Inside My Head (Silent Moment Series: Book 6)

Chapter 12

As I ascended the staircase, the announcement for the harvest festival echoed through the PA system, signaling the significance of tonight's event. The reverence for Priya the Seventh was palpable in the announcer's voice. Approaching the castle, its massive structure seemed to grow even more imposing. Its grandeur was almost overwhelming, a stark contrast to the rugged life I'd known on Earth and in space. The doors to the main hall opened, revealing an interior so lavish it took my breath away. "Welcome, Kegan. Join us, please," Russell greeted with a warm smile.

I stepped further into the room, and Russell's wife, Simone, handed me a glass filled with an unfamiliar liquid. "Thank you," I said, my voice tinged with curiosity.

Surveying the spread of food, I realized I couldn't recognize any of it. Everything looked exotic and unlike anything we had in space or on the ground.

"You must be starving," Russell commented, noting my interest in the food.

"I'm fine, actually. Delilah's family has been taking good care of us," I replied, expressing my gratitude. "Thank you for that."

Simone interjected, "It's rude not to eat when you're a guest in someone's home, Kegan."

"All right," I agreed, picking up a green from the table. The taste was surprisingly delightful, causing my eyes to widen. "Oh, my god, it's really good."

"We like our simple pleasures here," Russell said, watching me.

"We don't like finding strangers in our home," Simone added, her tone probing.

I responded courteously, "Oh, I'm sorry about that, but we were running from a swarm. Trust me, it's not how we wanted to be introduced. Like your founders on Eligius III, we're looking to start over, do better."

Simone's words were sharp. "Yes, I would hope so. Considering you destroyed the planet of your birth."

"Actually, I was born in space," I replied, trying to keep my composure. "But I take your point. Without your help, we won't survive here. Our ancestors destroyed Earth, but they're your ancestors, too."

"How many people have you killed, Kegan..." Simone's voice was cold, "or should we call you Wanheda?"

I shook my head, slightly taken aback. "Jordan likes to talk, huh? What else did he say?"

Russell interjected, "He said you went to a protected compound, not unlike this one, and murdered everyone inside. Innocent men, women, and children alike."

"That was different," I sighed, the weight of the past heavy on my words. "I did what I had to do to save my people."

"Would you do it again?" Simone pressed.

"We were at war," I countered, feeling the tension rise.

"That's not what I asked," she persisted.

"Simone..." Russell warned, but she insisted.

"I will not apologize for saving the people I love," I affirmed, my voice resolute.

Russell chimed in, "A comfort to them, I'm sure. But we are not your people. We must protect those we love. There are 400 more of you asleep on your ship—warriors, thieves, killers."

"All we're asking for is a second chance," I pleaded.

"Second chance," Russell mused, feeding his dog. He then shared a personal story about his dog, underlining the risks of second chances.

"We can change," I said, trying to control my emotions.

"I believe you want to, Kegan," Russell nodded. "But I don't believe you can. Violence is a contagion. I can't let it wipe out what may be humanity's last outpost."

After a pause, he added, "When your friends return, you should fly back to your mothership. You won't survive outside the shield."

His words hit me like a punch. The hope of finding a new home was slipping away, and with it, the safety of our people.

***

I quickly shed the formal attire, slipping back into my own clothes with a sense of urgency. Murphy's quip about my 'murder gear' hung in the air, adding a layer of tension to the already fraught atmosphere.

"What happened?" my mother's voice was laced with worry as she approached.

"Jordan talked. Where is he?" I asked, my voice tinged with concern and irritation.

"Roof. With the barmaid," Murphy replied casually.

I dashed to the roof, my heart racing. "Jordan?" I called out, only to find him unconscious. My concern deepened as I shook his shoulder, trying to rouse him. "Jordan, hey?"

Suddenly, Cassius was there, grabbing Jordan with a roughness that belied his concern. "Delilah? Who did this?"

"No, he's hurt," I protested as Cassius lifted Jordan. "Put him down!"

Jordan's mumbling caught my attention. "Delilah," he whispered weakly.

We looked in the direction of his gaze, spotting a tall man carrying Delilah's limp body away. Cassius shouted after the man, his voice filled with urgency.

"The Children of Gabriel are in the compound," Cassius explained hastily. "They'll use the night harvest to get her out. Follow me!"

Jordan tried to stand, but I gently pushed him back, knowing he was in no state to help. Without another word, I sprinted after Cassius, my legs pumping as fast as they could through the fields.

Reaching an empty wheelbarrow, Cassius's frustration was palpable. "Russell's here somewhere," he gasped. "I have to warn him. Keep looking."

Nodding, I continued the search, each step fueled by a mix of determination and fear. The stakes were high, and every moment counted. The chase was a blur of desperation and fear. My breath came in sharp gasps as I sprinted after the burly man, pushing my muscles to their limits. Delilah's limp form in the wheelbarrow spurred me on, every second feeling crucial. As I closed the gap, the man whirled around, knife in hand. The blade sliced across my palm before I could react, a sharp pain flaring up. Blood welled from the cut, but I couldn't let it stop me. I lunged, tackling him to the ground with a force born of sheer desperation. We hit the ground hard, the impact sending a shock through my body. He swung the knife again, aiming for a lethal strike. In a move driven by instinct, I caught his wrist, my blood-slicked hand struggling for grip. Our struggle for the knife was fierce. I used every ounce of strength to push the blade away from me, trying to turn it back on him. We were locked in a deadly dance, each pushing against the other's strength. The man's breath was hot and ragged against my face, his grunts filling the air as he fought back with equal ferocity. The ground beneath us was unyielding, each movement jarring and exhausting. Despite the searing pain in my hand and the growing fatigue, my resolve didn't waver. My training and survival instincts, honed by my time on the ground, kicked in. I had to end this, now, for Delilah's sake.