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She swallowed down the bile in her throat. She pulled herself into a sitting position. She would face them full on. She wouldn’t hide. She wouldn’t cower. This was her war too. When the hatch opened, clanging loudly as it hit the wall, Autumn stared up.

Chalmers.

No Marshall in sight.

“Of all my soldiers, Walton.” Chalmers walked closer, spittle spewing from his lips as he said her name. His steps were heavy enough to make the metal shudder beneath her. “I never thought you would be the one to commit treason.”

Autumn kept her mouth shut. Nothing was going to change his mind at this point. Not to mention, he was right. She had committed treason. She had switched sides at some point, and she’d barely even looked back.

“Prepare yourself for the consequences.”

Two soldiers stomped in next to him and grabbed her by the arms. They dragged her upward. Autumn remained limp. She wasn’t going to fight them. She wouldn’t win. They were both easily twice her size.

They took her down a long corridor, down three levels, and into another corridor. From there, Autumn was shoved into the brig, the door sealed shut behind her. Closing her eyes, Autumn remained lying still on the floor.

She didn’t have the energy to fight.

Not right now.

Smoke filled the small room. Its heavy weight dragged it to the floor so it covered her. Autumn coughed. She dragged in a ragged breath. She cringed as it burned. What was this? Drowning by smoke?

Her head spun.

She couldn’t breathe. Gasping, her head spun. She was so dizzy. She couldn’t figure out which way was up or down again. But the floor was solid and cold against her back. She closed her eyes, gagging on the taste of the smoke.

This was it.

This was when she was going to die.

32

Soulara came back to herself in a rush of panic.

Memories reeled themselves backward. The smoke that overpowered her lungs, the cold metal that surrounded her. Her forcing her fluke back into legs, hoping for an advantage as she was pulled from the water. Her hands losing grip on Autumn.

Autumn!

Despite the aches and pains that filled her, Soulara forced her eyes open. She cringed against the false light. It might have been brighter than the sun, but it did nothing to warm her or tingle against her skin with its gift of nutrients.

“Autumn.” She groaned, tears stinging her eyes.

“Soulara?” A small voice, rasped from a raw throat, floated somewhere in the distance.

Soulara sat up, cringing as her head throbbed but running on hope.

“Autumn, is that you?” Soulara looked around her, turning her head as fast as she dared.

“Yes.” A sob that threatened to break her heart and made the tears spill over her cheeks. “It’s me. Are you okay?”

“I’m much better now.” Soulara allowed herself a small smile. “But where are you?”

“I’m in the next cell in the brig.”

“The brig?”

“It’s a prison in the ship that took us.” Autumn’s words were accompanied by a knocking sound on one of the walls. “I’m here, Soulara. Can you hear me knocking?”

“Yes.” Soulara got to her feet. Her legs wobbled beneath her, but she refused to fall. She stepped, one foot after the other, to the wall where Autumn stood behind. “Yes, I can hear you. I’m here.”