Page 29 of When Eden Falls

I was still staring at the closed door, utterly bemused by how pleasant that female was. “How do they know our language?”

“I don’t know,” mumbled Cora around a mouthful of food. “Mmm, I have no idea what this is either, but it’s delicious.” She pointed to a large plate full of pink and yellow fruits. My stomach growled and I joined her.

Once my appetite was sated, I opened the backpacks, searching for my radio. I found the small contraption buried in amongst my spare clothes. Detaching the earpiece from the main body, I held it up in front of my mouth and pressed down the call button. “Rooke, are you there?”

Instantly Rooke’s voice was hissing through the small speaker. “Eden, are you okay?”

“Yes, we’re fine.”

“Thank Nux.”

“Where are you?”

“We’ve been taken to an apartment. Kobe’s with me.”

“What about Oz?”

“He’s being treated elsewhere.”

“Do you think we can trust these people?”

“I think so. As long as we abide by their rules. At least we’re safe from the horror beetles here.”

“True. Are we to remain segregated?”

“I don’t know. They seem to be strict on this gender segregation crap. Just keep your heads down and stay in contact with me. The radio batteries will last a few days. Hopefully that’s all we need.”

“Okay.” I sighed. “Rooke, I’m sorry if I spoke out of turn earlier.”

“It’s fine.” I heard the smile in his voice. “I was rather shocked at your outburst, but he was being a chauvinistic pig. Their culture is obviously far removed from ours.”

“You can say that again.”

“Just…hold your tongue in future.” He sighed. “By Nux, Eden. When he approached you, I thought he was going to strike you.”

“To be fair, so did I.”

Rooke laughed. “You’re braver than I am.”

“Commander Riley really is starting to sound realistic.”

He laughed again. There was a short pause before he said, “I’m going to try and get some sleep. I suggest you do the same. Radio me in the morning.”

“Sure. Sleep well.”

“You too.”

The radio crackled before it fell silent. Speaking with Rooke had reassured me he and Kobe were safe, but it didn’t ease the anxiety boiling away inside.

Surprisingly, I did sleep well. No dreams, just a deep, restful slumber.

The bedroom was just as large as the living area. Three beds made in the same way as the chairs next door filled the space. The rock bases were topped with a mattress of what I could only describe as sponge foam. My body had melted into it as I laid down, and once I was covered in the luxuriously soft blankets, I must’ve fallen asleep within minutes.

Opening my eyes, a soft golden light filled the room, reminding me of home back in Runeia, Torla. High in the rustic hills, the mornings there were always filled with an aura of golden calm. The thought began a heart tugging battle, and I realised how much I missed my small, one storey cottage, the sound of the yellow kites calling to each other in the distance, the smell of freshly baked bread wafting from the bakery down the road, and Rooke knocking on the front door every Saturday morning when he was in town, with a box full of pastries from said bakery and two coffees. I smiled to myself. How I longed to be back there now.

For several moments I stared at the high ceiling, reminiscing about the life I rarely felt contented with. The life, I now realised, I took for granted.

Eventually, I pulled the covers off and swung my legs over the side of the rock bed. I could hear the waves through the glassless windows, crashing against the shore far below. Cora was still sound asleep in her bed in the far corner. Zamya, however,was nowhere to be seen. Her sheets were crumbled as if she had laid there, but knowing Zamya, she hadn’t slept a wink.