Cerys: Valkyrie Earth by Merrin Slade

Author:Merrin Slade [Slade, Merrin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-09-18T16:00:00+00:00

Early the next morning, Cerys unstuck her swollen eyes, sat up on her bunk, and peered through the dim light. Secnoids, bristling with lasers, silhouetted the portal outside the cell. The events of yesterday crashed over her: rivers of blood, Blackstone’s lifeless body, and tearing fear. Remorse burned in her stomach like acid. Soon, the secnoids would take her to the commandant to learn her fate. She heaved herself off the bed, and every muscle in her body ached or stung. Lights flicked on and the laundrybot whizzed over, clicking open. She grabbed a package containing a clean uniform and ripped it open. Her hand shook as she snapped the shiny chevron onto her Space Force jacket. She’d been so proud of passing first term, but now it seemed meaningless and shameful. Flinching, she splashed ice water on her bruised face and ran wet fingers through her hair. She turned to the mirror to check the damage.

RIP Valkyrie

For three beats, Cerys stared and her stomach clenched. Words screamed at her in a blood-red scrawl, dripping over her reflection like a wound. Someone had gotten past the secnoids. Her tear-swollen eyes squinted accusingly back at her from behind the fiery scrawl. She was demonized and blamed. But that was no excuse for murder. She would suffer anything to make it right. She pressed her fingertips against her swollen eyelids. Shame lodged in her throat like a tumor.

She couldn’t hide from what she had done. Her fingers traced the bruise darkening her cheekbone. She licked her lower lip and tested her nose. Her lip was swollen and tasted metallic, and her nose was so red her freckles were invisible. She sniffed and wiped her chin with the cuff of her jacket. What a mess. Taking a deep breath, she smoothed back her hair. The portal dissolved, and the secnoids snapped to attention in the entrance.

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