The tent shook with uncontrollable fury, shaking us like puppets manipulated by a sinister puppeteer. The ground beneath our feet was tearing apart in a chaotic dance. The lingering darkness that enveloped us now was only the prelude to a much greater terror, one that lurked relentlessly on the other side of the flimsy barrier of cloth and wood.
My hesitant steps brought me to the edge of the tent, and, with Draktharos at my side, I beheld the desolate spectacle unfolding before us. A colossal worm, rising from the depths of the earth. It writhed and undulated in an abominable choreography, as if it were the grimmest nightmare materialized in flesh and blood. Its gaping maw opened and closed in an ominous rhythm, emitting a dull sound.
-I can't move, I'm trapped!
The screams of the aliens filled the air: -Gods, help us!- and -I don't want to die here!- echoed everywhere, mingling with the terrified screams of those who were trapped by the monster's jaws. Meanwhile, the guards fought desperately, their weapons shooting energy beams, and they launched explosive projectiles towards the colossal beast. However, their efforts proved futile.
-My children, I need to get to my children!
The worm, in its insatiable fury, roared and thundered like a ravenous demon, the rumblings of its advance further terrifying those present. The nightmare loomed over us, and our only hope was to reach our spaceships before it was too late.
The guards, though fighting valiantly, also let out words of despair:
-We need help, somebody, please!
-Damn it, our weapons are useless!
-Send reinforcements immediately! We are being annihilated!
In the midst of the chaos, I couldn't help but let out a guttural and furious curse. -Damn that damned beast! -I snarled, my teeth clenched and my heart pounding. The obscenity escaped my lips like a roar of rage.
Skyscrapers and tents seemed to vibrate to the rhythm of the gigantic segments of his body, twisting and undulating with brutal grace as he made his way through the city streets.
Abruptly, the serpentine worm sped past me, and I was thrown backward by its irrepressible force. My body collided with a sculpted torso, firm as a rock. A pair of powerful arms acted as a human shield, absorbing the impact with a dexterity that could only be attributed to the mastery of a warrior.
-Are you all right, you didn't hurt yourself? -He looked at me with his deep eyes full of concern. His words, though guttural and strange, showed a sincere concern.
-I'm... I'm fine.
-Who knew, the day you'd fall into my arms! -His eyebrows rose in a suggestive and provocative look.
-Only you could make such a stupid joke. -I snorted, unable to contain my response to his arrogance.
-Maybe you should be thankful that I protected you with my beefy arms," he proposed, with a scorching look that stole my breath, before stepping back and helping me in the process.
-That would give you enough ego to fuel conversations for a decade!" I growled in a venomous tone.
He let out a mocking laugh that echoed in my ears like a malevolent cackle, "Always so proud, as only a Thorne knows how to be.
-I didn't expect you to save my life," I muttered, my voice trying to maintain a firmness that was challenged by the irritation his attitude provoked in me. His arrogance was legendarily suffocating- I thought your arrogance was so much that it prevented you from saving others.
He nodded, still with that damned arrogant smile on his face. -Of course, I didn't expect you to thank me with a kiss.
Before I could reply to his nasty answer, I noticed a loose board on the roof of the tent, about to fall directly on our heads. I don't know how I did it, but somehow I found the strength to push it away, pulling us away from the imminent danger. The deafening clatter of wood hitting the ground echoed in our ears.
- I guess I'm not the one to thank now," I said with a triumphant look on my face, my heart still pounding with the adrenaline of the approaching catastrophe.
- Evadne," he warned with a penetrating look, his tone determined, "We'll have this conversation another time. -We rose from the floor together, the tension in the air palpable.
-I agree," I answered with determination, "It's time to leave this damned planet.
Outside, the world greeted us with its latent danger. We were both aware that this was only a small taste of what we faced in our attempt to escape this inhospitable planet. We ran across the barren ground of Thaloria, my lungs burning and heart beating frantically, each breath a reminder of the urgency of our escape, of the battle raging behind us, of the explosions and gunfire that shook the ground behind us.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could visualize how a pair of guards rushed towards Draktharos in a protective formation, weapons raised, advancing determinedly towards his ship. Every step I took brought me a little closer to the safety of my ship. But at that critical instant, my holographic communicator blinked insistently. I took a shaky breath and activated it with a hurried gesture. On the holographic projection, Harlox appeared with an anguished look and pearly sweat on his forehead.
-Evadne, where the hell are you?! -Harlox exclaimed, his concern palpable in every word. My throat tightened, and I struggled to remain calm.
-I'm on my way," I answered in a firm voice, trying to convey confidence, "Keep the crew safe. Don't worry, I'll be there soon.
-I'll tell Brakthar to come and get you," Harlox suggested, looking for a quick solution in the midst of the tension.
-No, launch the ship. I'm close," I replied, feeling the urgency in every fiber of my being.
-You're crazy! -Brakthar exclaimed over the comm. -We're not leaving you out there to be devoured.
Damn it, I said I'll get there! -I replied vehemently, "Have you heard from Nalor? We parted ways at the market, and since then....
The answer came abruptly, interrupting my words like a bolt of worry, "I'm fine, worry about you," he spoke, cutting off my concern in the process. -Make sure you get to the ship soon.
