Page 9 of Galaxy Games Four-Book Box Set (Galaxy Games)

9

They’re Coming Straight at Us

T itan

I learned early in life, right after my abduction, that it only caused misery to want. Not only did I perfect the skill of shutting down my desires, but I also learned how to not even be aware they existed.

But if I had ever allowed myself to dream of a better life, I would have dreamed of a female like Blaze. And to be honest, I would have dreamed about a night like last night.

I got up early to watch her sleep. The screens on the two drones above our head are ticking down the minutes until we can get on the move. I’ll wake her when I need to, but right now I’ll enjoy this pre-dawn moment.

Now that I look closely, I see how beautiful she is. She’s not like other species with their flashy colors or feathers. Her beauty is subtle. The brown of her eyes is deep and rich. I noticed that in the auditorium last night. Her face is a perfect oval with a pointy chin. And her lips are a soft pink. I’ve never seen her smile, but often her expression hints that she holds a secret. I wish we had enough time together for me to explore all her secrets. I imagine they’re good ones.

I trace the pad of my finger across her arched brows, then the outline of her lips. I hope it doesn’t come down to just her and me. Killing her will be the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

Her eyes pop open as I graze my knuckles down her cheek. For the briefest moment, her gaze is soft and dreamy and for the first time, I see a tiny smile grace her lips. Then she shuts everything down. I practically hear the shutters clanging into place.

She warned me. Last night she said, “Tomorrow we don’t mention this.” From the stern look on her face, she meant it.

“Weird,” she says after inspecting the drones. “Last night, the screens were scrolling the credits we’d earned. I wonder why they stopped.”

She’s standing, ready to go, when the timer counts down to zero and the AI announces, “You may continue your quest to reach the flag. At noon today, we’ll allow you to use some of your credits to purchase approved items. Remember, it all comes Down. To. One.” Somehow, they managed to make the AI’s voice more dramatic on those last three words.

“I thought we could move north for a few hours, then head east toward the flag. I’ve allotted a few minutes for us to scavenge. Maybe we can find better weapons,” I say.

“Good idea.”

“How’s your ankle?”

“Better, I think. We’ll see after a few miles.”

She cranes her head to look behind me. “Your back looks amazing. You can barely see any marks.”

“I told you, my species heals quickly.”

“Let me remove the plas-film,” she says as she peels the thin see-through protective barrier off my skin. Maybe it’s my imagination, but it seems like she’s taking pains not to touch me.

She nods, then strides off. It’s as if last night never happened.

Blaze

It’s not that I’m doing the walk of shame in front of millions of beings across the planet. I give zero fucks about what any of them think of me.

No, my torment is about Xzavic and me. One of us is going to be forced to kill the other if we want to stay alive. If he’s expecting it—if we’re miraculously down to the end and it’s just the two of us—I give myself zero percent chance of coming out alive.

If I want to live through this, it will be in my best interests to kill him before then.

Ouch. This whole thing is making my head hurt. No. Not just my head. My heart, too.

I try to remember the legend of the cyclops. He pissed off some mythical deity more powerful than him and earned a punishment. His fondest wish was to see the future, so the vengeful god granted him his wish but limited it so that all he could foresee was the moment of his death.

Yeah, the gods are tricky like that.

I always thought it was the saddest story. Poignant. I feel like the cyclops. Knowing I’m going to die today or tomorrow and that it’s probably going to be at the hands of the guy I shared intimacies with last night—it’s just plain cruel.

Instead of going outside to look for a weapon, I head up the stairs. The building doesn’t seem unstable. I think it’s safe. People probably scavenged the lower levels after whatever the initial cataclysm was, but I’m not sure anyone who survived this apocalypse had the fortitude to trudge to the top floor.

Still favoring my injured ankle, I tread lightly. My metal rod is clutched tightly in my hand. You never know, people could be living here. And we’ve been here for hours. Some viewer might have found us because they want to kill us to aid their favorite team.

I find something spectacular on the seventh floor next to a decaying body. Well, not decaying—decayed. There’s a thick bat with six-inch nails driven through it to create spikes. I’ve seen something similar in post-apocalyptic movies back home. Up close and personal, though, this weapon sends shivers up my spine.

The shivers do not prevent me from grabbing it and hurrying back downstairs.

“Nice find,” Titan says. “I found nothing.”

