Free Gray Card by Cassandra Chandler

turned to address Adam. “Did you really think I would believe you were giving up everything for her ? You arrogant glitch. I wish I could let you live to regret sticking your nose into my operations.”
    “You can’t kill him!” Evelyn stepped forward, but stopped when Todd raised his weapon higher, sighting her down the barrel. She held up her hands and said, “How will you explain his death to your superiors?”
    “When I deliver his corpse to the Council, they’re going to give me a medal for protecting Earth from conquest.”
    “You’re delusional.” She was baiting him on purpose, keeping him talking, gathering information, trying to find anything that might help get her and Adam out of this.
    “You’re the only one who’s delusional here. You really think that he’s doing this for you?” Todd’s lip curled in a sneer and he tilted his head away, as if he could barely stand to look at her. At least he lowered his gun a bit. “A General decides to suddenly leave his prosperous career, give up his citizenship, and relinquish the vast resources he’s accumulated over the years to live on a primitive world where he’ll have no access to real technology and can never leave the planet again? He’s not after you. He wants Earth. But I got here first.”
    “You can’t leave?” Evelyn turned to Adam, not believing Todd’s words. “If you stayed with me, you were going to give all that up?”
    Adam’s brow furrowed slightly and his eyes narrowed.
    It was true. And he wasn’t going to tell her. He was planning to give up everything to be with her and he wasn’t even going to let her know what he was sacrificing.
    “With the riches this planet possesses, it would be more than a fair trade,” Todd said.
    Evelyn closed her eyes, visualizing the situation, trying to find a way out. On board, there was nothing to help her. But outside the ship there were plenty of thick, heavy branches perfect for thumping an insane alien over the head with. She only had to manage to get outside and sneak back in without Todd realizing it.
    Right. Only that.
    The first step was getting out without getting killed. Playing along with Todd’s story seemed her best bet. She only hoped that Adam would realize she was acting.
    “I can’t believe you would do this to me!” Evelyn bit her fist for effect. She doubted Todd had watched any 50s sci-fi movies where the women were constantly doing ridiculous things like that. “After everything we did… And it was all a lie!”
    “Stop yelling!” Todd lifted his gun again, pointing it right at her face.
    “I’m sorry, I just… I’m so emotional right now.” As she’d hoped, Todd’s sneer deepened. He looked a little green. “I don’t want anything to do with this! Do whatever you want to him. I just want to go home. I promise, I won’t tell anyone that aliens are real.”
    Todd stared at her for a moment, then his thin lips pulled into a smile. “No, you should tell them. Waste your life trying to convince people that aliens are real. That will be so much more amusing than just killing you. Go on.”
    He shooed her with his gun. Evelyn wasn’t sure if he was baiting her, trying to get her to turn around so he could shoot her in the back—but it was the best chance she had. She turned and bolted, heart pounding in her chest.
    She could hardly believe it when she reached the trees. Pausing, she looked back at the ship, but didn’t see Todd watching her. Adrenaline flooded her system, making her lightheaded.
    She didn’t have time for that. Focusing with all her will, she started looking for a branch that she could use as a weapon. It didn’t take long to find one solid enough to do damage, but small enough to wield.
    She wanted to run back to the ship as fast as she could, but surprise was crucial. She only prayed that Todd would do more grandstanding before killing Adam.
    Tears burned her eyes, but she blinked them away. Adam needed her. There was still hope.
    She