I nodded quickly through the Holo communicator, trying to squeeze my words into the short space of time we had. -I'm on my way...
EVADNE!
My conversation was abruptly interrupted a shiver ran through my body as a thick, guttural voice pronounced my name in an almost ominous manner. I turned sharply in the direction of the voice, meeting the worried eyes filled with deep terror in Draktharos' face. He was approaching me on a flying skateboard, and in his hands rested a weapon from Zyphronia, his home planet.
I barely had time to react when I felt the creepy presence of the worm at my back. I turned quickly, facing the beast that snaked its long body, ready to devour me in an instant.
-Evadne, what's going on? -I barely managed to hear Aizza's voice over the communicator, amidst Brakthar's constant curses.
Without allowing fear to take over my senses, my fingers reached for the grenade I had stolen from one of the market stalls. Unmoving, I waited until the being's mouth was close enough to throw the grenade into its mouth full of sharp teeth.
- Have you gone mad, woman! -A slight electricity ran through me as I felt Draktharos' solid chest against mine. He held me firmly, wrenching us from the beast's jaws. The worm let out a thunderous cry and backed away, twisting and undulating its body in a furious attempt to chase us.
-What the fuck took you so long! -I cried out with a mixture of relief and frustration.
His lips pressed into a hard line as I held on to his body. -A thank you would be more appropriate," The words came out as a harsh sigh. -What you did was crazy, Evadne. You could have died.
-I won't give you the satisfaction of seeing me in that state," I said, trying to keep my pride afloat as I looked at him with defiance.
-You're amazing, woman," he replied, his expression a mixture of disbelief and admiration. Even near death, you don't stop fucking around.
-What can I say? You bring out the worst in me," I admitted, allowing honesty to surface amidst the tension.
-There are so many things I want to get out of you," he whispered, his burning gaze boring deep into my eyes.
A shiver ran through my body, and my breathing became more agitated. The tension between us intensified, threatening to consume me completely. If it weren't for the creature chasing us, I would have succumbed to the attraction I felt for him at that very moment.
At that moment, the Draktharos kingdom guards appeared on the horizon, each carrying powerful weapons of Zyphronia.
- There they are! -shouted one of the guards, pointing at us as their laser beams traced lines of fire in the sky. They fired precisely at the beast that was still chasing us. The explosions and flashes of light disoriented it, causing it to retreat.
As we approached the ship, a deafening roar filled the air. I turned my head and watched in horror as a nearby building collapsed, spewing debris and dust in all directions. Draktharos took a sudden turn to the right, straining to dodge the falling debris. The skateboard wobbled dangerously in the air, and he struggled to keep his balance as he deftly maneuvered to avoid all the dangerous objects that were approaching.
Despite Draktharos' tireless efforts to maneuver and dodge the debris, a large metal beam hit us hard and threw us to the ground. We fell with a tremendous impact, all was chaos and confusion. My head was pounding with a constant buzzing, and I searched with my blurry eyes for Draktharos' body. He was forcefully pushing aside the debris that had fallen on him when his gaze, charged with uneasiness, met mine. Carefully, he approached me, his strong hands firmly grasped my arms, and with a concerted effort, we managed to get me to sit up, albeit staggering from the previous impact.
- Demon! Evadne, don't falter now," he growled, dragging me down the deserted street of Thaloria.
- O.. Over there -I pointed with a voice cracked by the pain that coursed through my body, as if every muscle was screaming its agony- my ship....
My words barely came out in a whisper, but luckily, he understood. Making sure that the worm did not have us in its field of vision, we moved through the streets.
- Let me give you a ride, we'll get to the ship faster," he proposed in a sympathetic voice.
- No, thank you," I whispered, pain stabbing through my words. I can walk on my own. -I added with torment lurking inside me.
- Your body is in pieces," he insisted with concern. This is no time to be stubborn, Thorne.
- I'm not being stubborn, I can move with no problem," I assured, hiding the pain my battered body was inflicting on me, and with a determination I had never felt before, I moved forward with more firmness and speed.
He shook his head, visibly grumpy. - By the quinblarks, woman!
- Stop protesting and get that alien ass of yours in gear. If you don't want to be next on that creature's menu.
- I'm a Zyphronia warrior, that thing is no match for me," he replied with an arrogance that made me roll my eyes in frustration.
- You're a pretty confident Zyphronia," I replied with a hint of sarcasm in my voice, "But I trust my own legs more than your ego.
We moved forward in perfect sync, dodging the debris scattered on the shaking ground from the thunderous roars of the creature lurking in the distance. The stifling heat of the planet only intensified our desperation to escape.
- Thorne, hurry up," he growled.
- I don't need you to tell me twice," I replied as I picked up my pace. Adrenaline gushed through my veins, and the pain I had been suppressing was transforming into a driving fury.
The earth opened up into dangerous fissures, and rock pillars swayed, threatening to crush us at any moment.
- There! -I exclaimed, pointing to an opening in the rock face that led to the landing pad of some ship. We ran toward it, and a flash of hope filled my body as I spotted a ship parked in the distance.