Page 34 of Kranow (Brides of the Mylos #4)

She ’ d expected it, but it still hit her hard when she was confronted with the reality of the sign on her classroom door. She didn ’ t have to pretend that she felt as if she ’ d been gutted.

Reminder

This is to remind all parents that regular classes are suspended. Classes will resume next Tuesday when new staff arrive from Earth.

-Commander Gundar

Reminder. Yes, it was indeed a reminder, Gundar having explained that two new teachers had been hired, two military spouses whose families were taking part in the Fleet training and employment scheme. She was supposed to show up this morning to collect a couple boxes of her things, to add to the illusion that she ’ d been suspended while being investigated. In reality, one of the new teachers was to replace Charlotte while the other was to help cover teacher absences throughout the Bride Fleet as necessary.

“ What are you doing here? ” a familiar voice sneered at her. She turned to find Darla watching her with a look of contempt on her face. Jackie O ’ Hannigan stood by her friend ’ s side, a cameraman filming the entire exchange behind them. The man edged around the pair and past Marley, intent on gaining footage of the trio as they engaged.

“ I don ’ t understand, ” Marley replied. “ Why are you acting like this? We had so much fun at my wedding and then I come back and you won ’ t return my calls or answer your door and now you ’ re looking at me like I ’ m a piece of dog shit you want to scrape off of your shoe. ” Tears rolled unchecked down her face.

“ Oh, now, I wonder why? ” Darla replied dramatically, tilting her head to one side and placing a forefinger against her cheek. She snapped her fingers as if the answer had only just occurred to her. “ Oh, I know! Maybe it ’ s because while you were supposedly enjoying your honeymoon, your security detail saw you meet with a certain someone at the airport, when you ’ d only pretended to need to go the bathroom before boarding your plane. A certain someone that a check on the phone records show you called from the phone in your room, during times that your unsuspecting mate was out buying you ice cream, picking up take-out, and buying you a bottle of sunscreen to replace one you supposedly lost. ”

Marley blanched. “ I never! Yeah, I ran into a weird guy at the airport, but I certainly never called him on any phone! If someone did, it wasn ’ t me! ”

“ If it wasn ’ t you, then who was it? Are you blaming your mate or a member of your security team? ” Jackie O ’ Hannigan stepped forward. “ If you believe this is a frame job, can you tell us who you suspect and why? ”

“ I- no. I don ’ t blame either of them, ” Marley replied, flustered. “ Please, I just came to get my things, ” she turned to fumble with the door. The lock refused to accept her genetic input.

“ It ’ s sealed, ” Darla sneered. “ Until they finish processing the room for further possible evidence. You won ’ t need any of your things where they ’ ll be sending you. I hear everything you need will supplied to you, even the stuff you don ’ t want. I hope it ’ s worse than Gitmo. We trusted you with our children. We thought you were a true friend. I can ’ t stand the sight of your traitorous ass, ” Darla hissed. “ It ’ s all I can do to not tear you apart right now, but I can ’ t. I ’ ll have to let justice take its course. Now, just get the hell out of here and if you know what ’ s good for you, stay in your quarters. ”

Tears ran unchecked down Marley ’ s face. “ Please, I didn ’ t do this. We were friends, me and you and Steven and Melissa. And Charlotte was a good friend and work colleague. I thought that as my friends, you ’ d believe in me! ”

“ We did, right up until you tipped your hand. You make me sick! There were children at Rosa ’ s and the rest of the promenade, you know. Children, like the ones you supposedly cared about and taught. Like the one you are carrying. Innocents. You did that. You hurt them. It ’ s your fault they died and that some are now orphans. ”

Marley shook her head from side to side. “ No, I never, ” she sobbed, her breaths now coming in heaves.

Two security officers came down the corridor. “ We received an alert that there was a disturbance here, ” one of them said.

“ You shouldn ’ t be here, ” the other said, coming to stand before Marley. She blinked to clear her vision. The voice was familiar though the unpleasant twist of his mouth wasn ’ t. “ I ’ m afraid we ’ ll have to escort you back to your quarters. Your mate has been informed of your ordered house arrest, ” Krilit said.

Marley knew it was all an act but the reality of it still hit her hard. True, Krilit knew no such thing had happened during their trip, but the officer with him was not in on the deception. The hate in his eyes was quite real as was the school closure and new hires. Everything had been taken away from her, even her friends, who had to go elsewhere or pretend to hate her. All she had now was Kranow and the young she carried. Nausea roiled through her guts as she hyperventilated.

Black spots danced before eyes and she felt herself falling against the door, her back sliding against it as her knees buckled.

“ I do believe she ’ s having a panic attack, officer, ” she heard Jackie O ’ Hannigan say from a great distance.

“ Xeranos, please call in a medical team. We have a young bearer in acute distress, ” she heard Krilit say. “ Marley, please focus on just my face, okay? ” He was there, in front of her, kneeling on the floor. His hand cupped her chin as he gazed into her eyes, a look of concern shining from his eyes despite his otherwise grim expression.

“ Please back away from the area, ” the other security officer said. “ It would be better if you cleared the area. ”

Marley ignored him and the sounds of activity she could hear, locking eyes with Krilit and trying desperately to catch her breath while not losing her focus. She lost the battle, her breakfast deciding to make a sudden reappearance thanks to her heaves. The sight and smell of it horrified her. “ I ’ m so sorry! ” she cried before another urge to vomit hit her hard. To his credit, Krilit never flinched, despite the front of his uniform and the tops of his boots being covered in Marley ’ s partially digested scrambled eggs and toast.

Then others were there, rubbing circles across her back, offering her a paper bag to breathe in, while clipping a supply of oxygen under her nose. Marley found herself drifting and realized there was something else mixed in with the oxygen. Some kind of sedative, she thought before dropping the bag and tumbling gently into the welcoming dark.