Free After Impact: After Impact Trilogy, Book 1 by Nicole Stark Page A

peace and quiet of having her own space, it also got eerily quiet at night. The surroundings were all new and strange, and she didn’t really count any girl on board as a friend. The President’s threat didn’t help either. She was constantly under low grade stress, and her eyes were beginning to grow bags under them.
    “I understand that. I am going to get Raleigh to sleep with you tonight.”
    “But. What do I tell her?” Avalon asked, her voice faint.
    “Nothing,” Ilium answered. “Let me handle it. Just make sure you call me first thing in the morning when you wake up, you understand?”
    Avalon nodded.
    Ilium locked eyes with Avalon and said, “I need you to say yes.” Ilium is taking this whole dead girl in my bed thing way better than me. But then again, the dead girl is in my room and not his.
    Avalon replied, “Yes, I understand.” Something fluttered in her stomach, but she could not discern what it was with all of the insanity of the night.
     
    Fifteen minutes after Ilium left, Raleigh arrived.
    “I am really glad you came,” Avalon said.
    “It’s no problem. Ilium said you needed someone to stay with you to settle your nerves. I am glad to be of help.”
    Avalon smiled. She seems so sweet and genuine.
    “This old place can start to wear on a girl. Especially with you being in this dorm alone.”
    “Right,” Avalon answered.
    “I mean there is nothing to do here. Sometimes I go for a run through the habitat, but it’s not the same as running outside.”
    Avalon nodded. She missed the outside too. Even having a real window with fresh air circulating. The way the sun’s rays would hit her and warm her face. Birds chirping, nothing but clear skies above.
    Raleigh glimpsing around the room. “You haven’t decorated your room much.”
    “No, I haven’t. Do the other girls do that?”
    “Yeah. We just you know. Take a few materials here and there and make do. Like my roommate, Gen, knows origami. So we have tons of swans and dolphins in all different colors hanging from the ceiling and on the dressers.”
    “That’s awesome!”
    “Yeah, she even made some storage boxes.”
    Avalon wished she and Raleigh had gotten to know each other earlier. Under different circumstances Raleigh could have been a great friend. Someone that could offer a different perspective than Ilium.
    “You think you guys could help decorate my room sometime?”
    “Sure!”
    “Ilium wouldn’t tell me exactly what happened or why you wanted me to come here. Can I ask is there anything in particular?”
    Avalon wanted to trust Raleigh, but it was just too soon.
    Be careful who you trust.
    “All of the silence can get to you after a while. I mean besides the comforting and ever present background hum of electrical equipment.”
    Raleigh chuckled at Avalon’s remark.
    “So what made you willing to come here? Besides Ilium asking you to?” Avalon asked.
    “He’s my friend. He’s a really good guy. Don’t tell anyone but sometimes he shares extra medicine with people who need it.”
    Avalon nodded her head. Ilium was someone who would go the extra mile to help others. Most people in the habitat were more self-absorbed, but Ilium actually cared. The only one she trusted in the habitat.
    Wait trusted? Dad said be careful who you trust. But…Ilium is different.
    “Has anyone ever told you that you are really easy to talk to?” Raleigh asked.
    Avalon shook her head and smiled weakly.
    “Well, it is kind of getting late. If you don’t mind, I am going to close this lid and go to bed,” Raleigh said.
    Avalon minced. She did not want Raleigh to stop jabbering. The jabbering filled the air with noise and kept her awake.
    Closing the lid, Raleigh plopped some earbuds into her ears and it wasn’t long before she drifted off to sleep.
    Avalon laid down wide awake in a different capsule, staring at the door and at Raleigh. Avalon envied how quickly sleep descended upon Raleigh, how oblivious she was to whatever had