Cinta

CINTA

T he pod plummeted toward the ice planet, alarms blaring. My heart raced as I gripped Klaz’s arm, the viewport filled with a swirling mass of white and blue. The escape pod shuddered violently, threatening to tear apart.

“Brace for impact!” Klaz shouted, holding me tighter to his chest.

We hit the atmosphere with bone-jarring force. The pod’s hull glowed red-hot as we hurtled through layers of clouds. Frost crystals formed on the inside of the viewport, obscuring our view.

The altimeter spun wildly. Klaz lunged for the controls, fighting to slow our descent. I wrapped my arms around his waist, burying my head into his shoulder as we spiraled downward.

“Come on, you piece of junk,” I muttered through gritted teeth.

The ground rushed up to meet us. At the last second, Klaz managed to level us out. We skimmed over a vast ice field before slamming into a snow bank. The impact threw me forward. My head cracked against the console, and everything went black.

I came to slowly, disoriented. My ears rang, and a dull ache throbbed behind my eyes. Blinking away the fog, I found myself sprawled across Klaz’s lap. He cradled my head gently.

“? Can you hear me?”

I groaned, struggling to focus. “Did we crash or did I drink too much Xarian brandy again?”

Klaz’s lips twitched. “We crashed. How do you feel?”

“Like I went ten rounds with a Mondian prizefighter.” I tried to sit up, wincing.

“Easy,” Klaz murmured. “You hit your head pretty hard.”

I touched my forehead gingerly, feeling a lump forming. “What about you? Are you hurt?”

Klaz shrugged, his expression nonchalant. “It’s nothing to worry about.”

I narrowed my eyes, studying him more closely. The gashes and bruises from our fight with the pirates had faded to barely visible marks. My fingers ghosted over his arm where I distinctly remembered a burn. Now, only a faint red line remained.

“Handy,” I said, glancing at the frost-covered viewport. “Because I have a feeling we’re not in the most hospitable place.”

Klaz nodded, his demeanor shifting back to the stoic warrior. “We need to assess the damage and our supplies. Can you stand?”

I gingerly pushed myself up, ignoring the throbbing in my head.

A wave of nausea washed over me, and I swallowed hard, fighting the urge to vomit. The pod seemed to tilt and spin, and I closed my eyes, waiting for the vertigo to pass. When I opened them again, Klaz was watching me with concern etched on his face.

“I’m fine,” I said, though the words came out slurred. “Just a little dizzy.”

Klaz frowned. “You might have a concussion. I’ll keep an eye on that.”

The pod’s interior spun for a moment before steadying. “I’ll manage. Let’s see what we’re working with.”

The temperature was dropping rapidly as the pod’s systems failed.

I rummaged through the storage compartment, my heart sinking. “Two emergency ration packs. That’s it.” I held up the small, vacuum-sealed packages. “Barely enough for a day, maybe two if we stretch it.”

Klaz grunted in acknowledgment, busy examining the pod’s communications array. “I don’t even know if this is still in working order. We might be able to boost the emergency beacon, but...”

“But that would alert friend and foe alike,” I finished, understanding his hesitation. “Looks like we’re on our own for now.”

A bitter wind howled outside, rattling the pod’s damaged hull. I rubbed my arms. “Please tell me there are some thermal blankets in this rustbucket.”

Klaz produced two silvery packets from another compartment. “These should help, but we can’t stay here long. The pod’s structural integrity is compromised. We need to find better shelter before nightfall.”

I nodded, accepting the blanket he offered. As I wrapped it around my shoulders, my eyes were drawn to the viewport. The swirling snow had cleared momentarily, revealing a desolate landscape of ice and jagged rock formations.

No. We needed more if we had any hope of surviving here. In another compartment, my fingers brushed against something synthetic. Pulling it out, I found two protective suits.

“Jackpot,” I said, holding them up. “These should help with the cold.”

Klaz took one, examining it closely. “They’re not in great condition, but they’ll do.”

I shook out mine, then paused. The suit wouldn’t fit over my gown - I’d have to strip down to put it on. My heart raced as I glanced at Klaz.

