Page 38 of Galactic Sentinels: Vol. 1
She doesn’t respond right away, her eyes still scanning the horizon, doubt lingering in her posture.
SIL has just entered the main dome and is gliding down onto the central landing platform. Wingo’s already bouncing with excitement, stamping his feet in front of the exit airlock.
I lower the ramp, and he bolts out before we can even follow.
"Welcome to MyFaS," I say, smiling as I guide her toward the exit. "He’s always preferred wide open spaces to the cramped quarters of our ship."
In front of us, a ten-foot-tall structure rises from the lush, young greenery. Wingo’s probably already out there sniffing around for bugs to snack on—unless he’s just tearing across the grass like a maniac, stretching his legs.
I can’t wait to go for a jog around the inner perimeter. I’ve marked out a few landmarks over time, and I love watching the quiet, steady growth of my little bubble of life.
She turns to me, her voice soft. “Is there anywhere to hide around here?”
“No… why would you want that?”
Her eyes flicker with unease. “What if the Confederation is still looking for me? Henri won’t stop until he has proof I’m dead—or finds my body.”
“That’s not going to happen,” I say firmly. “No one knows we’re here except Akifumi. We’re completely alone. No one’s coming for you. No one.”
But instead of relief, she goes pale.
Am I missing something here?
Chapter 10.
Ileana
I look around. It’s not as bad as I imagined. The energy dome that keeps the atmosphere breathable is higher than I expected. It gives me a false sense of freedom—but still, it’s better than having it press down just above our heads.
Colorful plants and shrubs grow all around the ship, and a few spindly trees sway gently in the artificial breeze. The composite living complex nearby seems to float above the wilderness. It looks like it’s all on one level. Pherebos was right—this place isn’t very big.
I scan the area, searching for natural hiding spots under this “bell of life,” as Pherebos calls it. But I don’t see any mountains or cliffs in the distance. Just flat terrain.
“Is there anywhere around here I could hide?” I ask.
“No... why would you want there to be?”
“But what if the Confederation is looking for me?” I say, my voice tightening. “Henri won’t stop until he has proof I’m dead. You know that.”
“That’s not going to happen,” Pherebos says firmly. “Your death, I mean. As for finding you... no one knows we’re here except my friend Akifumi. We’realone, and we’ll stay that way. No one will find you here. No one.”
His words are meant to reassure me, but instead, my blood runs cold.
What if I’ve just traded one psychopath for another?
I’m completely at his mercy, trapped in this artificial world with no way out. Pherebos has been kind, thoughtful—even charming. But I know better than to trust a pretty face. I’ve been with a man who was beyond reproach in the eyes of the world. And he turned out to be a monster.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that I’ll never trust blindly again. Not ever. Even if Pherebos stirs something in me that Henri never did.
Henri... he was powerful, mature, and probably would’ve taken care of my sister. It felt like the rational choice. The safe one.
What a mistake.
Pherebos is nothing like Henri. I can’t help but watch him when he’s busy doing something else. He’s tall, broad-shouldered, muscular… He’s got a great body. And when he looks at me with those deep violet eyes, I feel completely drawn in.
But it’s just a body. Sure, it’s more attractive—more youthful—than Henri’s ever was. But that’s not enough. Not anymore. Until he proves who he really is, I’m not letting myself fall for anything.
Still, here I am. Completely isolated with him on a tiny planet. Totally at his mercy.
