Free Trapped in Time-Extinction by Saxon Andrew Page A

her?” The young woman nodded. “What can you tell me about her?”
    The young woman tilted her head and then sighed, “Our community has accepted her but many have issues with the way she treated Zeck.”
    “He abused her!”
    “And he admitted that he did.” Olivia looked at her shaking her head and she said, “He told her in front of all of us that he thought she was the most beautiful person he had ever seen and he couldn’t allow her to be sent to the pens. He told us about how he was raised to treat people and he was beaten whenever he showed any softness toward anyone. He didn’t know any other way to live. He told your sister when our leader pulled his gun to kill him that he deserved it. Ophelia stood between Zeck and our leader screaming that he didn’t deserve it.”
    “I find that hard to believe.”
    “We found your sister’s cruelty toward him hard to believe as well.”
    Olivia stared at the woman for a moment and said, “What changed her mind?”
    “She almost killed him by beating him half to death with a wooden pole. She beat him because he told her he was sorry for what he had done.”
    “That sounds like my sister.”
    “He told her as he lay in the dirt in the field that he had never beat her. He had treated her as well as he knew how.” The young woman stared at Olivia for a moment and said, “Ophelia realized he was right. She had done things to him that he had never done to her and she felt ashamed by her actions.”
    She turned to go and stopped before she opened the door, “I think you should know that he didn’t tell your sister that he was making this voyage in an effort to save you.”
    “Tyler told me he came here for other reasons.”
    “He’s right…and wrong. Zeck sold the mission on the idea that the Destroyers needed to be scouted to see what defenses we would have to face. He volunteered to sail the ship if he would be allowed to try and save you. Our council agreed. Ophelia found out about it at the last minute and screamed at him that he was throwing the lives away of those on the ship, as well as his own to make the effort. She told him it was a suicide mission.” Olivia lowered her head and the woman softly said, “He told her that he was going to do it, not just for her, but to try and bring balance for all he has done in the past. She pleaded with him not to go but he had her taken to shore and he set sail. One last thing.” Olivia looked at her. “All of us know that he loves your sister deeply. Even after all she’s done to him…” The woman shook her head. She looked at Olivia and said, “The disrespect you’ve shown him today is unforgivable. However, I know Zeck doesn’t blame you for it. He’s a better person than you…or your sister.”
    The woman walked out the door and closed it quietly behind her. Olivia stared at the door and looked at the floor. She shook her head and wondered what kind of world it was when a Destroyer was more respected that those he enslaved. She ate the meal and fell back on the bed. Sleep didn’t come quickly but it did eventually come. She decided that she had to talk to Tyler. He could help her understand this new world she had entered.
    • • •
    She stayed in her room the next day until the midday heat became too much. She saw a blue uniform on the foot of her bed and she took off the camouflage suit and put it on. She stepped out of her room and went to the steps leading to the main deck. She encountered several members of the crew and they stepped out of her way. She could tell by their expressions that they didn’t like her. She stepped out on deck and felt the cool sea breeze blowing over her. She sighed and looked around. Most of the crew was on the main deck escaping the heat of the day. She walked over to a man tugging on a rope to tighten a sail and said, “Do you know where I can find Tyler?”
    The man smiled and pointed toward the front of the ship, “He’s at the bow.”
    “Thank you.” The