Page 38 of Zinnia and the Zombie
The main living area was bathed in the same greenish light as the bedroom, filtered through the vines that had colonized most of the building’s exterior. Zinnia had thinned them in placesto allow for better views, but left others intact for privacy and shade.
She unlatched the balcony doors and pushed them open, letting in the fresh morning air. The city spread before her, a maze of crumbling towers and overgrown plazas. From this height, she could see the fountains below, the glint of water catching the sunlight. Beyond that, the twisted metal of their crashed ship, now almost completely obscured by climbing plants.
Despite the destruction evident everywhere she looked, there was a strange beauty to this place. Nature reclaiming what civilization had built, vines and roots breaking through concrete, flowers blooming in the cracks of fallen monuments. Life persisting, adapting.
Like we’re adapting, she thought, leaning against the balcony railing.
The morning air carried the scent of unfamiliar blossoms and the distant sound of some small animal, although they’d yet to catch a clear glimpse of the creatures. Jaxx had spotted various animals scurrying through the undergrowth during his explorations, but nothing larger than the six-legged lizard she’d seen the first day, nothing that posed a threat.
She closed her eyes, face tilted toward the sun. The peaceful rhythm of their days had become precious to her. Mornings spent gathering food from the rooftop garden. Afternoons exploring the immediate vicinity, always with Jaxx vigilantly at her side. Evenings cooking together and sharing stories as darkness fell. Nights in each other’s arms.
It wasn’t the life she’d imagined for herself, but it was a good one. A life with purpose, with companionship, with?—
A faint sound interrupted her thoughts. A distant rumble that didn’t match any of the ambient noises she’d grown accustomed to. Her eyes snapped open, scanning the horizon.
At first, she saw nothing unusual. The same ruined cityscape, the same clear lavender sky with scattered clouds. Then a flicker of movement caught her attention—something descending from above, breaking through the cloud cover.
Her heart stuttered in her chest.
A ship. Unmistakably a ship.
It wasn’t large, nothing like the massive slaver vessel they’d escaped from. This was sleeker, faster-looking, with gleaming metallic sides that reflected the morning sunlight. It was moving purposefully, not on the erratic trajectory of their own crash landing, but in a controlled descent toward the center of the city.
She gripped the balcony railing, knuckles turning white. A ship meant people. People meant… what? Rescue? A way off this planet? Or something more sinister—the slavers tracking them down, coming to reclaim their property?
The relative safety she’d felt moments before evaporated. Their isolated paradise suddenly felt exposed, vulnerable.
“Jaxx!” Her voice came out as a high-pitched squeak and she had to clear her throat and try again. “Jaxx, come quickly!”
She heard his rapid footsteps behind her and felt his presence before he spoke.
“What is it?”
She pointed toward the ship, now clearly visible as it continued its descent. “Someone’s here.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Jaxx pulled Zinnia away from the windows, his mind already cycling through escape routes and defensive positions. The shape of that ship was unmistakable—the elongated hull with its distinctive ridge pattern, the forward-swept wings, the matte gray exterior designed to absorb rather than reflect detection signals.
Grorn.
“We need to move,” he said, already gathering their few essential belongings. “Now.”
“Wait a minute. What is it? Who’s on that ship?”
He paused, forcing himself to slow down and explain. “Grorn. They’re warrior priests who are obsessed with fulfilling some ancient prophecy.” He reached for her pack, handing it to her. “I believe they were behind the attack on my vessel.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.” He closed his eyes as the memory suddenly resurfaced. “But there was one there. At the end. I saw him before… before I went into stasis.”
She took the pack but didn’t move to fill it. “Why would they come here? Do you think they’re looking for you? After all this time?”
“I don’t know. It’s possible that the Ithyians intended to sell me to them.” The cold knot of dread in his stomach tightened. The Grorn were single-minded in their pursuits. If they’d tracked him across systems and years, they had a reason. “But we can’t stay here. We need to find somewhere to hide until they leave.”
Instead of moving to pack, she set the bag down.
“No.”
