Binary by C. R. BUCHANAN & JOHN LEWIS

Author:C. R. BUCHANAN & JOHN LEWIS
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: enemies to lovers books, Sci Fi, sci fi thriller books, science fiction thriller books, science fiction fantasy books, sci fi best sellers, science fiction love story, science fiction novels
Publisher: C. R. BUCHANAN
Published: 2023-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

Into the forest

HE HAD ME CRADLED in his protective arms when I woke, still in the position I fell asleep in. Bruce had moved only enough to put his arms around me. He fixated on a furious morning sun, and I watched him for a moment before his eyes traded the beauty of sunrise for a stare at me.

“You are awake,” said Bruce.

I probably would have smiled under different circumstances: if he were human, if he had not abducted me, if I had been sure my life would not be in danger when Pope and the doctors caught up with us. I knew I needed to talk with someone, but Professor Platz, my father figure, was the only one I could trust. I wanted to call him, but I could not. They had him tapped; I was positive.

“I’m hungry,” I said.

“What should we do?” asked Bruce.

“I need to eat,” I answered.

Bruce stared at me for a moment. “Then eat something.”

His lack of understanding made me snicker. “I don’t think you quite understand how this works. Do you eat? Because I do.”

“I will eventually need to eat,” he said. “I must keep my organic tissue alive.”

“Eventually,” I said. “Sure, but I need to eat soon or I’m going to get sick.”

He stood us upright and moved to the cave’s edge, posturing for a leap. “What would you like to eat?”

“Yeeaahh,” I said. “Nothing you can find out there.”

“Then what?” he asked.

I pointed to the lights across the forest. “We need to go to the city.”

He gawked at the reaches of the forest and gave me a slow, hard look. I thought I knew what he was going to say, but I was wrong.

“I think I am remembering,” said Bruce.

“Remembering what?” I asked.

“I am not sure,” he answered. “They are coming from what they called the Heart Device. I believe I heard it referred to it as a soul.”

It was a statement to muse over as he led me from the cave’s unforgiving edge.

“How’d you get me up here?” I asked.

“I climbed,” he answered.

I looked over the cliff’s edge. “Okay. Ummm...”

“I will help you down,” he said.

The descent had to be thirty meters. The climb was steep, at least for me.

“Sure,” I said. “Why not? What else could happen?”

Bruce eased over the cliff’s edge, and I paused until he was a few feet into his descent. I needed to move down after he did. It was logical to let the stronger and faster calculating of us to go first. He would stand a better chance of catching me if I slipped versus me catching him.

I eased closer to the edge. My heart raced. If I were a seasoned free-solo climber like Alex Honnold, it would have probably looked fun, but I was not. It was beyond my skill set, but there were no other options. I gave the cliff my backside and laid on my stomach before easing my feet, knees, and thighs over it until my hips reached its edge, feet searching for a foothold.

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