He had Vai’s look.
The same eyes, the same horns, the same everything…
But something was off.
Something dark and sinister resided in the shadows cast across his face.
He somehow seemed more dangerous than before.
“Iav?” I said, my voice barely a croak.
“Welcome to my world, little one,” he said in his deep voice.
A voice that had always seemed so friendly and kind had now become deathly dangerous.
But no…
This can’t be right.
I was back in my room.
I should be safe and sound tucked up in bed.
None of this was supposed to happen.
Iav wasn’t supposed to be here.
I wasn’t supposed to feel the strengthening flicker of the bond in my chest either.
I glanced at the open doorway behind him.
And the blood fell from my face.
No…
The walls were shiny black in the hallway outside, not the rustic wood of my shared apartment.
I wasn’t at home.
I was on an alien ship.
A Shadow’s ship.
My scream morphed into a muffle as he pressed his huge hand over my mouth.
He whispered in my ear:
“You’re mine now. And you’re late for the ceremony.”
Vai
The flash blinded me, transporting me into a sea of darkness.
I floated silently, constantly, into that infinite void.
The more I stared at it, the more convinced I was that it was something real and alive.
Something that wished me dead.
It drew closer inch by inch.
It uttered no sound and gave no sign it was moving toward me.
But on some level, I knew it was.
And there wasn’t a thing I could do about it.
I felt its icy touch on my forearms and thighs, thick like rope.
Or tendrils.
They consumed me, threatening to stifle me, and wrapped in ever-increasing tightness around my chest.
Each moment, it drew tighter and tighter until I could barely breathe.
I lashed out, but I had no limbs, no body.
I existed only in my conscience, and as the vines found my eyes, blocking out even the twinkling lights of space from view, I knew I was doomed.
My arms flew out to the side to block those dark vines.
My right arm struck a wall but the curve and shape of the room I found myself in wasn’t right.
The pod had a curved wall and I should have struck it fully with my elbow and fist.
My other hand knocked a lamp off a bedside table.
It smashed on the floor but I paid it no mind.
Realization was dawning on me and it wasn’t entirely welcome.
I was no longer in the pod.
I was in my quarters aboard my ship.
I moved to climb off but my head swam.
I shut my eyes but even then I could feel the room spinning.
“The Surgeon said you might suffer some ill effects from the Procedure,” a familiar voice said.
I would have smiled if I felt up to it.
It was always nice to hear a familiar voice.
Computer.
“How long have I been out?” I said.
“About three hours. Ever since you were brought on board. The Surgeon escorted you himself. He gave me instructions to take you home immediately. You need to rest and recuperate.”
The Surgeon.
The Procedure.
So, it had all happened.
Memories like flotsam on a calm tide pressed against my mind.
I had kicked and flailed at the pod’s innards but it was surprisingly strong.
I couldn’t get out.
I had heard Emma’s scream, mostly buried by the deafening screech of the engine above our heads.
Then I calmed down, recalling why I was doing this.
It wasn’t for myself.
It was for her.
She needed this.
She needed to be free of the bond so Iav couldn’t torment or torture her.
I eased back and watched as the light swelled and grew brighter.
I shut my eyes when I felt the painful rush of electricity run through my body.
And when I flew back and hit the pod’s back panel, there was no fear of injury.
My body was already relaxed and ready for when the darkness took me.
I took a deep breath and opened my eyes.
My room no longer spun but it still issued back and forth like I was riding a boat on high seas.
I swung my legs over the side and placed my feet on the cold and reassuring hard floor.
“And Emma?” I said.
Just saying her name brought a spike of pain to my chest.
“You were removed from the facility first. I assume the Surgeon placed her on one of their shuttlecraft shortly after we took off.”
I nodded, knowing Computer was right.
Still, I wasn’t entirely pleased it was the case.
I placed my hands on either side of the bed and shoved myself up onto my feet.
“I’m not sure walking is a good idea right now…” Computer said.
Neither did I, but the last thing I wanted to do was sleep more.
I shuffled forward and the room shuffled with me, fuzzy clones of each object moving like I had entered a black hole.
I took a moment to wave my hands and better stabilize myself.
With my eyes shut, I saw Emma’s face floating in front of me, her gorgeous wide mischievous grin emblazoned brazenly on her lips.
In a flash of white light, I saw the last expression of hers I would ever witness.
One of fear and doubt, and framed by the pod’s window.
She’d been as afraid as I was.
Then the blanket of white descended, wiping her from view.
The bond between us had been severed and save for the odd phantom feeling, I would never sense her again.
It made me feel cold and hollow, the way I knew it would.
Time was a great healer, so they said.
I wasn’t sure I believed it.
I found it impossible I might forget these all-consuming doubts flowing through me like a raging river.
I opened my eyes and stumbled toward the door.
It hissed open and the bright lights flooded my room.
I groaned under my breath.
“Computer, dim lights,” I said.
Computer did, but not enough for my liking.
“More.”
Computer responded, leaving me with just enough light to make out the broad brushstrokes of the walls and doorframes along the hall.
I braced myself on the wall and edged along it until I reached the bathroom facilities.
The door hissed open and I moved for the sink.
I splashed water over my face.
I stood there, peering
