Vanished (14 page)

At the end of the line, Radek groaned. She could see the rivulet of blood raining from him
to spot the light concrete floor below and looked up.

“Hadrain-“

“I can’t hold you guys!” His strained shout reached her ears.

“Toss me a major reconstruction tool,
now
!”

He peered over the edge, dropping the tool. She snatched it out of the air,
her other hand still holding her weight. Clipping her line lock so she wouldn’t zip down and crash into Radek, she freed both hands. Tucking the tool in a pocket on her shoulder, she pulled her knife free.

“Papria, cut him free. Remember your father’s words?” Zoltan said. Ignoring him, she focused on Radek.

“Don’t you dare.” Radek’s raspy voice seemed weak. “They can pull you up.” Glancing down at him, she cut the cord suspending them in air. The fall threatened to make her scream again, but she stifled it. Radek hit first, the ground giving under his weight.

“
Ria!
” Zoltan’s shout echoed around her.

She scrambled for the edge
. She had to slow them down. Her arms caught, slamming her ribs into the jagged floor. Pain exploded through her chest as the line caught. The force of Radek’s weight crushed the breath from her lungs.

Dirt smeared as her fingers clutched for purchase. She fought against Radek’s weight as it ripped her back. The rubble under her forearm cracked. Her arm slipped. S
he fell through space, struggling to turn in midair. Radek crashed into the ground, she managed to hit on her feet and drop to her knees, her breath bubbling in her chest. The tool slid in her sweating hand as she searched for his wound.

She snatched his knife
from the sheath on his hip. “Where were you hit?” Her eyes met his.

He didn’t answer, his fingers grazi
ng his chest. “You’re stupid. They‘d have pulled you up.”

“And you’d be dead before we could get down to you.” She
slit the suit above his navel and ran it up to his collar. The material parted, revealing long healed scars, tightly coiled muscles and the gaping wound cutting just under his heart at an upward angle.

Images burst into her head; he’d been leaning forward, holding her weight firm when the bullet ripped into his skin, leaving through his back a fraction of a second later. Even the several feet of steel and concrete hadn’t stopped it, merely slowed it, dirtied it, poisoned the tip before gracing him with it.

She fought back her shock and pressed the blunt, silver end of the tool to his chest. Pressing the button, she waited. After a moment, the bone peeking at her knit back together, the pooling blood draining back where it belonged. The wound sealed, leaving a puckered scar.

He took a deep
breath and sat up. “Crazy woman.” With a wince, he pressed his hand to his chest. “Why does it still hurt so much?”

She
stared at him, struggling to breathe. His face blurred, the world fuzzing out of focus. His hand wrapped around hers, the warmth comforting. The outline of his arm jumped to his rib, and she knew he still felt pain. She got to her feet, waiting for the world to fall back into focus. Her chest blazed, fire dripping into her blood with every breath.

“Why are you shaking?
Oh, no. ” He pulled her close, his eyes seeking answers, but she refused to look at him straight. The pressure of his chest against hers drove agony into every inch of her core. Her hands found his ribs, shoving him back.

Pain flared through her; a cough wracked her body and she jammed a hand to her lips.
She turned away from him, sensing his fear. Pulling her hand from her mouth, she stared at the blood decorating her palm and fingers, then wiped it on her suit before he could see. The sight sent terror roaring through her mind.

Sweat slicked her skin; her heart jack hammered against her chest. Over her pulse, she heard him radio Hadrain, but the words evaded her. Light flashed behind her eyes, the blinding pain scre
aming. Misery burst through her. Arms locked around her and the world went dark, but not before familiar words whispered from the shadows.

“Stay with me.”

Shadows danced in the darkness, but she wasn’t afraid. Darkness shrouded her, pressing in, cold and unforgiving. Yet she wasn’t afraid. Faceless bodies pushed her down, bent her to their will, yet she refused to be afraid. She got to her feet, some strange power bursting forth. She turned, catching sight of a dark guardian over her shoulder. She would never be afraid again.

Papria jerked awake, a gasp pulling past her lips. In a flash, arms jerked her close, the scent of mint and pine surrounding her. She wrapped her arms around Radek, pressing closer to him.
Skin met skin, shock blazing through her at the contact.

“Damn you,” he whispered. “Don’t ever scare me like that again.
”

“No promises.”
Her lips found his, the sharp taste of blood deserting her for his tangy warmth. She pulled back, mindful of the blood she’d coughed up.

“
Are you okay?” His rough whisper prompted her to nod.

He pulled her back, his hand winding in her hair as his tongue laid claim to hers. Her fingers closed on the back of his neck, her other hand questing
under his cut suit and down his bare back. His fingers on her hip clenched as she traced a scar running down the bottom of his shoulder blade. The jolt of pain along her back warned her the surface slice Camter had given her was bleeding again. 

Refusing to care, she
focused on the motions of Radek’s lips on hers. The sweet grip of his fingers on her hip. He pulled her hair, gentle, yet firm, his teeth nipping her jaw, then her throat, his tongue tickling along her windpipe. The heat of his lips on the hollow at the base of her throat sent a shiver down her back and her hands quested to his shoulders, digging into the hardened flesh.

The sound of a clearing throat didn’t faze her, but he pulled back.

He growled, then released her hair. “This doesn’t end here.” Though the words were commanding, his expression made the words a question.

“Does it have to stop now?” Unable to think through the haze he’d unleashed on her, she leaned into him, sure their lips were magnetized.

Zoltan’s glare over Radek’s shoulder caught her eye. She flinched. Radek glanced behind him. Whatever he did changed Zoltan’s plans, and the man walked away, sullen.

