Immediately upon leaving the glider, I open the map. Now the surroundings of the hangar are displayed on it, along with the red line that I immediately follow.
The paths in the station all look the same, so I can't imagine how to navigate here. Without the map, I would probably wander aimlessly.
It leads me directly to an elevator, then through a few corridors until I stop just before my destination.
Not because I've gotten lost, no, the map is too precise for that. In front of me stands a couple. Locked in each other's arms, passionately kissing.
My heart begins to race, my whole body is motionless with fear as I recognize them.
Kyle's lips detach from those of his lover. Tosa looks at him from her green eyes and appears genuinely happy. He returns her gaze.
From a distance, they already make a sweet couple, newly in love. But I doubt Kyle's feelings for her are genuine. However, I doubt less about hers.
His hand, which until now had been stroking her brown hair, now wanders under the green pendant of the necklace he gave her, gently running his fingers over it.
"It suits you perfectly, my darling," he whispers.
Tosa is the first to notice me. Her venomous green eyes glare at me angrily.
We're alone here. If they wanted to, they could easily get rid of me, without any witnesses, I think to myself nervously. I take a step back anxiously.
Kyle also looks at me, but doesn't pay me any further attention.
He gives her a kiss on the lips and says, "I have to go again anyway." His hand tenderly strokes her cheek before he approaches me. His steps stop next to me.
My heart begins to race with fear. Maybe I should talk to Mak about him.
"Don't forget," his voice sounds threatening, and he speaks so quietly that I have to listen carefully to what he says. "If Tosa finds out what happened, I'll make sure you get killed by those idiots!"
I visibly flinch. But Kyle also looks like he wants to keep going. My knees feel like pudding, but I'm also relieved that he's finally disappearing. Until he hesitates for a moment.
"If you tell anyone that you saw me with this lousy little slave, you'll regret it very much!"
His words in the last sentence sound contemptuous. He seems not only to be playing with her but also to despise her. But what does this guy aim to achieve with this game of hide-and-seek?, I wonder. I watch him in astonishment until he turns the corner.
Should I maybe tell her? Tosa watches him with a smile the whole time, but when he's gone, her gaze shifts to me and seems angrier than usual. Apparently, she blames me for his departure.
"What are you doing here?" she snarls at me. "The prisoners should all still be obediently in their cells."
"I'm here on Gasard's orders," I reply. "And I'm supposed to pick something up from Akara."
Tosa turns away sharply. Abruptly, she says, "Akara isn't here, and she won't be back anytime soon."
Or maybe I shouldn't tell her and let this beast see for herself what a vile guy her beloved Kyle truly is, I think to myself. Anger rises in me towards Tosa's beastly attitude.
After all, I haven't even done anything to her.
"Where could she be?" I inquire. I try to remain calm, which she doesn't make easy for me.
Tosa whirls around to face me and seems annoyed with me. "No idea!" she yells at me. "Even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you."
By now, I can't control myself anymore. "Do you think I'm eager to have to talk to you, beast?" I angrily retort. Angrily, I turn away from her and am about to leave, but I collide with a muscular man in a gray uniform.
His gaze on me seems confused. "Shouldn't you be somewhere else?" His black hair falls messily into his handsome face, his brown eyes look at me with interest. I just wish he wore the same uniform as yesterday. Black looks better on Mak than this gray.
Whether I should be glad to meet him, after all, I could tell him about my fear of this Kyle. But his next remark shows me that I can well do without a meeting with him.
"You could also be lying in a soft bed." He grins at me with his next sentence. "With a really good-looking man."
"And that would surely be you!" A sigh escapes my lips. The following nod is unnecessary. The answer is already clear to me. "But you're definitely too old for me!" I snap at him.
Mak shrugs.
"I can already guess who you're looking for," he says. "Akara. She'll probably be here soon. But until then, could you help me with a problem involving a good friend of yours? That's why I've been looking for you for a while."
***
Gasard is becoming more likable to me, even though I don't understand why everyone hates him. I feel really comfortable around him.
My opinion of Mak still hasn't changed. His manner is just too intrusive for me. But what does he mean by me helping him with Moriphos?
But I'll only find out if I agree.