Refractions: A completely gripping space opera by Melcer M V

Author:Melcer, M V
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Storm Publishing
Published: 2023-11-16T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 15

The pounding on my door continues for a while, then fades, replaced by muffled voices. Soundproofing on these cabins is admirable. I can’t even tell if it’s one person or more. Not that it matters. I tell the computer to turn off the lights. The darkness is soothing, and at least now I can’t see Anna scolding me from the pictures above my desk. Though I should probably let her. I deserve every ounce.

Sorry about your son, sis. I should have stayed with him, like I promised. But I was a coward. And a traitor. And now we’re all dead.

The pounding returns. I hope they get bored. Forget about me. What use am I anyway? I’ll just bring them more death.

I stretch on the floor, the carpet rough under my cheek. My eyes close, and I drift into darkness. Silence, at last.

More pounding.

Go away, I want to scream, but my breath comes out mute. It doesn’t matter. They’ll be gone soon.

A different sound now: something grating and harsh. A strip of light appears on the floor, then the whole room fills with bright, scratchy incandescence.

‘Leave us,’ a voice says.

‘Are you—’

‘Just go.’

Fingers touch my shoulder. ‘Nathalie…’

I recoil, searching for darkness. ‘Turn it off!’

Silence, then: ‘Computer, dim the lights to twenty per cent.’

Not enough. But better. At least he can’t see my face, pressed to the floor and covered with one arm.

‘I saw the message, Nathalie. I’m sorry for your—’

‘Shut up!’ I sit up, ready to punch him.

Yefremov doesn’t move.

I scowl at him for a moment, then try to lie back down. He reaches out to stop me, so I scuttle away, to the other side of the room.

‘Why don’t you just leave me alone? Select another commander. You won’t be any worse off than with me.’

‘You don’t really believe that, do you?’

‘Fuck off.’

‘That’s better. Except I won’t, and you can’t make me.’

‘Fine then. Move in here with me.’

His expression hardens. ‘Want me to mop up your tears?’

I glare at him with all the fire I have left. He holds my gaze, even if I can see it takes some effort.

‘Fine. Just so you know, I promised his dying mother that I’d take care of him. And then I left him behind.’

‘Let me guess: you paid for his college?’

I paid for his apprenticeship as well. And started a fund that would set him up for life. Except now he’s dead, and no money will help it.

A probing smile appears on Yefremov’s lips. ‘What, no answer?’

‘I’m responsible for his father’s death, too. And his mother’s and sister’s.’

‘I don’t believe that.’

‘I don’t care what you believe.’

The tips of my fingers begin to tingle. My chest heaves—but this doesn’t seem like another attack. More like the ability to feel returning after hours of numbness. I don’t want to feel. I don’t want to hurt.

‘Damn it, Nathalie.’ Yefremov crosses the room and crouches down beside me. ‘You didn’t kill him. I know who did; I read that message. Internment camps! Those fuckers think they can do anything, and no one will stop them.

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