She snorted. "No, I suppose I can't."
Especially when she was the one who started this game.
Elena - Tsavitee Planet
Uncle Jin!
Elena lurched upright, her hand moving automatically to the bicep the lu-ong spawn had been wrapped around before her fight.
"No, no, no, no," she chanted, finding nothing there.
He had to be somewhere. He couldn't just be gone.
The probable concussion she had made the room swim in a disturbing manner as she looked frantically around, finding no signs of her uncle.
Elena had been brought to some kind of utilitarian hospital room. The sinister looking equipment gathered around the edges sent a trickle of trepidation down her spine.
It was no mystery what usually happened in places like this. Elena had heard the stories. The things that had gone on here only ever referenced in passing. As if whatever had happened was too painful to mention. The other kids did warn Elena, though. That if she was ever to find herself in a room like this—she should run and not look back.
The murmur of voices from outside had Elena throwing the sheet that covered her to the side. She slipped to the ground.
They'd taken her boots, she noted as her sock clad feet touched the floor. How very helpful of them. It would make sneaking around so much easier.
Elena crept to the doorway, arriving just in time to hear Ajix speak.
"Targeting the girl will do nothing for you in the end. The level of skill she displayed during her fight was impressive. It bought her second place despite you putting her out of commission."
Elena was careful as she peeked around the corner to see who Ajix was speaking to.
Fyr stood next to the larger general with an angry expression. "You know what that means."
"The youngest of your cohort will be claimed as the Osiri's newest experimental subject."
"And you're okay with that?" Fyr burst out.
"Being claimed isn't an automatic death sentence," Ajix said calmly. "There is a possibility that Saros will survive."
"Not a very good one. And even if she does, she won't be the same. You know what they do to them. Death is preferable."
"I warned you against getting attached. We cannot protect everyone."
Fyr sent a resentful glare in the direction of Elena's room. She ducked around the corner, hugging the wall as her heart pounded.
Did he see her? Please say he didn't.
Elena wasn't sure what would happen if Ajix and Fyr caught her eavesdropping, but she was pretty sure it wouldn't end well for her.
Elena waited. The moments dragged on. Each more fear filled than the last.
Finally, Fyr spoke, putting her out of her misery. "I'm aware of my limits, but that doesn't mean I'm willing to throw Saros away for a stranger. You've traded her life for that outsider’s."
"I know what I've done. I'll have to live with that," Ajix responded. "But this is the collective's desire. Sacrifices must sometimes be made for the sake of our goals. It's a regrettable fact that we must all accept."
The ugly sound Fyr made had Elena flinching.
"That woman. She has you and the rest wrapped around her finger. Since she came, we've gotten further and further from our true purpose. She's using us like pawns," Fyr snarled.
"This isn't up for debate," Ajix said with forced patience. "You have your orders. Do your duty or you'll be the one the collective sacrifices next."
Elena darted away from the doorway as footsteps approached. She threw herself at the bed, diving under the covers as whoever it was stopped on the threshold of her room.
She lay still, her eyes closed, her heart pounding with adrenaline.
"She'll wake in an hour or two. When she does, escort her back to the crèche and protect her until we determine the level of her usefulness," Ajix instructed.
There was no response from Fyr.
Elena chanced cracking her eyelids a small bit to see what was going on. Just in time to watch Ajix set a hand on the general boy's shoulder.
"Don't lose faith quite yet. Our spies on Ta Sa'Riel are due to report in soon. If you're right and it turns out that woman is lying to us, it won't be too late to deal with the child then."
Fyr's nod was grudging.
Elena held herself immobile, squeezing her eyes shut to feign sleep.
It was hard not to imagine Fyr taking advantage of her defenseless state to strangle her. Or maybe he'd smother her. Less bruising that way.
If it was Elena, she'd definitely go for the pillow over the face. At least if she was hoping to not get caught.
The seconds ticked by, ramping up Elena's stress and anxiety to stratospheric levels.