Frostbite (Mindgames #1)

Chapter Seven - Papa

I glanced over my shoulder, surprised that we were just let out without any escort of an officer, or no sign of anyone attempting to get a witness statement out of either of us. I was not sure where to put my hands as I walked, usually, I would put them in the pockets of my jacket but my jacket was currently on Stephanie.

My gaze wandered around the local nature everywhere, large trees that encompassed the natural park to our left, with the bike trail and road to our right. Our voiceless company gave us the ability to hear the littlest of sounds, from birds chirping to the occasional scatter of a squirrel.

I wanted to keep Stephanie's peace, but there were so many questions I had for her. Stephanie's behaviors confused me lately.I glanced over at Stephanie, her gaze was low and forward as she walked by my side. Her footsteps were practically silent as she carefully planned each step in front of her. I looked at her for a moment, before returning my gaze forward as I walked.

"I don't know what to think," Stephanie said gently, her voice was shaky and hesitant. I wanted to give her the space to speak, for at least a moment. I walked with her before she spoke again. "The image of our classmates is burned into my brain, them laying there unconscious, possibly lifeless like that..."

Stephanie took a deep breath before continuing to walk. "Where do you think that crazy guy was from?" She looked up at me quietly. I pondered for a moment, before replying. "I don't think he was from Tawrion, that's what I can confirm. He had an odd accent to me."

"What kind of accent did you hear?" Stephanie asked gently. I thought for a moment. "Dorthea.. Enreon.. Laria.. Natum.. Ogrichi... Pheorus... Selereth... Tawrion... Thesone." I listed out the planets in our solar system.

"If I had to decide the planet... I feel like he had a Natumi accent, southern Natumi if I had to be specific." I replied gently. "Sentient magic.." Stephanie trailed off quietly before thinking."Natum opened up their travel ban once more?" Stephanie asked. "Not to my knowledge, for all I know he could be an illegal export, the travel ban on Natum is just on people, not on products, he could've been smuggled."

"I've never left Tawrion before," Stephanie said gently, holding onto the jacket as if it were a coping mechanism. "If you had a planet in mind to go to, which would you go to?" I asked gently, wanting to get her talking, so she did not feel like she had to be quiet if she didn't want to.Stephanie seemed to think hard, her brows furrowing as her lip pouted quietly. "I believe..." She trailed off for a moment, she stopped walking while looking behind us for a moment.

"What is it?" I asked quietly, looking in the direction she was, find what she saw as well. "I thought I heard footsteps," Stephanie said sternly, her tone neutral but firm as if announcing to whoever could be following us that we heard them.Is someone following us? I tried to continue walking with Stephanie, but my ears perked to listen for any sign of footsteps, I was concerned since I did not hear any sign of them.

"Have you traveled to any of the other planets in the solar system?" Stephanie asked me gently as we walked. I shook my head no. "I always wondered what they were like though, surely they could not be the same as Tawrion. Planets are very picky when they want to host life. ""We didn't all originate on our home planets though," Stephanie added. "I know I know, the story of terraforming and expanding don't fret, I meant the climates. The distance of planets from our star can mean the difference between an ice planet and a molten one."Stephanie tilted her head while nodding. "True-" Before she paused again, staring out into the trees behind us, her gaze was clouded yet determined.