Chapter 38

Macy huddled in the corner, her hands over her ears as she tried to block out the sounds coming from the room next door. It sounded like cars crashing into each other, over and over again, but she knew it was only human bodies.

Alaina had been in there almost an hour, and Macy felt certain she was meeting her death at the hands of the Colonist.

The door vibrated as someone on the other side hit it, and she bit her lip to keep from crying out.

How much more could Alaina take?

Suddenly, silence filled the air, and a moment later, the door swung open. Daniel pushed Alaina inside, glanced at Macy, and slammed the door.

Alaina lay on the concrete, her hair hiding her face, but Macy could see she had blood on her hands. Yet, she breathed, and relief swept through her.

She hurried over to her friend and gently put her hand on her shoulder. Alaina groaned and rolled to her back.

Her shirt had been torn down the front, revealing her bra, and some bruising had begun on her ribcage.

Macy gasped at the blood coming from her mouth and nose, the swelling around her left eye.

“Oh, Gods of Health,” she whispered as Alaina met her gaze.

She looked around to see what she could use to mop up her face and saw nothing. Alaina rolled to her side in a violent coughing fit and spit up more blood.

Taking her dress between her hands, Macy ripped it up the seam about four inches, then brought it to her mouth and grasped it with her teeth as she tore across. Once she had the fabric in her hand, she dabbed at Alaina’s nose and mouth.

“I need you to heal me,” Alaina whispered.

“Of course I will.”

“I need to be ready to go back and fight him again.”

Surprised, Macy wanted to make sure she understood Alaina’s plan. “You want me to heal you so that you can go back and have him do this to you all over again?”

“Yes.”

Alaina slowly sat up.

“He’s going to kill you, Alaina!”

She shook her head. “If I don’t do this, he’ll kill us both a lot sooner. You can heal the internal injuries, just not the cuts and bruises on my face and torso. He doesn’t know you’re a Healer, and that’s going to be our advantage.”

The thought of Alaina going back in that room made her stomach turn.

“Either the Warriors will be able to find us somehow, or we kill him, or we die. Those are our options, Macy. He’s not bored with me yet, but when that happens, we’re both dead.”

“Alaina, I—”

She grabbed Macy’s hand, her face pleading. “This is what we have to do, Macy. I know violence goes against every fiber of your being, but those are our options. All are violent, but personally, I like the options where I buy some time and we have a chance to live.”

Tears welled as she stared at her battered friend. She tried to think of another way for them to survive, but none came to mind. She didn’t want to die, and felt terribly helpless—especially since she had no idea how to fight. She couldn’t see another option, and Alaina had obviously given this some thought. “Very well. Lie down and I shall heal you.”

Trying to concentrate on Alaina proved to be difficult, and the healing took longer than it should have. She repaired a cracked rib, shored up a bruised kidney, and mended a broken finger.

When finished, Alaina rose and moved over against the wall. Macy sat down next to her and had Alaina lay her head down on her lap.

She softly threaded her fingers through Alaina’s hair, and for a while, all remained quiet.

The door opened again, startling her as she hadn’t heard any footsteps approaching. They stood up, and Macy noticed Daniel’s face looked pretty bad. Red and purple welts had formed beneath his eye and over his lip, and a burst of hope filled her. Maybe all of Alaina’s training would get them out of here alive.

Daniel raised his gun and pointed it at Alaina, and Macy noted the bruising up and down his forearm.

“Are you going to kill me like a pussy, or are you going to fight like a man?” Alaina taunted.

He grinned and lowered the gun, a low chuckled emanating from him. “Oh, Alaina. Such a nasty mouth on such a pretty face.”

As he walked over to them, Macy trembled, but refused to look away and tried to find the same strength she’d witnessed in Alaina.

Out of nowhere, Daniel’s fist connected with her jaw, sending her spiraling backward to the floor with a yelp.

As she tried to sit up, she became dizzy.

“You don’t want her, Daniel. You want me, and you’ve got me.”

Alaina lashed out, knocking his face with her elbow.

He screamed and lunged at her. They traded blows for a moment, then he grabbed Alaina by the hair. She cried out as he dragged her from the room. “You’re going to be so sorry you were ever born, you fucking bitch.”