Elizabeth woke slowly. Memories of last night crashed through her sleepy haze. As
Brack's hands touched her body last night they injected her with lustful bias. With
the lights bright and the sheets cold, the choice was far less simple. Ana had
brought her back to life, even if she had added some extra parts. Brack had ran to
Isoline. Fallen for her. Death would defeat her control of the mind, but not the heart.
If Brack loved her of his own free will, then he still did. Even if he hated her now, he
still loved her. Love can't be switched off. And when a heart's broken it hurts more,
the shards inside you, cutting with every beat. Elizabeth couldn't be with a man still
carrying that around. She owed Brack honesty. But he had already gone. Things had
just gotten much harder.
She splashed icy water against her face. Her eyes were cloudy. She dressed quickly
and made her way to the gym.
Brack was on the treadmill, back straight. Brack always used to work out in the
mornings on the old Victory Pearl. She had never seen him in here on the new ship.
He glanced up and smiled at her in the mirrored walls, cooling his sprint to a gentle
jog.
Sweat was bleeding into her eyebrows. Brack was down to slow footsteps and she
still hadn't thought of what to say. Quick and easy; the band-aid metaphor. It
seemed fitting here. That was all Brack really was. A temporary cover on a fresh
wound. Not the permanent solution.
The treadmill stopped and Brack stepped off.
"Where did you go this morning?" Elizabeth said.
"You looked so peaceful."
He took a step forward. Elizabeth countered with a subtle shift backwards.
"You shouldn't have kissed me," she told him.
He grinned.
"As I recall, you kissed back dear. And then some."
He tried to caress her cheek but she batted him away. The sharp scales left a red
scratch down her face.
"We can't do this," Elizabeth said. She felt prickling blood start to weep through the
fresh cut.
Rusalka's voice came from behind them.
"Can I speak with you a moment?"
Elizabeth turned and Rusalka dropped down from the ceiling.
"We're busy at the moment," Brack told her.
"Yes, I can see that. I only wonder if this is preparation to be busy, or the aftermath
of business," Rusalka said.
Each word was slow, measured.
Rusalka's hand wiped the trickle of scarlet from Elizabeth's cheek. Her fur stung in
YOU ARE READING
Black Hole Heartbeat
Science FictionBlack Hole Heartbeat is Star Wars if the stormtroopers didn't miss all the time. Like Cowboy Bebop meets Butch and Sundance, or Guardians of the Galaxy in the style of Pulp Fiction. Self confessed thief of ill repute, Elizabeth Ranger, runs head fi...
