Page 12 of Galactic Sentinels, Vol. 1 (Chronicles of Pherebos #1)

His friendliness didn't last long, though. No sooner had the door closed than he slapped me on the bed.

"How dare you?" he asked, sounding pretty angry.

"Don't you like it?" I stammered a little and cried a little.

"Why exactly did I think you were my partner? Because you were gorgeous and young. Now, not only are you a terrible lover, but you've also ruined your looks in the most ridiculous way imaginable! It'll be years before it's back to an acceptable level. "

"But I'm more comfortable like this!" I made the argument that...

"After all the trouble I went through to get you! You're all mine. Your hair is mine. Every part of you is mine. You're going to regret damaging what's mine!"

And then the violence started. It wasn't the first time, but it was definitely one of the most brutal.

The next morning, I woke up in the regeneration sarcophagus. Henri was telling me to get dressed before my sister woke up.

The hard truth was that Prianka was there for two reasons.

First, she made sure the community thought the governor was a caring and compassionate person, not afraid to take on his disabled sister.

Second, she had a regeneration sarcophagus at home, so he could beat me up as much as he wanted without ever leaving a trace.

There was no way to tell anyone. I'd already tried that with his assistant, Hilda.

I guess I was naive enough to think that, as a woman, she'd be more understanding.

She just dismissed my complaints as tiredness and youth, and had me taken home.

Man, I really paid for that attempt at denunciation.

My sister didn't know anything about it.

One time, Henri asked me if I wanted us to split up.

He said he'd understand if I didn't want to be tied to a man more than forty years older than me, like a nobleman.

If I'd made that choice, I would've permanently lost the regeneration pod for Prianka.

He would've only gotten sympathy from the colony since his ungrateful, frivolous young companion bailed on him.

His request was pretty strategic. He knew exactly what my answer would be.

The whole point of his proposal was to mess with my head, which he loved to do!

Long story short, I was stuck with a nasty, violent guy in the privacy of our bedroom, and I couldn't tell anyone. Especially not my sister, who would have been horrified to learn what I was going through.

I hadn’t thought the sarcophagus’s cycle counter would ever become a problem.

“You must be mistaken,” I reply, avoiding her gaze.

Before she can press further, two short knocks sound at the door.

“It’s Duncan!” comes the familiar voice from outside.

“Come in,” I call quickly, seizing the opportunity. “Would you like to join us for tea?”

And just like that, I dodge my sister’s unsettling questions—at least for now.

***

Two nights later, I’m lying quietly on the narrow bed in the small room I use every night. I’m reading an adventure-romance novel—the kind that helps me escape during these long, lonely evenings.

The walls are thick and soundproof, so I don’t hear Henri come in. I jump when he suddenly appears in the doorway .

He doesn’t greet me. He doesn’t smile. In here, he doesn’t bother pretending to be the charming, caring governor everyone else sees. In private, he’s just Henri—entitled, untouchable, and completely unaware of boundaries.

“Come on,” he says, his voice sharp and cold.

I hate how fast I give in to him—but I’ve learned the hard way that the longer he has to wait, the worse it gets. And tonight, there’s no mistaking how furious he is. I don’t even know what set him off this time, but I can already tell—it’s going to be a long, ugly night.

I follow him into the big bedroom, the one that’s supposed to be ours, and I just stand there, waiting.

“I couldn’t believe it when Duncan showed up at my place today,” he says.

My stomach tightens. What did Duncan say? What did he do to make Henri this angry?

Henri grabs my shoulders and shakes me, hard. “Aren’t you going to say anything?” he snaps. “What are you two planning with your sister?”

“Henri, I swear—I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

His eyes are burning with rage, and I’m shaking like a leaf in front of him.

“You and your sister brought up the meter on the regeneration sarcophagus in our place,” he snaps.

“And your sister—she let that idiot know there were irregularities. That sneaky girl suspects something, and she tricked that fool into digging around! Can you believe it? Some low-level guard had the nerve to come question me—the governor—asking how I explain two unauthorized cycles on the pod!”

His voice rises, his arms tense, and I brace myself, every nerve on edge, ready to shield my head if I have to.

“If you think you can take me down, you’re dead wrong. Do you have any idea what I’ve been through to get where I am?”

“Not exactly,” I mutter under my breath, “but I know it wasn’t all good.”

Yeah… sarcasm was a bad call.

He grabs the front of my tunic and yanks me up to his eye level, his gaze drilling into mine.

“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” he growls. “When I found out Rayan was after you on BN-35, I made sure he was with his father when I triggered the incident that let me take Mourad’s place as administrator. It was perfect—one move, and I got rid of them both.”

I stare at him, horrified. I always knew he was violent, manipulative—but I never imagined he was capable of murder.

“You… you killed them?”

He glares at me, like I’ve insulted him. “You really think I couldn’t? I’m a man with ambition. I’ll do whatever it takes to get what I want.”

“But… doesn’t the Confederation run empathy tests to make sure only the right people get in?”

“I was smart enough to beat the system,” he says, smug. Then he notices my face. “Are you crying? Seriously? You’re crying over that kid—Rayan? You should be grateful you got to know a man instead of some na?ve little boy.”

