Before Beasts, There Was Light--Book 9

The Little Things

He woke in the dark, with only the glow of the heaters wires to see by. It had gotten almost comfortably warm in there. For a moment, he just laid there, staring at the burning orange wires and thinking about volcanoes and warm, heavy lava. It was amazing the kind of peace those images gave.

Then he remembered that he had left the hull lights on and sat up. His hand brushed across a plate and it skittered a few inches across the floor, upsetting a piece of bread from it. He stared at the slices of fresh bread, along with the little cup of something and a butter knife, and drew away. Only Ray could have been quick enough to get in and out before he could make a sound. Or perhaps Ayah? But just because she could hear well didn't mean she was any better at being quiet, was she? Either way, someone had seen him curled up on the floor with red eyes and dried up tear tracks or snot tracks or—no, no, his face felt smooth enough.

Oh, screw it.

He grabbed the bread and took a bite. Still warm. So perhaps that was what woke him up.

Did he want to start a bet with himself on who it had been? Or who he would have rather it been?

Nah. He didn't care. He didn't have the emotional energy to care.

So he just let the heavy, homemade bread and the little jar of jam fill him up, curled up next to the heater again on the hard floor, and fell back asleep.

When he woke up again, it was still dark, but he got the impression that a good deal of time had passed. Faculties refreshed, they instantly went back to worrying.

What kind of trouble have they gotten into while I was gone? he thought wearily, before figuring that, well, they weren't at the bottom of the ocean, so it couldn't have gone that bad. And Ray and Max had seemed equally as upset enough to keep Ayah from giving her brother anymore energy, and if either of them had had the time or thought to bring bread down to him, Ayah was probably in well enough care.

Yawning, he purposely took his time stretching to show his nerves who were boss. Even so, he didn't dilly dally and made sure to turn off the heater before stepping back out into the freezer, which he regretted almost as soon as he did so. Amazing to think he had actually been warm just a few seconds before.

"Screw you, Tala," he muttered as he scuttled across the hold.

He almost expected the ice to start breaking. But Tala had always been the cool cucumber. Insult him as much as you want, push buttons like a maniac, he'd just look at you with the same, blank look. Then royally bash your pride in the moment your back was turned in the most calculated, genius way possible, just to show off how much smarter he was than you at hurting his enemies.

Kai actually had a smile on his face at that thought as he closed the hold door behind him and made his way up the stairs.

Time to face the music.

No one was on deck or on the walkways along the sides of the cabin, so he headed up to the control deck. Inside he found Tyson, looking, for once, actually quite vigilant and serious. He turned around with raised eyebrows and a frown as a gust of cold air rushed in after Kai before he could shut the door.

"And the lone wolf appears," he said, still frowning.

"How are the others?" Kai asked, looking towards the communal mattress near the back of the cabin, which was a few mattresses short and empty of occupant.

"Aren't you suppose to be asking how hard I'm going to punch you? Seriously, man, flying at Ray like that? Really?"

"I didn't fly at him," said Kai irritably. "Just answer the question. Then punch me all you like."