Free Extinction by Daleen Viljoen Page B

Warmth
filled me - a soft and caressing smoke that drifted inside me, filling every
corner of me with its soothing heat. The roaring in my head slowly subsided and
I could feel air filling my lungs. 
    “That’s my girl,” Chai said as I inhaled deeply. 
    “Is she okay?” a voice asked and I stiffened. Chai
kept me securely pressed against him and I couldn’t move even if I wanted to.
    “She’s in shock” he answered and his voice sounded
different than a moment ago – it was farther away and not as clear as before.
    I opened my eyes and the blonde boy loomed above us,
his brow furrowed as he watched me. 
    “Where’s Arianna?” Chai asked keeping me pinned to
him, as if he was afraid I would run if he let go of me.
    “She’s finishing up,” the blonde mass of muscles
answered and pointed a finger towards the truck. 
    The raven haired warrior princess moved toward a
young soldier standing against the truck with a knife in her hand, the blade
smeared with blood. Terror tore through my soul as I recognized the soldier. It
was the same boy that guarded me last night and gave me the water to drink. I
didn’t think any energy was left in me, but the last remaining drops sped
through my veins and I pushed myself away from Chai, catching him off-guard. I
didn’t know how I moved so quickly but in seconds I was standing before Arianna
shielding the boy from her.
    “If you touch him, I’ll take you down.” My voice
cracked and sounded foreign to my own ears. I could barely keep myself upright,
but I was prepared to fight her with my last breath. Arianna cocked her head to
one side and smiled. She was breathtakingly beautiful, her features absolutely
perfect. Her eyes were as blue as sapphires against her olive skin. 
    “I like her. She’s puny for a human, but she’s got
guts,” she said and flicked her long hair over her shoulder. She inspected me
from head to toe. 
    “It’s okay,” Erich said behind me. I glanced at him
over my shoulder. His lip was split and there was blood smeared on his face and
hands. His hair was even messier than before and he looked incredibly young. Way
too young to be caught up in the middle of a war. He gave me a lopsided smile.
    “I’m giving him his knife back,” Arianna added. Chai
had joined her and stood watching me warily as if he was deciding how to
approach me. 
    “I’m with them,” Erich said and I was confused. I
didn’t understand who or what they were and how the boy was connected to them.
    “Who are you?” I asked, not sure at whom I was
directing my question.
    “I’m the same person I was yesterday,” Chai answered
and carefully took a step forward with his hands raised in front of him, trying
not to scare me.  
    “You lied to me! You’re not a rebel,” I accused him. 
    “Actually, we prefer revolutionaries or the
resistance. Soldiers of fortune. Rebels sound so crude,” Erich said. He angled
past me, running a hand through his curly hair. He reached for the knife in
Arianna’s hand and sheaved it on his belt.
    “I didn’t tell a lie, Lexie. We’re helping the rebels.”
Chai took another step forward and I stumbled away from him, my back pressed painfully
against the door of the truck.
    “But you’re not human.”
    “I am,” Eric said and gave me a small wave. 
    “Why don’t we go and fetch the other truck and leave
these two to talk,” Arianna intervened and placed an arm around Erich’s
shoulders and guided him around the truck. He laughed loudly at something she
said. 
    Chai took another step forward and my breathing sped
up. He noticed and he frowned.
    “Lexie, I’ll never hurt you,” he said quietly. I
didn’t know what to believe anymore. I felt confused and frightened. Yesterday
he was a gorgeous rebel that made my heart beat faster with one look and today
he was something totally different. I didn’t even know what he was.
    “What are you?” I asked and a tear rolled down my
cheek.
    “I’m not from this planet.