Miah

The bond between us is thoroughly broken. The next couple of days we barely talk. All we do is walk, up the damn mountain, dragging our bodies up. I think he owes me an apology, and he’s way too damn stubborn for that.

Finally, on the fifth day, I see the gleam of the research pod, standing high on top of the mountain, like a miracle. I’m hit with a new sense of energy, and the two of us nearly sprint the last mile up the mountain.

“It’s here!” Egon says.

“It sure is.”

“How did you know?” he says. “You said this was just a vantage point to look from!”

A tinge of guilt trickles down my spine. I haven’t been completely honest with the alien warrior either, I guess.

“The elevation makes it easier for the probe to send and receive signals,” I say. “Plus, we’re also incredibly fortunate.”

I run my fingers across the metal frame. The elements have worn it down, but it still works, for the screen lights up at my touch. Three bars fill the top right of the screen.

More than enough to send a distress call back home!

I’m so relieved I could cry. I thought I’d never see Abby again. I was already half-okay with the thought of having to spend my days here in the wilderness, foraging berries and weaving baskets, just the two of us trying to eek out a living in this primitive world.

In a strange way, it was almost a pleasant idea.

Just the two of us.

No one around to judge us.

No one around to worry about. I was sure that, with time, I could get Egon to open up to me.

Now, with the SOS button resting underneath my thumb, the full force of reality hits me like a freight train. We’re all out of time. If I push this button and send a distress call, Onyx will send a rescue mission for me.

And they won’t look kindle upon Egon.

To him, he’s Beast —A criminal. A murderer.

And not just to the Onyx Corporation — every single human will only see that side of him.

Our union is doomed. We can’t ever be together. If I choose Egon, I’ll be on the run. Forever.

I can’t do that to Abby. My sister is more important than some crush I have. Than my summer fling, my Stockholm-syndrome-type-obsession.

I should probably hit up a shrink when I get back home. They’ll have a field day with all the trauma I’ve been through…

“What are you waiting for?” Egon growls. “We should dismantle it, strip it for parts so we can power the escape pod of the Allure.”

“Sure,” I say.

And I push the button.

Forgive me, Egon.

* * *

Egon

The human assists me in stripping the beacon. There is a power supply inside, one that’ll power the escape pod. With it, we can finally get off this godforsaken rock.

I have enjoyed my time here more than I thought — that is true. I have shared something truly special with Miah… but I couldn’t get myself to be truthful with her.

The trauma is too great.

And she won’t accept that.

I’m doing it for her sake, but she doesn’t see it that way.

There’s nothing I can do to change her mind.

Perhaps it’ll just take some time. We’ll have more than enough of it when we’re on that shuttle, trying to stay out of the Federation’s way.

The way down the mountain is twice as fast as the way up. The Allure’s crash site comes nearer and nearer every day, and with it, Miah grows more and more restless.

“What’s on your mind?” I ask.

“Nothing,” she snaps, her voice breaking.

She’s a poor liar. I don’t press it — if she wants to keep secrets, she can.

Once we get to the cave entrance, she freezes up.

“Only a few more days of travel,” I tell her. “Don’t worry, I will guide you, or carry you if I have to.”

“It’s not that,” she says, avoiding my gaze.

“What is it then?”

I place the battery on the floor. My muscles ache from lumbering the heavy thing around, but I don’t care. We’re so close I can taste freedom already.

“I… can’t follow you,” she whispers.

I furrow my brow.

“Are you worried about the sand worms? Again, I can carry you and the battery easily. It won’t be a problem.”

“I know you can,” she says. Her voice is soft and meek. “It’s not that. I… I sent a distress call using the research pod. The Federation will be here to pick me up any day now. You should get out of here… before they show up.”

She looks up at me. Her blue eyes are filled with tears, and my heart breaks.

“Wh-what?” I stammer.

I’m at a complete loss for words. I sensed a distance, sure, but I thought it was just a bump in the road. Something that we would get sorted once we’re off this godforsaken rock.

And now she’s telling me it’s actually goodbye?

A fiery rage grips my heart tightly, winding its way around it like a snake. How could she lie to my face like that? I thought I knew her. I thought I could trust her — trust a human — but no.

My gut has been right all along.

Trusting her… has been a mistake.

“I’m sorry,” she says. “I have a sister I have to take care off. I can’t follow you. I’m sorry.”

I whirl around. I can’t bear to look at her another second. It hurts too damn much. I can hear her sobbing, and it’s like daggers stabbing like soul. I want to comfort her — but I want to yell at her. I want to forgive her, and hate her forever. All at the same time.

We had something beautiful. Something unique.

For the first time since Pazar, I thought I’d found peace. I thought I could trust, I thought I could open my heart. I wasn’t quite ready yet to bare my entire soul, but I was making progress. I thought Miah would stick by me.

I thought wrong.

I grab the battery and lift it up. Without saying another word I walk into the darkness of the cave.

I don’t look back.