“Want your loincloth back?” I offer, thinking it must be weird to be gallivanting around without clothes.

“No. You’re still limping. Don’t worry. I usually fight nude in front of thousands. I got used to it years ago.”

My definitions for odd, weird, and strange changed drastically years ago on the day I was abducted by boar-faced slavers. Things that used to earn those adjectives would be welcomed as normal today.

Even though the word odd has a whole new meaning, it certainly fits now as I wander a Mad Max type apocalyptic wasteland, following the naked, albeit luscious, ass of a blue/green alien gladiator.

We set off to the north. Not only are the two suns hotter today, but it’s windy. Particles of cement far bigger than sand are blowing into my eyes and although we’re walking at a fast clip, the end of the bombed-out city is nowhere in sight.

Finally, I pull off my shirt and fiddle with it until I’ve fashioned a head covering that swoops so low on my forehead it shields my eyes, at least a little. I’m wearing a black sports bra that covers more than I used to wear to the beach, so I just bite back all shame and hurry to keep up with Titan.

I think it’s best to call him Titan. Xzavic felt perfect for last night’s whispered intimacies. Titan is for the daylight.

A glint of metal flashes up ahead. I don’t know how I even noticed it, but by the way Titan’s shoulders straighten and every muscle in his body comes to attention, I’m certain he saw it, too.

Now that we noticed it, I pay closer attention and see what I think are three drones and three humanoids.

“Three of them?” I ask, still unsure of what I see in the shimmering sunlight up ahead.

“Yes. All armed. Two males and a female. Halckon from what I can tell.”

He must have amazing eyesight. I can’t tell their species, nor that one is female.

“I assume they’re from The Game . They’re coming straight for us,” his voice is low, serious.

“Should we hide in one of the buildings?” I ask. We’re on the outskirts of the decimated city, but there are still structures to our right.

He stops moving and wipes his mouth with his palm as he thinks. I’m not sure why the thought that he’s handsome darts into my brain, but there it is. There’s something so masculine, so elemental about him. Naked. Powerful. Thoughtful. Not to mention how sexy those generous lips were when pressed tightly to mine last night.

“One against three. Not bad odds,” he mumbles, talking more to himself than me. “If we were in the arena, they’d be dead in three minutes. The one on the left is limping.”

I don’t know how he sees this. I don’t know if this male can read and write, but he seems to be a genius at fighting. Well, I guess that’s obvious. He survived as a gladiator for over a decade.

“Go wait for me in the four-story building on the right,” he says with a flick of his head toward the abandoned buildings.

How does he know what’s on our right? He’s looking straight ahead.

“Give me the bat, you hide. I can take them all,” he urges, his open palm thrust in my direction so I can hand him the spiked weapon.

For the first time since we saw flashes of gleaming metal, he takes his eyes off the group in front of us. He gives me a hard look, his blue eyes hooded, and says, “Go!”

“No. It’s going to be two against three.” My fucking drone edges closer. To hear us better, I assume. This must make for great TV.

“You said we wouldn’t mention last night,” he says. You were right. I’d like to be all business today, but it’s not working. I’ll be too worried about protecting you. The four-story building. Go. It looks structurally sound.” He motions with his chin, then returns his attention to the oncoming group.

I can see them well now. Two red-skinned males flank a shorter female. And by shorter, I mean she’s well over six feet.

I freeze for a moment as I conduct an internal debate. Out of necessity, I’ve taken care of myself my whole life. I’ve never been the weak female who depends on others because, frankly, I could never count on anyone but myself.

Titan isn’t messing with me. This isn’t a trick. Something must have changed for him last night when we had sex. It must have triggered his protective instincts.

“I may regret this,” I admit, “but I think you should have the bat and I’ll keep the two steel bars. You take point. But I’m not hiding in a building.”

“Your eyes aren’t as good as mine. Did you see the male on the right has a gladius ? A three-foot gladiator sword?”

“Nope. I missed that.”

“This may get ugly.”

“No shit. It’s already ugly. Those guys are seven feet tall.” I don’t want him to be so focused on me he loses his edge. “I’ve been in combat, Titan. Okay, maybe not with swords and rods and spiky bats, but my enemies tried to blow me up. I’m small, I know, but I’m mentally strong. I’ll take the one on the left. You take the other two. I’ll meet you on the other side.”

I wish I’d chosen different words. The other side. Don’t people use that when referring to death?