Radek turned to her, remnants of fury in his face. The anger melted, and he
planted a quick kiss on the corner of her mouth before rising and helping her stand. The rush of cold air reminded her of their skin contact, and she glanced down to her uncovered chest.

“Sorry. I meant to zip it back up, but you woke up and…” He stepped in close, his fingers closing the suit before snapping it tight. Blue eyes met hers, restraint shining in them.
Her fingers flew to her damp lips, and she stepped back, averting her gaze as men hurried down the steps into the room.

“I’m glad you’re okay.”
Camter’s over-loud words startled her. “Let’s get you back to the ship.”

She glanced to him, appalled. “No, I’m fine.”

“No, both you and Radek experienced bleeding wounds in the open air. You’re to be quarantined.”

“Protocol.” She whispered the word, the taste of it sour on her tongue. Her steps weighed heavily, dust stirring with every footfall as she fell in line behind Camter, Radek at her side, Gerand
and a raging Zoltan right behind.

Sensing Radek’s glance, she refused to meet his gaze; instead studying the honey colored grasses peeking up between cracks in the pavement, out of control bushes swallowing buildings and the intense azure skies. The s
hort walk back to the ship gave her the sensation she was walking into another prison.

Before the airlock, Farali waited for them.

“Masks off.” Her eyes traveled over Papria’s face, silent questions asked, and Papria wondered how much of the experience was written in her face. Confusion poured through her. She peeled the mask off, opening her mouth for the spray. The acrid taste of the antiseptic curled her toes, but she stood firm.

Radek, though, shook his head and stuck his tongue out. “Filthy.”

“Come on.” Farali led the two through the airlock and they waited in silence. Radek stared around, his relaxation setting Papria more on edge. He started to hum a bit, oblivious to her growing frustration. She bit her tongue, staring at her shoes, wondering if things could get more uncomfortable.

Farali cleared her throat, the quiet sound startling Papria. Her eyes darted to the redhead’s and shock shot through her. Farali’s small smile turned from Papria to Radek, who still hummed, tapping his hands on his thighs, still unaware to the silent conversation happening only feet from him.

The redhead arched a brow at the man, her small grin asking obvious questions that Papria couldn’t help but worry she knew the answers to. Papria shook her head, but the woman’s eyebrow crept up higher and she knew her silent lie didn’t fool anyone.

She stared at the floor, her cheeks blazing. After a moment, she noticed the humming had stopped, and peeked up at a
quizzical Radek and an innocent-faced Farali. Her eyes darted back to her feet. The inner airlock doors opened and relief dashed into her heart.

She stalked out, pausing only to let Farali lead.
Radek matched her step, his arm brushing hers every once in awhile, and she moved away just enough to curb further contact. They walked into her room, and Farali turned to them.

“You guys are stuck in here. I will monitor between first and half of second shift. You can call anytime, though. Please let someone know if anything odd happens.” The door slid opened, and Farali waited for them to walk in before taking a thin cylinder from her pocket. She
ran the light along the edges of the door frame, and a thin barrier meshed over the opening, only a slight blur warning them of its presence.

Papria nodded,
then edged toward the window, focused on the world outside. Radek plopped down next to her, his shoulder bumping hers. She edged away, adding a few inches of space between them, and winced when his voice broke through the air.

“You regret it, don’t you?”

She glanced into those blue eyes, unsure how to answer, but realized her hesitation was answer enough when hurt flashed in his features. He looked out the window, silent, and she tried to figure out the compulsive need to smooth things over.

Guilt surfaced, followed by fear. She opened her mouth.

His words stopped her short. “You don’t have to explain. You don’t owe me anything.” His eyes traveled over the wide open expanse of land they’d touched down on and she focused on his features. “What do you need?”

“Time to process.” The words popped out, and she waited for his response, irrational worry cropping up.

He nodded, then got to his feet. She watched him cross the room. He sprawled out on the couch, his expression blankly focused on the ceiling. Wrestling with her fear, she shook her head.

She stood. Wandering toward the door, she touched the frame, peeking back at Radek. Realizing her hand was shaking, she flattened it to her thigh. Deciding she was being silly, she marched to him
. With a deep breath, she sat on the floor beside the couch, curling into the arm that dangled off the edge.

He stayed still, frozen for a few minutes, before rolling on his side. His arms closed around her, gentle, comforting.

She woke to him lifting her. Panic washed over her and she struggled.

“It’s okay.” Piney mint invaded her nose, and she took control of her fear. His soft whisper lingered in her mind, and she realized the world outside the window had fallen into darkness. Radek placed her in her bed, reaching down to pull her blankets up to her chin. H
is lips pressed to her forehead before he backed off.

Her hand shot out, fingers curling into his palm. He froze, staring down at the contact, before moving to sit beside her on the bed
, body rigid. Her other hand gripped his shoulder, tugging him back. The bed groaned as he turned to her, eyes full of questions she couldn’t answer.

His warmth radiated over her and she curled into the tense plains of his body as he stretched out on his side next to her. She grabbed his hand, pulling it over the dip
between her ribs and hip. After a moment, he relaxed, his body melting to cradle hers, his arm holding her, his eyes on hers. She watched him, forcing her fear down.

As if hearing her thoughts, he spoke. “I’d die before hurting you.”

“I know, but it’s not that simple.” Her whisper seemed to confuse him, and she tried to explain it. “It… takes over. I can’t control it, but I’m trying.”

“You don’t have to do this.”

“No, I want to. I want to trust you, want this.” Her arm slipped over his shoulders, and was rewarded with his smile. The tip of his nose brushed hers, coaxing her own smile.

“What do you need from me?” His breath tickled her face.

“Understanding.” The single word seemed to surprise him.

“Of course. I meant
,
what can I do to help you
?”