Vanished (15 page)

“The answer is the same. Just be patient with me.”

He nodded. “Am I out of line to tell you how proud I am of you? Your strength is astounding.”

She gave a small laugh. “Out of line? No.”

Silence descended on them, but she didn’t feel compelled to speak. The quiet held no unease, rather, it was more like a conversation between friends than silence. His small movements, each breath, the way he studied her face, all comforted her. She regarded him with curiosity, her own eyes tracing the harsh lines of his face, noticing a small scar along the edge of his chin. Her fingers darted up to touch the jagged mark and he jolted at her touch.

Worried she’d offended, she pulled back, but he captured her hand, bringing it to his lips
, his eyes closing for an instant. When they opened, his pupils retracted, those dark blues on her again. He tugged her hand back to his face, the absolute trust in his features melting her barriers.

His fingers brushed her short hair back from her jaw, smoothing the locks behind her ear.
When the hand drifted to her shoulder, she tensed. He removed it instantly, and she relaxed.

After a while, her lids grew heavy, and she drifted off, cradled against him.

She blinked, jerking up on an elbow. Radek’s grip tightened, but she only noticed the lifted brows of Farali
over his shoulder. The redhead perched on the couch, watching them.

“Scans say you’re both clear of any known infection, but protocol requires you to stay in quarantine for a while. Is everything alright?”

Papria heard the unspoken part of the question and nodded. Radek shifted, rolling toward Farali. He sat up, edging away from Papria, who shifted behind him. As if sensing her need to be hidden, he stayed put facing Farali.

“We’ve been talking. I believe she’s alright.” He glanced back at her, and she nodded, suddenly shy. It was odd, having someone speak for her, but she didn’t mind. It seemed easier to have him speak with discomfort choking her.

“Okay then. If you need me, please call.” Farali stood, staring at them for a moment before walking away. She paused at the door, glancing back. “One more thing. There was another field injury, so you guys have company.”

Papria’s heart slammed several painful thuds when Farali stepped to the side, allowing Zoltan through. Radek’s body
stiffened. He leaned, his frame positioned between her and the newcomer. She placed a hand on the man’s shoulder, giving a gentle push. The look on Zoltan’s face dredged up memories she needed to clear.

She slipped off the bed toward him, running her fingers through her hair. He stopped before her, his posture imposing. Leaning back a bit, she crossed her arms, focused on his furious face.

He hesitated, and she imagined him snorting smoke in his fury. When he thrust his face near hers, she narrowed her eyes. His warm breath washed over her; ire radiating from every inch of him.

“Say it.” Her low, threatening tone startled him.

“I can’t concentrate because of you, I can’t focus, I can’t think about anything other than you. You’re driving me crazy!” He pressed closer on her space, the attempt to intimidate her not escaping her notice.

“What do you want to do about it?” She arched a brow at him, daring him to do something stupid. As wound up as she was, there might be no turning back.

His arms snapped around her, hands pressing her pelvis to his. Hatred flared up in her, but she held her calm.

“Let me go, now.”

“And if I don’t? Why won’t you admit what we have?”

“That was a long time ago, Zoltan. I’m not the girl you loved anymore. Let me go.” She wavered a bit, the tension tugging at her shoulders. Her glance wandered to the world outside.

He seemed to mistake the slight give as surrender, and gripped her tighter. Refusing to look him in the eye, she spoke.

“Is this how you want things to end between us?”

He growled. “It hasn’t ended.”

“You can’t force me into submission. You can overpower me, rape me, but you can’t control me.”

His whisper startled her. “I don’t want to overpower you. I don’t want to hurt you, I just want you back.”

“You never had me. I loved you, but never as more than a brother.” She met his glance, willing him to see the truth.

He shook his head, refusing to believe. “No, I remember, you-“

“Never returned any of your advances. Ever. I told you to stop every time.”

“Lie. You returned that first kiss.”

She sighed. “Yes, I did. But it was my first kiss too. The rest, I refused.”

“You refused to let me die in simulation when we were young, and mercy killed me. In mercy, there is love.” His eyes darted back and forth over hers.

“Love, love as a brother.
Not as a lover. Please, please let me go.” As the words left her lips, realization seemed to dawn on him. His eyes went blank, and she could only hope all her rejections were flitting behind that glossy gaze. Her heart sank when he shook his head.

“No, I can’t… it can’t end like this.”

“It has to. Please-“ she staggered as he ripped away from her, Radek’s impatient features warning her he’d had enough. He didn’t even seem to strain, holding the man away from her.

“She asked you nicely, multiple times, to let her go.”

Zoltan nodded. He sagged when Radek released him, shoulders dropping toward the floor. Radek approached her, his face worried. She folded into his arms and he guided her back. She plopped on the bed, his weight following. His lips brushed her ear.

“I can ask Farali to take him elsewhere. I’m sure some middle ground could be reached.”

She shook her head. “It won’t solve anything.”

“It might put you at ease.”

She touched his cheek. “I’m okay, I promise.”

He nodded, backing away. With trembling legs, she got to her feet and made her way to the window, refusing to think about the tension in the room anymore. Instead, she focused on the world outside her window.

“We could study their literature. There has to be something about where they went. They’d record everything, right?”

“It’s hard to record one’s o
wn demise.” Zoltan’s words drew her curious glance.

He looked away. “Temporary truce? We can rehash the past another time.”

“I’d like that. Perhaps after some time has passed and we have had a chance to puzzle out our problems?”

His shoulders drooped in shame. “It’s hard to let you go when you’re constantly in pain. I just…”

She nodded. “I understand, but I need you to respect my needs right now, and I need you to pack up the past and move on, if only for now.”