“Rayan was kind to me!” I cry, my voice cracking. “He didn’t deserve this. You’re a monster!”

His mouth twists into a cruel grin. He leans in close, and I can smell the alcohol on his breath. Maybe that’s why he’s spilling all of this tonight—because he’s drunk enough to think it doesn’t matter.

“You have no idea,” he sneers. “Did you know Chandra told me to stay away from you? Your mom knew I wanted you , not her. And when she found out what I had planned, she came to me—told me she didn’t approve.”

He pauses, watching my reaction like he’s enjoying it.

“It wasn’t hard to find her alone in her lab that night.

I brought her a hot drink, just like always.

Only this time, I slipped in a few drops of toxin.

By the time poor Fanyoru found her the next morning, it was too late.

What a tragedy, right? Cardiac arrest, so young!

And that idiot doctor—blamed it on stress and overwork. Ironic, isn’t it?”

He’s smiling now. That cruel, twisted smile. And I’m frozen, horrified.

I can’t believe I didn’t see it before—how far he’d go. He killed my mother. And that’s how he got caught. But why is he telling me all this now?

“I can see those wheels turning in that pretty little head of yours,” he sneers. “You’re probably wondering what to do with everything I just told you. The answer? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. ”

He steps closer, his voice sharp now. “I’m done with you. Our little arrangement? It’s over. Come on—we’re going to see your sister.”

Panic surges through me. Why does he want to see her now, in the middle of the night? She’s asleep. What is he planning? Is he going to throw us out with nothing—not even time to grab a few things?

When he tries to drag me out of the apartment, I dig in my heels, resisting with everything I’ve got. My heart’s pounding. I’m terrified. And I feel completely powerless.

He hits me—once, sharp and fast across the cheekbone. Then again, harder, right across my face.

Pain explodes through my head. I feel my lip split, the inside of my cheek tearing. Blood starts to trickle down my chin, soaking into the front of my nightgown. My head throbs, and I can taste the metallic tang of blood in my mouth.

I’m stunned. Shaken. And deep down, I know this is just the beginning. His violence is escalating, and I’m trapped in it.

I can’t believe this is happening. But one thing is suddenly, painfully clear: Prianka and I are no longer safe here.

Henri finally drags me down to the first floor.

“Go wake up your sister and bring her here!” he barks.

Sobbing, I rush into Prianka’s room and shake her awake .

“Ileana? What’s going on? Why are you crying? And—what happened to your face? Is that blood?”

I yank open her dresser drawer, grab a piece of underwear, and hand it to her while I quickly slip on another.

“Get dressed. Now. Henri’s drunk and completely out of control. I think he’s going to throw us out.”

I slide on a pair of sandals to protect my feet and move toward Prianka’s wheelchair. She looks terrified.

Then Henri storms in behind me.

“What do you think you’re doing?” he growls.

“But… you said… I thought you were kicking us out!”

“Oh, I am,” he says, voice cold. “But not just from my house. That would be too easy. Let me tell you how this is going to go. My young, unstable girlfriend got jealous when she found her lover sneaking into her sister’s room in the middle of the night. She lost it—and shot them both.”

“No!” I cry, shaking. “That’s not true. You can’t do that. No one will believe it!”

“Oh, they’ll believe it,” he says with a twisted smile. “And look who just showed up—Duncan, the lover himself! In Prianka’s room, no less!”

I turn, and there he is—Duncan—standing in the doorway, looking confused and worried.

What happens next is a blur.

Henri pulls the pistoblaster from his belt and fires. Duncan drops instantly. Before I can even scream, he turns the weapon on Prianka. The shot hits her, and she slumps over in her wheelchair .

I rush to her, my hands trembling as I search for a pulse. Nothing. She’s gone.

Henri stands behind me, proud of what he’s done. “Now that’s a job well done,” he says, like he’s congratulating himself. “You can check all you want—they’re both dead. Don’t waste your tears on her. Prianka’s finally free of the burden she carried. And you know it.”

I can barely breathe. My mind is spinning, my heart shattered.

He crouches beside me, voice low and cold.

“So here’s the deal. I could kill you too—sure, it’d be harder to explain, but not impossible.

Or… you run. That would make my story more believable.

The jealous girl, unstable, who snapped when she found her lover sneaking into her sister’s room. You fled the scene. Tragic.”

He stands, brushing imaginary dust from his hands. “I’ll even give you a head start. Two minutes before I call for help. And don’t worry—I’ve already got my eye on someone new to take your place.”

I can barely breathe from the pain as I hold Prianka’s lifeless body in my arms. My heart is breaking. I know I’m not going to make it. How could I possibly survive out there on my own?

But one thing is clear—if I stay, Henriwillkill me. He’ll make it look like an accident, or worse, like I deserved it. I have to run. Now .

Terrified, I press one last kiss to my sister’s forehead, then force myself to let go. I turn and bolt into the forest, hoping the trees will hide me, protect me—give me a chance.

She’s gone. My sister is gone. And now I’m completely alone in the world.

But I’m not giving up. Not yet. Not without a fight.