Through the Never: a Science Fiction and Fantasy Collection by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-10-07T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

I had been sitting in a small room all day. A few people had come to talk to me, mostly commanders from different cycles. They had asked me questions about the Chroin. Mostly questions that I didn’t have the answers to. When I couldn’t give them answers, they assumed I was being difficult.

“I wanted to see how you were doing.” Cern leaned against the wall by the door, his arms crossed in front of his chest. He was trying to look relaxed, but I could see the way he tensed when I looked at him.

“What does it matter to you?” I asked vehemently. “I’m an alien. Why should you care?”

“I’m trying to care—”

I cut him off will a wave of my hand. “If it’s that hard to try, then don’t bother.”

“This isn’t exactly charted territory, Laure.”

I caught sight of my reflection in a small mirror on the wall. It was disturbing to know that it was my own. That the black eyes nestled in a face of mauve-tinged skin surrounded by violet hair was mine. I could see why the others were disturbed by my appearance. I was disturbed by my appearance, but it didn’t make it hurt less. “Do you really want to know how I’m doing?” I whipped around and leveled my gaze at him.

Reluctantly, Cern nodded.

“Awful,” I said. “In the last twenty-four hours, I have lost everything.”

“We have all lost a lot,” Cern agreed.

“No, not like me. We lost a home together. We started a journey together. But you abandoned me. When I needed you most, you turned your back on me. You and everyone else I know.” I pulled at the collar of my shirt, revealing the bruising around my neck. “I was attacked and yet here I sit.” I gestured around the room. “I am the prisoner while those who attacked me are still walking around.”

“It’s just not that simple.” Cern shook his head. “And I’m sorry.”

“Where were you when I needed you?” I screamed, all of the anger suddenly boiling over. “Where were you when I was afraid? When I came back confused and scared? When I needed someone to tell me that everything would be alright?”

Cern looked down at the floor.

I huffed and turned my back on him.

Cern sighed heavily. “You just have to give people some time to adjust. They’ll come around.”

“Will you come around?” I rounded on him again, and I didn’t miss how he flinched at my quick movement.

“I don’t know,” he said slowly. “They are only keeping you here for your own protection, Laure. People are afraid. The commanders are trying to keep you and everyone else safe.”

I let out a harsh laugh. “If you won’t come around, how can I hope that anyone else will?”

Cern shook his head. “Listen, I have to get going. Guard duty starts soon.” He pushed himself off the wall. I sat in silence, my heart torn. I didn’t want him to go, but I never wanted to see him again either.

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