Awakening The Warriors Read Online Free Page B

no one spoke until Relia stepped forward. “I will.”
    â€œThanks, come on.” I ran across the room, skirting the bodies on the ground till I arrived at the bottom of a metal staircase where I began to climb. At the top, we separated, each taking a different direction. I hurried along the metal deck stopping every now and then to scan the cells. Nothing.
    Shouts came from below and I recognised Jerrell’s voice bellowing for my return. At least, I assumed the shouted word ‘female’ was meant to be me. I scrubbed my face with my hands, about to return to the others when a faint sound captured my attention. Someone or something was humming and the noise came from behind. Hadn’t I checked those cells? I hurried back and peered through the bars. The room was empty but the noise was louder. It definitely came from inside, plus I now recognised the wobbling tune as a popular song that had hit the airways before I embarked on this journey. I stared into the cell: no-one, and yet I could still hear the song.
    A breeze wafted along the corridor, cooling my over-heated face and drifted past me. The lone torch flared. One brief bright flame, but it was enough for me to spy another door opposite. I grabbed the bars, shook and although the metal rattled the door wouldn’t budge. Footsteps clanged towards me and I turned to see Jerrell running along the deck.
    â€œCome,” he shouted.
    Despite the situation I couldn’t help my eyes from examining him from head to bare feet. My stiff shoulders relaxed a trifle, for I could see no serious wounds on his body. He reached my side and grasped my arm. I shrugged free.
    â€œThere’s someone trapped in a room beyond this one,” I said pointing to the opposite wall.
    Jerrell darted a look behind him, then glanced into the cell. He sighed. “Stand back.”
    I danced out of the way just as he lifted his plitza gun and fired at the lock, which shattered. Shards of metal showered to the ground, glittering like precious gems in the wavering light of the torches. Jerrell yanked open the door, pushing me behind him as he strode across the cell then dragged me off to the side before he fired again and another lock exploded.
    The fine grey smoke dissipated as the door swung inwards.
    â€œAnyone in there?” I said.
    â€œOh thank god,” came a male voice from within. And a babble of voices bombarded me with anxious questions.
    We’d found the other colonists.

Chapter 4
    The women couldn’t seem to tear their eyes off either Quain or Jerrell. They goggled first at one warrior and then the other, speculation in their wide-eyed stares. Some even licked their lips and fiddled with their hair. Obviously the desire for water and food had been forgotten for the time being at the sight of the man-candy marching back and forth. Being from Earth, like myself, any one of these women, if not all, would probably be capable of arousing the Darkon soldiers. The thought sank like giant boulders in my gut, piling up like an avalanche, until I wanted to yell and scream, ‘hands off’ .
    I frowned and stuffed my hands into my pockets. Neither warrior paid any attention to the women. Both men strode about gathering weapons from the fallen guards, checking the security comms and conferring with each other in muted tones. Even though they were now clad in pilfered flight pants and boots, they were a magnificent sight. Their wounds, bruises, and the aura of leashed violence simmering about their bodies merely added to their potent attraction.
    Quain tramped to my side and scowled at our raggedy group, now greatly swollen in numbers. “None look as if they have ever held a weapon,” he said in my ear. His hand resting against my lower back burned like a heated brand.
    â€œI concur,” said Jerrell. “Two males can carry the stretcher, which will give our female some relief. She will need to conserve her strength for