Page 44 of Ruby
It is unlikely, but these things are not as stupid as they look and sound.
She sings back fiercely and raises a hand to wipe the new wetness off her eyes. “No, he cannot. You will be better.”
When she looks up at me, I see that some of my blood has smeared on her face.
“Your hands,” I heave.
She looks down at them and then up at my fresh wound.
I cannot see it because turning my head in that direction feels like a sharpened stick is being driven through the entire surrounding area of my neck and shoulders.
“Oh no, Szhe’ka, my regrets. Please,” she sings out brokenly.
I try to calm and comfort her but it makes no difference as the hunter is coming closer to us, his gun waving around.
He looks angry and Ani looks scared, turning around to answer him in more hushed tones. I don’t know what they are conversing about but Ani is more scared than angry this time and that does not bode well for either of us.
18
Ani
Getting stuck in a tree on a completely different planet should’ve been my first sign that I had completely terrible luck. But truly believing that I was out of the woods, metaphorically of course, and safe, was honestly hopeful wishing on my part. Not only am I a liability, but I’m also the reason Szhe’ka was shot and is losing blood as we speak.
With blood still gushing from his shoulder and my head devoid of any sort of first aid techniques to help save him, he’s still trying to defend me. His body still stands between me and the hunter in a pathetic attempt to defend me. Honestly, his unselfishness would be the death of both of us.
I can’t do anything, but I cannot just watch him die.
The alien continues to speak as I am attempting to hold on to Szhe’ka. Even though I can clearly understand his disgusting, blubbery language, I ignore him and focus on Szhe’ka instead.
I look at the bullet hole in his shoulder, the skin and feathers around it soaked in his bright green blood. He is still actively bleeding, and I reach out my hand to try to apply pressure to it but I can see it hurts him too much. I don’t want him bleeding out; I don’t want him dead at all.
The tears are blurring my eyes and I rub my hands harshly against my eyes in an attempt to wipe the tears away.
“You think you are safe with this glorified bird? Wait till he gets hungry,” he says, an obnoxious honking following.
Hungry? Szhe’ka is definitely the size a predatory bird would need to be to eat a human, but he wouldn’t keep me this long just to eat me. He’s had plenty of opportunities to. If he’s just suppressing his urge to, then he’s a far better person than I am, even if he’s not, you know, a person.
Besides, being eaten by Szhe’ka is a far better fate than ending up captured again by these monsters. They’ve already modified my body. I don’t want to find out why if I get caught. However, it’s definitely more difficult to travel with an injured giant bird person. I need a distraction.
Focus, Ani, I chide my stupid brain.
“That bird is going to die. Just move so I can shoot it again without risking you doing something stupid. Come here, human.”
“No,” I gurgle in its disgusting language, moving myself so I block as much of Szhe’ka’s trembling body as possible.
The alien must be a terrible shot considering how small I am, a terrible shield even with Szhe’ka slumped against the tree.
“You cannot refuse. You cannot even leave. I have no patience for this.”
“I don’t care much for your patience,” I hiss back. “Just shoot me and be done with it.”
He can’t shoot me, I know that much. I must be valuable cargo, even if the idea itself is revolting. Killing us would’ve been faster than capturing us alive, which means a lot to me. There’s still a chance for us to escape if we aren’t getting killed. But how?
If I can’t figure it out, I’ll just have to keep him talking. Villains always reveal their plans if they keep talking.
This isn’t a script, stupid bitch, jeers the ugly voice.
His eyes dart to Szhe’ka and his face shifts to something even more grotesque. He lowers his weapon and assumes a relaxed stance. I bet they’ve spent the last few days chasing us, so I know it’ll be a dream to outrun them with an injured Szhe’ka.
