Page 29 of Lunar Bound
She wanted to argue, but the rational part of her brain knew he was right. “Mack has a cabin deeper in the wilderness. He said something about using some kind of special roofing material that blocks helicopter scans, or something, I was only half listening, if I'm honest. He also has vehicles hidden around the canyon that can handle this terrain. He’s a bit of an end-of-the-world conspiracy theorist. He told me how to find them in case I needed to escape when the new world regime releases a zombie-causing plague. I can secure transportation for us."
"This Mack is trustworthy?"
"Excentric, but yes. Completely trustworthy. He's been helping me rescue animals for years. Doesn't ask questions."
Lunar seemed to consider this. "A cabin would provide temporary shelter while we reassess our options."
Another distant boom shook the cave, sending dust drifting down from the ceiling. Milano was getting closer.
"We need to hurry," Poppy said. "The middle passage will take you to Solar. I'll take the right one to a different exit, get a vehicle, and meet you at the northern shaft exit. To find it, you?—"
"Directions are not necessary. I will find you." Lunar moved closer, his body coalescing into his more humanoid form. "This plan carries significant risk. Milano's forces are well-equipped and organized."
"I know these caves better than anyone except maybe Mack," she assured him. "I'll be fine."
For a moment, Lunar was silent, his star-like patterns swirling more rapidly within his darkness. Then, unexpectedly, he reached out and touched her face with what felt like cool mist given form.
"Your shadow compatibility is..." He paused, as if searching for words. "Unique. Valuable."
Poppy smiled, recognizing the sentiment behind his clinical description. "Are you saying you'll miss me?"
"The concept of missing implies an emotional attachment that shadow operatives are not supposed to cultivate." His voice dropped lower. "Yet I find myself experiencing precisely such an attachment."
The admission sent warmth spreading through her chest. Without hesitation, she stepped forward, closing the distance between them. "I'll miss you too."
For a moment, they stood there, her warmth meeting his coolness, creating that strange harmony that resonated between them. Then, acting on instinct, she leaned in and pressed her lips to where his would be if he were human.
Electricity flowed between them, his essence partially enveloping her, creating a circuit of energy that made her skin tingle and her breath catch. Lunar's star-light patterns pulsed an accelerated rhythm like a quickened heartbeat.
"Although I appreciate the human sex offer, we do not have the time for proper energy transferring."
"It's just something to remember me by," she said with a small smile. "Be safe."
"I do not require reminders. You have altered my energy patterns in ways that cannot be forgotten." His hand brushed her cheek again. "Be cautious, Poppy Jensen."
Another explosion, closer now, shook the tunnel.
"Go," she urged. "Find them. I'll meet you at the northern exit with transportation as soon as I can."
Lunar hesitated only a moment longer, the swirling patterns within his darkness conveying emotions his words did not. Then he flowed away, his shadow form disappearing into the central tunnel.
Poppy watched until the last tendril of darkness vanished, then turned toward her own escape route. The right tunnel narrowed quickly, requiring her to crouch as she navigated its twisting path. Her red-filtered flashlight cast just enough illumination to avoid obstacles without betraying her position.
Behind her, she heard the sounds of boots on stone, the electronic hum of scanning equipment, and voices calling out coordinates to one another. Milano's forces were methodical and well-equipped, but they didn't have her knowledge of the cave system's secret paths.
The passage narrowed further until she had to turn sideways to squeeze through a fissure barely visible unless you knew exactly where to look. Beyond it, the tunnel dropped sharply before opening into a lower level of caves that tourists never saw.
As she descended, Poppy felt the connection to Lunar stretching but not breaking. Since their first encounter outside The Crash Zone, she'd been able to sense his presence, his unique energy signature that resonated with something deep within her. Now, even separated by stone and distance, she could feel the faint pull of his shadow essence, like a compass pointing toward true north.
The sensation both comforted and worried her. If she could sense him, could Milano's technology do the same? If he left Earth, would she lose this connection? Or would it carry on through the stars like a heartache that would haunt her for the rest of her life?
The lower passage wound through a series of small chambers, some bearing ancient pictographs left by indigenous peoples. Poppy moved efficiently, her years of mapping these tunnels allowing her to navigate even the most confusing intersections without hesitation.
After twenty minutes of careful progress, she reached a narrow chimney that led upward toward the surface. Natural handholds worn into the rock face made climbing possible, though still challenging in the dim red light. She secured her flashlight between her teeth and began to ascend, careful to test each handhold before trusting it with her weight.
The vertical shaft rose nearly thirty feet before opening onto the desert surface. Poppy emerged behind a large boulder, perfectly concealed from casual observation. Mack had a vehicle parked nearby. She started to go for it, but then stopped. It wouldn't make sense to take it out of hiding until they were ready to leave. The afternoon sun still hung in the sky, forcing her to shield her eyes after so long in the cave darkness. She found shelter in the shadow of a large rock formation and waited, her senses attuned to any sign of Lunar's shadow energy.
Minutes stretched and filled her with worry. The sun began its descent toward the horizon, painting the red rocks in deeper shades of crimson. Still no sign of Lunar or the others. Worry gnawed at her stomach. Had Milano captured them? Had the tunnels collapsed?
