Page 10 of Black Mamba

I face the mountain, staring at the spiny trees rising up on the slopes above. At the same time, I take in the blue skies, the wispy clouds, and the slight rustle of a breeze through the leaves and grasses. The once-intimidating view is now one of the only things that comforts me. Does despair have to be so beautiful? I guess it’s better than the alternative. For a few minutes, I stand there, letting my nerves shake off me.

I unclench my hands, turning for the ship’s control panel to awaken the AI.

My parents are gone. And no matter how much I tell myself this, it’s only just beginning to sink in. I keep waking up after getting blackout drunk to the mess I’ve found myself in. Nothing changes except I have fewer resources than I did previously.

Less alcohol.

I turn on the radio and command the AI to shift through the stations. The first several I catch are old distress signals from earlier nights that continue to be broadcasted. As I settle in my chair, sinking into the ache of my hangover, I come across random callouts with coordinates—people announcing their names, their ship’s names, and where they’ve landed. Those I pay more attention to, but there are fewer of them as the days have gone on. Several frequencies have begun streaming music.

Then there are the missing persons broadcasts.

People, many, many people—like me—are searching for missing loved ones. Between the long streams of static, there are many lamenting about losing someone.

My own broadcast is still waiting to be answered.

“Searching for Jenna Viller. Please, if you are her or know any information about her, please respond to this broadcast at channel 003.1. This is her sister, Elena Viller. Jenna, if you are hearing this, I am at N 41.03 W -71.93 on Earth, in the forest where it is safe. Find me!”

Any minute it could be answered.

Yet the minutes tick by unchanged as the sound of static and strange voices continue. I release a long breath, already exhausted for the day ahead.

My gaze flicks upward when the branches of the trees shake. Getting up from my seat, I walk to the window to search for what caused it.

A deer jumps out and I startle, falling back. The animal dashes away and behind my ship. I squint after it, cursing under my breath before straightening and turning back around.

I freeze.

The trees in front of my ship are rustling. Again.

My heart thrums wildly as my gaze darts everywhere, inspecting the wild foliage. But the branches eventually go still without me ever finding the cause.

Cursing again, I stomp into the ship and retrieve a new bottle from the liquor cabinet and open it, only returning to the front after a long swig. Stumbling slightly, lightheaded and already in pain, I sit down and hug the bottle to me.

What else is there really to do? I take another long drink.

I’m ready to forget again.

SIX

A NAME TO CLAIM

Lukys

The human males walk away.

I choose to remain in my spot in the shadows rather than follow them. Alert and on edge all the same, I watch them leave in a slow but deliberate gait back to the ships past the female’s.

They are the first humans to leave their vessel. I know I should follow them and learn more about them, but I do not. Either way, my territory is relatively safe during the day, and the males did not appear to be soldiers despite one holding a gun. Neither were wearing the uniforms the soldiers wear.

They also left Elena alone.

Elena.

I now know her name.

There is movement to my right, and a deer pops out from some brush on the side of the hill on the edge of the meadow. It steals Elena’s attention and she turns to watch it dart off.

With her now turned from me, I shake the branches and slip back out of her sight. I do not know why I do this, but I like alerting her that I am there. That I am with her. She is not alone.