means nothing.
But I have to slow down. My lungs are on fire, my legs are going soft, and my vision is getting sparkly in a way that does not feel inspirational.
I can’t stop. I can’t. I have to reach Aker’iz, feed her, protect her… somehow. I don’t even know what the next step is, but stopping isn’t it.
I have to get to the saucer.
I have to.