Astray Among The Stars

Chapter 40: Solus

Roger glanced out the window, the mess hall empty, dead with the night. He was alone again, sitting at the central table. His eyes rested on the ever-approaching vermilion nebula, a monstrous cloud that covered the view, its colors saturating the dark depths of space.

The teen sighed, his mind ignoring the beauty. He was indifferent. He could not escape the pain of loneliness.

"Roger," the captain's voice called through his wrist comm, "I'm entering my stasis pod right now. The ship's all yours. Keep her running. Keep us safe. Listen to Prill. See you in a few days. Drevwood out."

The boy glazed over the celestial painting, his gaze shifting to the darkness below. He was considered fortunate-engineered to handle the radiation of space with virtually no DNA damage-a blessing and a curse. The young nebula was no threat to him, but unfortunately it was to the rest of the humans, and Hersta, who had childhood cancer. The captain did not want to take any risks.

Roger was alone, stuck with Prill, Tevra, and an imprisoned Keltalis. They weren't much company, especially after the recent events. It would be awkward. He hadn't spoken with Tevra in a week aside from one word answers and small talk. She must have felt his pain too. She avoided him since he asked, probably feeling guilty. The whole situation was pathetic. Had he not been so rash and blunt, things would be normal. Perhaps it was better to not know how she felt.

The double steel doors opened. Roger glanced to find relief. It wasn't her.

Prill went behind the bar, looking for a drink.

"How's Tevra?"

The Nevran continued his search, grabbing a coke-his favorite Terran beverage. "She is better, but she is not the same."

Roger sighed. It would never be the same. What they had was just a dream, an illusion of hope, a reflection of his loneliness. He was wrong to assume and he was wrong to confront her. He should've said nothing, and now they had nothing. All was lost. She had become too dependant. He had become too comfortable. He had initial feelings, but those slowly eroded to the brink of nothingness as they were now. It was too late for him, his doubts clouding his mind.

Prill took a seat across from him, eclipsing the celestial view with his tall stature. "Cheer up, Roger. She will regret her decision soon. You should make it up to her."

Roger crossed his arms. "I need space."

"We have all the space now. Give it time. She will come back."

The boy shook his head. The Nevran glanced at him, his eyes laced with guilt.

"Roger, I should not have pushed y-"

"You didn't," Roger snapped. "It was my decision to ask her, not yours. I was the one who fucked things up." The teen sighed, resting his head in his arms. "I don't know how to handle girls."

The Nevran took a sip, staring down his empty bottle. "Will you at least talk with her? If she feels guilty, then she still cares about you."

"I'll try, but I don't know if she'll listen."

"She will. Trust me."

* * *

Tevra squirmed in her sleep. It was the same nightmare as before, a dark vision she always had. But this time it was different: it was Roger this time.

Amolis chuckled, covered in full raven armor, his joy hidden behind his horrid mask. He held a gun to the teen's head.

She couldn't move, frozen in fear. Her dark nemesis fed off that fear, beaming with pleasure as it slowly sucked the life out of her, draining her hope. She had a pistol, but it weighed like lead, all but useless to stop him.