Chapter 4 A Look Backwards
FOUR
A LOOK BACKWARDS
Julia
He doesn’t immediately respond, staring at me long and hard. The longer his silence lasts, the more the pit in my stomach grows. I keep glancing at the hallway behind him and to the left, debating if I have a chance to dodge past and make it to my room. I might be able to do it if I’m quick enough…
We’ve been standing too close for far too long.
If he’s thinking I would sleep with one of his kind to get home, then yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying.
The ball in my throat expands when my eyes return to his intense expression, seemingly coming to the same conclusion.
The longer he stares, considering my words and their meaning, the harder it becomes to remain still.
My fingers twitch in response, finding it difficult to look at him all of the sudden.
I already find him appealing, who knows what would happen if his pheromones got inside me.
He doesn’t want a mate.
He acted as much when he saved me.
Sobering, seeing my chance at convincing him of taking me to an encampment die before it has time to manifest, I release another tired sigh.
“I’m going to go back to my room now,” I say, shuffling to the side and toward the hallway.
I have a lot to prepare for and little time left to do so.
Slipping around his tail, I turn the corner and reach for my door’s handle to open it but just as I do, a large hand clasps my shoulder.
“I will talk to Zaku about you staying.”
I stiffen, peering down at Krellix’s hand on me. “I can’t. I don’t want to—” I turn to say, wondering if he’d heard me at all. But he lifts his hand and is already retreating towards the kitchen and to where a bot is dusting a side table.
I watch him command the machine to retrieve Zaku, clearly dismissing me as I’ve dismissed him, and pressing my lips closed without another word, I step into my room. I shut and lock the door behind me.
Males.
Naga males.
Ugh.
I’ve been dealing with males my whole life. It’s just as frustrating now as it was back home.
I shake off my nerves, let my shirt drop from my face, and sit down on the edge of my bed wishing I hadn’t said anything to Krellix whatsoever. He’s going to try and stop me.
It’s only a matter of time before the Boa makes a move.
Foregoing trying to sleep with Krellix outside my door, I drag my backpack out from under my bed. I pull out my rifle and handgun next.
After checking my supplies and making sure I still have everything I’ll need—including the few items I pilfered from the cache—I push the bag back underneath.
Afterwards, I take out the small trinkets I’ve been keeping in the closet; stuff I’ve been working on for the boys.
Carved animals and geometric shapes—made out of wood Zaku sometimes collects for me.
The kids have few toys, and little around to help educate them.
Having so much time to myself outside assisting Daisy, I’ve taken up carving to pass the time.
Sitting down on the floor, I get to work on the dog I’m in the middle of, using it as a distraction in keeping my anxiety at bay as I listen for sounds outside.
At some point, I hear Zaku pass by my door, and heading closer to listen, I then hear the outside door open and close.
Peeking out into the dimly lit space beyond, the room is empty of both Zaku and Krellix.
Watching them leave through the window, I gently shut my door and relock it when they’re gone.
I spend the night pacing and carving, wondering about them, while checking periodically for the sun.
When the first rays of morning arrive and the sky brightens to a dull gray, a familiar certainty rises within me. I know, somehow, that it’s time to leave. With or without a naga protector, time is of the essence. Intuition tells me I have to forgo finding one, at least for now.
I don’t want anyone making decisions for me anymore.
I set the wooden dog, now finished, on the bedside table, shoulder on my pack, and strap my rifle on. Peering outside my room to gauge the sky and ensure I’m still alone, I see no sign of Zaku or Krellix, inside or outside, and know I hadn’t heard Zaku return during the night.
I step out of my room anyway and quietly head to the kitchen to refill my water bottle. After I’m done, I take a handful of jerky from the cabinet and stuff it in my pack.
I have about an hour until the sun rises. I have to pick my timing just right… Those nagas that hunt by darkness will be settling while those who are out during the day will be waking. If I’m going to sneak out of here and not be caught, it’ll be now.
I can’t wait for Krellix to finish convincing Zaku. If Zaku knows I’m trying to leave and decides he doesn’t want me to, then my situation here could get infinitely worse and more of my freedom could be taken away. Daisy might also get further involved.
She’ll try to convince me that the Boa isn’t a problem and Zaku will take care of it. I shake my head.
And if Zaku can’t? If Zaku dies trying?
Wrapping a wet kitchen towel around my hair to help cover my scent, I take the soil from the pot of one of the inside plants and mash it into my clothes.
