Page 40 of MeK

Thetears filling my eyes make it hard for me to see his ship disappearing through the atmosphere, but just as it does, a burst of pain explodes on my hip, making me grab my leg, andIgrit my teeth together before screaming out,

“HELPME!Please, …GOD, someone, hear me!”

Ashort time later, a couple of rocks fall from above me, sending my heart into my throat. “HELLLLLOOOO,I’mhere!”Butpeering over the side, looking down at me, is the kitten.Hemeows pitifully and then lays down, simply staring at me.

“Oh, baby don’t stay here with me.Oneof us has to make it or all of this is for nothing.”Hispitiful little meow breaks what is left of my heart, andIliterally fall apart as sobs wrack my torn and beaten body.Theonly good thing is that when my time finally comes,I’llbe withMamawandPapaw, andI’llnever be alone again.

Thehours creep by as there’s no real way of knowing how longI’vebeen here or gone.Thankfully, my leg seems to have stopped bleeding, butI’ma mess.I’veheard nothing from below me, soIhave no idea ifEric/Jeffreyis alive or not, and to be honest,Idon’t care either way.

Lookingup,Ican see my little buddy is still watching from above. “Saveyourself baby, go find some other littleSuet’sto play with, but remember to never become too trusting, or you will end up like me.Hangingon a cliff wall, praying someone will come but doubting they will make it in time.”

Iwonder how long it will take me to die here?ShouldItake the belt off my leg and just let my body empty itself?No,Papawwould never forgive me, soI’llhang on as long asIcan.EverytimeIget depressed,Itell myself thatI’malone, but really,I’mnot.Briarwon’t stop looking and she’ll tear this place apart piece by piece when she realizesI’mgone.They’recoming, you just have to be strong a little longer,Lace…Ihear those words just as darkness claims me once again.

Chapter Twenty-One

MEK

ApproachingtheIngenuity,Iam glad to see that my mother’s main star cruiser has departed.Double-checking the atmospheric barrier,Iwalk off my shuttle onto the main dock, rubbing the burning at my hip.Lookingback at the little moon,Iallow myself a moment to mournLaciebefore shaking my head at my own weakness.

“MasterMeK, it is good to have you back on board.Ihave all your projects on screen in your private quarters, as requested.Wouldyou like me to set a departure date?”

“Negative,Istill have responsibilities here.”

“Confirmed.”

Sittingdown at one of the main consoles,Ido my best not to think about everything that has occurred this rising, only to fail miserably asIstill have the lingering scent of her skin on my hands.Iwill not ever forget the look of horror on her face whenMothersuddenly entered.NeverhaveIbeen that out of control with another, nor felt the blissIdid when her folds wrapped around my shaft.Chasingmy own release,Iturned into ananimal, rutting her and mindless to her own reactions.IknowIhandled all of this wrong withLacie, but maybe it was for the best.Iwould have had to leave her sooner or later, either way.

Melannawould never allow me to bring her back with me, even ifIkept her discreetly hidden.LordofLight, what kind of male amIto even think such a thing?Lacie’sbright smile and energy would only be extinguished in my world.Shewould be like a sun smothered in darkness.Ifight the urge to destroy everything around me.

Ireach for my comm unit because the urge to hear her voice is practically overwhelming, butIstop myself at the last moment.WhatcouldIpossibly say that would make her forgive me for my actions?Runningmy hands through my hair,Ipace the floor.IfIwere free to choose, what wouldIdo?WouldIrun back toLacie, begging her forgiveness?Ihave no idea, butIjust hope that time will lessen her memory in my mind becauseIam not … free.Myresponsibilities have been laid out before me, and there is no looking back.Istarted the wheels turning in a future thatIknow ifIwas true to myself,Ido not really want.ButIfearIwill always look back on this moment in time and wonder what would have happened ifIhad chosen differently.

Justas my thoughts continue on this path, my hip starts burning intensely, and this time, it is not stopping.Untyingmy pants,Iyank down the side, only to stop dead.There, glowing brightly is a markIhave never witnessed before.Pulsingbrighter than any of the others on my body,Irub my hand across it, only for it to feel likeI’vebeen stung.Confused,Ihave no idea who to ask.Sovery few of us were born with these runes of fathers, and none react the same. “Ingenuity, can you connect me withSCOUT?”

Afew moments later, he appears on the holo screen. “MasterMeK, how mayIbe of assistance?”

“Byany chance, would you know what this is?”

“Ofcourse, it is a mating mark.Itis common amongCommanderDaR’ssons.”

“Howdoes this happen?”

“Pleaseforgive me,MasterMeK, but theCommanderis requesting my presence, and because of the distance,Ineed to disconnect with one of you.”

BeforeIcan get a straight answer, he is gone.Ihave just tied up my pants, trying my best to ignore the pain of this mark, only for my main comm unit to go off.Andbefore my father can say anything,Iknow something is terribly wrong.

Chapter Twenty-Two

BRIAR

Thisday has been somuch fun thatIcan’t believeLaciemissed it.AfterhelpingKiraandCarlaclean up,Ihead toward the last dropship, only to stop and look around.Formost of the day off and on,I’vehad this feeling that something was wrong, butIjust pushed it off as feeling guilty becauseIwas given this chance to laugh and enjoy when so many others had perished.BuKquietly walks next to me as he always escorts me back and forth to the dropships.

“Briar, what are you looking for?”

“Ohnothing, just a funny feeling, is all.Ienjoyed our day together tremendously.”Heleans down, andIkiss his cheek affectionately; this has become the norm for our evenings.Iwould love to take a few more liberties, but he seems hesitant, andI’mnot going to push him.

“I’llsee ya in the morning.”

“Nextrising,Iwill be here waiting for you.”Hesteps away, andIwave bye just as the ramp is rising.Findinga seat,Iclose my eyes, concentrating on anything but what is happening right thissecond asIhate this up-and-down part.Relivingthe laughter of today,Ican’t help but smile when the ship finally docks.Skippingoff the ramp,Ihead toward mine andLacie’sroom.I’manxious for her to tell me all about what happened betweenEricandMeKthis morning.

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