Ouroboros 3: Repeat (22 page)

Cadet Nida Harper

Finally she made it. She forced herself through.

They arrived back in their own time.

Both Nida and Carson struck the floor, crumpling like dolls abandoned by their owners.

As she lay there, unconsciousness threatened to consume her. Yet it didn’t.

She pushed it back with every last scrap of resolve she could muster.

She forced her eyes to continue blinking, her chest to keep sucking in breath after breath.

And she sought out his hand. She forced her fingers to move, to collect over his.

He was still, but he was not dead. Even though he still wore his armour, she knew his heart still beat within that impenetrable chest plate.

It was the kind of boundless knowledge the entity gave her flashes of every now and then. Facts beyond her limited time and space.

. . . .

It took her a long time to rise up, to sit, and to shift forward until she had his helmet cradled in her lap.

He was silent, still, unconscious.

She rested her palm flat on his helmet and closed her eyes.

Dust filtered down from above and dashed against her face and hair.

Slowly she opened her eyes and stared at it.

She still glowed, lighting up the whole room.

But gradually that glow withdrew as the entity pulled in on itself.

With ever-widening eyes, she watched the ceiling high above draw into darker shadow until she could hardly see it any more.

‘
Carson, wake up,’ she croaked. ‘I can’t do this without you.’

Perhaps she could. Perhaps she was mistaken, and she could complete this mission without him at her side.

But she didn’t want to.

And that was all that counted.

Slowly he woke.

She was right there as he did, still cradling his head in her hands.

Ready for what would come next.

The end of Book Three. Book Four will be available shortly.

For free fiction and details on current and upcoming titles, please visit www.odettecbell.com

Odette
C. Bell is an author of over 40 books in genres ranging from sci fi to adventure. Her catalogue of works is available from most ebook retailors.

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