Out of Cryo - Season 2 | A Horizon: Zero Dawn Fanfiction

Chapter 13: Reflection

"Okay, so you're just going to gently lift us up here and-wait, wait, I said gently, Becks." Dad sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Take us back down."

I cringed and eased off the hovercar's thrusters, taking us down to an idle hover just over the pavement. "Sorry."

Dad paid no attention to my apology – just continued on with the lesson. "Okay, let's do this again. Brake off, up on the thruster, then take us out."

"All right." I let out the breath I'd been holding after I messed up...again. Brake...thruster..." I muttered the steps out loud so I wouldn't forget them. The car swayed as the brakes were disabled and then gave a quiet hum once I lifted us up. It took me a few seconds to register that we were at a good altitude to start driving.

"Perfect," Dad said, a proud smile forming on his face. "That was good, Becks. Now, take us toward those trees and make a left at the signal." He pointed straight ahead, where two other cars were waiting to take a right.

With newfound confidence, I steered us down the lane and out of the park where we had spent a good chunk of the afternoon practicing.

"You're getting much better. Soon you won't even need me here," he joked once we reached the signal. "Blinker on."

I hit the turn signal – something I wasn't entirely great at remembering yet. "Does this mean I can drive Jenna and me to the movies on Friday?"

Dad gave a nervous chuckle. "Your test isn't for a least another month, sweetheart. You're doing well, but I'd feel more comfortable if you had some more practice behind the wheel."

"Ugh...fine." I grinned to show I wasn't really upset, but I still practically counted down the days until I didn't have to rely on my parents or Dennis anymore for a ride. I turned right and headed back toward our neighborhood.

"So, what do you think? Do we have time for ice cream?" Dad said.

Nice. "Pretty sure Mom's already working on dinner."

He laughed – the loud bark he does that startles the shit out of everyone all the time. "Who in the world raised you, kid? Come on, we'll kidnap Jenna on the way. My treat...but you have to drive."

More driving? I was definitely onboard with that idea. "All right," I said as I punched in the location of Jenna's house on the console.

Dad pretended to grip his seatbelt. "Too bad these things don't come with two belts per seat."

I scoffed. "Not funny! I drive just fine!"

He grinned. "All right, all right. Seriously, though – you're doing fine, Becks-,"

***********

"Becks?" A familiar voice called out to me, stirring me from my sleep. Aloy must be up. I opened my eyes and shivered, grasping at the comforter that had partially slipped away from me during the night.

I was confused when I rolled over and saw that Aloy was still sleeping. Weird. Maybe I just heard my name in my dream or something. I think I had been dreaming, but I couldn't remember what it was about-

"Hello, Becks." That voice. A cold dread spread through me and I realized that it wasn't Aloy speaking to me at all. I slowly turned over and nearly shouted when I saw her standing in front of the bed, the pale light from outside casting unsettling shadows on her as it crept in through the window blinds. The light snow that had begun to fall had frozen in place. Without a weapon, my natural reaction was to immediately pull the comforter over myself.