Black Hole Heartbeat

Ana - 16

Ana screamed as the curved blade burst through the Ang's face, splitting his nose open. His

eyes rolled up lifelessly as he flopped to his knees at her feet. Dark blood sprayed against her.

She sniveled to get her voice back. "Who's there?"

The horrible blood trickled into her mouth. It tasted like ink, twice as thick.

"Stranger? Could we be untied?" Querius called out.

A figure walked towards them, cape flowing behind nimble footsteps. She slid her knife out from the dead Ang's head with a wet and meaty scrape. She was... Umbra? Ana had never seen

one before.

"Who are you?" Ana said.

The Umbra used the bloodied knife to cut the ropes that tied Ana and Querius to their chairs,

wiped it clean against her fur, then sheathed it.

"Rusalka," she said, offering her hand for Ana to shake, "You can stop crying now, sweetie." Ana looked down at the tangled fur of Rusalka's wrist, mangy with dried clumps of flesh. There

were deep scores, old scars, raking down from her shoulder to her chest. Ana took her hand,

shook it once then withdrew, rubbing her hand dry on her leg afterwards.

"Do you know what this bomb is they were so desperate to locate?" Querius asked. The corners of Rusalka's lips curled upwards, dimpling her pale cheeks. "I'm responsible for that. I heard that Jemsa's personal guard were planning on assassinating

her and stealing her artefacts, so I started a few rumours that a bomb was set to detonate

upon her death, blowing up the entire museum. I hoped that would dissuade them, but seems

they figured out that the smartest person in the building must know something about it. I am

sorry, if they hurt you," Rusalka said. "Nothing too bad. Though I am looking forward to getting away from this place. I assume that's why you're here?" Querius said, turning to Ana.

Ana ignored him and picked her gun up. What had she walked into? She was a doctor. With a

few deep breaths, she was halfway to composed.

"How long were you hiding there?" she asked Rusalka.

"A while." "Why didn't you step in sooner?" Ana demanded. Ana's finger tensed on the trigger. Before she even knew what her hand was doing, Rusalka

slapped the flat side of the knife against the gun. It sprawled loose on the floor.

"I was waiting to see how painfully they deserved to die."

"Very painfully, I hope."

Ana felt the cut on her cheek.

"Rather quick, actually. Your injuries will heal within a day, and they did not torture you or cause

you any serious pain."

"No pain? How would you like to be tied up and beaten?"

Ana looked at her close and saw deep gashes gathered around her neck. "I guess I should be grateful," Ana said, "If it wasn't for you they might have killed us." "You can thank me by inviting me on this mission of yours. I've been meaning to make more

friends," Rusalka said.

"So you are the one who was sent to collect me?" Querius asked.

"Yes. Anastasia Yukishnov. Miss Ranger will brief you once we make it back to the ship." "And me? You know I'll be able to sneak onto your ship whether you grant me permission or

not," Rusalka said. "I'm sure Elizabeth will have use for you," Ana told her.

They left the room and walked back down the hallway. It felt much shorter now, without the

threat of a hundred Ang emerging to attack her. One of the display boxes showcased a selection

of rings, all emeralds engraved with the symbol for love from different races in the galaxy. A

heart for Human. Three connected circles, a gollak, for Krei. A spiral inside a square, pin to, for

Torfus. A few more that Ana did not recognize. Rusalka peered inside and pressed her hand to

the glass. Razor sharp claws sprung from her fingertips, and she ran one of them around the

glass in a circle. "Why wouldn't you just kill Jemsa yourself if you wanted her things?" Ana said. "I don't kill people who don't deserve it. But I don't mind stealing from them," Rusalka replied,

stuffing the rings into the pocket of her leather shorts.

They climbed the stairs to Jemsa's office. Ana's weary fist knocked on the door.