Page 20 of When Eden Falls

Rooke turned the page. “This is my favourite,” he said, pointing to a pencil sketching of my face. It really was me. An oval face, with high cheek bones, a pointed chin, and subtle dimples above the jaw line. My nose was straight with a curving bobble on the end, my biggest physical insecurity. My eyes were wide, sat under an arch of dark eyebrows and dark lashes, and my shoulder length hair was pulled back in a neat ponytail.

“I think he’s captured you perfectly.”

Scanning the image, I smiled. It was like looking in a mirror.

I turned the page, now meeting a large colour sketch of an eye. I gasped at the realisation it was one of mine.

My eyes were my most distinguishable feature. They were unusual, some called them strange, but most referred to them as stunning. The iris was made up of an amber, multiple-sided star circling each pupil. Each point of amber burst into irregular speckles of brown before meeting a sphere of vivid green. The green was surrounded by a gradient layer of blue, the darkest shade lining the circular edge. It was the reason why my parents had called me Eden. My father had claimed I didn’t cry when I was born. I just stared up at him with my large, unusual eyes and he instantly knew how unique I was. I was their paradise in a world full of troubles.

I shook my head, trying to subdue the thought. I missed my father. I missed my mother and brother, too. All of whom had been taken from me by the time I had reached the tender age of twenty.

Rooke’s arm slid around my shoulders, and he squeezed my arm affectionately. There was no doubt he’d followed my train of thought. I was grateful I had his support. His friendship was worth more to me than I could ever express. His warmth, his security, his guidance. Without him, I’d be lost.

Sinking into his side, I placed my head on his shoulder.

I must’ve fallen asleep, because the next thing I knew, Zamya was nudging me awake.

Sitting up, I blinked several times trying to work out where I was. Meeting Zamya’s gaze, she pushed a cup of coffee at me and said, “Are you alright? You cried out.”

“Did I?” I accepted the cup; aware my cheeks were flushing. I wasn’t sure what I’d been dreaming about. It hadn’t been Jacob’s funeral…or Rooke’s, or had it?

There was movement in the room. Rooke and Kobe were conversing at the comms desk. Oz was sitting in Kobe’s seat, eating breakfast, while Cora tidied the blankets away.

“What’s going on?” I asked, testing the coffee’s temperature, suddenly aware the sound of light tapping had become the new continual background noise.

“It’s raining,” Zamya replied. “The horror beetles have left.”

“Is it still dark outside?”

“The sun just came up. Rooke is preparing to go outside soon.”

After drinking my coffee and changing into a spare jumpsuit, I followed Rooke to the airlock chamber.

Checking the two lines of atmospheric suits hanging up against the wall behind the glass cabinets, we discovered they hadn’t charged sufficiently overnight.

From next to me, Rooke’s voice boomed through the ship, “Zam, how necessary are the atmospheric suits?”

I heard her huff before her footsteps stomped towards us. She appeared in the shadows of the loading bay entrance. “What’s the proper question here, commander?”

Rooke tilted his head back, smiling at her insolent tone. “Do we need to wear the suits?”

“They didn’t charge,” I mentioned.

Her mood obviously hadn’t improved since last night. Her response was a loud, prolonged groan.

“Don’t growl at me, Zamya,” Rooke chided. “I understand your reluctance to allow us to step outside without a suit on, but I’m asking if stepping out there will cause any detrimental effect, other than enhancing your paranoia. And your foul mood.”

Folding her arms across her chest, Zamya scowled at Rooke. “I resent your allegation.”

“And I’m getting tired of your constant moaning.”

I winced, turning away. Nux, he was playing with fire.

Zamya huffed and marched to one of the suits next to me. After examining it, she turned to Rooke and announced, “They will be useless. You’ll suffocate.”

“I know that much!”

“I don’t advise leaving the ship without one. But as Kobe keeps specifying, the air is non-toxic and breathable, so you won’t die instantly.”