Page 119 of Bound By Stars

Skye presses a hand to her forehead, pacing once before she stops in front of Weslie. “What about ILSA? She’s a life-sustaining bot, right?”

Everyone watches her hopefully. But I’ve spent hours with Weslie learning all about ILSA. Skye’s answer is in her name—IndividualizedLife Support Assistant.

“I am right here, Skye. I can speak to my own capabilities.”

“I’m sorry, ILSA.”

Weslie’s voice is hollow and quiet. “She can only carry one. And the Mars station would have to send rescue fas—”

“Two could be feasible,” ILSA interjects.

Wes glares at her. “Still doesn’t help thesixof us.”

I turn to her. “The ILSA stock in the cargo bay.”

Weslie shakes her head. “Even if they’re still here and they weren’t locked up, they’re unfinished.”

We all go quiet, listening to the far-off sounds of our life support breaking down around us. Everyone exchanges glances. No one wants to volunteer to die. No one has the nerve to insist on being one of the two to live.

It’s not over. We’re not out of options. There’s got to be another way off. Something we haven’t considered. I take a slow breath.

The bridge. That’s it. On our tour, they mentioned there are pods for the bridge crew. Maybe Weslie’s false promise wasn’t a dead end. The murdered crew members. Without them, there could be space for us. “The pods near the bridge.”

Weslie grimaces. She knows it’s a long shot, but right now, it’s the only hope we have.

Rapid footsteps echo through the hall. Someone races around the corner, and we all turn.

Reve freezes, locking eyes with Weslie.

Chapter Forty-Four

Weslie

Six days to Mars

Our expressions must be mirrored because Reve’s staring at me like he’s seeing a ghost.

I can’t move. I can’t breathe. I can’t believe it. Reve. Here. Right in front of me. My heart restarts, and I throw my arms around him.

“Wes, you…you’re still on the ship.” Voice shaky, he pats my shoulder and then presses his face to my hair, breathing me in.

“You’re alive.” I pull back to see him. His perfect brown face is flushed and glistening with sweat even though it’s growing colder by the second. His chest heaves with heavy breaths. His heart pounds under my palm.

Running his thumbs over my cheeks, he wipes away the tears streaking my face. One side of his mouth curves up. He lets out a breathy laugh and whispers, “I didn’t even know you could cry, Wesi.”

His easy tone breaks me. I fall against his chest, and a soft sob tears through my throat. I didn’t think I would ever see him again. Touch him again. Hear his voice, his laugh. My body melts, letting in everything I’ve been holding back. I’m so tired of fighting. Of running. Of surviving. So far from home. I feel the distance inside of me like a black hole threatening to suck me in and rip me apart. And I’m so utterly terrified I’ll never make it back again.

“I’m sorry, Wes, but we’re running out of time.” Asha touches my shoulder.

I let my arms fall away, remembering they’re all still here, watching.

Jupiter smiles, but it doesn’t touch his eyes.

Skye steps out of the group and squeezes my hand. Her focus shifts to Reve. “Do you know the way to the bridge escape pods?”

Reve’s chest heaves. He frowns, fixing his eyes on someone behind me. He nods. “Follow me. We have to hurry.”

I track him as he sprints away, but my feet won’t move.

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