Broken Skies

The ceiling has collapsed, at least most of the way and I’ve been forced to the back of the room, almost into the hallway. There will be no going out the front door. They aren’t even visible over the pile of debris in front of me. Thank goodness it appears the facility is mostly underground, a few more stories on top of me and I wouldn’t be here.

But where the hell is Jace? I scan the room frantically before a groan calls my attention to a pile of rubble to my left. Jace lies there, one leg trapped under a large chunk of the collapsed ceiling. I run to him and fall to my knees next to him, ignoring the sharp agony that travels from my side and the blood soaking my gown. “Jace.”

“It’s okay Jax,” he says. He pats my arm. “You’ve got to go. Get out of here.”

“No, I’m not leaving you.” This building was supposed to be safe!

I grasp the underside of Jace’s arms and pull, my feet scrabbling on the tile for purchase. He doesn’t budge, even worse, he lets out an awful scream and his eyes roll back in his head. One foot slides out from under me and my butt slams to the ground. My brother’s head ends up half in my lap and my other leg is twisted behind me.

Each breath brings another stinging pain up from my ribs and into my arm. More blood too. The stupid gown is soaked on one side and it doesn’t really show any sign of slowing. I need to stop the bleeding. It won’t do anyone any good if I pass out too. I’m alone and injured. Jace is hurt. The walls close in on me and my breaths come faster. Panic claws at my chest and I scramble up to my feet.

I wedge my fingers under the biggest piece of concrete holding Jace down and pull until my arms scream. One hand slips and I lose my grip, going back down to the floor. Up. Pull. Slip. Fall. Again. And again.

Tears blur my vision. The bandage on my palm is nearly shredded, the blood from the wound staining the rock holding my brother down. My fingers will barely curl around the rough edged rubble anymore, scraped and bloody as they are, one fingernail ripped off. I haven’t come this far just to lose him. I refuse to let this happen.

The floor beneath my feet shakes and I slam back down to the ground. My side is on fire and black spots swim through my vision. Too much blood, but I can’t stop. Get up! Try again! I screech at myself until I stand up again on wobbly legs.

Did it move that time?

A panting whimper escapes my mouth as I rage against that rock. If it’s moved, I can’t tell. The room spins when I stand again and I don’t even have time to batter my poor fingers again. It’s just straight back down for me. My butt crashes against the floor. Scooting closer to Jace, I pull my knees into my chest and rest my head between them to let the dizziness pass.

I’ve lost a lot of blood and who knows the extent of Jace’s injuries. Just look at us, the only hope for the survival of the E’rikon and human races. If what Lir said is true, Jace and I are somehow meant to unite them. And we’re going to die in the crossfire between them without anyone the wiser. How stupidly ironic.

The skitter of rock and a flash of movement to my left bring my head up. An instant, fiery anger licks at my blood when the white coated form slinks around the corner with his hands up.

Not one I know, at least not one I remember, but he might have been one of Jace’s tormentors. He won’t be hurting my brother any more.

My lips pull back from my teeth in a snarl and I’m on my feet, a blend of hysteria and hot rage powering my movements. Quick, smooth and purposeful I grasp a shard of glass on my way up. Unbalanced and awkward, it won’t make a good throwing weapon, but it’s all I have.

He… no, this one with the white coat is an ‘it’… It moves one small step forward, a simple sliding of its feet moving it within feet of me. Slowly, cautiously it takes another step.

“Stay back!” The makeshift bandage provides me with a perfect handle as I grip the shard in my fist.

Hands go up. Yellow eyes with a star burst of red in the center never leave my own. Something— this thing pushes against the link, gently but persistently.

A hiss from me. My other hand curls into a fist and I position myself between Jace and it, legs spread, knees slightly bent.

“I will not harm you.” Of course not, it will be dead before it has a chance to do so. Another step.

I narrow my eyes. It’s taller than me. Go for the throat? Quick and easy, won’t require as much strength, but it will be expecting that. The leg, femoral artery. One good slice and it will be down. Hopefully before it can do me any damage.

“I am unarmed.”

Good. A creeping, twisted smile pulls at my lips. Easier to dispatch.

“My name is Jastren Reva.”

Does it think I care? I knew the names of the men at the cabin. I knew Zach’s name. Didn’t change the outcome. I crouch lower, shielding Jace from its view.

“He is injured. Let me help you.” Another step. My eyes track every movement. “Let me link with you.”

I snort. “Doesn’t work. They’ve tried. By the looks of that coat you should know that.”

“But…” he sighs and lowers his hands, “…familial links are different.”

Familial? As in… He said his name was Reva. Cocking my head to the side and straightening, I study the alien in front of me. He’s obviously on the older side of their age spectrum. There’s no gray in his bright red hair, but there are subtle lines on his face and just something in his eyes….a tiredness? “Who are you?”

“My bondmate was part of one of the first teams to arrive. She was pregnant…” He takes in the details of my face as if he’s looking for something or someone, a sad and almost defeated look on his face. “Our daughter was born here on Earth soon after my bondmate arrived. Following our traditions, she was named for her father’s line, my line… Jaslyn.”

The name— my mother’s name— sends me back a step and my eyes widen. Jastren moves closer and my hand brings the glass shard up higher.

“Stay back.” The command is softer this time.

“There is not much time. You need to get out of here. We—”

“How did you find us?” I step closer, brandishing the glass in front of me. “You’re dressed like them… the ones that locked us up. The ones that… studied us. Why should I trust you?”

“Right now you have no other choice. I imagine at this point I am just as much of a target as you are and I know another way out.”

“Target? Why would you be a target?”

“Although I had nothing to do with what happened to you and your brother, I know too much. The same reason young Steliro was meant to be here when that bomb hit.”

“But how would the humans even know…”

Jastren shakes his head. “Do you really think this was the human’s doing? This is an unmarked building well away from any potential targets, but that last one was almost on the doorstep. Vitrad is making his move and your arrival gave him the perfect scapegoat. Wipe out the Vestras and who would be left? Who would the people turn to for direction? Who will fuel the flames of their anger and incite this war with a few well picked targets?”

“But why?”

“That is a story for another time and right now we need to get you and your brother out of the city.” He hesitates for a moment and then strides forward, glancing from my face to my hand.

Oh. I’m still clutching my improvised weapon. He’s the only help I have so I’m going to have to trust him. I lower my hand slowly. “How are we going to get Jace out?”

He doesn’t answer, merely shifts through the rubble until he finds a long metal rod and then slides it underneath the concrete. Pushing down on one end of the lever, his face reddens and there’s a small shift in the rock, enough that I’m able to slide Jace out from underneath.

After I pat his cheek a few times, Jace’s eyes flutter open and focus on my face. He struggles to stand, but his leg is twisted in a direction it’s not meant to go in and his face goes pale before he can reach his feet. Leaning down, I pull him up and throw his arm over my shoulder. I’m not strong enough to hold him up though, so Jastren steps up.