“I’ll do my best.” He stared out the window, his eyes roaming over the landscape. She turned, taking in the field, the crumbling buildings, some overgrown with ivy and other plants.
She felt Radek’s close presence, and leaned back into him. His hand touched her hip, tentative, and her fingers covered his.

The pressure against her back sent a sharp stab of pain through her, and she jerked. Radek’s hand dropped from her, before snagging her around the ribs.

His whisper in her ear eased her pain. “Let me look at it. There’s no shame in healing it.”

She shook her head. “No, it’s a point of pride.”

Zoltan edged in, his shoulder pressed to hers. “You’re hurt.”

She edged away, uncomfortable with the pressure from both of them. Yanking from Radek’s grasp, she backed off. “I’m fine.” Radek leaned against the window, a forearm bracing him. Zoltan encroached, his features twisted into worry.

A soft
click, click
drew their attention. Radek, still focused on something outside, held his pistol aimed at Zoltan’s heart. Her childhood friend edged away, every step lowering Radek’s gun a few inches, until the soldier holstered the weapon, the other across the room.

“Our drones haven’t picked anything up for a century or so. So it had to be recent, and quick.” Radek’s voice calmed some of the stress in the air.

“Rule out war. And maybe disease. Where are the bodies?” Papria spoke her thoughts aloud.

“Predators?” Zoltan asked the ceiling.

She shook her head. “No way. Houses were locked, dead house pets inside. No bones into the streets.”

“Perhaps they all evacuated elsewhere.”

Radek seemed to disagree. “They still wouldn’t leave things the way they were. If it were mass evacuation, there would be signs. Besides, throughout Earth history there has always been a select few who refuse to leave. We’d find their bones. What did you see while out today?”

Zoltan’s eyes traveled to the window. “Nothing. I mean, same thing we saw yesterday. Dead pets, mess, litter, decay. Some buildings held up better than others, but scanners seem to think there has been no life here for a good quarter century.”

Papria’s mind spun. “What could have taken them out so quickly, while leaving no trace? I mean, a slow die out would have them burying the dead while some lived, but still, who buried the last?”

“That seems too slow. A disease wiping them out? Besides, again, there would be signs. Caution, hazard, something.” Zoltan’s words annoyed her.

“Have the drones returned?” She knew it took time for them to scan the surface, but they’d search for the compounds that proved, dead or alive, that man was still here.

Radek shook his head. “Nah, we’d know. What’s the game plan if life is discovered?” He threw her a quick glance.

“Well, I’d assume that any government would know we’re here, so I guess we’d hope they got our pulses. I mean, I want to know if they are hostile, even though we are answering their beacon.”

“A beacon sent in 1974. Obviously a lot has changed.” Zoltan’s short laugh startled her.

“They had to have known it would take at least 200 years for it to reach us.” Papria glanced out the window, watching the golden sunrays throw shadows over the land. Trees in the distance swayed, clouds drifted, the peace filling her soul.

A commotion at the door drew the attention of her and the two men. Vendas peeked in, careful to stay on the other side of the barrier. “I brought pilfered gifts.” He slid books past the barrier, a quick grin stretching across his face.

“I see everyone’s still alive.” He ducked out of sight, his laughter trailing back to the three.

Papria edged off the bed and headed into the bathroom. Glad Radek didn’t follow, she
placed both hands on the sink, staring at herself in the mirror. It was too much. Zoltan pretending nothing had happened, Radek’s odd possessiveness, her own inability to put the past behind her.

Was it too much to ask for harmony? For the stress to ease up a bit? For the memories to
stay buried? Why was everything so confusing?

His voice overpowered the
thoughts snapping at her like angry wolves.

“You’re in pain.”

“I’m fine.” Her teeth sliced into her lip with the lie. She couldn’t open up to him about this, admitting it to herself was too much.

When silence answered her, she peeked
back, realizing he was gone. She couldn’t do it. Being locked up was too much. The sensation of being caged with two men, one she cared about and the other she couldn’t stand, choked the life from her.

She hurried out the door, halting when Radek stepped in her path. His arms crossed over his chest, his stance threatening.

“You know you can’t leave, right?”

“Get out of my way,
now
.”

He shifted forward a bit. “No. I don’t want to hurt you-“

She dove between his legs, stood and slammed her heel into the hollow behind his knee, dropping him.

Zoltan stared at her, moving out of the way of the door.
Before Radek could get up, she darted out of the room. The screen over the door buzzed. Lights dropped to a dull orange glow, a siren chirped.

She dashed toward the airlock, the solid ground under her feet the only thing she trusted. The doors slid open, the taste of freedom so strong she could taste its sweet goodness. Vendas stepped out, too late for her to stop. His arm shot out, smashing across her chest with the force of a freight train.

Her back hit the ground, air expelled from her lungs. He leaped on her, his hands capturing a wrist, restraints in hand. She screamed, absolute terror poisoning her mind. Her free hand slipped to his thigh, yanking his gun free.

His whisper didn’t ease her fear.
“I’m sorry-“

A solid thud resounded and Vendas fell into a heap by her side. She got to her feet, shocked gaze locked on Radek. He stared at Vendas, before lifting angry blue eyes to her.

“You can’t go.” He stepped close, his fury washing over her. “I won’t let you. It’s dangerous out there.”

Her mother’s voice snuck into her head.
“Your pain will be his pain and he will protect you with his life. But there is a catch. His ideas will somehow always be too persuasive; no matter how much you disagree you
will
do as you’re told.”