“Um, could you...?” I gestured for him to turn around.

Klaz nodded, averting his gaze. “Of course.”

I fumbled with the zipper of my dress, my fingers clumsy from the cold. The fabric clung to my skin as I peeled it off, goosebumps rising on my exposed flesh.

“You okay back there?” Klaz asked, his back still turned.

“Peachy,” I replied, my teeth chattering. “Just enjoying the arctic breeze.”

I hurried to pull on the suit, struggling with the stiff material. As I zipped it up, my elbow knocked against Klaz’s back.

“Sorry,” I muttered.

“It’s fine,” he said quietly.

I tapped his shoulder. “All clear.”

Klaz turned, his eyes roaming over me before he looked away.

The moment was interrupted by an ominous cracking sound. Klaz’s expression hardened. “Move. Now.”

He yanked open the emergency hatch, letting in a blast of frigid air that stole my breath away. I grabbed what supplies I could, shoving them into a makeshift pack. Klaz did the same, his movements quick and efficient.

Sharp twists of metal littered the floor, and I snatched up two. Not much of a weapon, but at least something.

“Stay close,” he instructed, stepping out into the howling wind.

I followed, my steps crunching in the snow. The cold seeped through me despite the suit and thermal blanket I wore draped over me. I squinted against the glare, trying to get my bearings.

Klaz scanned the horizon, his sharp eyes picking out details I missed. “There,” he said, pointing to a rocky outcropping in the distance. “It looks like there might be caves.”

I squinted, barely making out the formation through the swirling snow. “That’s a long walk.”

“We don’t have much choice,” Klaz replied. “The pod won’t offer enough protection once night falls.”

I sighed, shouldering my pack. “Lead on, then.”

The first hour of our trek was grueling. The wind seemed to shift direction constantly, always blowing directly into our faces. Snow collected on my eyelashes, and each blink felt like sandpaper against my eyes. Klaz forged ahead, breaking a path through the knee-deep drifts. I focused on putting one foot in front of the other, trying to step in his massive footprints.

Klaz caught my arm, steadying me. “Are you all right?”

“Just peachy,” I grumbled. “Next time I book a vacation, remind me to pick somewhere tropical.”

He huffed a half-laugh that made me smile in return. “I’ll make a note of it.”

We trudged onward in silence. My thoughts raced, cycling between fear and determination. I’d survived worse situations, hadn’t I? But as the icy wind cut through my suit, doubt crept in. This was beyond any con or scheme I’d ever pulled.

I glanced at Klaz, his tall form breaking the wind for me. His presence was oddly reassuring.

The rocky outcropping grew closer. As we approached, I saw that Klaz had been right – there were indeed caves dotting the cliff face.

“We should check them out,” Klaz said. “Find one that offers the best shelter.”

I nodded, too cold and tired to argue. We climbed carefully over ice-slicked boulders, peering into each cave mouth. Most were shallow or partially filled with snow.

Finally, we found a promising option – a deep cavern that curved away from the wind. Klaz entered first, checking for any hidden dangers. I followed, relief washing over me as we escaped the biting wind.

The air in the cave was still, almost oppressively quiet after the howling wind outside. A musty smell filled my nostrils – damp stone and something else I couldn’t quite identify. As my eyes adjusted to the gloom, I noticed odd, glowing patches on the walls, casting a faint, eerie blue light.

“This will do,” Klaz declared. “We can set up camp here and wait out the storm.”

I sank to the ground, exhausted. “Great. Wake me when summer arrives.”

Klaz crouched beside me, concern etched on his face. He spread out the thermal blankets, creating a makeshift bed. “You should rest,” he said. “I’ll take first watch.”

I wanted to protest, to insist I wasn’t some damsel in distress. But my eyelids felt like lead, and every muscle ached. “Wake me in a few hours,” I mumbled. “We’ll trade off.”

He nodded, though I suspected he had no intention of waking me. I curled up on the blankets, pulling one tightly around me. As I drifted off, I felt Klaz’s hand brush gently across my forehead.

In that moment, surrounded by ice and uncertainty, I felt strangely safe.