Page 10

Chapter Ten

MAYA

T he tunnels are dark.

They are also more cavernous than I expected. When Volan implied that this was the entrance to the building, I had expected stone floors and fluorescent lighting. Instead, I get rock walls, craggy crevices, and spiders.

“I think you’re going the wrong way,” I call out to Volan, who speed walks ahead of me. It seems he has no trouble seeing in the dark whatsoever. It’s certainly frustrating that each one of his steps seems to be at least two of mine. No, the male seems determined more than ever to race down these corridors towards our destination, not caring if I keep up.

Case in point, he’s already a pretty far distance ahead of me. As much as I hate to admit it, his presence in this darkness is soothing. Just a tiny bit, that is.

Trying to be discreet, I pull out my tablet and check the map. Sure enough, we are heading in the general direction of the building I marked earlier. I’ll have to check it often, I think to myself, as beneath the surface I have no sense of direction whatsoever. It’s not entirely reliable, but I quickly set my tablet to tracking mode. It’ll drain the battery much faster, but it’ll record each of my steps and determine the exact path that I have walked on. If Volan decides to abandon me, I’ll at least be able to make my way to freedom.

The thought of being trapped beneath the ground, in the darkness, slowly starving to death, makes my heart rate triple. For a moment I can swear blackness tinges my vision. Oh, that’s right, because it’s dark down here.

I shake my head, trying to get a grip on myself.

I’ve taken every necessary step I can right now.

“I’m prepared for this,” I whisper to myself. “I’ve planned for absolutely every possible situation possible. No problem is going to sneak up on me.”

Except for… maybe this one.

Just to emphasize how dark it is in here, I trip over an invisible rock. It was definitely not my own two feet. I swear I’m not that clumsy… I slam to my knees with a painful yelp, the jarring sensation traveling up my back. I grumble, slapping at the ground with my mounting frustration.

“Seriously?” I huff, glaring at the smooth floor beneath me. “I’m on some insane adventure into the middle of nowhere, probably surrounded by all manner of human-eating beasts, and I am felled by the first obstacle. What are the chances?”

Volan’s legs fill my vision as he steps close. Hasn’t this alien ever heard of personal space?

I’m forced to look up. He’s tall by human standards. This close, I am forced to crane my neck. I definitely try to ignore the bulge in his pants and the way it seems to line up directly with my head.

My eyes meet his, and again I’m shocked at how it appears as if his pale blue eyes catch the light, appearing as if they are literally glowing. His gaze captures me. I feel unable to glance away instead. There is this tension between us, like he wants something from me, and I can’t quite identify what.

“Giving up already?” Volan asks me. His lips quirk at the corner, just a subtle twitch, as he laughs at my current state.

I glare up at him. It’s not fair. Why does it have to be me that saves everyone from whatever conspiracy is going on? Of all people, I am the least likely to actually survive this adventure.

“I didn’t expect it to be so dark in here,” I tell him. I stand, brushing debris off my legs. “I kind of thought, given that you said this was supposed to be a building, there would be lights, you know?”

I grit my teeth. Who am I kidding? It wouldn’t be so easy to just casually walk to my quest’s destination. Maybe there aren’t even buildings out here in the first place, and I’m just a fool for walking out into the wilderness alone, without a hunter, with only a strange alien to keep me company?

“You are wholly unsuited for this kind of lifestyle,” he remarks with a nod of his head. “I am beginning to wonder how your species even survives on the surface. You are so small… and soft.”

I ignore his comment. I am not soft. Sure, I might be a little pudgy…

“I’m just not used to such strenuous activity,” I retort, my cheeks flaming with heat. I’m grateful that my dark skin hides my blush.

Volan’s eyes drift over my brow, and I force my fingers to not wipe away the sweat gathered there. I am who I am, and should be proud of it, but still, I feel self-conscious of his inspection. Then his gaze dips slowly across my body, lingering on my breasts and prominent hips. Suddenly his study of me feels less insulting and more invading and personal.

I bite the inside of my cheek, forcing myself to stand tall. I have no idea why it matters. Who cares what he thinks of me? He’s only helping because Ariana asked him to, probably out of some sense of duty to protect females. It’s not like I mean anything to him personally.

Volan raises a slow and taunting eyebrow at me. I’m more out of shape than I want to admit. This just goes rubbing salt in the wounds.

“Look, my job has me sitting all day long. It’s hard enough to drag myself to the mess hall each evening for a meal as it is, let alone work out.”

It’s a pathetic excuse, I know, but it’s all I’ve got. I’m one of the few programmers that were sent to Atraxis, and I’ve been working overtime to try and get all the systems up and running.

Irritation rises within me when Volan gives a small huff of amusement. He doesn’t look down at me cruelly, but with soft eyes. Like he pities me, the thought rushes through my mind.

I bite my tongue, stopping myself from snapping at the one guy that’s helping me. There’s something about Volan that just gets on my nerves. I hate the way he pushes and prods me, getting in my space.

I especially hate the way that I am constantly aware of his presence.

“Let’s just keep walking,” I say. I take a deep breath, trying to dispel my mounting frustration. I’m in such a poor mood; everything about today, and my life lately, is going wrong. Why can’t one thing work in my favor? Is it too much to ask?

Volan studies my face for a brief moment, his eyes flicking between mine, before he comments, “I’m becoming quite aware of how your species cannot see in the dark as well as mine.”

That’s all he says. No explanation why there are no lights. No sorry, I forgot to hit the switch because I’ve got some superhero vision.

I sigh deeply, and follow in his footsteps.

Unlike before where he scouted ahead, he walks slower and keeps pace with me.

With each moment that passes, I am able to see where I place each of my steps more easily. Now no invisible rocks can jump out at me… because rocks jump. My eyes widen as his very skin begins to glow a soft blue, forming long lines of banded light. I stare up at him in shock.

“Are you… are you just flashing like a Christmas tree?” I stumble over my words, knowing that is not the best way to ask someone about their body differences. Something about this guy has all logic flying out of my head. Still, lines and shapes are definitely beginning to become distinguishable across his body. He is one hundred percent glowing.

“I don’t know how you are doing this, but thank you.”

Volan looks over his shoulder at me, offering me an easygoing smile. It’s the kind of smile that nearly makes me trip on my own feet again. A hint of roguish personality with an equally charming smile…

He doesn’t even know just how good he looks right now.

“I assume you are referring to my luminae,” Volan replies. “My people have good vision in low light, but these help significantly when exploring the uninhabited tunnels. Do not worry though, as very soon we’ll enter one of the first buildings. You will be able to see better then.”

From somewhere behind us comes a very distinct noise. The kind of creepy chittering that only an insect can make. Both Volan and I freeze. I am not relieved at all when his wide eyes, panicked, meet mine.

I shouldn’t have said anything. Prepared for every situation, not to be caught unaware? I got to laugh at myself. It’s like I have challenged fate, demanding it prove me wrong.

Apparently, monsters can sneak up on me.