Paradise 21 by Aubrie Dionne

Author:Aubrie Dionne [Dionne, Aubrie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781937044039
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Published: 2011-07-27T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Ugly Truth

Aries awoke to searing bright light. She closed her eyes and splotches burst on the back of her lids. Had she floated to heaven? No. She recognized the glint off the chrome walls of the New Dawn. She’d sunk to hell instead, her own personal hell, made by her blunders and poor choices.

Itching around the IV on her arm, she wondered what could be worse. What if they’d caught Striker as well? He’d be condemned to death on their ship for the crime of sheltering a runaway. They’d set him adrift in space in a small capsule with little food or water. Although no one spoke publically of such a thing, it had happened before.

She dangled her feet off the hospital bed and tried to calm her dizziness. The door melted away and a nurse appeared holding a needle. “My goodness, you’re awake.”

Aries didn’t recognize her. They’d probably chosen a stranger on purpose. If she had a nurse she’d known growing up, then her caretaker would be more likely to listen to her plight, maybe even give her a chance to run to the escape pods. In any case, she wasn’t going anywhere. Not this time.

“Listen, I need to know if another man was escorted onboard. A man not on the New Dawn to begin with.”

“You mean an Outlander? No, there’s no one like that here.”

“Never mind.” Aries couldn’t trust her. Even if the nurse was being honest, they wouldn’t tell a lowly nurse about other captives.

The nurse pushed the touchscreen on the wall, probably alerting the higher-ups of her patient’s status, then walked toward her with hesitant steps, holding the needle up as if in defense. Aries wondered what they’d told her and how much of the truth she knew.

“You need your rest, my dear.”

“Like hell I do.”

The nurse took a wary step back.

Aries wanted to overpower the woman and break free, but that would only lead to further imprisonment and a more confined cell. It was better to play along, for the moment. Aries offered her arm. “I’m sorry. I’ve had a bad day.”

“I bet you have, dear.” She inched toward the door. The last thing Aries wanted was a guard.

“No, I’m okay. I promise.”

The older woman eyed her suspiciously and stepped toward her, needle raised. Aries estimated how hard it would be to overtake her and turn the needle around.

A familiar voice came over the intercom. “Wait. Don’t give her that. I need her awake.”

Barliss. Aries searched the corners of the room for a camera.

“Yes, Lieutenant.” The woman backed toward the door.

The chrome slipped away and Barliss appeared, dressed as if he’d come to pick her up for a date. Instead of a military uniform, he wore a civilian suit, pressed perfectly, and his fedora tilted at just the right angle over his right eye. Underneath the hat, he’d gelled his hair so much it reminded her of wet plastic. Aries’ insides shriveled up just looking at him.

“Leave us,” he said to the nurse.

“Yes, sir.”

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