Free The Awakening: Book 1 of the Evaran Chronicles by Adair Hart Page B

pieces of Sanjay’s face. Sanjay’s body fell forward. Blood oozed out onto the ground. Dr. Snowden and Jay dropped to the floor. Evaran ran past them while raising his left arm. Emily began hyperventilating and knelt down with her hands over her head.
    “Oh, shit!” said Jay.
    “ Go! ” said Evaran, pointing to the hall.
    Dr. Snowden scrambled to his feet with Jay in tow. They reached Emily. He grabbed her, dragging her to her feet. They ran in the direction Evaran had pointed. He looked back and saw a beam connect with Evaran. The beam hit an invisible shield on Evaran’s left arm. The impact was hard enough to send him sprawling. Evaran motioned at V. V flew toward them but stopped just inside the entrance. Evaran got up and ran past V. He caught up to them.
    “V is going to lead them away. We need to get to the other central area and up to the engine room!” said Evaran.
    “Sanjay … he’s … ,” said Dr. Snowden with his lips turned down.
    “He is no longer with us,” said Evaran with creased eyebrows.
    They got to the end of the hallway and ran to one of the elevators. Evaran placed the UIC on the wall console and interacted with his ARI. The elevator doors opened, and they rushed in. Evaran grabbed his UIC, and the elevator doors closed. When the doors opened again, they ran after Evaran as he rushed down the walkway. After a few minutes, they reached an entrance similar to the main bridge concourse.
    They rushed through the entrance. Dr. Snowden’s eyes adjusted to the dimly lit hallway he found himself in. He rubbed the goosebumps on his arm as an eerie sound permeated the air. They reached a main chamber. It was the largest room he had seen so far outside of the main cylindrical area. The room was spherical. In the center was a black orb surrounded by a mass of metal rings that stood still. There were three curved metal pillars evenly distributed around it, shooting a red beam at the rings. There was a corridor at the opposite end of the room, and one on each side of the room. They stopped to the right of the chamber entrance.
    Evaran raised his hand. “They are following V’s projection of us down a different path away from here. V will be back shortly. Let us rest for a moment.”
    Jay rubbed his forehead and squinted hard while grimacing. He walked over and put both hands on the wall, then leaned against it.
    Dr. Snowden could hear Jay’s short, anger-filled breaths. His heart pumped furiously as he walked over to Emily. Tears ran down her face as she sat slumped with her back against the wall. He sat down next to her and put his head in his hands. She leaned against him. He couldn’t believe Sanjay was dead. It happened so fast. One moment there, the next, not. A tidal wave of anger swept through him. Sanjay didn’t deserve this. He just wanted to go home like the rest of them. Why did they target Sanjay? He was really beginning to like him.
    Evaran turned toward them as V flew into the room. “V, status?”
    “They were led to a large creature. They did not survive.”
    “Replay,” said Evaran, circling a finger in the air.
    V projected a holographic display showing two men firing at a large shelled creature. The creature launched itself at one of the men, crushing him against the wall. It then lashed out with green tentacles through its shell, grabbing the other man. It pulled the man close and squeezed him until he went limp.
    Evaran narrowed his eyes and interacted with his ARI. “A cepharus.” He tilted his head. “It would seem they were from Jerzan’s crew based on their gear, unless there is another pack of mercenaries on board we are unaware of.”
    Jay faced Evaran and took a deep breath. “We’re not gonna make it, are we?”
    Evaran looked at the ground with his lips turned down. He clenched his jaw in a circular motion before glancing at Jay. “I have failed Sanjay, but we will make it. I underestimated the mercenaries. That will not happen again.”
    Jay shook his