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Chapter 8

This Siblet bullshitshouldn’t matter anymore. Georgia had attended her mandatory therapy sessions, all twelve of them, and had been signed off as fit for duty. She’d spoken to her boss whenever she was struggling and even tried talking therapies to get past being captured.

It all helped a bit, but the nagging anger and fear still lurked, like a creepy stranger in the shadows, waiting to pounce when he saw you were vulnerable.

She had to get over this and get on with her life, but her lousy past refused to let her. And it didn’t help that Ash kept nosing around in her business. This was her issue to deal with, and she was dealing with it the best way she knew how.

Georgia shook her head. Yeah, right. Not acknowledging something always worked out so well.

She should be grateful it happened to her and not some poor sap who broke after her first finger got dislocated.

And being taken by the Siblet had honed her resilience. They hadn’t given her food for days, treated none of her injuries, and deprived her of sleep until she was hallucinating. But she hadn’t broken. She’d remained true to her mission and hadn’t let anyone down.

But she’d let herself down. Being captured was an idiot move, and Georgia was better than that.

Still, it made her more cautious, and she knew not to be so trusting of anyone. If she hadn’t stopped to investigate that damn noise, thinking someone was in trouble...

Georgia sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. It was done. She couldn’t go back in time and make it right. She had to see it as a positive thing. Being captured made her a better fighter and more robust. She was better prepared for all situations and knew to keep her guard in place and not let anyone see her weaknesses.

She stopped walking and tilted her head. Ash was just in front of her, his attention on the tracks they’d been following. She turned slowly, scanning her surroundings. It felt like she was being watched.

Georgia slid her gun from its holster, keeping it by her side as she looked for whatever creature or alien was tracking her.

Was she being paranoid? It wouldn’t be the first time.

She tensed as two dull brown birds took flight from the stunted trees nearby.

No, they weren’t the reason she felt uneasy. Something was out there, and that something didn’t feel friendly.

Ash turned. The second he saw her, he pulled out his weapon, raised it, and hurried back. “What is it?”

She shook her head, her attention still on the trees. “I’m not sure. I got a creepy assed feeling run down my back.”

“One of your hunches?” Ash stood beside her, his weapon raised as he looked around. “Or did you see something?”

“No, but we’re not alone.”

A soft footstep farther along the path was followed by a low growl.

Georgia pivoted to see a creature emerge from the damp foliage. It was eight feet high with shaggy brown fur and freaking huge fangs.

She lifted her weapon and aimed at the same time as Ash.

The beast snarled but made no move to get closer. It simply watched them.

“That’s another less than normal creature to add to all the freak show shit we keep finding,” Ash muttered.

The beast snarled at him.

“I don’t think it likes being insulted,” Georgia said. Its head looked like a cross between a bear and a panther, and its eyes gleamed an unnatural red. Its long, furry tail had a metal spike on the end.

“Let’s put this thing out of its misery,” Ash said.

“Look out!” Georgia pushed him to the ground, just as two similar looking beasts attacked from either side of them. One creature got so close, she could smell its rank breath, and pain flared across the back of her hand as a claw nicked her.

Georgia rolled to their feet, scouting for the attacking animals, but they were already gone.

“They’re clever.” Ash was already up and standing by her side. “The furry guy out front was the distraction, while the other two closed in. That shows group coordination and intellect.”