REVOLUTION: A Rebel Among Monsters ✔

Thirty-Six••Another Invasion

Bombs weren't common on planet Cerule. Only the military and Big Wall Guards used them in rare circumstances. They were myths among most inhabitants. Stories told in school books to ward kids off from being idiots.

Melaynia had a bomb inside of her. Her stomach grumbled, gurgled, and she winced; it was as if something crawled within, roaming around her organs. Could she feel it? Or was her mind playing tricks on her?

A pang of pain shot up to her chest when she recalled what the hybrids and the Impians had said to her. How they'd claimed she'd barely notice it until it went off. That it was linked to her emotions. And Valnia... had triggered her emotions.

Her sister's harsh words weren't untrue. Melaynia had defied her superiors, she had pursued her own ideas, and she had questioned everything. And in her selfish decisions, she'd ignored the danger she had put everyone else in.

Here she was with a disappointed sibling, enraged Monsters, and an unstable bomb residing in her belly.

The blankets covering her legs were flimsy, allowing a breeze to swarm in and cause her to shiver. She was alone, and scared; she'd pushed away the only person who had always been there for her. And she had killed her chance at being a skilled, well-trained recruit. No matter what she did or said, the Monsters wouldn't value her words, or her life. And her life... was hanging by a thin thread.

She had wondered on several occasions if the Impians had lied about the bomb. About how it could be triggered, how it could set off. Did it have to be manipulated, or was it programmed? They had the type of technology to construct such a device, she had no doubt.

I should warn them.

As she braced to stand up, Valnia stole back into the room.

"Val," she said, as Valnia lowered to the edge of the bed. "We need to talk. Again."

"We do, but we don't have time. Lexa... is speaking with the Eldians again. She left five minutes ago." She tried a reassuring smile, but it was feeble, transparent. "We'll figure this out, sis."

Melaynia grabbed the covers and squeezed them, peering down at her lap. "Figure out... what? How to stop this bomb from blowing us all up? I... have this hunch that... the Impians are tricking us. That there's more to this than we think."

"There is, but... I can't explain it all to you. Lexa will be back, she'll—"

"—Val!" Melaynia slammed her fists on either side of her, rattling the mattress, prompting Valnia to jump up. "It's not safe to leave me here! It might not even be safe to be in my presence! The bomb... what if it has other ways of being triggered? Connected to my emotions? They said it was, and right now... my emotions are all over the place! I'm scared, confused, mad, lost... and this thing will ignite because I can't calm down!" She worked hard not to wave her arms around frantically, fearful that would set the device off.

Valnia bit her lip, but appeared otherwise... unfazed. Why wasn't she running? Why hadn't she rushed out and sounded alarms?

"Like you said... there's more to this. So... sit tight and relax. Answers... are on their way." Valnia reached out to grab Melaynia's hand.

Melaynia flinched at the contact.

Answers? What is she talking about?

"I have to get out. Fast." Melaynia's heartbeat sped up and her cheeks overheated. "Or evacuate now and... let me rot here. You... you can't die, you can't. Please... don't do this."

To her dismay, Valnia only shook her head and brushed a few stray hairs from her sweaty face.

Seconds turned to minutes; precious moments they wouldn't get back. Precious instants they needed to protect themselves from her.