Kyro - A.G. Wilde Page 0,7

now and again, she’d pause and look around as if unsure of what she was doing, her neck arching a little as she lifted her head and tried to see over the crowd.

Even that neck had a smooth curve and he wondered what it would feel like running his fingers down it, following the line from her chin straight down to that little indentation at the base of her throat.

Whenever she stopped walking to look around, there was a look in her eyes, a sort of confusion that told him that she felt lost.

He could understand that.

He had experienced something similar when a squadron from the Restitution had raided the slave ship on which he’d been and had taken him to the base.

That had been many orbits ago.

Yet, the feeling was as fresh as day.

That was another reason why he should turn around and head back to his quarters. Such memories were being triggered by his current occupation—trailing the human through the exchange.

He had to admit, though, he’d rather follow behind her, even if she was just walking aimlessly and doing nothing else, than go back to his residence and spend time with Rokan.

Whatever the reason for that, he would probably determine later.

His interest was piqued by this human.

He wanted to follow her.

His eyes were locked on her like a predator would lock on to its prey and even though logic was telling him what he was doing was stupid, he couldn’t force his eyes away.

4

As she passed through the gates and into the marketplace, the noise hit her immediately.

Inside the market was much louder than out on the street and it took a few seconds for her ears to adjust to the loudness. How they were managing to keep most of the sound inside the market, she didn’t know. It was technology she couldn’t even begin to comprehend.

There were aliens everywhere. Some loading large bags on wheel-less carts that hovered above the ground, some looking at weapons and even testing them out, sellers calling out their wares to grab the attention of passers’ by...it all seemed so normal, it reminded her of Hong Kong’s Ladies Market.

If she’d felt out of place before, it was certainly underlined now. How would she ever find what she needed in this?

The stalls looked like large metal squares with a single window in the front. Some of the windows were open, and she could see the wares being sold clearly. Others had the windows closed and set to an opaque shield, showing nothing within.

Taking a few steps into the throng, aliens moved around her, hardly seeming to be aware of her presence as they went about their shopping.

She couldn’t help it though. Regardless that nobody seemed to notice her, she felt as if all eyes were on her.

She was one lone human in what felt like the entire universe.

For a few seconds, as she stood clutching the small shopping basket, she reconsidered her idea of leaving her apartment to go shopping.

She should have probably given herself some more time to get used to everything that’s happened, let her brain settle and understand things, before she tried to go about life-as-usual.

So much had happened since she’d last felt...normal. Her brain felt like it had frayed and was hanging only by the strings of her consciousness as she fought to keep a semblance of the Evren she once knew.

Now, standing in the middle of the market, the world of aliens bustling around her, she felt...alone...and a slight sliver of fear made the hair on the back of her neck prickle.

She could feel her heart rate increase even without concentrating on the organ beating wildly in her chest.

Her hands suddenly felt clammy even though the air was warm and dry, and everything was confusing—the sounds, the movement, the people...it was all too much.

She recognized the signs of what was happening to her and it helped to calm her somewhat.

She was having an anxiety attack.

Swallowing hard, she forced herself to breathe.

Taking a moment to close her eyes for a second, Evren reminded herself that everything was fine.

She was safe.

She wasn’t lost.

She could do this.

Her apartment was just a few minutes’ walk away if she needed to return to it.

All she had to do was take her time, go through the market, find what she needed, and head back to her place.

She wasn’t lost.

She wasn’t lost.

Images of a small Evren, just about four years old, flashed in her mind.

She’d been in her backyard when she’d seen the little rabbit.