A bot comes out of the wall to immediately start cleaning up my mess.
I continue to rub the dirt everywhere, masking what I can of my scent while shooing the robot away.
Creeping towards the entryway foyer, I pull my pistol out.
At the door, I pause to mentally prepare for every outcome that might happen once I cross the threshold, checking once more that my gun is fully loaded. I’m not afraid, just anxious.
Open the door, duck out, and run.
Lifting my hand to the handle, I pause to wipe my sweaty palm on my pants. Once it’s dry, I turn the handle and push against the door, slowly opening it.
Something glints on the floor and I look down, letting the door fall closed without exiting as I see what it is. Squinting at the long, shiny object, I reach down with my fingers to pick up a golden strand of Krellix’s hair.
Raising it to my eyes, something large comes straight for me from the forest. Streaking my gaze to the naga suddenly there, the Boa is upon the door the next instant. Ramming into the glass with his body, I stumble back several steps as his hands come up to grip the door’s frame and glare at me.
Gasping, I lift my pistol and take another step back. “Back off!” I quickly shout.
Yellowish-brown with thick patterning down his tail much like Krellix’s, the Boa otherwise looks nothing like the Copperhead.
Instead, he’s meatier, thicker, and rounder.
Bulging with muscles, the Boa is packed with them, his chest broader than even Zaku’s.
Though Zaku is the largest male out of all the nagas I have seen, the Boa is right behind him in mass, perhaps even more so.
Softer features than the other nagas as well, the Boa’s size extends to every single part of him. Trying not to notice his slit, I can only imagine what kind of monstrosity is hiding behind it.
Heart hammering, remembering what almost happened to Daisy, I take another step back. “Go away,” I shout louder. “I will shoot!”
“Where is my brother?” he growls, showing off his sharp fangs.
I shake my head, my brow furrowing.
He hits the door with his fist. “I know you know.”
“I don’t know anything about your brother.”
“Liessss!” He slams his fist on the glass again, making it tremble. “I will take you as a trophy once I get my answers!”
I drop to my knees and lower my pistol, bringing forth my rifle instead and peer through the scope. Aiming my weapon at the naga, he lifts on his hands and leans away from the door.
“I don’t know where your brother is but he’s not here,” I say loud enough for him to hear, my voice filled with warning. “If you so much as try to come in or break down that door, you’ll have your head blown off so fast you won’t finish another thought, don’t even try me.”
He jerks forward, showing off his dripping fangs. The door rattles and I tighten my grip on my weapon, calling out to the bots, hoping the house hears me. “Get Zaku!” I order. If he is home and I missed him returning earlier, the bots will know.
The Boa rears back and slams his shoulder into the glass, making me jump as I pray it holds steady. Righting my weapon, a calmness takes over me, keeping my aim on him. “Don’t do it,” I warn.
With his yellow-brown eyes on me, he leans back as he brings his tail inward, readying to beat it against the glass when, behind him, several more figures come racing out of the trees. My gaze temporarily shifts.
Krellix, slicing through the yard, launches at the Boa. Zaku comes tearing through the lawn right before him, pouncing on the yellowish naga first. The Boa rips Zaku off of him as Krellix tackles him back to the ground. Zaku recovers quickly and comes racing back.
In a tangle of tails and limbs, the three nagas barrel into one another, claws swiping furiously in every direction.
“What’s going on?” Daisy yells as she runs down the hallway and across the room to me.
I drop my weapon and swivel to face her. “Go back to the kids! Now!” I shout. “And lock yourself in.”
Her gaze lands on the fighting trio outside and her skin turns ashen.
Standing and heading her way, I spin her around and lead her back to the hallway. “Go.”
“But Zaku—”
“Go!” I push her.
She hesitates with a last glance at the trio before she scurries back down the hallway and through the interior door. After she’s gone, I turn back to the others and find the Boa on top of Zaku.
Taking aim, I shoot three rounds into the side of the Boa’s back, creating fractures through the ballistic glass with my first two bullets. The third lands just as Krellix grabs him by the tail and twists.
The Boa rises in a roar, arching his back upward as he launches off of Zaku. Flinging Krellix away with his arm, the Copperhead goes flying into the glass door, creating more fractures throughout it.
I watch the Boa flee into the forest. Dropping my weapon, I rush to the door and open it, running out to Krellix’s side.